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I just got Over the Rhine’s “Snow Angel” album a few days ago, and called it up in iTunes after writing that last post. The first track definitely makes the Delightfully Depressing list: the gorgeous “All I Ever Get for Christmas is Blue.” OtR is mournful as all get out. Chances are all the tracks…

One of the first albums I listen to every Christmas season is Elvis Presley’s “If Every Day Was Like Christmas,” an album that captures what my mother-in-law calls Elvis’ “warbling” stage. It is melodramatic and overcooked, and I love it. It is at once dour and delightful, which is how I like my Christmas music. …

Glenn Paauw says that Christmas is but the beginning of the Christian year, and should be treated as such.  By all means, immerse yourself in Advent and prepare for Christmas. Begin the cycle. But save yourself for the moment that really matters. The final battle will be faced, the decisive victory won. Be there when…

If you’re not following this issue already, the place to begin is with Tony Jones, who, in calling the situation a “kerfuffle,” reminds me that we should all be using that word as much as possible, and who does yeoman’s work in summarizing a few days of reaction to Lisa Miller’s cover story. I’ve been otherwise…

Last night, while my wife was at her book club, my kids and I visited some friends. On the way home, my 5 year old, Isabel, calls out “Dad?” from the backseat.  “Yes, Bel?” “Did you know, um, that some people don’t even celebrate Christmas? They do Hannakuh.” She had been learning this in school.…

Cizik resigned because he changed his position on civil unions. Christianity Today has all the pertinent info, and an interview with NAE president Leith Anderson. Two moments from the interview I’d like to point to: First, this very good question from reporter Sarah Pulliam: Has the rise of the Religious Right made it more difficult for…

That’s the hope Christians cherish, and the center of our longing in the season of Advent. That line from “O Holy Night” was very much on my mind this morning as part of the process of a longer, personal blog entry about Christmas (that I’ll try to post tomorrow).  Then I checked my email, and…

I was introduced to Philip Jenkins‘ work several years ago through his Atlantic cover story, “The Next Christianity.” There, Jenkins explained that the center of global Christianity was shifting to the southern hemisphere. In The Next Christendom and the two related titles that followed, Jenkins argued that Christianity today is not as Western as we believe it to be–and…

I’m kidding. Mostly. But:  For the last few years, many conservative Christians have been concerned with the secularization of Christmas. Following the lead of Bill O’Reilly and others, they’ve spent a lot of energy protecting their right to say “Merry Christmas” and perform other public acts of sectarian merry-making.  There is much to lament in…

My favorite stuff from the last week: Scot McKnight on how a Third Way approach rankles liberals and irritates conservatives.  Rod Dreher on learning to be still in the face of constant media. Tony Jones on Multi-Issue Evangelicals (ie, the non-single-issue voter).  The Best Holiday Movies of All Time.  Practical tips for celebrating Christmas without…
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