Advent is about preparation for judgement, and that is actually a good thing.
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.
First Week of Advent
Advent as preparation for judgement.What is the theme of each week of Advent? and What do each of the Advent candles represent? are the sort of questions that illicit a wide range of answers. It is probably most common today for the themes of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy to be linked to each of the four weeks of Advent. An older tradition asks us to focus on the four last things during this season: death, judgement, heaven, and hell.
An under-appreciated mark of a truly great sports commentator: knowing when to say nothing.
Messi scored, and there was a 45 second period of commentary silence followed by a subtle, “It had to be him.”
Advent is coming. Time to set some intentions for this Holy New Year.
Advent is Coming: Set your Intentions
A Holy New YearThe Church Year begins afresh tomorrow with the First Sunday of Advent! Some of you recently began intentionally following the Church Calendar and are looking for ways to be more formally shaped by this ancient practice. Others of you have followed the calendar for years, and have a fairly seasoned set of traditions for each major season. Regardless of where you are on your journey with the Church Calendar, Advent offers not just an opportunity to prepare for the season of Christmas, but a fresh start—a new year—of Christian discipleship.
Oh no. It has happened. I tried to prevent it by asking reason to temper my expectations.
But mere hours before kickoff …
I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN.
USA is taking home the trophy.*
*or advancing to the Round of 16 and remaining competitive in their first knockout match.
I just finished reading Pillars of the Earth. It was published when I was four years old, but seems to have been written for me to read at this exact age (37).
Great books tend to feel like that, don’t they?
An unusally free Saturday means that I had a chance to make some good progress on the playhouse.
I am pretty sure the title “Queen of Christmas” is already taken.
Leaving Twitter is a small but important first step towards a healthier relationship with technology, your neighbor, and your self.
Not because of Musk, but because Big Social is shrinking our souls.
The final first-person verb of the Nicene Creed helps us remember that the Christian faith is more than mental affirmation of truth. It involves a shaping of hopes and desires.
- We believe (x4)
- We acknowledge (x1)
- We look for the resurrection of the dead …
All Souls Day is a helpful antidote to our death-anemic culture that oscillates between ignoring and overly-fearing this experience shared by all living creatures.
All Souls Day helps us to remember that thou art dust … and to look for the resurrection of the dead.
All Saints Day and All Souls Day
November 1 and November 2Thank you for subscribing to Rhythms of Habit! As we enter the month of November, it is worth noting that Advent—the beginning of the Church Year—is quickly approaching. If you know someone who may enjoy these emails as we enter a new Christian year together, please encourage them to subscribe or consider purchasing a gift subscription on their behalf. Give a gift subscription Share Rhythms of Habit by Jon Jordan
The farmer and the pig.
Settled on a good use of a corner of our new backyard: building a playhouse for the kids. (Current ages 9, 7, and 2.)
I paused the Tottenham match I was watching in the 95th minute to wake up my daughter so she could rewatch Kane’s goal with me.
And then we discovered together that the goal was under review…
My fault? Sure.
VAR ruining the beautiful game? Absolutely.
Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue. … As you fence in your property with thorns, so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
A gem from Ecclesiasticus found in today’s Daily Office Lectionary.
St. James of Jerusalem
October 23While this is not your standard Rhythms of Habit email, I wanted to send out a quick note today about St. James of Jerusalem, along with a request. The RequestPlease send me your questions about the Church Calendar! It has been a joy hearing from many of you as you enter more deeply into following the church calendar, and I would love to know what questions you have along the way.
My wife returned this weekend from a two week pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. My latest piece at Covenant is about my experience trying to walk the pilgrim way while caring for our kids here at home.
It was my own Camino de Solo Dad.
I do not love it when a match is decided by PKs—they are a terrible way to lose—but it was quite the experience being in the stands last night when FC Dallas advanced on Velasco’s Panenka.
What’s a Panenka, you ask?
