Christmas

If you're wondering, the word is cremation spelled backwards. The title is me moving backwards, pulling the three posts on cremation off the site. It's Christmas and I don't want to keep hurting people's feelings. Maybe I'll repost later? Then again, maybe I'll just put it in a book.

Anyhow, I've found writing about cremation to be incendiary, 1 and who needs that this time of year? it's Christmas!

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day;
To save us all from Satan's power when we had gone astray;
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
Oh tidings of comfort and joy!

Over the years, I've often repeated a truism I'd heard as a younger man concerning the sins typical of men during our youth, middle, and old age: we begin with sex, then move on to money; but we end with pride. The past few years this has come home to me with great intensity as I've watched men I respect suffer because of their pride. They have lost others’ respect for them. Their church or religious organization has imploded. Their leadership has become grossly attenuated. Their families have privately suffered severe conflict.

I’ve talked with my wife and closest pastor friends about this quite a few times the past couple of months and we have come to wonder whether we have not gotten things wrong with respect to what God hates? We think He hates rebellion and antinomianism—which He does, of course. His Word tells us that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.

But then this...

After two years of recording silence, the Everlasting Word Band is excited to announce the release of its third album, Glory, on November 24th...

Tim Bushong serves as an elder in the CREC congregation, Trinity Evangelical Church in Larwill, Indiana (just outside Ft. Wayne). Tim's day job is running his T. Bush recording studio and each year he works with his son, Aaron, arranging and recording new takes on olde Christmas songs and carols. Knowing how much Baylyblog readers are committed to fleeing the priggishness innate to Presbyterianism,  I thought I'd take this opportunity to let you hear the Bushong's brand new recording of "What Child Is This?" Next year Tim and Aaron plan to issue all of their Christmas recordings on a CD titled, "I'm Dreaming of a Gay Christmas." But I lie. The title will be "A Very Metal Christmas."

Today is release day! Get a copy of Good Shepherd Band's latest CD, "All the Bells Shall Ring" on Amazon, iTunes, and goodshepherdband.com

Here's a kind review of the CD written by Pastor Andrew Dionne. Would you please encourage our musicians (and me) by purchasing a copy of this CD, now. And if you like it, give it as a Christmas gift. Also, if you're in or around Bloomington, we hope we'll see you tonight for the Release Party down at The Pourhouse Cafe (314 East Kirkwood Avenue) starting at 7 PM.

Every December Clearnote Church sets aside a special evening of worship and fellowship called the Clearnote Christmas Spectacular. It's a night for pulling out all the stops in celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord, where centuries old traditions intersect with contemporary style. This year we've come up with a few surprises that will make the night truly spectacular!

Here's a little taste...