Posted in Countdown to Christmas

Countdown to Christmas 2025: “Thou Shalt LOVE, Not Hate” — Day Seven 12/7/25

From December 1-25, I’ll be sharing a quote and its truth from John Fugelsang’s Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists and Flock-Fleecing Frauds, the book Robert and I are currently and fascinatingly reading.

An odd Advent Calendar, of sorts.

If you are interested, you can see the introduction to this new blog category here:

https://nealenjoy.com/2025/12/01/countdown-to-christmas-2025-thou-shalt-love-not-hate-introduction-12-1-25/

Today, Fugelsang reminds us that “Jesus tells his followers to feed the hungry and care for the sick—not to pray that someone else will do it. Offering ‘thoughts and prayers’ for the poor is … a convenient substitute for tangible help or systemic solutions. Prayer is supposed to be a way to seek guidance, not an excuse for inaction.” p. 199

Ouch!


Fugelsang goes on: “Jesus’s brother nails why faith without works doesn’t work in James 2:15-17: ‘Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.” p. 199

… and food.

Posted in Holidays and Seasonal Changes

Why My Face Is Dirtier Than Usual Today

Robert and I, along with my ex-wife Donna and good friend Margaret, went to our church’s Ash Wednesday service at noon today.

I LOVE the Season of Spring and all the Warm Days, Holidays/Holy days it debuts.

Here’s National Day Calendar’s brief explanation:

“Ash Wednesday signals the beginning of the Lenten season for Christians. It takes place 46 days before Easter and the day after Shrove Tuesday.

Those who celebrate Ash Wednesday may reflect, fast, repent and celebrate. The ashes represent death and repentance and Ash Wednesday services focus on both. In many churches, the ashes are made from the palm branches that are burned from the previous Palm Sunday service.”

I am a Christian (belonging to a very liberal, inclusive, and justice-oriented congregation), but I love this secular rendering of Ash Wednesday:

Google Overview

Here’s a beautifully somber yet encouraging meditation on the meaning of Ash Wednesday:

May you see a Reflection of Good this season.