Category: Reblogged

TBT^4: Joy to the World

The Portly Politico2 Comments

At this year’s Christmas Concert, the program accidentally included the lyrics to “Joy to the World.”  In the past, my students have played it as a singalong for the audience, but we haven’t done so in a few years.  I’m not sure why the lyrics got included in the program, but I briefly contemplated “winging it” and shouting the chords at my students while everyone sang.

I did not give into that temptation.  One that I have learned is that other people’s errors do not necessitate me fixing them in haphazard ways (usually).  We simply announced there was a mistake in the program and went on from there.

That said, the larger mistake was, indeed, mine—I should have put it in the Christmas Concert!  I love “Joy to the World,” and it’s really fun to play and sing.  I suppose next year I’ll have to toss it into the mix.

With that, here is 12 December 2024’s “TBT^2: Joy to the World“:

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Memorable Monday Morning Movie Review: Nefarious (2023)

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Last year, when Dr. Wife was still Dr. Girlfriend, we sat down and watched an incredible movie exploring demonic possession and spiritual warfare.

That film was 2023’s Nefarious (that’s an Amazon Affiliate link; I receive a portion of any purchases made through that link, at no additional cost to you).  It’s one of the best films I’ve seen in years, and it’s an overtly Christian film (without making it feel like it’s overtly Christian).  It’s an excellent example of how Christians can make compelling art that espouses our beliefs culturally.

With that, here is 2 December 2024’s “Monday Morning Movie Review: Nefarious (2023)“:

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Lazy Sunday CCCXLIX: Christmas Cheer 2025, Part II

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Merry Christmas, TPP Readers!  I’m back with some more Christmas-related posts from the last week:

Happy Sunday—and Merry Christmas!

—TPP

TBT^16: “Silent Night” Turns 200

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One of my favorite Christmas carols, “Silent Night,” is 207-years old this year.  It’s also one of the rare years where I’m not programming it for our Christmas Concert at school.  That’s not for any particular reason, and it will surely make a comeback in future years; there are just a lot of great Christmas songs!

That said, I have a soft spot for this piece.  It’s not my all-time favorite Christmas carol, but it’s definitely in the Top 3.  The piece is so rich theologically, but it also musically captures the Peace that passes all understanding—the Peace that comes from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

With that, here is 19 December 2024’s “TBT^4: ‘Silent Night’ Turns 200“:

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Memorable Monday Morning Movie Review: A Very Portly Christmas: A Christmas Carol (1951)

The Portly Politico4 Comments

Back in 2022 a couple of my regular contributors and I each took turns reviewing the 1951 film adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (for links to all three reviews, click here).  The film has since became almost annual viewing for yours portly, a tradition I hope to continue with Dr. Wife.

With all the busyness of the wedding and last week’s school play (as well as this week’s school concert), I decided to take this morning to look back at my review from three years ago.

The film is a poignant reminder to keep the joy of Christmas alive in our hearts, something that is often difficult as the trials of adulthood responsibility exact their toll.  But Christmas is the time of year to celebrate the Birth of Jesus, and to recapture—to the extent possible—the simple magic of childhood.

With that, here is 19 December 2022’s “Monday Morning Movie Review: A Very Portly Christmas: A Christmas Carol (1951)“:

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TBT^65,536: O Little Town of Bethlehem and the Pressures of Songwriting

The Portly Politico2 Comments

The Christmas season is upon us again, which means it’s time for yours portly to dust off some classic posts of yesteryuletide, including this timeless classic about a timeless carol.

My students have their big Christmas concert next Friday, 12 December 2025, and while we’re not playing this carol this year, I will surely be playing it at church soon.  That said, this sweet, simple carol will always hold a special place in my heart.

With that, here is 5 December 2024’s “TBT^256: ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ and the Pressures of Songwriting“:

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Lazy Sunday CCCXLVII: Thanksgiving Week 2025 Posts

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Here are a couple of perennial Thanksgiving pieces for your enjoyment, dear readers:

Happy Sunday!

—TPP

Flashback Friday^16: Brack Friday Bunduru: Workers Need a Break

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When I first wrote about workers needed Thanksgiving Day off, I was experiencing pretty severe burnout myself.  I do still believe that the Black Friday creeping into Thanksgiving is reprehensible, but I also realize my own stress was playing a role in my analysis.

Of course, this Black Friday I’m bunduru’d with Dr. Wife on the high seas, so I’m absolutely getting a break.  Indeed, I might be eating pizza covered in gravy and leftover turkey from last night’s onboard Thanksgiving feast (I assume we had one; I’m writing this post way beforehand).  While I’m enjoying the Thanksgiving Lover’s Pizza, though, millions are schlepping into retail stores at 4 AM to help grannies save pennies on toaster ovens.

Well, who doesn’t love a good deal?  But a better deal would be shuttering retailers all day on Thanksgiving so employees can rest up and spend time with family before being berated by penny-pinching Karens.

With that, here is 25 November 2022’s “Flashback Friday^4: Brack Friday Bunduru: Workers Need a Break“:

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TBT^18,446,744,073,709,551,616: It’s a Thanksgiving Miracle!

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Happy Thanksgiving!  I first wrote about the Thanksgiving miracle of surviving a terrible fall from a ladder way back in 2017.  Now, the Thanksgiving miracle is Dr. Wife, and the fact that we’re together and enjoying a great honeymoon (presumably—I’m writing this before we leave, and while I’m positive it’s going to be awesome, I could be having too much fun and become physically addicted to the good times).

Thanksgiving is, of course, an ideal time to reflect on one’s many blessings.  God Is Good, and Has Been Good to me this year.  There have been plenty of trials and tribulations, but it’s been a year that’s forced me to submit to God and to stop trying to do things on my own.

I’m thankful for my wife and family, and I’m excited for the future.  Pray that I can be a good, godly man for her.

With that, here is 28 November 2024’s “TBT^4,294,967,296: It’s a Thanksgiving Miracle!“:

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Wayback Wednesday: Gnostic Mysteries

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The online historian Rudyard Lynch, also known by his channel name, Whatifalthist, put up an interesting video earlier this week about the influence of alchemy and alchemical modes of thinking on the development of Western civilization.  It’s worth watching and considering, especially as an example of the crosspollination of ideas between philosophical, ethical, and religious systems.

Lynch makes the point of differentiating alchemy from Gnosticism, the latter of which he clearly views as a demonic heresy (it is).  I suspect he lets alchemy off the hook a little too easily from a Christian perspective, but apparently it’s a topic that many churches have studied and even endorsed.

I’m not willing to go that far.  It smacks too much of the appeal of secret knowledge that is at the root of Gnosticism.  For nerdy men, especially, there is a pull to these kinds of mystical interpretations because, like computer programming, they offer up an alleged deeper understanding of the “code” behind existence.

Ultimately, Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  We must always be on guard against potential heresies.

With that, here is 20 September 2022’s “Gnostic Mysteries“:

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