Glad to say I live in enough of a no-grift bubble that I had no idea there was a Trump phone grift until this week.

(Maybe trying @bsky.app again after a meh start)

Friday off running errands and cleaning meant listens ranging from Jason Ibell’s new acoustic album, Bad Bunny, Pearl Jam, Woody Guthrie… and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme on repeat on the way to daycare earlier. Lol.

This is evil. Pure evil.

Gas went up another 5 cents in Lincoln NE today, 10c in 10 days…

Watched 8mins of President Mu$k at the WH rambling terribly about bureaucracy like a kid who hadn’t read the civics assignment. When I search online, cutesy “son steals the show” articles abound. (Also the kid’s presence is clearly exploitative and intentional). Dystopian film in real life.

Toddlers in penguin “jammies”
Dancing to Bluey
With red football helmets
Covering pink hair “pretties”
May they not be denied
Silenced
Shuttered
Or deprived
By xenophobic oligarchies

Or tech bro kleptocracies.

The mental leaps (or nose dives) it must take to say Bishop Budde was “mixing religion and politics” while supporting Christian Nationalist candidates are staggering to me.

BREAKING: In sermon to Trump at inaugural prayer service, Episcopal Bishop Budde pleads for immigrants, transgender rights —> religionnews.com/2025/01/21/i...

Opened Apple Music and my Heavy Rotation playlist starts with Kendrick Lamar GNX tracks and “Rubber Duckie (feat. Ernie)” by Jazz at Lincoln Center. That’s it. That’s my current phase of life.

Also, and completely unrelated to my other most recent comment… I prerecorded a radio show today as the guest and I am so dreading hearing whatever nonsense came out of my mouth in that setting. It’s hosted by another mainline (UCC) pastor, so a friendly environment just to be clear.

When my identity or attributes allow me the privilege to opt out of a conversation or justice action when others do not have that choice, I realize more and more my need to check that privilege, stay in the conversation, and speak up and out. (Vague-skying)

In two weeks it’ll be 11 minutes until 2025 for my fellow central time humans.

There’s much to mourn
There’s a lot to resist
To change
To coordinate
To push
To liberate

But there’s also potential
To work for human flourishing
To listen
To breathe
To support
To love.

Yikes and whew and wow.

Re-reading Cynthia Rigby’s essay “Scandalous Presence: Incarnation and Trinity ahead of Christmas... “As feminist theologians consistently point out, we too often misapply God’s persistent presence as endorsement of our own views and agendas. (1/3)

The “as of Dec 15” Christmas jazz albums ratings…

Jimmy Smith - Christmas Cookin’ (4.5)
Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas (4.5)
Wynton Marsalis - Christmas Jazz Jam (4.25)
Ill Considered - An Ill Considered Christmas (4.25)
Wynton Marsalis - Crescent City Christmas Card (4.0)

Decided this is the year of a deep dive into Christmas jazz albums. Like, good jazz, not elevator music.

Currently listening to and loving Jimmy Smith’s Christmas Cookin’ album.

Other recommendations? Started a Google Doc list where I may do some ratings / ranking.

Other recs? #jazzmusic

A surprise Thanksgiving ❄️ in Lincoln, Nebraska!

Late fall evenings, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mood 😎

1.5 months into year 22 of my slightly-lower-profile-than-NBA career*, I’m hoping I can rock some ministry triple double equivalents this year.

*throwing back to the start of my non-ordained youth job in college