Friday Links Roundup: So Far, So Jolly Edition

I’m going to come right out and say it. I absolutely hate Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad.” There. I said it. I’m glad that’s out there.

Look, I know it’s a holiday classic. I get that. I’m not upset at Jose for making more of this song than I’ll make in my entire lifetime. It’s catchy. He wants to wish me a merry Christmas, and wants to do so from the bottom of his hea-a-a-a-rt. Thanks, Jose.

Now…could you please write a second verse???

So, why this rant?

One little known fact about me is that I hate this song so much that I actually keep track each year of how many times I hear it between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The worst year was four years ago. I actually heard it on Thanksgiving Day, and that was just a foretaste of what was to come. 13 times later, my holiday season stunk, and those dumb mariachi trumpets were blaring in my brain well into February. Oh, and is it any wonder that nearly my entire family had a stomach bug on Christmas day that year??? Coincidence, or the curse of Jose Feliciano?

The best was about 5 years ago, when I only heard it three times. Amazingly, it was one of the best best Christmases I’ve ever had.

So far this year? Zero! That’s right. I know I’m tempting fate by mentioning this with 15 days to go. We listen to Christmas songs in the car. I go shopping. So far, though, I have avoided this horrific one-verse disaster of a song.

Now, Jose, will you write a second verse?

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On to the links for this week:

1. On Wednesday, I posted a short article about being a dad. With that in mind, the article “Our Churches Need Fathers” from Study Your Bible Online’s website really hit home with me.

2. We, in our society, act as if we hate rules, but they play a major role in our lives. Neal Pollard helps us see that in his simple but helpful post, “The Role of Rules.” I think this would make an excellent sermon or youth devotional “starter.”

3. The state of Kentucky is scheduled to have a new theme park based upon Noah’s Ark, but it is causing all sorts of controversy. Read Albert Mohler’s reaction and remember he lives in the Louisville, Kentucky, area. Here is his article, called, “Who’s Afraid of Noah’s Ark?”

4. One news article I found interesting this week deals with “shock” in the art world. Have we gotten to a point that nothing really “shocks” us anymore? Since we often speak about Jeremiah and the people of his day not being able to blush (cf. Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12), this article has some merit. Read Eric Felten’s Wall Street Journal article, “After the Shock is Gone.”

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We hope you have a great weekend. We are looking forward to our annual adult holiday dinner tonight at Lebanon Road. It is an amazing night, filled with amazing decorations, tremendous (and I mean, tremendous) food, exciting entertainment, and (above all) sweet fellowship.

No matter what you have planned for your weekend, make sure you don’t forget the Lord on His Day.

(Oh, and please don’t call me if “Feliz Navidad” is playing in the background!)

(And, Jose…could you write a second verse???)