The Ex4mined L1fe

They say the unexamined life is not worth living. Well, after 130 blog posts this year alone, I think it’s safe to say this life has been thoroughly examined! From the quiet corners of prayer to the chaotic aisles of the grocery store, and from the profound theology of Advent to the questionable price of a fast-food lunch, we covered a lot of ground in 2025. If you missed a few entries between the "dings" of your inbox and the busyness of life, here is a curated look back at the moments that defined the year on The Ex4mined L1fe . The Holiday Deep Dive.   December was a marathon of reflection. We didn't just look at the shiny wrapping paper; we looked at the history, the humor, and the holy chaos underneath. When Christmas Turns the Page: We explored why December 26 isn't just a day for leftovers—it’s the Feast of Saint Stephen. It’s a reminder that the story doesn’t end at the manger; it moves immediately into action and, sometimes, sacrifice. The 12 Days of Bankrupt...

This past year, I did something unexpected. It didn’t magically fix everything. It didn’t erase pain. It didn’t turn life into a highlight reel. But it did give me clarity. After a long season of untangling my thoughts, loosening the grip of things I couldn’t control, and finally releasing the weight of other people’s opinions, I’ve arrived at the end of this year in a healthier place mentally. That alone feels like a quiet victory. And then, while scrolling, as we all do, I came across a simple line: “ Stop cheating on your future with your past .” It stopped me cold. Not because it was new wisdom. But because I finally had the space to hear it.   What does that even mean? Cheating on your future doesn’t look reckless. It looks familiar. It looks like: Making decisions based on who you used to be. Letting old wounds interpret new moments. Replaying stories you’ve already survived Sometimes we return to the past not because we want pain, but because it’s predictable. And predi...

  “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”— Gospel of Matthew 19:24 We hear this verse and instinctively think: That’s impossible. But Jesus wasn’t closing the door. He was explaining how the door works. What most people miss is this... In ancient Jerusalem, tradition speaks of a narrow city gate often called the Eye of the Needle. It wasn’t wide enough for a camel to walk through standing tall. To pass through it, the camel had to be unloaded. It had to kneel. It had to crawl forward slowly. Nothing carried through untouched. And that was the point. Jesus wasn’t saying rich people can’t enter the Kingdom. He was saying no one enters while clinging to everything. Not pride. Not possessions. Not reputation. Not the illusion of self-sufficiency. The Kingdom is open. But it is not spacious. The Kingdom Doesn’t Need Your Baggage . A significant obstacle for some of us is that we often want Jesus plus what we’ve built....

  One of the most common frustrations for thoughtful Bible readers is this: Scripture often feels as if it happens all at once, whereas real life never does. A few verses pass, and suddenly, Jesus is born. Wise men arrive. Innocent children are massacred. A family flees to another country. A king (Herod) dies. And then everyone is back home, with a new zip code in Nazareth.  It reads bang–bang–bang. But the Bible is not written like a modern history book. It is theologically selective rather than chronologically exhaustive. Once you understand that, the timeline begins to breathe. Let’s walk through the birth of Jesus, not just as a list of events, but as a real-life timeline unfolding over months and years. Most of the time, Biblical time feels compressed. Biblical authors rarely indicate how much time elapsed between events. What didn’t happen, or how long people waited, worried, traveled, or hid. Instead, they focus on meaning rather than duration. A single verse can repres...

  Some plans are bigger than us. Some plans, no matter how carefully laid, have a way of going sideways. This year, my “big plan” was a Boxing Day pilgrimage back home to eastern Kentucky, my own little Good King Wenceslas moment, complete with loaded gifts, bags packed, and a hybrid gassed up and ready for the road. We spent weeks preparing: laundry done, clothes laid out, Christmas gifts stacked high. By Christmas Eve, I felt ready. My brother, however, had other plans. A fever, vomiting, and a night spent precariously close to the indoor outhouse made for a holiday I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Yet, in that fleeting moment of improvement, he sent the text: “I’m doing better, load up the car and come on down!” The plan was back on. We were going to Appalachia. I could almost hear the brass of a royal procession. Then, hours before departure, came the dreaded update: he was worse. “Come on down at your own risk.” Suddenly, our well-planned journey felt like a foolhardy quest into the...

  For many of us, December 26 feels like a quiet exhale, the day after the wrapping paper is cleared and the leftovers appear. But historically, December 26 carries a surprising amount of meaning, sitting at the intersection of faith, generosity, and action. December 26   is the Feast of Saint Stephen In much of Western Christianity, December 26 marks the Feast of Saint Stephen, remembered as the first Christian martyr. His story is not soft or sentimental. Stephen followed Christ so closely that it cost him his life. The Church places his feast immediately after Christmas as a reminder: the incarnation isn’t just something we admire, it’s something we live. Christmas celebrates God coming near.  Stephen’s day asks what happens next. “On the Feast of Stephen…” If you grew up singing Good King Wenceslas, you may have missed how pointed the opening line really is:  “Good King Wenceslas looked out,  On the Feast of Stephen…” That’s not poetic filler. It’s a timesta...

  Christmas is a season of joy, connection, and celebration. And while we all might say it a little differently— Feliz Navidad , Joyeux Noël , メリークリスマス , Maligayang Pasko —the sentiment is the same: warmth, love, and hope. Across the globe, people share greetings that carry the spirit of the season, reminding us that no matter where we are, Christmas is about community, kindness, and the joy of giving. From snowy European streets to sunny tropical beaches, the message echoes: Merry Christmas —in every language, to every heart. So, whether you say it in your mother tongue or learn a new one this year, share the joy. Spread a smile. Connect with someone near or far. After all, the magic of Christmas is universal.

For years, I asked my school communities to allow space for our teachers and anyone carrying the weight of the daily grind to Rest. Relax. Recharge. I meant it. But I never truly followed my own advice. I would throw out lines like, “There will be rest for me when I’m dead,” chasing ministry, work, and obligations as if exhaustion were a badge of honor. In the past few months, though, I’ve discovered the miracle of unplugging. I’ve learned to step away from constant dings, calendar alerts, and email notifications. To put my phone on silent. To not peek at emails or invoices from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening, until after dinner. It doesn’t make problems vanish. But it limits how much of my energy I devote to someone else’s priorities, and that is liberating. This Christmas break, I finally set a boundary I never had before. When someone tentatively tried to slip a problem into my holiday, "I don't want to ruin your Christmas break," I said calmly, “Then don’t. Tha...

Each Christmas, we hear the familiar refrain: Keep Christ in Christmas. It’s stitched into sermons, printed on yard signs, whispered between carols and candlelight. And yet, for those of us who grew up straddling two Christmas worlds—one faith-filled, the other secular, commercial, noisy, and nostalgic—it’s not always simple. It’s complicated. It’s crowded. But it’s still possible. This image stops me every time:  “Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus.” (Luke 2:7) That’s not a children’s pageant line. That’s a mirror. Over the years, I’ve wandered all around the Christmas story. I’ve written about Tonight We Ride —the long, mysterious journey of the Magi. Those strange, brilliant outsiders remind us that Christmas has always carried a universal, multicultural heartbeat: people from distant lands, following an unfamiliar celestial signal, traveling far beyond their comfort zones simply to honor something holy, hopeful, and new. The Magi story is fun...

  When Donald Trump periodically declared December 24 and 26 as federal holidays for government workers, the reaction was mostly shrugs and smiles. Who argues with time off?  But zoom out, and a larger question looms:  Are we becoming a nation that governs by calendar more than conviction? 4 When Everything Gets a Holiday, Nothing Feels Holy!  Once upon a time, holidays marked survival and sacredness: harvests that kept people alive victories that kept nations intact holy days that oriented souls Today, we add holidays not because crops were gathered or wars were won, but because recognition feels like resolution.  Juneteenth.  Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  Expanded observances, renamed observances, reinterpreted observances. Each carries meaning. None are frivolous on its own. Together, they quietly transform holidays from anchors of memory into pressure valves for the present .  The question isn’t “Do these days matter?”  It’s “What happens w...

  Pick the answer that feels most like you. No overthinking. Santa never does. Question 1 At a holiday gathering, you’re most likely to: A) Helping quietly in the background B) Keeping things on schedule C) Making sure everyone feels welcome D) Watching it all unfold with mild amusement Question 2 Your relationship with tradition is: A) Sacred — don’t touch it B) Important, but adaptable C) It’s about the feeling, not the rules D) Let’s reinvent this thing Question 3 How do people describe you? A) Dependable B) Thoughtful C) Warm D) Put together Question 4 Your biggest seasonal strength? A) Generosity B) Organization C) Connection D) Innovation  Results Guide Mostly A’s → Saint Nicholas / Clement Clarke Moore Santa Mostly B’s → Sinterklaas / Thomas Nast Santa Mostly C’s → Father Christmas / Coca-Cola Santa Mostly D’s → Movie Santa / AI Santa (2025) Even mix → Hybrid Santa (Most of Us) Santa ...

  5 Santa Claus has had more wardrobe changes than a pop star and more origin stories than a Marvel character. He has been a saint, a sprite, a moral enforcer, a marketing icon, and, most recently, an AI-rendered marvel with cheekbones no human chimney crawl could justify. Let’s take a Bryson-style wander through 10 of the most influential Santas in history , mainly told through images, because Santa, like history itself, is best remembered visually. 1. Saint Nicholas (4th Century) The Man Before the Myth Before Santa had a sleigh, he had a staff and a reputation . Saint Nicholas of Myra was known for secret gift-giving, generosity, and an apparent fondness for helping people anonymously—an early adopter of what we now call the Santa business model . Fun fact: He wasn’t rotund, red-suited, or North Pole–adjacent. He was thin, serious, and deeply religious—proof that no one in history looks like their eventual brand. 2. Sinterklaas (Medieval Europe) Santa with Rules In the Netherla...

  Names are powerful. They carry history, identity, and sometimes even a story within a single word. For artists, a name can be a muse, a character, or a tribute. For u s, names can connect us to family, heritage, and cherished memories. Music has long celebrated the magic of names, whether it’s literally in the song title or woven into the lyrics. Some artists highlight the word “Name” itself: Songs With “Name” in the Title “Name” – Goo Goo Dolls “Stop! In the Name of Love” – The Supremes “You Give Love a Bad Name” – Bon Jovi “Pride (In the Name of Love)” – U2 “Where the Streets Have No Name” – U2 “What’s Your Name?” – Lynyrd Skynyrd “I Call Your Name” – The Beatles “Sign Your Name” – Terence Trent D’Arby “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” – Gary Portnoy ( Cheers theme ) “I Got a Name” – Jim Croce “The Name Game” – Shirley Ellis “The Name of the Game” – ABBA “In the Name of Love” – Thompson Twins “You Know My Name (Look Up t...