Moving up to 18.75 pounds tomorrow. According to Claude that means I’m above average for every category except lifters. I’ll take it.

the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth (John 1:14, RSVCE)

Merry Christmas!

This week I’m challenging myself to maintain my streaks. Not because I need to, but because I want a challenge. 50k steps & 3x lifting amidst three Christmases, two masses, and some last minute Christmas preps. Wish me luck!

I love that people at our parish feel comfortable enough to bring (and leave) their own pew pillow. This is as it should be. The sanctuary is an extension of our Lord’s house. We are welcome to move in and be comfortable.

Currently reading: Non-things by Byung-Chul Han 📚— The readings for the symposium are off the a great start. You know the book is good when you’ve made two highlights and you’re still in the preface!

Related to slow, however, I feel bad that I often learn of news as I’m doing the prayers of the people at mass. But, then again, what does my knowing change? I pray for “all sorts and conditions of men” each day. Do I personally need to know the conditions? I trust God does.

A great part of being off social media is being immune from “hot takes.” After the Ruch trial all I had was the document from the province. Then, some real, live, commentary from my deanery. Then, a few days later, thought out articles on blogs. I like this slower pace.

I’ve been fairly down on technology of late, but I must say there are benefits. YouTube, specifically, has kept my ability to understand German and Dutch active. I realized yesterday videos were hoping between languages and I hardly noticed. 15 year old Michael’s brain would melt!

Hot take: The ACNA should not have a say or involvement in selecting the head of the Global Communion. Our house isn’t in order and we should humbly submit to the discipline, guidance, and authority of the larger provinces.

2025 was a big year for flying. After a decade of having small children, the youngest is in kindergarten and the Arnolds are back to traveling! ✈️

Why are people wearing smart rings and such? I just don’t know what metric I could possibly need to know. The only smart device I’d be interested in would be something that accurately gave me macro/micro nutrients and calories for my food.

Y’all, it feels so nice just to be free to do my dang job! That’s all anyone ever wants. Empowerment to do their job.

There’s a blog post in here somewhere, but I’ve really enjoyed being children’s minister these last several months. More priests should give it a try! Children aren’t only for women, we agreed to catechism them in our ordination vows!

Read 14 books thus far this year. The “official” goal is always 12. But, the real goal is 16. Two more to go! 📚

Very excited about this great find! 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 🇲🇽

And, with that, the most stressful experience of my career is finished.

Methodists and Wesleyans are not active participants in America’s meaningful national conversations. Methodism helped to shape America and its democracy. Now it is largely a bystander. Hopefully, a renewed Wesleyan Christianity will contribute to American intellectual discourse. - firebrandmag.com/articles/…

I’d say this is because these days most serious “Methodists” are Anglican or Roman.