If bad theology kills (& I believe it does), then bad eschatology is a serial killer.

Most people I talk to are deeply disillusioned with the choices they are offered: an unraveling neofascist who increasingly sounds like a less coherent version of the Riddler? Maybe the person last night who did a fine job of not raising the ire of the confederacy? – at Edmond, OK

The e-book of this little passion project/labor of love is free for one more day today. It was important for me to do that, because while this absolutely is “about” the ongoing Christmas season, there is unquestionably more raw soul in this than anything I’ve written thus far. I need this OUT of me, somehow. I released it myself simply because the inner voice/impulse I’ve come to trust screamed like I’ve never heard before. It was singeing my own fingers to hold this in, felt like violence to myself to stay quiet. This “Christmas project” is a trojan horse to talk about Israel/Palestine, my beloved Sister Margaret Gaines; a channel for my fury at the world and at my own indifference, & as primal and raw an expression of hope as I’ve got left. It’s all the things I don’t really have words for, almost more speaking in tongues than in English in that way-but I trust your heart will make sense of it: a.co/d/2wCxtnk – at Edmond, OK

There is something that feels right about what little “promotion” there is for The Book of Waiting: Reflections on Advent and Christmas to be unadorned, all about the words. So today I wanted to share the preface with you. Rather than trying to tell you what it is, maybe it’s better to just let it be what it is-a small and feverish thing, a product of the fury I write about here. The audiobook is up exclusively from my website, and the paperback can still arrive via Amazon by Saturday if you order it today. Thanks for supporting me in bringing this little dream into the world.

Perhaps the most ridiculous thing I’ve done in my life…I released a surprise (“emergency?”) Advent/Christmas project—The Book of Waiting: Reflections on Advent & Christmas. I did it on my own just to get it out quickly, feeling such urgency on it. The audiobook is out TODAY, exclusively here: jonathanmartinwords.com

No matter how kind I try to be about things, I can’t conceal just how deeply I hate bad eschatology. All kinds of ideologies are death-dealing; ideas often kill. But eschatology can be world-destroying, swallowing up both the present and the future. – at Manhattan, NY

Some people like you better when you’re broken: Some people like you better when you’re broken Some people only like you on your knees when you fall or crawl, when you lose it all and you ask them pretty please Some people like you better when you’re broken Some people only love you on your back your bruises and scrapes, soothe their own ache and they feed on your lack Some people like you better when you’re broken some people only love you from above no life no joy, just a broken toy to be picked up or shoved Some people like you better when you’re broken Some people only love you when you burn no softness for, the skin you’re in only pity could be earned Some people can’t do resurrection some people see a rising as attack the garden quakes, the tomb it shakes what else might could come back? Love never wants you to be broken you don’t need that kind of friend To see you run, feel light and fun To see your heart back on the mend I have loved you when you’re broken I will love you when you’re well when wounds are all your feel, when scars begin to heal there’s no joy you can’t tell show me your photos of vacation or you can show off your scabs it will all be revelation I want nothing more than what you have (a poem? a country song? feels more like a song, but I don’t quite have that skill set—creative friends feel free to turn this into something :) ) – at Queens, NY

A prayer for #goodfriday: