James R. Neal

Thoughts on Writing, Books, Politics, Love and Life

Skip to content
  • Home
  • Emmaus Path — Christian writing
  • About James Neal
  • Contact
Search

Christmas

May Christmas transform our hearts and our society

December 29, 2019 / jamesrneal / 2 Comments

  The Christmas season is upon us — in the traditional Church calendar, Christmas began on Dec. 25 and ends at Epiphany on Jan. 6 (followed by the beginning of the Orthodox Christmas season Jan. 7). Regardless of when you believe Christmas begins and ends, the season is, at its best, a time of family, … Continue reading May Christmas transform our hearts and our society

Advent: A time for spiritual housekeeping

December 1, 2018December 1, 2018 / jamesrneal / Leave a comment

There’s a lot of housekeeping this time of year. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, we spend a lot of time tidying up for the arrival of loved ones. But, there’s a different kind of cleaning that is called for this season, for a different kind of loved one. You see, despite the manic gift-shopping and decorating, … Continue reading Advent: A time for spiritual housekeeping

Holiday procrastination … Your gift to you

November 23, 2018 / jamesrneal / 2 Comments

I had barely begun to emerge from my turkey, stuffing and pie stupor on Thanksgiving when I made a bewildering, and a little distressing, discovery. I am way behind on my Christmas preparations. Yes, I know, Santa was making the rounds before Halloween and Hobby Lobby had the Christmas decorations out around Independence Day. Still, … Continue reading Holiday procrastination … Your gift to you

The inward journey to Epiphany

January 5, 2018 / jamesrneal / Leave a comment

If you follow the traditional church calendar you may recall today is the last day of Christmas, which also makes it Epiphany Eve. The Epiphany, often overlooked in the wake of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, is a holy day unto itself, and a festival day in many countries. Drawn from the Greek word epipháneia, … Continue reading The inward journey to Epiphany

Advent: Cleaning house with Mary

December 16, 2017December 16, 2017 / jamesrneal / 1 Comment

In the words of the old Bing Crosby song, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” No, this is not one of those grumpy War on Christmas columns. I love Christmas with all its trappings, though I do wish it were more about the spirit of giving and less about the price of the … Continue reading Advent: Cleaning house with Mary

Diwali, Light and Christian Love

October 22, 2017October 22, 2017 / jamesrneal / Leave a comment

Today marks the last day of Diwali, the five-day Hindu festival of light also celebrated by followers of the Jain and Sikh faith traditions. I must admit, my knowledge of Diwali is limited to a high school religion class a quarter century back and some online searches to refresh my memory. What I remember and … Continue reading Diwali, Light and Christian Love

Follow James R. Neal on WordPress.com

Categories

  • Aspirancy
  • Faith
  • Haiku
  • Health and Wellness
  • James Neal Fiction
  • Journalism
  • Life's Random Musings
  • On Books
  • On Writing
  • Reflections on Scripture
  • Social and Political Commentary
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016

Archive

  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016

Navigation

  • Home
  • Emmaus Path — Christian writing
  • About James Neal
  • Contact
Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Follow Following
    • James R. Neal
    • Join 339 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • James R. Neal
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...