First Things RSS Feed - Julie Stoner https://www.firstthings.com/author/julie-stoner en-us Copyright 2025 First Things. All Rights Reserved. ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:53:23 -0500 https://d2201k5v4hmrsv.cloudfront.net/img/favicon-196.png First Things RSS Feed Image https://www.firstthings.com/rss/author/julie-stoner 60 Terra Firma https://www.firstthings.com/article/2010/03/terra-firma https://www.firstthings.com/article/2010/03/terra-firma Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 Yes, you’re right. I’m sure Armageddon’s coming:
wars, tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, locusts,
killer flus, et cetera. Yes, I’m awed by
all the destruction.

I concede your point that the world might end, and
all your puny labors will be as nothing.
Still, you can’t go out with your friends until you’ve
folded the laundry.

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]]> Advent Carol https://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/12/advent-carol https://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/12/advent-carol Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Hush that anguished hymn you’re humming:
“Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
Trumpet Christmas! Fix his coming
firmly at “The First Nowell.”

He’s already come in glory!
Why plead, “Savior, come at last”?
Let’s talk Christmas! Tell a story
safely in the distant past.

Drown out John the Baptist. Edit
out “Prepare! Make straight the way!”
Cut to Christmas! Buy on credit.
Square things up another day.

Advent’s dreary. Let’s start living
Christmas now ! Wear red and green!
While we’re at it, skip Thanksgiving!
Deck the halls at Halloween!

Then, when the Incarnate Verb
overnight becomes passé,
carry Christmas to the curb.
Pack the Prince of Peace away.

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]]> “I Did Not Come to Call the Righteous” https://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/06/i-did-not-come-to-call-the-righteous https://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/06/i-did-not-come-to-call-the-righteous Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400 Matthew 9:9“13
We ninety-nine obedient sheep;
we workers hired at dawn’s first peep;
we faithful sons who strive to please,
forsaking prodigalities;
we virgins who take pains to keep
our lamps lit, even in our sleep;
we law-abiding Pharisees;

we wince at gospels such as these.

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]]> Choir-Loft Confession https://www.firstthings.com/article/2005/03/choir-loft-confession https://www.firstthings.com/article/2005/03/choir-loft-confession Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500 “I Sing Because I’m Happy” and “How Can I Keep from Singing””
O anthems of my ancestors, if only that were true.
I warble in the choir because I couldn’t keep from wringing
The necks of my descendants if we had to share a pew.

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