Grace & Gumption
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No Unequally Yoked
Once, as I was struggling in a poor relationship, my mom reminded me of 2 Corinthians 6:14. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14, ESV The image of “unequally yoked” was somewhat foreign to me, having grown up Continue reading
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Gilead
“To me it seems rather Christlike to be as unadorned as this place is, as little regarded.” – Gilead Continue reading
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Preaching as the Choir
*The following is a paper written as part of my master’s coursework. The research and thought that generated this paper have had a profound impact on my thinking in regards to worship, and I return to these sources and ideas frequently. In the post-Christian age, sacred choral music remains “a significant part of many people’s Continue reading
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Joseph – A Song and a Sermon
When we first began dating, my husband and I were employed by two very different churches. They proclaimed the same gospel, but the one where he worked was extremely contemporary while mine preserved the beautiful Lutheran liturgy. Although we attended each others’ services, it became our dream to collaborate, for him to preach while I Continue reading
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Fall Reading 2021
Seeing as A Bookish Charm began as a book review blog, I thought I’d return to my roots and share a bit of what I’ve been reading this season. It’s an eclectic bunch of books, but that’s the way I like it, and I hope you will too! Eat this Book by Eugene Peterson: This Continue reading
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Historical Humility
I’m currently enjoying Theology in the Democracy of the Dead, by Matt Jensen, a former professor of mine from the Torrey Honors College and a fellow (though much more accomplished) St. Andrew’s alum. First of all, I highly recommend this read, as it offers a comprehensive yet relatively brief look into the lives and work Continue reading
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Desiring Disneyland
My university was situated within a short drive of Disneyland, a major selling point for many of us. I remember fellow students who were constantly complaining about tuition, but continued to spend massive amounts of time and money on Disney passes and products. Now, I enjoy Disneyland. Occasionally—because I am a musician and am sometimes Continue reading
author, christian, christian culture, christianity, Christianity today, church, church service, college, college students, contemporary christianity, contemporary church, contemporary worship, culture, Disney, disney magic, disneyland, Fantasy, ministry, ministry life, modern Church, sunday experience, word, world, worship production, writer, writing -
The Purest Literature
In Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers, Lord Peter Whimsey defends a woman accused of murder. In an ironical move, Sayers makes this woman a detective novelist which, oddly, works to her favor as Whimsey claims that this counterintuitively renders her unlikely to have committed the crime of which she is accused: “She writes detective Continue reading
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Girded Minds
We have a generation of weak runners, tripping and falling and denying that either is a problem. But we are called to more, Reader; we are called to run like athletes, to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14, ESV). No successful athlete… Continue reading
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Seeker-Friendly or Worth Seeking?
Do not look to be seeker-friendly; live so as to be worth seeking. Yesterday, as we drove home from a prayer meeting, my husband turned to me and said: “We found a gem.” I knew immediately what he meant. Prior to being led to this dear church, we did not know what our future in Continue reading
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Little Church on the Prairie
My life has been turned upside-down lately, but I am beginning to catch glimpses of the wondrous story it is becoming. I am also being forced (abruptly, but necessarily) to reckon with my own doctrinal stances, specifically regarding the Church. Since engagement, my now-husband and I were confronted all at once with “richer and poorer, Continue reading
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Pruned: A Parable
In a garden in the desert there was a tree. She was beautiful, lush and healthy and growing with a swiftness unknown to most desert plants. She had been planted in good soil and her roots drank deeply from a nearby stream. One day, the Gardener was walking along the stream. As he went, he Continue reading
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Ryanne Molinari 