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This Fear of Our Lord 2023
It’s popular now to pick a theme word for each new year instead of crafting a list of resolutions. As a lover of words, this idea appeals to me. And yet, the word I feel most drawn to for this year is far from the ordinary ones—joy and kindness, for instance. Instead, my theme word… Continue reading
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Christmas Trees
I.Beside the road, browning in the breeze,Are th’unadorned and corpselike Christmas trees.Their severed stumps pine for forsaken sod,The rootless forest for a promised Rod. Dangling from a beam of their own bark,They wait in vain for cries of joy or “Hark!”In these rejected trees we find reversedThe truth that He who hangs as such is… Continue reading
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Every Saint a Singer
While recording a podcast earlier this week, I was asked: “Are all Christians required to sing?” I replied that yes, scripture indicates as much. Not every believer is called to music ministry as a vocation, but every saint is, fundamentally, a singer. The calls to song that punctuate scripture are not only directed to all… Continue reading
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Insignificant in Life, Glorious in Death
There’s a tree at the end of my street that is unfairly beautiful right now. It’s nice enough throughout the rest of the year, but in the early autumn it turns a vibrant red. I slow down whenever I drive past just to marvel at it. There’s something somber about this tree. It spends its… Continue reading
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Joyfully, Ryanne
I sign my emails “Joyfully,” which seems ironic. I don’t tend toward cheerfulness when I open my cluttered inbox. Signing my emails this way began as a choice—much like joy. No matter my mood when I type the body of a message, I am forced to rejoice when I sign and send it. The early… Continue reading
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Reader’s Slump: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments
There is no greater affliction in the bookish life than the reader’s slump. This nonfatal but distressing issue is frequently caused by excellent books. For instance, one patient succumbed to reader’s slump after binge-reading Eric Metaxes’ biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Because of the brilliance of this book, the patient was unable to find any other… Continue reading
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Wednesday
Wednesday is a day of reorientation. Monday and Tuesday, I reflect on Sunday’s services. What went well? How did the music interact with the message? Was my preparation enough? On Wednesday, I turn my gaze toward the coming Sunday. I finalize my service binder, confirm my prelude and postlude, and rehearse with the choir. I… Continue reading
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2022 Reading List
This weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Maranatha Christian Writers’ Conference. Perhaps the most invigorating part of this experience was swapping book recommendations. This inspired me to update my abandoned GoodReads account. This year has been a good one for reading and writing. I’ve finished my first draft of Fruitful Worship and, in… Continue reading
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Good Friday 2022
Art, beauty, Bible, blog, blogger, christ, christian, christian blogger, Christian living, Christian poetry, christianity, church, devotional, faith, hope, journal, poem, poems, poet, poetry, poets, reflection, sacred music, sacred poetry, theology, theology and the arts, word, worship, write, writer, writing -
Every Careless Note
Whenever I receive new music, I review the lyrics of the selected songs. Recently, I had to turn down a gig because it would have required me to perform pieces from The Book of Mormon. I am not Mormon and have strong disagreements with much of the Latter Day Saints doctrine; however, many of my… Continue reading
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Running without Weight
It’s finally warming up here in Iowa and, although I am glad to run outside once more, I am confronted by the fact that even outdoor running has its restrictions. I must hold my pepper spray if I am running alone. I must carry a water bottle if I plan to run any significant distance.… Continue reading
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Building the Body or Building the Brand?
Examining church doctrinal statements and job postings is a weird hobby of mine. It’s one of the consequences of being a huge theology nerd as well as a pastor’s wife. Recently, I came across several ministry job descriptions that are deeply troubling. Frighteningly, these are coming to represent a norm amongst contemporary evangelical churches. For… Continue reading
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