faith
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The Pedagogy of Place
As I stretched after a run yesterday, I caught sight of two bald eagles in a tree across the river. I immediately thought of Isaiah 40:31 and the promise that those who trust in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles. Then I thought of the hymn “On Eagle’s Wings,” which is quite possibly… Continue reading
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Learning to Lean: On Walkers and Worship
An old man. Muscles previously sinewed from hard labor and long hikes have atrophied. Hands once tanned and leathered from daily chores shiver in too-thin sheets of papery skin. His broad shoulders declare that he was once a champion wrestler. Now, slightly stooped, they denote him a determined worshiper. He stands. Perhaps he wobbles a… Continue reading
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Trustworthy and Trustful
I have very rarely had a bad performance due to being unprepared. I have, however, flubbed quite a few due to over-preparation. I have been known to work myself into a frenzy, playing the same difficult passage over and over and over again until I have effectively unlearned it. Such is my personality. I can… Continue reading
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Turn Your Eyes
When my son was born, one of his eyes was squished shut while the other was wide open. Mere seconds old, he lifted his head and valiantly sought to take in his new and, I imagine, startling surroundings. He squinted at my face, his lower lip quivering with the effort. Wide-eyed behind my glasses, I… Continue reading
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The Narnian Magic of “Boring” Testimonies
While being interviewed for a podcast recently, I was asked to share my testimony. As usual, I felt an odd sense of shyness. My testimony is boring—so boring, I sometimes wonder if anyone even believes it. I was three years old in the back of my mom’s car. “Mom, what’s a Christian?” I asked. She… Continue reading
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Waiting and Watching
Upon moving to the Midwest, I had to learn the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A “watch” means the necessary conditions are in place, so meteorologists are keeping an eye out for tornadic activity. A “warning” means that a tornado has been spotted and is an active threat. This week—week 39… Continue reading
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A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul
I’m not sure about you, but I am existing in the limbo between Christmas and New Years when regular meals cease and I subsist on leftovers, desserts, and an occasional orange thrown in for good measure. It’s that odd in-between week, during which many of us try futilely to stick to some sort of fitness… Continue reading
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Why I Still Love “Mary, Did You Know?”
This time of year, it’s popular among Christian social media users to bash the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” I’ve seen so many variations of the following Tweet, some clever and some rather crass: “Mary, did you know?” Yes, she knew. Stop asking. I have even heard the song described scornfully as “mansplaining.” But I… Continue reading
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What If I Don’t Like My Church’s Music?
When visiting Crossway’s headquarters over the summer, the publishing team and I were chatting about how wonderful God’s timing is. Without necessarily planning to do so, Crossway ended up releasing several resources for musical worship within the same few months including The Sing! Hymnal, Spirit-Filled Singing: Bearing Fruit as We Worship Together, and What If… Continue reading
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Stopped Pipes & Stubborn People
Pipe organs are temperamental instruments. True to their name, they seem to live—and die—like biological beasts. They fluctuate with humidity and temperature. The smallest bits of dust can set them wheezing. Occasionally they refuse to play—or to stop playing—for no clear reason, and never when convenient. Knowing that a freshly-tuned organ awaited me, I was… Continue reading
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Suggestions for All Saints
A couple of years ago, my husband and I were watching The Chosen. We were tentatively optimistic to see so many people enjoying the story of Jesus in place of other entertainment options. But then we watched our final episode: Season 2, Episode 6: “Unlawful.” In this episode, Mary Magdalene succumbs to temptation and returns… Continue reading
Recent Posts
- Actually, Having a Baby Has Slowed Me Down
- The Pedagogy of Place
- Lessons from My Favorite Fictional Mother
- The Way of Repentance & Seven Marks of True Repentance
- Learning to Lean: On Walkers and Worship
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Ryanne Molinari 