writing
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5 Times Flannery O’Connor was an Introverted Icon
Last year, I read Brad Gooch’s marvelous biography of Flannery at a time when I felt (to be honest) very crummy about my writing. It was exactly the encouragement I needed. For instance, I found out that when someone asked O’Connor what if she collected anything, she replied, “Rejection letters.” Her bluntness was balm to… Continue reading
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Don’t Bite the Hand that Feeds You—Even if it’s a Robot
It’s become popular to warn of the dangers of digitization through social media posts, podcasts, live streams, text messages and…do you get my point? We are right to be worried. Digitization is a problem and I am not contrarian enough to deny it. I don’t like that my first instinct upon waking is to check… Continue reading
Abraham Kuyper, be thankful, Bible, blogger, christians and tech, christians and the digital era, digital, digital era, digital technology, digitalization, discernment and gratitude, social meda, social media, social media dangers, social media fast, tech, technology, thankful for digital tech, the digital self, writer, writing -
The Bookish Quote That Isn’t Actually Bookish
I am rereading Pride and Prejudice for probably the sixth time for an independent study project. At the risk of sounding like Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail, I really don’t think you can read this book too many times. Every time I revisit it, I enjoy it with greater relish: the wit strikes deeper,… Continue reading
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This is the Day the Lord has Made I Guess
There is a wind chill of -40. Negative. Forty. While my Arizona-raised mind cannot fathom this stark reality, I was just outside and my chilled hands can confirm: this is my third winter in Iowa and this weekend alone has rendered it the most brutal. I knew this day was going to be nasty when… Continue reading
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All My (Author) Friends Are Dead – A Reflection and Update
First of all, if you got the reference from this post’s title, let’s be friends; we clearly went to junior high in the same era. Alright, moving on. Last month, I received some long-awaited and long-prayed-for news. When I opened the fateful email, I ran screaming across the house to tell Billy. “Crsweryawfurrmuncnterct!!!” He thought… Continue reading
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12 Ways Your Headphones Are Changing You
I recently read 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke, which was a scary read not because it contained monsters or spooks but because it cut to the heart of certain realities–namely, that our smartphones are changing us far more than we would like to admit. This made me consider what other… Continue reading
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Marvelous (A Song Based on Psalm 139)
On Saturday, I helped a friend lead musical worship for a women’s event. The morning was centered around testimonies, with at least one woman quoting Psalm 139. As I picked out the songs for the morning, I remembered that somewhere in the depths of my old laptop was a song I wrote based on this… Continue reading
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Publication Update: The Sacrifice
Nine years ago, I began a story—a story that kept me up at night, that made me sick to my stomach, that sent me down weird Google rabbit holes. It is a story that I could not forget and have revisited every year since. It is, I believe, a necessary story. I am pleased to… Continue reading
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Not a Laser, a Light: Reflecting on Encouragement
I live in the neighborhood all Midwestern dads reminisce about. Every morning, kids march past my house and up a hill to the elementary school. In the afternoon, they traipse back, climbing through my yard, which is also uphill. They don’t know it yet, but someday they’ll boast to their kids, “When I was your… Continue reading
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Of The Making of Much Content There is No End: Reflecting on Ecclesiastes and Instagram
My Instagram feed is filled with “marketing experts” offering advice on producing endless content to build up a personal brand. But, why? These self-proclaimed “experts” have built massive followings of people who are desperate to gain followings…but for what? We have created a culture of people who are eager to be famous just for the… Continue reading
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7 Similarities Between Christian Encouragement and Spirit-filled Singing
As I’ve plunged into the deep end of exegesis and research this week, I’ve found even more similarities between encouragement and singing than I expected. These are not fully developed premises, but I hope these basic points and scripture citations inspire you to dive in for yourself. Encouragement and singing are both:1. Characteristic of God… Continue reading
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Social Media and Sabbaths
It’s Saturday evening, and I am filled with relief. Tomorrow, at last, is a Sabbath. Sundays are not restful for me. I rise earlier than other mornings and practice for an hour or so before my first church service, where I play the organ and direct the choir. After this, I snatch a few donut… Continue reading
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Ryanne Molinari 