The subtitle of Holy Disunity is "How What Separates Us Can Save Us." The words separate and save are not often paired. The author, Layton Williams, who is young and identifies as queer, begins her book with this sentence: "I have spent my entire life deeply loving people with whom I will never … [Read more...] about Holy Disunity, by Layton Williams, a book review
Survivor Care: What Religious Professionals Need to Know About Healing Trauma, a book review
I reviewed Christy's Sims book "Survivor Care: What Religious Professionals Need to Know About Healing Trauma" for the Christian Century. Read the review here. You can order Survivor Care here. (an Amazon affiliate link.) … [Read more...] about Survivor Care: What Religious Professionals Need to Know About Healing Trauma, a book review
“Happy Accidents” Thank you, Bob Ross!
How do you nourish your creativity? It's an important question and too rarely asked. The transactional world has very little interest in our creativity. It's up to us to cultivate the part of us that longs to create something new, even if that something has very little utilitarian value. I'm … [Read more...] about “Happy Accidents” Thank you, Bob Ross!
Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump, by Angela Decker, a book review
If you want something readable and thought-provoking about how and why religiously-affiliated voters elected our divisive president, this is a book for you. The author, pastor and journalist Angela Denker, shows that while Trump supporters in collective mass have changed our political world, their … [Read more...] about Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump, by Angela Decker, a book review
DOE, poems of innocence, atrocity, and other female concerns
I'm so thrilled to tell you about a new book of poetry by my good friend, Susan Baller-Shepard. The title is simply: DOE. Many of Susan's poems feature the nature world, which she loves, but they explore and reveal the human experience, from a uniquely female lens. Susan is a pastor and religion … [Read more...] about DOE, poems of innocence, atrocity, and other female concerns
Ponies & Renewal
If, like me, you read "Misty of Chincoteague" as a child, you may have a soft spot for the famous wild ponies who live on the barrier islands off the Virginia shore. This week, while I was on a clergy retreat in Ocean City, Maryland, I visited Assateague Island. The ponies were on my mind … [Read more...] about Ponies & Renewal
Inspired by Eugene Peterson
Eugene Peterson has gone to glory. He was an inspiration to me, like so many others. I loved his work on the Psalms of Ascent, "A Long Obedience." In 2010 I heard him speak at a Festival of Faith & Writing -- he inspired me to continue the pursuit of both pastoral work and ministry as two … [Read more...] about Inspired by Eugene Peterson
Paul Simon, Farewell Tour
Loving and Leaving a Church, by Barbara Melosh, a book review
Barbara Melosh and I are writing buddies. We met at a week-long writing workshop hosted by Collegeville Institute (MN) in 2012. She joined my writing group, making the commitment to drive all the way from Wilmington, DE to northern VA every other week. I mention that because so many people think … [Read more...] about Loving and Leaving a Church, by Barbara Melosh, a book review
Influence: Do you have it? Do you want it?
Perhaps you've run across this unlikely noun: Influencer. I heard it often during my last book launch. My publisher asked me to create a list of people who were in a position to influence others to read my book -- writers, bloggers, pastors, and Good-readers. At first it was excruciating. I hated … [Read more...] about Influence: Do you have it? Do you want it?
Feeding the Writer Within
Certain loves are more difficult to keep alive than others. These are the loves that no one assumes you harbor. Some loves are normative. I can tell you that I love my husband and daughters and you will understand me. I could say I love Jesus, and most of you will understand what I mean to say, … [Read more...] about Feeding the Writer Within
Healing Spiritual Wounds, an interview with Carol Howard Merritt
Have you ever been wounded by a church, or do you know someone who has been? Have you ever wished you had the right book on your shelf, something solid and helpful you could read and pass along? That book is finally here! It is destined to become a classic. I am privileged to call Carol Howard … [Read more...] about Healing Spiritual Wounds, an interview with Carol Howard Merritt