There’s a great short story by Herman Melville about a notary with a rotten boss who suddenly decides he’s had enough. After years of drudgery, serving as a legal scribe without adequate compensation or respect, one day when Bartleby’s boss asks him to examine a paper, he hesitates. “Bartleby,” writes Melville, “in a singularly mild, … More Knowing No (Soul Space Thursdays)
We’re preaching through Romans at our church right now, and I’ll admit that it’s a challenge. I’m more a John sort of girl. I like an image to hang my hat on, a story to dive into. Romans is short on story and long on multisyllabic words. Unpacking Paul is like opening up a set … More Helpless Christianity * 10 Minute Devotional
Your costume had to fit over a snowsuit Those boots in my hubby’s costume above? Yeah, those are Sorrel snow boots. 2. Houses were far apart and yards were big, so you had to work hard for each piece of candy It was like 0.9 miles per mini Snickers. You basically had to eat all … More 10 Signs You’ve Celebrated Halloween in the Rural Midwest
When I was eleven months pregnant with our second child (okay, okay, it was only eight-and-a-half, but it felt like eleven), I picked up our three-year-old at preschool only to have his teacher stop me at the door. “You know,” she said, reaching behind her for a clipboard, “Lincoln hasn’t taken the bird home this … More A Laser Yes (Soul Space Thursday)
Today’s 10 Minute Devotional comes to us from Stephanie Belcher, host of Two Peas in a Podcast. There my friends stood; one yelling in support of one candidate, and the other screaming in support of the opposing candidate. As their opinions echoed in the room, a civilized discussion quickly became personal. Insults were thrown, attacks were … More Justifiable Anger * 10 Minute Devotional
The fam is taking a little breather from normal life this weekend. I’ll be back with a fresh post (by a great guest-writer!) tomorrow, but for today, please enjoy one of this blog’s greatest hits — also featured on Huffington Post! — from 2016. 10 Things Not to Say to a Postpartum Mom Postpartum women face … More 10 Things Not to Say to a Postpartum Mom (Greatest Hits)
When I lead the prayers of the people in church these days, they are long. There is a lot to mention. This week there will be more still. Some of the recent tragedies are halfway across the world. Others are a short drive away. Some make headlines. Others are privately mourned. Some involve hundreds. Others … More What to Do When There’s Not Much You Can Do * 10 Minute Devotional
Because it’s Monday, because the world isn’t all on fire, and because a smile is good for the soul. 1. In Seattle, there’s a preschool that meets in a nursing home 2. As of last week, snow leopards weren’t classified as endangered anymore 3. The fact that Winston Churchill (who liked his dinner drinks) visited the … More 10 Random Things to Make You Smile, Even Though it’s Monday
At a zoo tour years ago, I stood outside an okapi’s enclosure with a zookeeper who told me this story: Okapis are sensitive creatures. They are shy and gentle animals, and they struggle particularly in situations where they are repeatedly exposed to loud noises. The Sydney zoo is fairly close to the Sydney Opera House. … More Turn Down the Noise * 10 Minute Devotional
I sprained my ankle this weekend. No idea how. Saturday night all was well. Sunday morning I woke up with a bad ache and by the time I’d made it through two church services (preaching in flats, which I NEVER do because my tall black heels are my power shoes) it was swollen and painful. … More Top 10 Perks of a Sprained Ankle
Courtney Ellis 