To Read: Articles
“Objects of Despair: Fake Meat” // Meghan O’Gieblyn // “Or perhaps it will merely confirm our secret hope that human ingenuity will outwit all our creditors, that, in the end, we will be made to relinquish nothing.”
Sayable // Lore Wilbert (I had to catch up from not reading in a while! She had gems waiting.)
- “Have This Mind Among You” // “’Your marriage is like that because your personalities are easier.’ Okay. Maybe. But I don’t think Paul was saying the fruit of the Spirit was only for people with low-key personalities.”
- “No One Is An Expert” // “Let me decrease. Make me an expert in my own weakness and a student of your great glory.”
- “His Nearness, Our Good” // “But it is to say I was held, known, carried, seen, and heard. He was faithful, namely, to be present, to be near, and that nearness has been my only good.”
- “Each In It’s Own Season” // “but mostly I find myself grateful that my office window faces the pruned tree and not the uprooted one. A reminder that all living things need pruning, even 40 year old living things, and that even shorn, naked, and seemingly dead trees will bear again in their season.”
“Leadership Has Replaced Discipleship (And how The Internet Is Transforming The Church)” // Cole Ryan // “We cannot improve upon or streamline this process — it is inherently human. And while all the new technologies and advancements in life try to pull us away from real, embodied, communal life — from a face — discipleship just keeps pulling us right back together.”
To Read: Books
Light Upon Light: A Literary Guide to Prayer for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, Sarah Arthur // Kindle // This was supposed to go through Epiphany Week 8, but I got eager. A beautiful collection of scripture, poetry, and fiction.
We’re Going To Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True, Gabrielle Union // Audiobook // I’m a sucker for good stories told in any way, so this was a fun way to learn about an actress I otherwise wouldn’t know much at all about.
To Watch
Beleaf In Fatherhood // This couple is simultaneously low-key and no-nonsense, full of relational, parental wisdom and ridiculous humor.
To Listen: Music
FREE 6LACK // 6lack // I wanna live long enough to see a 6lack + Sufjan collaboration. Until then, I’ll keep enjoying this one.
…TO Jalisa // John Givez // A new project (not including recent singles 2 STEPPIN’ and I’M WORKIN’, unfortunately). But I’m loving the smooth sound of everything he’s created recently.
Tides Of A Teardrop // Mandolin Orange // Really lovely Americana Folk.
Aventine // Agnes Obel // A friend shared her track ‘September Song’ a while back and I fell in love this album because of that introduction. Heartbreakingly gorgeous strings and piano.
My Life // Mary J. Blige // This kicked off my R&B women kick this week, as follows:
Isolation // Kali Uchis
Lost & Found // Jorja Smith
Feels // Snoh Aalegra
To Listen: Audio
Speaking With Joy: Friendship Through Hard Times
Persuasion: Thinking It Through
We Feel Super Nourished: Celiac Disease
To Make
(The best things are made without adherence to recipes. That is my philosophy.)
Banana Bread
Garlic-Herb Biscuits
A Good Breakfast
Love
(Be careful with knives and avoid a traumatic breakfast, though.)
To Cultivate
Loving and Being Loved By Your Church Family // Supporting each other’s musical gigs while eating pizza and drinking beers, participating in periodic member/family meetings, singing along with the saints even if they have to sing for you, serving, studying, eating, and laughing together, planning Pre-K lessons with the help of others (because small people deserve excellence – in the structure, aim, activities, songs, lessons, and crafts. Even weighty truths of scripture are simple enough for small minds and little hearts.)
Messy, Inefficient, Noisy Kids // “Should CHILDREN Be Allowed In CHURCH? I’m Here To Help.”
Falafel + Surprises // I paid for lunch at a local place. Found $10 cash on the ground while eating lunch. Further proof that falafel is manna from heaven. And free money is money you can freely give away.
Appreciating The Place You Live // Right now that’s Columbia, Missouri. But there was a time I lived in Atlanta (superbowl, anyone???). This is one of my favorite photos taken while living there — in the East Lake Waffle House parking lot.
Walks At The Park // Especially when you’re feeling in a funk, sad, or depressed, it’s a joy to go on a walk in warm air. With a walking buddy and no electronics, those sights, smells, and slow walking rhythms are the most therapeutic thing.
Children’s Books // “There is nothing sweeter in this sad world than the sound of someone you love calling your name.” ― The Tale of Despereaux
Prayer // It takes humility to ask, praise, confess, and thank. It’s wild to think how long we can go before letting the Father know what we’re aching for or about. He wants to hear from his kids!
Unnecessary But Welcome Humor // A shining star recently (as always) has been Jakob’s ability top play the best songs at the right time. Here’s a few examples. (He’s also skilled at making up new songs in the moment, for the love of it, almost daily.)
GOOD DAY by Nappy Roots — while eating breakfast. It’s a family anthem.
GROWN AND SEXY by Babyface — moments after his studying concludes. Usher combined with Justin Bieber.
I SMILE by Kirk Franklin — while getting ready for church
RIGHT BACK AT YOU by Mobb Deep — while on his way home.
YOU ARE MY STARSHIP by Norman Connors — while we are feelin lovey dovey.
various songs from the MALIBU KEN album — while I am trying to get ready in the morning.
TIMMY TURNER by Desiigner — while driving to the park for a walk, on the incredible 60 degree day after the Polar Vortex.
SOUNDS OF THE SEA by John Grout — while about to go to bed. Waves now remind me of the constant waves outside our beachside honeymoon suite in Jamaica.
TENUOUSNESS by Andrew Bird — while feelin tender. It was played at the end of the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love.
HALEY by NeedtoBreathe — while eatin granola and yogurt from the other room. “Haley don’t hurt meee.”
Luminous and Liminal 
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