Hi everyone,
The daffodils are up and blooming. The bluebells are not far behind them. While I’m sad we haven’t seen snow in two years in Charlotte, I’m grateful for the blooms.
Also, now that the Superbowl is behind us:
The Part Where There’s an Essay: Hope in the Particulars
This week I’m directing your attention to Cultivating Oaks Press, where I’ve recently joined the writers’ fellowship. Their Winter issue dropped last month; my essay is “Hope in the Particulars.” Here’s an excerpt:
While we as Christians cling to large, idyllic terms like “hope,” “peace,” and “encouragement,” these are at their most powerful when they are stubbornly small and specific….
God Himself speaks this way about His dealings with Israel. When He rehearsed a refrain with His people in the Old Testament, He cited a specific time and place: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” He rehearsed specific people’s names: “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac…” He doesn’t stay abstract; He majors in specifics again and again.
It can be easy for us to think about God with big ideas—far-off ideas—unattainables. But God does not do this. He chose to cite the details. The very nature of the Incarnation is given to us in detail: a certain manger; a certain city; and a certain night of a certain year to certain parents under the reign of a certain king.
For the Anglophiles
This week, polite but savage:
Reads & Listens of the Week
A balanced article from The Atlantic on the positive influence of the American Evangelical church. “For all the bad that’s come out of this movement, there are still countless stories of personal transformation leading people to become better parents, better spouses, and better members of their communities.”
I thought this discussion with David Platt about singleness in the church was really helpful.
hosted my buddy SD Smith a few weeks ago. As usual, I was helped by Sam’s wisdom and perspective.My buddies over at
have a new podcast! I’m super encouraged by the combined efforts of these women to put true and beautiful work out into the world.Here’s neither a read nor a listen, but a watch. We’ve been keeping an eye on the eagles at Big Bear this winter. They’re taking care of three eggs. Here’s the feed:
…you must be sure that the doubts and questions are your own, not, so to speak, the mustache and walking stick that happen to be the fashion of any particular moment. - Marilynne Robinson, Gilead
You're a Cultivator!!! Yay! I didn't know this but I'm glad to see it. Bookmarking your essay for later ; )