I’m the Preacher’s Kid
My soul is so full. I am coming down from the high after hanging out at the Southern Festival of Books for three days. No, not a vacation, not a retreat, but three days that were for me. Poet me, writer me, reader me. There is so much to reflect on, so I’ll have to [...]
From Snoop Lion to Saint Nonna: A Look at Spiritual Transformations
Have you heard about Snoop Dogg’s spiritual experience and resulting name change? The story goes that he went to Jamaica, studied reggae and Rastafarianism, and was told by a Rastafarian priest, “You are the light. You are the lion.” Must be a pretty tame lion, because Mr. Snoop appears to want to spread peace, harmony, [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 26: Favorite Non-Fiction Book
To be honest I don’t read a lot of nonfiction because I can’t get into it like I can get into a story. It takes me weeks, sometimes months, to finish a nonfiction book, while I can read a really good novel in a couple of days. A novel takes me out of my world [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 17: Favorite Spiritual Book
This one has been very difficult for me. Like Karla, I’ve read a lot of different types of spiritual books (although she’s got me beat on theology books!) and I find it hard to narrow it down to just one. I’m going to take it back to college days on this one. During my senior [...]
Book Month Challenge Day 10: Book That Changed Your Life
At the Corner of East and Now by Frederica Mathewes-Green. One day early in our marriage, Steven and I were on one of our used bookstore dates, and I came across this book in the Spirituality section of the store. I read the description on the back and the first couple of pages, and the [...]
Marriage and The Church: Can Honesty Be the Best Policy?
Traditional marriage almost seems scandalous these days. We watch Hollywood couples move in together and have children, then get married. We have friends in committed long-term relationships who are afraid that getting married would change things. We see the alarming statistics about divorce in our country. Thus, we are amazed by couples who have been [...]
Lenten Reflections: Celebrating Lent and Pascha Together . . . Apart
Today is Orthodox Easter, which we call Pascha. Christ is risen! Today’s guest bloggers are my Orthodox friends David and Roseanna Commini, who have spent this Lent/Pascha apart as David is overseas. David: My name is David, I am married to a wonderful woman and father to a very beautiful girl. I am currently deployed [...]
Bridegroom Matins
Bridegroom Matins is an Orthodox prayer service that occurs the first three days of Orthodox Holy Week. Though each day has a particular focus, all three days relate to the parable of the ten virgins. As the virgins wait for the bridegroom who comes in the middle of the night, Orthodox Christians ready themselves for [...]
Poetry Friday: On Prayer
I was thinking about Lent a few days ago and wondering what spiritual book I might read this Lent, when a thought hit me: I don’t want you to read something. I want you to pray. Whether that thought came from me or God, I don’t know. But I couldn’t shake it off. My mind [...]
