Well friends, the new year feels . . . like more of the movie Groundhog Day (and there were way too many wonderful Groundhog Day GIFs to choose from).
I know this past week has been heavy and anxiety-inducing for many of us in this country, so here are a few things from the last week (and month or so) that I have enjoyed and learned from:
I thought this article by Esau McCaulley, “Truth over power: It is past time for the church to speak plainly about the election,” was an excellent read.
“To be on the side of truth is to be on the side of peace and the flourishing of this country, because lies can only be maintained by violence.” –Esau McCaulley
This Holy Post podcast episode discussing the events of last week was helpful as well.
If you’re on Instagram, please do yourself a favor and follow the @sharonsaysso account on Instagram for non-partisan civics education and answers to political questions and debunking of conspiracy theories. Do you know why I wasn’t worried that the VP wouldn’t certify the election results? Because Sharon McMahon educated me on what our constitution says is the role of the VP!
Another new favorite follow on Instagram is Jasmine Holmes @jasminelholmes. She is a writer and teacher. She is currently researching a book on Black Christian women leaders and regularly shares the history that she’s finding. She also wrote a book called Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope.*
This Church Politics podcast episode with Justin Giboney called “An Opposition-Centered Public Witness” was brilliant. Giboney lays out why, as Christians, we should not choose our ethical positions by doing the opposite of our opposition. He gives specific examples of this with Critical Race Theory and abortion.
Giboney co-wrote this primer on Christian civic engagement that I found helpful:
Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagementby Justin Giboney, Michael Wear, Chris Butler*
You all know I love listening to the Holy Post podcast. One of the hosts and pastor/Bible teacher Skye Jethani, wrote a book called What if Jesus was Serious: A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus we Love to Ignore.* It works through the sermon on the mount and includes illustrations of the key concepts and includes applications for our current culture. We are trying to read this as an evening read with the kids. Some of the writing is a little over their heads, but so far we have found it engaging!
We are reading You are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith* as part of a women’s leadership training group at church. The main idea of the book is that we as humans are not primarily thinking creations, bur rather loving and worshipping people. Our loves are constantly being shaped by the “liturgies” around us that train us to love in a certain direction. Here’s are two quotes:
“What if, instead of starting from the assumption that human beings are thinking things, we started from the conviction that human beings are first and foremost lovers? What if you are defined not by what you know but by what you desire? What if the center and seat of the human person is found not in the heady regions of the intellect but in the gut-level regions of the heart? How would that change our approach to discipleship and Christian formation?”
“Discipleship, we might say, is a way to curate your heart, to be attentive to and intentional about what you love.”
–James K. A. Smith
As an artist, I am thinking about the way art (and music) can capture our imaginations and help us to “curate our hearts” and direct our loves.
I am on the book launch team for Tish Harrison Warren’s new book, Prayer in the Night. I’m reading it now and it’s beautiful, poetic, solemn, and encouraging. It’s about entering into the ancient prayers of the saints in seasons of darkness and suffering. So timely, so encouraging. The book is based around this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer:
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
The book launches January 26, 2021, but can be pre-ordered now from any of these sellers:
Preorder/IVP Book Page: ivpr.es/THWPrayer
Amazon: ivpr.es/THWPrayerA
Barnes and Noble: ivpr.es/THWPrayerB
ChristianBook.com: ivpr.es/THWPrayerC
Another thing I have been thinking about the last year is what does the authority of the Bible mean regarding the science of creation? I am reading The Creator Revealed: A Physicist Examines the Big Bang and the Bible by Michael Strauss. Strauss is a physicist who argues that the Big Bang is scientifically verifiable and consistent with Scripture and the belief in the Creator God. I think this is an interesting and necessary conversation, especially for me as a mom beginning to have these conversations with my middle schooler. The Holy Post podcast recently explored another aspect of this topic as well, and I found the history helpful.
You all know that I love hymns (this lovely pairing of my watercolor hymns was picked out recently by a customer). We were gifted the use of a full-size electronic piano recently, and I’ve enjoyed playing hymns using chords from Reawaken Hymns. I purchased their hymnal file and enjoyed playing them + the Christmas carols this last month.
I am still fascinated by the combination of watercolor and Nupastels. Recently, I recorded a little abstract play:
I also started working new Scripture card art! I am editing the watercolor images right now and collecting the Scriptures to include.
Winter is a usually dreary season for me. As I write, I’ve clicked on my happy sun lamp. Even in this darkest of winter, I know that God is and has been doing new things. It’s just the truth of the way he works.
Winter always turns to Spring. Every death (big and small) in Christ guarantees a resurrection.
And one more thing is for sure–my kids are going to be really good at video games by the end of this.
One more Groundhog Day GIF for the road, friends. Me to my family every day:
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