You thought I'd never email
Hey friend,
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." -- Maya Angelou
Some of my best 2019 writings:
Is God the Answer to the Suicide Epidemic? (Wall Street Journal)
Migrants Who Want Better for Their Children Aren't Bad Parents. They're the Best. (Washington Post)
Why are Democrats Jilting GOP Voters Who Want to Like Them? (New York Times)
Civil Conversation, Your Time Has Come (American Conservative)
So here we are, a fresh year, a piping hot new decade, at our fingertips -- and yet, I'd barely thought about the clean slate available to me until it arrived. All of the sudden, people were recounting the best of their last 10 years, tweeting out lists of accomplishments and changes. I recollected "When You Were Young" by the Killers, spinning out scenes from my twenties -- happy hour-ing in Capitol Hill bars, gutting it out on marathon courses, ending a hundred bad dates from Match.com.
Ultimately, I glanced backward and realized that 10 years ago, I was single without a suitor in sight and couldn't have managed to see today's life -- back home again in Indiana, married for 7 years with two beautiful kids and a published book to boot. I'd never listened to a podcast, nor once thought about Donald Trump! My oh my, how life changes fast. [ME 10 YEARS AGO IN SAID WASHINGTON, DC BAR]
As I watched the lists of victories roll out, I couldn't help but be uncomfortable. One person I follow listed: "nominated for a Pulitzer" on hers. I realized I needed to stop following such overachievers...I'm far too jealous for that ish. But really, I didn't create one myself because it just felt like a big ol' bragfest, and plenty of people have had a helluva decade that they just want to put behind them. They don't need reminders of how great the rest of us have had it.
So YES, it's time to look ahead, but no a fresh start doesn't need to begin in January or with a 0 on the end. I have been listening to Lara Casey's 4-part series on "How to Set Goals for 2020" -- and loving it! I'm unofficially adopted "INTENTION" as my word of the year, even though I don't really do words of the year.
Last year was pure insanity, as I raised my babies while working full-time, running a weekly podcast, freelance writing, mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters and training for races -- among whatever else it is I did and forgot. This year, I'm scaling back by pushing the podcast to bi-weekly, working part-time and doing far less professional writing.
My INTENTION is to love God and listen to His voice leading me (which is really hard because I tend to just bust out and do whatever I want, but that's not been working well for my mental sanity.) On that note, I'm 100% In on doing Tara Leigh Cobble's The Bible Recap daily reading & podcast (and haven't miss a day yet!)
My second INTENTION is parenting with marriage and solid writing (with an eternal purpose in mind) following behind. Also, I'm continuing on my "no drinking" journey and hoping to stick with it for the (gulp!) ENTIRE year. #SoberLife is da life. One day, I'll tell you more about why.
What's YOUR word of the year? How will 2020 be different for you? Anyone else giving up booze?
On my radar:
Christianity Today advocates for Trump's removal from office. Lots of well-done rebuttals to this, but I find myself always going back to many of the points made in the CT piece. In the end, evangelicals sacrificed a lot to get behind him. Swift policy victories that help today are wonderful, but what's the long-term effect for their witness in standing behind him? What will echo the next time we need to choose a "moral leader"? Is anyone good enough so long as they promote pro-life policies and capitalism? I'm still a conservative at heart, but 2016 was game changer and if nothing else, it forced me think much more deeply about faith, politics and what it means to live out our civic and public duties as Christians. I welcome everyone here and have many friends who made a different choice than I in the voting booth, but the conversation will be going on for decades.
BIG NEWS: Speaking of CT, I joined the Christianity Today podcasting network (totally unrelated to how I feel about their editorial) and I'm so excited to hopefully reach a few new ear holes ;)
Why Millennials Are Skipping Church and Not Going Back. "Will it matter for anyone other than the Sunday ushers whose collection baskets have suddenly gotten lighter? Yes, actually. Religious and other civic organizations will atrophy — and not just from lack of funds. Faith and practice can’t persevere through our generation without attendance, and neither can the hope they tend to bring."
27 People Who Had a Really Hard Time with the English Language (Ha!)
New Books by Women Authors in 2020 -- heck yes!
I'm currently reading:
Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation by Linda Kay Klein (side note: See my piece on purity culture HERE)
Podcasting: The Dream Season 2 (Beware if you work for an MLM!)
Televisioning: Atypical (lovely show about a kid with Autism)
Movie-ing: LITTLE WOMEN -- saw it last night and yup, you guessed it, I'm a fan!
Worth Your Time Podcast
Episode #56: Nancy French: Not Your Average New York Times Best-Selling Author
Nancy French is many things: writer, mother, wife, swimmer, survivor of sexual abuse. She’s cultivated an incredible career as a ghostwriter of books for celebrities and political figures alike...We also talk about why she decided to speak out against President Donald Trump in 2016, revealing devastating sexual abuse she endured as a child. How did 2016 change her? We discuss and Nancy is funny, gracious and kind in the thoughts she conveys.
Episode #55: Pastor & Mom of 4 Melanie Lynam on Miracles and More
Pastor and mom of 4 Melanie Lynam lives in Australia and has a pretty amazing story. She felt the call to ministry as a teenager and just always knew that’s what God wanted her to do with her life.
In this episode, we talk about her journey towards that role, how she met her husband in a bit of an unexpected twist and the miraculous story of her baby Isabella’s path to life. When you hear this story, you’ll hardly believe it — but wow, what a testament to Melanie’s faith and God’s provision in such an uncertain time.