Do you NEED Church to know Jesus?
PLUS"Book giveaway winner, ways to help Afghanis & an incredible interview
Hey friend,
Happy Tuesday and I’m so glad to finally be chatting with you again after more than a month. I now have a Kindergartner and public school life with COVID has been a little bit of drama, but we are going to make it! In this month’s newsletter, you will find:
Monthly book giveaway winner
On my radar links
What I’m reading
August essay
Book review
Worth Your Time podcast episodes
Book Updates
Faith Tip: Want to deepen your faith? Grab a dictionary. If you aren’t reading your Bible regularly, start there. Just pick a book and go! Every time you read a word that you aren’t 100% sure of it’s full meaning, look it up.
As I’ve read the Bible this year, doing this has given me a better understanding of Scripture. I take notes and the deeper comprehension of a word’s meaning brings the Word to life that much more.
GIVEAWAY WINNER for: “Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women” by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher: NAOMI —-> naomit1@hotmail.com.
**PLEASE NOTE:For the future, you must open the email and claim the book in order to get it. So don’t miss out!
Next month, I will be giving away “Anything” by Jennie Allen. If you know someone who would like to be entered win a book each month!
On My Radar
Afghanistan. There is so much devastation and heartbreak right now. Rather than feel helpless, I encourage you take action or donate with this resource from LIRs.
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast. Christianity Today’s investigative podcast into infamous pastor Marc Driscoll and other abusive aspects we’ve seen within some church settings. This episode specifically was powerful enough to bring me to tears.
This thread on how young children learn through facial expressions (and how masking may effect that) was fascinating and important.
Book Review: Embodied by Preston Sprinkle
Author Preston Sprinkle is the president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender. He has a beautifully compassionate heart for those struggling with gender dysphoria. In “Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say” , he deep dives into the issues related to transgender individuals, what the Bible has to say, honestly wrestling with where we should land. Preston has many transgender friends and relied on them for perspective here. I love that he is theologically conservative and Biblically consistent, but so very loving and curious about how to best love, serve and respect our transgender brothers and sisters.
Currently Reading
Essay: Do You Need Church to Have a Relationship with God?
Do you need church to have a relationship with God? Well, it depends on how close of a relationship you want to have!
Theologian Dwight L. Moody once said, that “Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”
When we are lacking in spiritual health, we are sick… —-> Read the rest here or watch the video version below (eeek — I’m so squeamish about doing these kinds of videos!)
Favorite IG Follows:
@bri.stenz. I love Bri! She heads up Women of Welcome, a Christ-centered organization devoted to pursuing compassion and Christ for immigrants and refugees. She’s always got a TON of resources & great info. Also a previous guest on the podcast!
@christina_crenshaw. Christina is one of my favorite new online friends. She’s a professor, researcher, writer, speaker and expert on faith and culture, doing tons of great work in the space of sex trafficking. She’s not afraid to give Biblical voice to the hot topics of the day.
Worth Your Time Podcast
You can listen to “Worth Your Time” podcast on iTunes, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts. If you are new, I have nearly 3 years of episodes to binge! Be sure to search my name “Ericka Andersen” if you are having trouble finding, as some apps locate the show more easily that way.
Phylicia Masonheimer: Mom, theologian, author, Bible teacher, podcaster, speaker, all-around solid woman doing great Kingdom work! This convo was so meaningful.
Leah Wacek: Leah is a mom of 4 and has devoted her life to being generous and spread this message. It was SO cool to hear how she and her family are intentionally generous everyday — and why she’s cultivated a lifestyle and message for others to live this way — all because of her devotion to Jesus.
Book Updates: Oh goodness gracious this is taking forever, BUT, I did finally get a finalized contract to sign BUT they misspelled my name so I’m currently waiting for a revised version to sign. Ahhh! So hard to wait.
With “Leaving Cloud 9” (my first book), things went so fast, so this months-long process has been testing my patience! That said, it’s happening and I’ve been madly revising. I’m working with book marketing guru I LOVE and she has offered some incredible feedback as I work on revisions. Can’t wait to tell you more!
If you don’t follow me on Instagram, that’s where you’ll get the latest updates on book stuff! Check out one of my favorite latest Reels here!
P.S. Check out my latest piece, profiling an incredible ministry saving the lives of widows and children in Uganda.