Hi friend,
I hope you are having a good week and I’m so thankful to finally connect with you this month! That whole owning your own business/writing a book/mom life thing has really got me behind! Guessing you totally get that.
FAITH TIP: Set your phone alarm for a morning, midday and night time. Commit to 30 seconds of prayer when the alarm goes off. Do it for 7 days and just take notice about how it affects your week. Report back!
So here’s the scoop for today’s newsletter:
Monthly book giveaway winner
On my radar links
What I’m reading
July essay
Book review
Worth Your Time podcast episodes
Book Updates
GIVEAWAY WINNER for “You Are Not Enough” by Allie Beth Stuckey: Mariel Davenport! Please reply to this email to claim your book.
**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 “Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women.” If you know someone who would like to be entered win a book each month:
On My Radar
Conservatives and Christians Care about Climate Too. Christians are stepping up to help find sensible solutions to climate change.
Acidhead: God Took Me Higher. Gorgeous piece of writing from Ashley Lande in Fathom Mag.
Most disturbing thing I’ve read in awhile. If you haven’t seen this, get ready.
How Innovation Makes Mom Life Better. Fun piece I got to write about all the cool gizmos that make mom life easier!
Christian Genocide in Nigeria should make you think. Every time I see these, I remember how lucky we are to live in a place free from persecution.
Book Review: Live Not By Lies
If you read one book in the next few months, let it be “Live Not By Lies” by Rod Dreher. As the book summary reads: “Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn famously said that one of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming totalitarianism can't happen in their country.” It’s important we don’t ignore this.
This book is the best I’ve read in years. So incredibly good and packed with important stories from those who have lived through totalitarian regimes. The writing is impeccable and is written from first person interviews. Many of the book’s subjects cite examples in American culture that remind them of their former homes: cancel culture and the lack of acceptance for differing opinions being key.
Every single Westerner should read this book, and Christians especially should take note on what is offered here. It’s a sobering look at soft totalitarianism creeping up in ways we may not even recognize! I’m not a zealot on this, but I am a realist. It’s not about Left v. Right. It’s about something much bigger. Have you read it? What did you think?
Currently Reading
Essay: Theology in Our Bones
“Theology is built into our biology.” — J.R. Briggs
In his book, "Why Only Humans Weep: Unravelling the Mysteries of Tears," Professor Ad Vingerhoets writes that, "In the sense of producing emotional tears, we are the only species."
It's one of the many things that God gave us, marking human beings as distinctive, exceptional creations. Our ability to feel compassion, empathy and recognize morality embedded into our bones teams up with physical expressions of grief, sadness, joy and love.
"Theology is built into our biology," writes J.R. Briggs in his book, "A Time to Heal." God designed us to live out His truth in our physical bodies.
The way are "knit together," the necessity of our human relationships, the proclamation of our inner emotions released in tears, smile, laughter or wail. These biological realities symbolize a theology of God that says we are sacred, we are broken, we are imago dei -- made in the image of God, who has and does feel a full range of emotions.
These magnificent minds and intuitive bodies, restored and repaired, feeding and creating, healing and surviving -- all evidence of a brilliant Creator who grafted His Word in our hearts. These words struck me so deeply. Take a look at yourself. Find God in your body, in your tears, in your love. He is there.
Follow These Ladies on IG
Tabitha McDuffee: Writer, learner, beauty chaser. Helping you live out your convictions with creativity and beauty.
Lindsay Garcia: Wife, momma, believer, breast cancer survivor, sober, podcast host
Tasha Jun: Storyteller, poet, melancholy dreamer, wife and mom. Writing a book for 2022!
*Catch a theme with my favorites? Dreamers, writers, lovers :) Give them a follow!
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.
COMING UP: I’ll be interviewing Phylicia Masonheimer and Amy Cate Gannett for upcoming shows!
Brittany Estes: LISTEN HERE
Rachel Pieh Jones: LISTEN HERE
Book Updates
For anyone interested in the progress of my book — boy these things take a long time! I’m only announcing it here, but I was offered a book deal and have accepted it. BUT the paperwork is still happening and I’m can’t announce the publisher or the details yet. Hoping we’ll be able to do it soon. I do know my manuscript is due September 1st so things will start moving more quickly after that!
I would love for you to be a part of this effort moving forward. The book process is long and hard — especially marketing. One thing I’m doing now is trying to build more of a profile on Goodreads. If you are over there, will you give me a follow?
Thanks, friends!
Ericka
P.S. Don’t miss my latest piece in Christianity Today here!