Unexpected Theological Richness in a Picture Book That Deserves to be Better Known

Last updated on: November 4, 2013 at 8:46 am By Rachel Marie Stone

When I first read Mick Inkpen’s picture book, Nothing, my kids were still too young for it–it’s a bit text-heavy–but I was immediately captivated by it, and have returned to it again and again to read to myself. It is charming and witty, earnest and playful. It is beautifully–beautifully–illustrated. It is also, unexpectedly, a deeply theological meditation on identity, community, renewal, and hope. “The little thing in the attic at Number 47 had forgotten all about daylight. It had been squashed... Read more

Guest Post + Book Giveaway: Bearing One Another’s Burdens Doesn’t Mean Living All Of Their Emotions

Last updated on: October 31, 2013 at 9:45 am By Rachel Marie Stone

{I’m delighted to welcome Sarah Cunningham to the blog today. Sarah has a new book out, and her publisher is generously giving away THREE copies of her book, The Well-Balanced World Changer. Read and comment by November 7 for your chance to win.} I learned just about everything you could possibly learn in church growing up. I learned about God and Jesus and, of course, the Holy Spirit, who I envisioned appeared kind of like Casper the Friendly Ghost. Only... Read more

What Do We Mean By “Messy?”

Last updated on: October 30, 2013 at 9:45 am By Rachel Marie Stone

Thanks, everyone who left thoughtful comments on yesterday’s post! I wanted to clarify a few points: #1 Some of you pointed out that “messy” can be a useful term and shouldn’t be lumped in with the careles use of “manic,” “bipolar,” “psychotic,” etc. You’re probably right. ‘Messy’ is in a different category, and we all have messes in our lives. I’m not objecting to the use of ‘messy’ per se. I’m objecting to the way “messy” is thrown out there on... Read more

Please Stop Calling Your Relatively Privileged Life “Crazy” and “Messy.”

Last updated on: October 29, 2013 at 9:45 am By Rachel Marie Stone

A few weeks ago, I asked folks on Twitter–and specifically, my colleague Amy Simpson, who has recently published a book on mental illness and the mission of the church: What do you think about the way people use words like “bipolar,” “crazy,” and “manic” when they really mean “moody,” “energetic,” “quirky” and even “fun”? It’s part of a pattern I’ve noticed lately–and maybe you’ve noticed it too. People with beautiful headshots, flawlessly designed websites, and enviable accomplishments insist that they... Read more

Eight Sundays Until Christmas?!

Last updated on: October 28, 2013 at 6:24 am By Rachel Marie Stone

I was particularly sweaty and distracted in church yesterday. So when the priest remarked that next Sunday marks the eighth Sunday before Christmas, I’m afraid I took the news something like this: Here’s to starting off the week in a less preoccupied fashion! Read more

Beyond the Rumors of Poisoned and Cursed Halloween Candy…

Last updated on: October 25, 2013 at 9:00 am By Rachel Marie Stone

In 1989, Jack T. Chick published a comic strip gospel tract that claimed to reveal the truth behind Halloween: the panels reveal a group of Satan-worshipers gathering in the weeks before Halloween to “provide our father [the devil] with a number of sacrifices.” They plan to murder some children (“in order to obtain more blood for our master”) by tainting the candy with “razor blades, crushed glass, pins, etc.” while bringing other children under Satan’s “guidance and care” by performing... Read more

When Your Outfit Causes a Brother To Stumble

Last updated on: October 24, 2013 at 2:18 pm By Rachel Marie Stone

Why I Still Subscribe To Magazines

Last updated on: October 23, 2013 at 9:45 am By Rachel Marie Stone

Years ago, when I began my OWN subscription to The New Yorker (instead of filching stacks of old copies from my father or grandmother on visits home from college), I resolved that if I could not, in fact, read each issue cover-to-cover, I would at least read one piece per issue that didn’t initially grab my attention. This resolution was not only an extension of the “don’t judge a book by its cover” (even though we all do) dictum we... Read more

If You Can’t Drop Everything (+$30,000-60,000) for an MFA in Writing

Last updated on: October 22, 2013 at 9:45 am By Rachel Marie Stone

Interested in doing an MFA in Creative Writing, but not sure you have the time/funds/ability to swing it? Read on. I have a lot of good things to say about this book, The Portable MFA in Creative Writing—and I’ll have more to say about it in future posts. For now I want to tell you that if you have been considering an MFA in Creative Writing (as I have occasionally done) it is well worth the ten or so dollars... Read more