Matthew

https://www.goodreads.com/mattcopeland

Matthew’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (2832)
currently-reading‎ (73)
read‎ (913)
did-not-finish‎ (0)
favorite-books‎ (170)
childrens-literature‎ (100)
young-adult-literature‎ (59)
horror-supernatural-thriller‎ (40)
christianity‎ (37)

religion‎ (37)
science-fiction‎ (28)
realistic-fiction‎ (27)
non-fiction‎ (22)
fantasy‎ (20)
mystery‎ (16)
plays‎ (15)
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physical-abuse-corporal-punishment‎ (11)
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Matthew is Currently Reading

Matthew is currently reading

The Trolley to Yesterday

by John Bellairs

bookshelves: science-fiction, young-adult-literature, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

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Jan 20, 2011 11:01AM

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The Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles, #2)

by Rick Riordan (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 25, 2026 06:25PM

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Fall of Cthulhu Vol. 1: The Fugue #0: Preview

by Michael Alan Nelson (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 16, 2026 05:52PM

See all 73 books that Matthew is reading…

Matthew’s Notes & Highlights

Book cover for Faith Shift: Finding Your Way Forward When Everything You Believe Is Coming Apart

Faith Shift: Finding Your Way Forward When Everything You Believe Is Coming Apart by Kathy Escobar

4 notes & 6 highlights

have experienced a significant shift in my theology or faith perspective and find myself feeling disoriented and unsure.

I no longer believe God is angry and wants to punish me with pain (spiritual spanking, hell). I do not believe God only loves and died to save a limited group of people. I believe God will redeem all of creation. I believe the church advocating spanking children is abusive and I refuse to participate in a church that does support spanking. I believe women can be pastors, ministers, and the leaders of the family. I believe in a redemptive movement hermeneutic. I believe Jesus is the revelation of who God is, and Jesus shows that he is not about vengeance, retribution, or punishment.

Faith Unraveled: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask Questions

by Rachel Held Evans

3 notes & 16 highlights

Matthew’s Quotes

“The art of loving each other well is letting people be where they are and not trying to convince them to be where I am.”
― Kathy Escobar, Faith Shift: Finding Your Way Forward When Everything You Believe Is Coming Apart

2 likes

“Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor within; the former raged against him.”
― Brennan Manning, Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging

tags: authenticity, christianity, impostor, self, sin

104 likes

“The story goes that a public sinner was excommunicated and forbidden entry to the church. He took his woes to God. 'They won't let me in, Lord, because I am a sinner.'

'What are you complaining about?' said God. 'They won't let Me in either.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

tags: church, god, organized-religion, sin

197 likes

“Grace abounds in contemporary movies, books, novels, films and music. If God is not in the whirlwind, He may be in a Woody Allen film, or a Bruce Springsteen concert. Most people understand imagery and symbol better than doctrine and dogma. Images touch hearts and awaken imaginations. One theologian suggested that Springsteen's 'Tunnel of Love' album, in which he symbolically sings of sin, death, despair and redemption, is more important for Catholics than the Pope's last visit when he spoke of morality only in doctrinal propositions.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

tags: grace, music, redemption, sin

38 likes