Sally > Recent Status Updates

...when God is involved in a story, death is never the end but is always the gateway to rebirth and resurrection.

We are rarely conscious of all these things that are killing our faith because they become so enshrined in our belief system. And when we enter into an unexpected process of shedding off those things that we have grown comfortable with... Well, that moment feels like a crisis. It feels like our faith is falling apart. But I'm convinced it's not a crisis at all, but the birth of a true faith.

But what if there's really no such thing as a crisis of faith? ... What if it just feels like everything is going wrong, but really that instance is a moment when everything is about to go right? ... What if what we often call a faith crisis is actually a divine journey--not from God, or simply to God, but a journey with God?

Jesus isn't a mirror that reflects back all the reasons why we totally suck. .. Instead, Jesus is the one who says, "Just keep walking toward me, and I will help you increase your capacity to receive and to give love."

Orthodoxy and orthopraxy are both important and are both things that Jesus spoke to, but I no longer believe that either of these things belongs in the center of our circles. I think that spot should be reserved for the exact representation of love: Jesus.

Unlike the bounded-set approach where we're constantly trying to measure ourselves up to see whether we're in or out, the centered-set paradigm invites us to ask far more simple and profound questions: "Am I moving toward Jesus? Am I moving toward love?"

The things Jesus thought, and the things that Jesus did, were not a clean fit for those whose entire focus had been right thinking or right doing; Jesus was, and still it, altogether different and outside all of our camps and categories.

Jesus sought out the people who knew they didn't have it all figured out. The invitation he offered to them over and over was merely, "come, follow me."

Drawing identity from any area other than the source of life is a spiritual death sentence, and worse, it's contagious, because it gives birth to tribalism. However, when we return to our central identity of image-bearers designed to receive love from and reflect love to others, we are naturally invited to shed all of the unloving, fear-based tribal behaviors that come from loyalty to the label.

The discussion on end-times narrative implications is more powerful than the beginning narrative ones. Such an important book

When the opening verses of Genesis say that we were created in the image and likeness of God, it is helpful to remember that this means we are actually created in the image and likeness of LOVE. We were created by love. We were created to receive love. We were created to reflect love. Our entire purpose for existing is to love.

He calls the God of the early OT "God the Puppy Slayer" and the God of the NT "God the Enemy-Lover." I love it.

author illustrates a "Chiastic History of the Earth". Mind utterly blown. Is this merely interpretive? Is it intended by the authors/tellers of the scriptures? Was it intended by God before the earth was formed?

re chiasm as literary tool, and possibly a reality, it seems to me that literalism isn't the only paradigm-obstacle to understanding the scriptures, but linearism can be, too.

"With our real stuff, as well as with our fake borrowed, and bought recreations, we celebrated the fact that we had all been there, and we all remembered. Although I enjoyed bringing all my stuff out of the attic tremendously, I also could step back and recognize that having everything be, not just authentic, but literally mine from when I was fourteen was not entirely...necessary.

oh, the weaving chapter spoke to me. Making something useful AND nostalgic, and finding yourself free to let go of the rest? That's the ideal. Wonder if I could weave panels and stitch together, since I don't have a large loom.

Left unaddressed, chronic anxiety can disrupt many aspects of development, including a child's capacity to learn and ability to connect socially as well as the opportunity for the brain to grow and make connections. In time, children with high levels of anxiety are more likely to face depression, turn to substance use, become less likely to finish high school and may therefore have a harder time keeping a job or...

"The Jewish scriptures and the New Testament both began as oral proclamations..."

"Until the nineteenth century, very few people imagined that the first chapter of Genesis was a factual account of the origins of life. For centuries, Jews and Christians relished highly allegorical and inventive exegesis, insisting that a wholly literal reading of the Bible was neither possible nor desirable."

Such mixed reviews. To wholly believe the author or hold her ideas in reserve until I know enough to form my own opinion? For example, what about this? "When their sacred texts tell stories, people have generally believed them to be true, but until recently literal or historical accuracy has never been the point."

Loving the voice of this author. The illustrations, while appropriate to the historical era, are not grabbing me.

Dorothy Day: The biggest mistake is sometimes to play things very safe in this life and end up being moral failures.

culture eats strategy for breakfast

abcd asset based community development

I skipped to the chapter that focused on my religion, Mormonism. So far, much of the church history and scripture offered as context for the story of Eliza Snow is inaccurate. I'm impressed that she visited the SLC temple square visitor's center. But I'm left wondering if the descriptions of other religions covered in the book are accurate as well...

This page, 231, is one of my favorite pages of fiction, period. Clodagh fitting Benny with a dress for her first college dance.

Did not know mother Teresa was from modern day Macedonia, nor that she was Albanian.

won goodreads giveaway

Apartheid officially began in 1948. It must have been a token decision, making official already-existing institutional racism. Mandela formed the African National Youth League what year?