Mondays are a mixed bag for me. As a minister, Sunday is a pretty big day of the week for me and Monday is kind of a recovery day. On the other hand, everything starts anew on Monday and there’s a sense of anticipation for the week ahead. What is Monday to you? A challenging day to make it through or the feeling of a new start? Leave me a comment to let me know!
During the week I’ve read some pretty awesome newsletters and I wanted to share a few with you to get our week off on the right foot! First, though, if you haven’t subscribed to my other newsletter, Sermons From Forsythe, I’d love for you to do that if you’re interested in sermon notes, Bible class notes, and occasional devotional articles.
There was a lot of writing about Twitter this week and the new boss in TwitterTown. Walter Kirn shared some insider info on how things work at Twitter at Common Sense. He begins his intriguing writing, “Let me tell you about my strange time on Twitter, a so-called “social-media platform” of the early 21st century.” Twitter, Cut in Half by Casey Newton and Zoe Schiffer gave voice to those who were let go without much warning. “More than anything they were struck by the fact that the world’s richest man, who seems to revel in attention on the platform they had made for him, had not once deigned to speak to them.” Chris Martin is waiting to see what happens with Twitter. Aren’t we all!
SubstackChat
Another popular subject last week was the introduction of the chat feature on Substack (well, only for those using an iPhone). It was interesting to see how many were interested in this feature. Andy Adams named his the FlakChat and is seeking creative ways to merge chat and photography. Joel J. Miller initiated a book chat! Danish photographer Kim Høltermand is hoping to start a photo chat.
Mental Health
Kyle Holton had some reflections on mental health and teenagers. He writes, “Why do you think it’s so hard for many of us to share our battles with mental health? I’d love to hear from you.” He is re-energizing his efforts to write more consistently with Three Things.
Dr. Becky Wellman had some thoughts about the long goodbye of dementia. “We know it’s a long goodbye, but what happens when we realize that the dementia is winning? When we really start to see them declining beyond where we can feel we can help? When it sinks in that they are going to die?”
Miscellany
Matt Zamudio has now reached 100 posts, and you can read some of his top posts linked here. “I’m sincerely grateful for the community I’ve found here. So again and again, thank you.”
Adam Cecil is calling out pickleballers. “If you’re in New York and want to play tennis, send a message to Club Leftist Tennis—they have a group chat with players across the city. And if you want to play pickleball? Maybe stay out of the local playgrounds.”
Aaron Hann is writing about reading. “What started with a hand-written list of practical tools and suggestions led to a deeper exploration of what is involved in the act of reading. Not just cognitively, but spiritually.”
Heather Holland is finding purpose in her newsletter, and opening up an author’s newsletter. Check it out.
Shannan Martin’s encounter in a cemetery is not a ghost story, it’s a very real moment of connection and grace. “It doesn’t matter how old I grow, certain realities are impossible to contend with. My only job was to listen.”
Chris Arnade is walking the world and taking us with him. In his latest post, he rides a bus and shares some of the stories he hears. “Still, it never ceases to amaze me how in such a rich country there are so many people whose lives are completely detached from most people’s experiences. Stuck in a cycle of prisons, joblessness, drugs, and wanderings. All of it building, in theory, to nothing.”
Thanks for all the great recommendations. Going to check out a few of them. My November Collection will land Saturday and will feature some of the things I've been reading. Subscribers like the suggestions, but it's also a good way to ruminate on the words I've been consuming.
It's like Sunday. Starts with prayer, bible study and praise. Gives me the peace to face the day.