Rummaging Around
There's something interesting everywhere you look
Here are some Substack posts I wanted to share with you. There was something I liked about each one of them. I hope you like them too.
Hi, Resolution. Rob Walker suggests some habits to start anytime. “I’m generally not a resolution guy, but a lot of these suggestions are a good idea any time.”
What Can We Learn From Barnes and Nobles’ Surprising Turnaround? I thought Ted Geoia’s post was filled with interesting truths that could apply to any business or organization. What I walked away with was that we need to love what we do, love the people around us who also love it. And stop trying to be everything. “This company has been a failure at digital media, and has succeeded by embracing the most antiquated technology of them all: the printed book. That’s quite an achievement. So let’s look at the turnaround at Barnes & Noble.”
Jim Martin’s Encouragement Note #73 - always worth spending a few minutes with Jim’s encouragements! “Are you and I in the process of becoming more Jesus-like? While we have certainly not arrived, are we taking the spiritual transformation journey seriously?“
Thin Winter Light by S. E. Reid. Poignant reflection on the new year and some challenges we face - and it’s going to be OK. “This isn’t to say we didn’t have some victories, but they were small. Last year felt like a step back. And I hate that. I hate stepping back. So sitting on the floor, surrounded by my storehouse of seeds, I didn’t feel my usual excitement. I felt afraid.”
Spencer Scott Pugh got evicted from his office. Here’s how he set up his new office and links to the items he used. Useful ideas! “I am excited for my new little desk setup and even more excited for our son to arrive. We appreciate prayers for a safe labor and delivery and that all fingers and toes are accounted for with little man’s arrival in April!”
Leave Your Books Worse Than You Found Them. I loved this post and I think most book lovers would. Adsum Try Ravenhill’s reflections tell us that as a book lover, he wants to be able to get more out of the book than just the first reading. “Marking up books isn’t about showing them off to others, it’s about gleaning more from the texts you read, both fiction and non-fiction.”
Taking Jesus Seriously: Walk This Way. Patrick Ryan’s sermon reflections on John the Baptist. “John called people to the Jordan, inviting them to recognize their need for God. He meant his baptism of repentance as a chance for the wayward and wandering of his day to return to right ways of thinking, to renounce their bad hearts and broken ways, and take up God’s way of walking.”
Revive My Heart - Richard Myerscough’s rumination on Psalm 119. “We can add our voice to that of the psalmist, in full confidence that the LORD hears and answers such prayer.”
Zach Hollifield has some personal words for Pastors, and he speaks with grace and truth in Gawking Pastors. “So, whether it is through day dreaming and web browsing or by actual time spent elsewhere, there is an incredible temptation to untether our ministry from the geographical, tangible, real place we have been called to pastor. The neighbor’s grass really is just so nice to look at.”
It’s Good to See You - a guest post on Terry Freedman’s substack. The guest is optometrist Michael Crossland and he writes about a vision-impaired friend and the way we speak to one another. “Kelly accesses most text with his ears rather than his eyes. He uses Voiceover on his Mac to listen to his emails, and dictates his replies.”
Charles Schafino has written a striking piece on One Failure of Contemporary English. For people who love writing and reading, there is a concern for the future. “And teaching fundamental skills shouldn’t be a burden—the English language has a history that’s dynamic and fascinating and the very notion that those entrusted to teach it run away from its history should be shocking.”
That’s a lot, but as I noted recently I follow a lot of substacks. More than I can actually keep up with. I thought these were standouts over the past few weeks though. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
In Case You Missed It…
My devotional sermon called MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Three ways we can make a difference this week. “At the end of the day, Christianity is not just about our personal journey. That is important, but individual discipleship is fuel for making a difference in the world around us.”
My sermon notes from James 1:2-18, Five Qualities of a Steadfast Faith. “Joy can be found in trials because of what it produces: Perseverance. Perseverance is produced while enduring the trials and hanging on to faith.”
Just Checking In - a lumbering post about Cravings, Bad Food, Doctor Visits, Preachers, Substack, and the Enneagram. “Well, this post is an all-over-the-place mess, but that’s what I get for taking too long to check in with you.”
Thanks for these! I've been drowning in my inbox and haven't had time to catch up, so I missed S.E.'s Thin Winter Light. Going to check it out this evening. Also, my son sent me the Ted Geoia piece when it landed, and I've been thinking about it a lot. It even sparked some ideas in a freewriting session. Great stuff! And I'm looking forward to reading Zach Hollifield's article. "The problem, is that pastors often struggle with being tied to our places." I'm not a pastor, but that's speaking to me. When we moved to our small rural Mississippi town four years ago, we knew it was because God was calling us to be here. And we knew that to be the light He wanted us to be here, we would have to actually BE here and find our community among people who were culturally very different from us. And we have! I want to write more about that this year, so this article will be great food for thought!
Thanks again, John!