Time to Rummage Around
Substacks that Stood Out Among the Substacks
I think I may have a problem. I keep subscribing to Substacks and I feel like I’m swimming in posts - but there are so many quality posts that I’m enjoying so much. I love to share what I’ve found because I know I’m not the only one overdoing it! Here goes - some great posts I’ve read recently!
That time John Sebby guest posted on The Daily Rhyme. A poem, an intro, and a watercolor painting. “Saddle up your faith, As trouble starts to form…”
Richard’s reflection on Psalm 139:5,6. Hemmed In. “To be hemmed-in by his hands is to be held in the warmest, securest embrace of a loving and tender Father.”
Pray Until Something Happens. Paula Ter Kuile’s new substack tracing themes of mental illness, drugs, recovery, and turning to God. “I stumbled into my first AA meeting on the tail end of a suicide attempt with what I thought was nothing left to live for.” Her first post is HERE. I’m looking forward to reading more of Paula’s thoughts.
Another fairly recent newcomer is John Dull. His post All You Beautiful Shining Stars is so encouraging. “You’ve been so worried about what you lack, what you need. You never noticed the light you’ve been shining on those around you.” Don’t miss the final photo in the post!
NEW! Brian McCutcheon has arrived at Substack. He’s not new to writing, however. If you like Christian devotional thoughts and reflections, follow him at Brian’s Biblical Minute.
I really enjoy Lists of Note. This one is Eloquent Silence: Walt Whitman’s Mournful Synonyms. What insight do we gain from a list of words that a wordsmith like Walt Whitman used to describe grief and loss in the shadow of the death of Abraham Lincoln?
Taking Jesus Seriously is Patrick Ryan’s sermon on the beatitudes. “The poor in spirit, the meek, the humble, those who have been wronged, the merciful, and so on—they "get" what God is up to. Because of where they stand in the scheme of things, they have a better vantage point and are better able to see what God is doing.” Consistently excellent writing from Mr. Ryan.
Another newcomer to Substack is author and preacher Wade Hodges. He lays it all on the table with his first post (after the introductory post): Why I Didn’t Quit Preaching. “I began to explore the possibility that I expect too much from my vocation, just as most of us expect too much from life in a fallen world.” It’s a long post, but spend some time with it and have your Bible open to Ecclesiastes. Looking forward to more from Wade.
It would be hard to tell you how many things I enjoyed about Anne Kadet’s Substack post at Cafe Anne, Meet New York’s Most Charming Food Shop! It’s a round trip through New York, the Apple/Android war, trying to help lost love, and a super delightful introduction to Ranen Minsky’s Horseradish Market. Anne calls it ‘New York’s Most Charming Food Shop’! Such a fun post with so much to love.
Noel Jessie Heikkinen’s post encourages Christians with 4 Ways to Increase Our Faith and Bring Our Friends to Jesus. “Be genuinely curious about their beliefs; don’t be quick to throw yours out there. Everyone likes to talk about their beliefs, and true friends listen with love and respect.”
Saw it, Loved it, Ate it - from Letters of Note, a postcard exchange between a child an Where The Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak. “I answer all my children’s letters—sometimes very hastily—but this one I lingered over.”
You Are What You Love, Tsh Oxenreider’s worthy reflection on what we allow into our minds, what we think about, and what we read. “We who live in this post-modern world need to read old books because they’ve stood the test of time and therefore say something timeless.” She shares her interesting 2023 reading plan.
At the time I finish this post, I see that my Substack inbox is empty (that should last at least five minutes) and my “saved” posts are now excavated into this post. When I return tomorrow I will have new posts to sift through. At least, I hope so. It brings me a lot of joy.
If you read this far, can you do three things for me?
If you enjoyed this post please like and share it!
If you enjoy others’ posts, please like and share them!
In the comments share which post you liked the most or share some post that has meant a lot to you, you might know a substack that I can’t live without!
Through the Fog of Grief was a message I presented to high school seniors recently.
Some John Dobbs Linkage In Case You Missed Them!
Sermon Notes - Power to Overcome Temptation
Review - Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Sermon - The Power of Influence
Devotional - The Good Samaritan Teaches us about Building Bridges
I'm afraid my Substack Inbox will never be empty...and I'm going to have to be okay with that! I also loved the Letters of Note post on Maurice Sendak. I recently subscribed to Shaun's Diaries of Note (not hosted on substack) and enjoyed a delightful post this morning on the affection of cats.