It was a privilege to be interviewed for this podcast about being a military spouse.
Our Sisters … it’s time to celebrate
I’m jubilant; I just submitted my completed manuscript for Our Sisters, about persecuted #women in and from Pakistan, to my publisher. Woohoo!
It took a little under two years to complete, is 71,543 words long, and spans 138 Word document pages. It includes #interviews with activists, campaigners, journalists, pastors, and girls and women directly affected by oppression. I can’t wait to introduce them to you.
Our Sisters … aren’t finished yet
When does summer end and autumn begin? I lit a candle today, so it feels like autumn has arrived, even though I was basking in the summer sun in Spain only two weeks ago. This weekend, it’s supposed to be getting hot again. Although I love the sun, I also want to know what weather to expect when I wake up. Have you started wearing socks again? Why do we like to have clear distinctions between times and seasons?
Now that autumn has plausibly arrived, the deadline for my book manuscript is looming. I had planned on …
This is a forgetting world
We are called to remember.
Cathedrals and Christian Architecture
Not all of us have an ornate catholic church just around the corner to visit, but while living in Belgium, I am fortunate to have such a building nearby. I spent an icy couple of hours sitting in it during January, sacrificing my comfort for the sake of this website and my readers, trying to reap the benefits of a highly decorated church to increase my fear and reverence of God and, it worked!
Our Sisters … are part of a bigger story
I love stories. Whether they are fact or fiction, there’s something about a good story that touches the heart and mind in ways analysis and argument don’t.
The Nosey Trinity III: Be bold; everyone believes there is a link between Christianity and good mental and physical health
Overall, the results to my earlier survey suggest that having faith and attending church are universally viewed as beneficial, and we should perhaps be bolder in asking others to join us.
Are you wondering what to read next?
I am an avid reader and would love to help you find your next book. I’ve compiled three lists to help you choose. You’ll also be helping me if you buy one of them. Thank you.
Today in Gethsemane
Are you still scrolling and looking for mindless distractions?
An Extremely Kind Overview
I’m really not sure I am deserving of this very kind review of my work. Thank you Nicki. God deserves all the credit.
Our Sisters … have champions
Lighter mornings make me feel joyful. The sun creeping around the shutters and through the curtains gives me hope that the day will go well, and I wake up eager to get started. Thankfully, the succession of dark, wintry mornings might just be over, and I sense the bright hope of spring.
As my previous newsletters have attested, I have gone through a dark writing season. Interviewing girls who have experienced profound trauma was tough. But I have moved on a little and am now speaking to the unsung heroes standing up against persecution and violence. It has been a welcome relief; I sense the light.
Belly Aches and Belly Laughs: when there’s no Tupperware
Sometimes, I think God does bless us with more than we need. Perhaps he likes to have fun with us and amaze us with what he can do.
The Importance of Not Forgetting
My new 5-day Bible plan was published in November, but I forgot to tell anyone, even though the plan is about remembering!
Are you part of a military family, or do you care about someone who is?
This might be one of the hardest articles I have written. I have never felt brave enough to write about the cost and pain of moving house 19 times and I am desperately hopeful that this piece will help anyone who is part of a military family or cares about one.
How do I grow?
Can you help me increase my faith?
The Nosey Trinity III: Is Christianity good for your health?
It’s been ages since I’ve run a survey from this page, so I thought it was time to start another. This week, I was drawn to an article highlighting the link between practising religion and good health. I have come up with three really quick questions to find out if you think being a Christian is good for your health.
Learning from the wisest, how to find direction for our lives
The advice I’m about to share is inspired by the story of the wise men found in Matthew’s gospel in the Bible. It’s an account many of us know well, thanks to its inclusion in the Birth of Jesus narrative and countless school nativity plays. Honestly, though, it’s a bizarre story which leaves me with as many questions as answers. Still, I am convinced that the mysterious wise men have much to teach us about following God’s direction in our lives. It doesn’t require us to follow a star (although that would be fun!)
Singing Hymns
I am determined to develop a fuller understanding of who God is and know him better. In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the fighting between Israel and Hamas, I am in desperate need of a mighty God who can act to end suffering and conflict. A cuddly God is not enough for me right now. I wonder if you might feel the same way. Almost everyone I have spoken with recently fears for the future, and I long to bring them hope. Can singing hymns help me do this?
Are you looking to reinvent yourself?
The Atlantic article “What to read if you want to reinvent yourself” resonated with many, highlighting the universal desire for change. Can the Bible help with this?
Our Sisters … can’t wait. Here’s what you can do to help today
It’s strange, and hopefully not too conceited, to think that someone might unwrap a copy of one of my books…
Dislocated Christians 