My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
Dreaming and Planning With Our Teenager With Down Syndrome
We had a planning meeting last February for our teenage daughter, Penny, who has Down syndrome. Penny invited friends, family, and teachers to join her
Human Suffering Is Not the Only Point of Connection
I am so much more interested in human connection than human division. But where does that connection come from? How does it happen? I spoke
S3 E14 | The Astonishing Hope of a Mortal Life with J. Todd Billings
Mortality is often connected to fear, so how does embracing a mortal life provide hope to individuals and communities? Professor Todd Billings, author of “The
Big Feelings and Growing Up with Marilee
What do you do with a child with big feelings? Especially if you are a parent who has never had similarly big feelings? Yes, I
AJB Recommends: Three Podcast Episodes About Addressing Racism
This week, I’ll recommend three podcast episodes about racism that challenged me, brought hope, and brought clarity this week: CHALLENGE The challenge: A podcast about
White Picket Fences Turns Two {And a Giveaway!}
White Picket Fences turns two today! Yes, this book that almost-never-was—not only did it get published, but it has stayed “alive” for two years because
My Daughter With Down Syndrome Helped Me Understand Racism
How did disability help me understand racism? I am white, married, educated, and affluent. Our daughter Penny was born into many of these same categories,
Three Harms of Privilege
The harm of privilege is exclusion, injustice, and isolation. When I say the word privilege, I’m talking about a set of unearned social advantages given
S3 Bonus | What Is Privilege?
What is privilege? What is it not? How does privilege cause harm? In this bonus episode, Amy Julia describes her working definition of privilege, the
God Is Always Doing a New Thing
“There is nothing new under the sun.” It’s such a depressing line from Ecclesiastes, and it reads as depressingly true right now. Futility of Life
AJB Recommends: Resource to Learn More About Prison Reform
What do you know about the prisons and prison reform in your local community? After I interviewed Dominique Gilliard for the podcast, I was struck
Blessed Are Those Who Thirst for Justice
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice.” I’ve always heard this verse from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount translated as “Blessed are those
Faith Is Trusting in the End of the Story
How do we have faith that a good ending is coming? I know lots of people in pain right now. Some are in physical pain—my
S3 E13 | Privilege, Wealth, and the Christ-Shaped Life with Paul Miller
How does the pattern of Jesus’ life reshape privilege, wealth, and community? Paul Miller, author of “J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life,” talks
Entrusting vs. Letting Go
I used to think about “giving over” parts of my life to God as letting go. I saw my hand clutching tightly to various aspects
AJB Recommends: Resources to Learn More About Criminal Justice
Anyone paying attention to the news in recent months will know there’s a huge debate raging over the role of the police in society. This
The Spiritual Problem of Racism Calls for a Spiritual Solution
When I look at the history of social divisions and inequities within our nation, I see at least three different ways people have tried to
Breaking Ground: Is God Antiracist?
I first heard the word “antiracism” a few years ago. At first, I didn’t know what it meant. And I wondered why a new term
S3 E12 | What Is Unjust About the Criminal Justice System with Dominique Gilliard
What would it mean for the criminal justice system to be unjust? And if it is, what should Christians do about it? Dominique Gilliard, author
Privilege and Planning
Today, all three of our children are going to school, in person, for a full day. (Last week, they had a variety of half days
AJB Recommends: The Sun Does Shine
I have gone to bed late every night this week because I stay up to read more of Anthony Ray Hinton’s new memoir, “The Sun
S3 E11 | The Black Church’s Gift to Christianity with Esau McCaulley
The Black church has a gift for American Christianity. Are we all willing to receive it? New Testament scholar Esau McCaulley, author of “Reading While
When Grace Runs Dry
For our family, summer has been a relief. Marilee played softball and William played baseball and Penny went to summer school, in person. We spent
In Her Own Words: Penny on Being a Bridesmaid
Penny and I got to be bridesmaids together last weekend in my sister’s wedding. I’m going to let Penny tell you about it in her
William Recommends: Books About Racial Injustice for Middle Schoolers
Anyone looking for great books for middle schoolers that address issues of racial injustice? I asked William to share a few recommendations for books for
Finding Freedom From the Condemnation of Comparison
A few weeks ago, I found myself in a swirl of self-righteousness and self-condemnation and comparison. It happened like this. I was heading into my
S3 E10 | Anxiety, Affluence, and Identity with Niro Feliciano
In an achievement-oriented culture, how do we risk vulnerability in order to move toward personal and racial healing? Cognitive therapist Niro Feliciano talks with Amy
AJB Recommends: The Best of What I Read, Watched, and Listened To on Vacation
I took 10 days of vacation at the beginning of August, and I had a chance to read and listen and watch a lot. Here
Anxiety and the Peace of God
I spent a few hours awake in the middle of the night. It was the first time in a long time that anxiety pushed aside
Four Spiritual Practices That Help Social Justice Stay Grounded in Love
As individual human beings, the scope of the brokenness in our society is impossible to comprehend, much less to address. It is easy to get
