My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
S4 E4 | Spiritual Practices That Heal with Rich Villodas
How do spiritual practices equip us to participate in God’s healing work in the world? Rich Villodas, pastor and author of The Deeply Formed Life,
Happy Birthday, Marilee!
Happy birthday, Marilee! Marilee turned ten last week, and even in the midst of a Covid winter, we were so delighted to celebrate her birthday!
AJB Recommends: Resources for Black History Month
Do we need resources to learn about Black history? When I was in high school, I didn’t understand that most of the history I learned
The Biblical Story of Overcoming Social Divisions
Why should Christians care about racism and justice issues and social divisions? Because overcoming social divisions is at the heart of the biblical story, at the
S4 E3 | How Brokenness Brings Healing with Katherine Wolf
Can God truly heal, redeem, and transform brokenness? Katherine Wolf, coauthor of Suffer Strong and co-founder of Hope Heals, talks with Amy Julia about the
Why It Isn’t Sexist to Call God ‘Father’
I’m working on a new book these days, and this week’s work has me digging into the way Jesus changes these terms, the way he
7 Non-Fiction Books I’m Reading in 2021
I tend to read a novel before I fall asleep every night, but I end up having multiple non-fiction books going at the same time—one
When Your Child Becomes a Teenager
I spent the weekend in bed with a stomach bug. Peter took Marilee and William skiing on Sunday, so it was just our teenager, Penny,
S4 E2 | Where Is God When the Pain Won’t Stop? with Liuan Huska
Liuan Huska, author of Hurting Yet Whole, talks with Amy Julia about chronic pain and illness, experiencing wholeness while living in suffering, and the relationship
AJB Recommends: 5 Novels I’m Reading in 2021
One sign that I am a nerd at heart: I would rather go on a shopping spree in a bookstore than a shoe store. So
How Love Is Like a Vaccine
What if love is like a vaccine against fear? Many of us approach this Inauguration Day with hope. Hope that we will turn a corner
S4 E1 | How Do We Fight Racism? with Jemar Tisby
How do we fight racism? Is there reason to hope when history reveals the continuity of racism’s tactics and its multifaceted exploitation? Historian and author
AJB Recommends: Resources for Processing the Riot at the Capitol
Like so many of us, I’ve been trying to process the events of last Wednesday, January 6th, when supporters of President Trump stormed the Capitol.
Devotional Book | On the Way: Walking With Jesus Through the Season of Lent
Request Sample PDF of Lent devotional book Purchase On the Way devotional I kind of feel like we should be in the season of Lent
It Is Time for a Third Political Party
It is time for a third political party in the United States. I join many Americans when I say I am more moderate in my
Love Is Stronger Than Fear Podcast | Season 4
Love is stronger than fear. I first wrote those words on the heels of Donald Trump’s election back in 2016, and they became a truth I
Kamala Harris Is My Little Girl’s Hero
Marilee announced last month that she needed to read a biography (or autobiography) of someone and then dress up as that person and pretend to
Our Kids and Racial Identity Formation
Wednesday was a day of racial identity formation for our daughter Marilee, age 9. She saw the contrast between how police had prepared for the
Praying for the End of White Supremacy
Yesterday, January 6, at noon, I interviewed Jemar Tisby about his new book, How to Fight Racism. At the same time that we talked about
Happy 15th Birthday, Penny!
We celebrated Penny’s 15th birthday last week. She requested a game-themed party, and she has recently become a pro at backgammon. Marilee and William felt
12 Tips on How to Start Reading the Bible
In this new year, if you’re considering the small, gradual steps to begin the habit of reading your Bible, I have a short e-book for
What Did You Experience in 2020?
When did you experience wonder and joy in 2020? What do you need to let go of from this past year? What word or verse
AJB Recommends: Top 3 Episodes of Season 3
Here are the top three episodes from Season 3 of my Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast based on audience downloads! Now is a great
Christmas Recap
A recap of our family Christmas…treasuring memories! CHRISTMAS EVE We always spend Christmas at my mom and dad’s house, and I realized this year that
When Christmas (and Life) Is Unexpectedly Disappointing
It’s going to rain. A lot. We have a foot of snow on the ground, and the past week has held snowshoeing and skiing and
Christmas: Prepare for a Party
As we prepare for Christmas, we prepare for a party, to celebrate. For many years, I’ve thought about Christmas as a time to “prepare room”
AJB Recommends: Holiday Favorites
Last night, William and Marilee and I cuddled in my bed together to watch The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, one of my holiday favorites. It’s
What Repentance Has to Do With Christmas
It was only this year that I learned that the four weeks of Advent (the season in the church calendar that leads up to Christmas)
I’m Booking Zoom Events
I’m booking Zoom events! One day, I’m going to get on an airplane and fly to a school and a church and a conference center
The Healing Work of Salvation
How is salvation “healing work”? Early on in Matthew’s Gospel, he writes that the angel told Joseph to name Mary’s son Jesus because he would
