My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
Thoughts from November 27-30, 2017
Once a week I compile the reflections I’ve offered on Facebook into one blog post. Here are the thoughts from the past five days, including
Ditching the Label “Evangelical” Without Opposing Evangelicals
Last month, I wrote an article for the Washington Post about the label “evangelical” and why I no longer identify as an evangelical. It struck
Digging into my Family’s History with Native Americans
My family has been in the United States since before the United States existed. Distant relatives on both my mother’s and father’s sides arrived in
Thoughts from November 13-18, 2017
Once a week I compile the reflections I’ve offered on Facebook into one blogpost. Here are the thoughts from the past five days: Monday, November
Thoughts from November 6-10, 2017
Once a week I compile the reflections I’ve offered on Facebook into one blogpost. Here are the thoughts from the past five days, including dealing
The Lord’s Prayer is Not for ME
“Give US this day OUR daily bread . . . Forgive US OUR debts, as WE forgive OUR debtors.” Sorry for the all-caps, but I’ve
Thoughts from October 31-November 3, 2017
Once a week I compile the reflections I’ve offered on Facebook into one blogpost. Here are the thoughts from the past five days, including some
When Fear Becomes Gratitude
When Fear Becomes Gratitude A few weeks ago, Penny and my mom had a conversation where Penny shut down. It happens every so often. We
3 Resources to Help Us Overcome Polarization
Yesterday, John Kelly made the news when he said the Civil War could have been avoided through compromise. Many people pointed out that decades of
Thoughts from October 23-27, 2017
Once a week I compile the reflections I’ve offered on Facebook into one blogpost. Here are the thoughts from the past five days: Tuesday, October
A Day in the Life with Down Syndrome
What is a day in the life of a kid with Down syndrome like? I wake Penny up at 6:30 on the dot. She squeezes
The Screen Time Question: Is there a right answer?
The Screen Time Question: Is there a right answer? Anyone out there concerned about how technology is affecting us? Personally? As a family? For our
Why I Dropped the Label Evangelical
For those of you who are Christians, do you use another label to describe what type of Christian you are? I used to. I wrote
How Observing Sabbath Frees Us From Anxiety
Marilee slept late this morning. At 7:30, I rubbed her shoulder as she lay curled up under the covers on her side. When she opened
Thoughts from October 9-13, 2017 on Anxiety, Sickness and Friendship
Once a week I compile the reflections I’ve offered on Facebook into one blogpost. Here are the thoughts from the past five days: Friday, October
Missing Out on Beautiful: New Free Ebook about Down Syndrome and other thoughts
Dear October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month and I’ve created an eBook called “Missing Out on Beautiful: 7 Essays about Raising a Child with Down
Thoughts from October 2-6, 2017
As many of you know, I stopped blogging two years ago, mostly because blogging consumed the time that I had for writing, and I chose
Thoughts from September 25-29, 2017
As many of you know, I stopped blogging two years ago, mostly because blogging consumed the time that I had for writing, and I chose
Thoughts from September 18-22, 2017
As many of you know, I stopped blogging two years ago, mostly because blogging consumed the time that I had for writing, and I chose
AJB Recommends: Free of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller
My friend Sharon Hodde Miller has written an essential and excellent book. It comes out next week, and I had the privilege of reading
AJB Recommends: Becoming Friends of Time by John Swinton
Earthquakes and hurricanes have brought many of us back to the age-old questions about how a loving and powerful God could stand by and not
Thoughts from October 16-20, 2017
Once a week I compile the reflections I’ve offered on Facebook into one blogpost. Here are the thoughts from the past five days: Tuesday, October
AJB Recommends: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
As a white person who grew up in neighborhoods with very little crime, the police and the court system seemed utterly trustworthy. Sure, mistakes were
Thoughts from September 11-15, 2017
As many of you know, I stopped blogging two years ago, mostly because blogging consumed the time that I had for writing, and I chose
Thoughts from September 4-8, 2017
As many of you know, I stopped blogging two years ago, mostly because blogging consumed the time that I had for writing, and I chose
AJB Recommends: GodSpace by Keri Wyatt Kent
Does anyone else operate on a school-year schedule, and thus feel like September is the beginning of a new year? I have spent the past
Thoughts from August 24-September 1, 2017
For eight years, I blogged regularly. It started as a once a week post about our family. In time I moved to Beliefnet, then Patheos,
What Going to Middle School Taught Me about Love
Today is day five of middle school for Penny. She has weathered it better than I have–great attitude, tremendous excitement about the prospect of hot
AJB Recommends: Unseen by Sara Hagerty
One of the perks of being an author is that people send me books for free. I have a stack on my desk right now
Why We Must Insist Upon Knowledge Tethered to Love
I was invited to share some thoughts on disability and theology with the student body of St. Paul’s School, a boarding school in Concord, New
