RECENT POSTS
Toilet Paper, Hoarding, and Sharing
I bought a 9-pack of toilet paper in the grocery store last week. Yes. It was a brand I didn’t recognize, but it was soft
AJB Recommends: Podcasts That Bring Comfort
Are you in a place of fatigue from the news? I have three recommendations for podcasts that bring comfort. I listen to a lot of
Less Distraction and Paying Attention
Distraction—largely in the form of entertainment and busyness—keeps us from love. (So does fear, and so does injustice, which I’ve been talking about in the
Where Is God When People Suffer {Ep 106}
Over the past few years, I’ve become more and more convinced that love is the foundation of all reality. Love is the deepest truth about
Praising God in Sorrow, Just Like Jesus
I mentioned last week that Penny and I have been singing worship songs together lately. It is such a gift to me to turn off
AJB Recommends: What to Read, Listen to, and Watch This Weekend
If you’re wondering what to read, listen to, or watch this weekend, I have recommendations for you! Reading Recommendation It’s hard to believe that a
Postponed Speaking Events, Grief, and Gratitude
Today I expected to be speaking at the Festival of Faith and Writing in Grand Rapids, MI. I was planning a new talk about the
Consequential Strangers and Social Distancing
I was out taking a walk in our neighborhood yesterday, and I happened to cross paths (at an acceptable social distance) with a man who
Privilege, Social Divisions, and COVID-19
In White Picket Fences, I write, The privilege of whiteness and wealth can become a wall against the privilege of being human, loved not for
COVID-19, Privilege, and What Keeps Us from Living in Love {Ep 105}
In recent weeks during COVID-19, we have seen acts of extreme and ordinary self-sacrifice. Doctors and nurses are working around the clock and putting themselves
Singing and the Coronavirus Shelter-in-Place Situation
One of the effects of the coronavirus crisis is that Penny and I are singing together. Our new daily schedule involves the two of us
What to Read on Holy Saturday
In the Christian tradition, today is called “Holy Saturday.” It’s a day of waiting. A day in between the horror of the crucifixion and the
AJB Recommends: Spiritual Podcasts During COVID-19 Crisis
I’ve been listening to two different types of podcasts lately in this time of the COVID-19 crisis. One, podcasts that report and analyze news, politics,
How Our Kids are Coping During Coronavirus Crisis
COVID-19 has brought a variety of emotions into our home, and I’ve wanted to know how our kids were coping with the coronavirus dynamics. “I
In Holy Week, Preparing for Loss
Jerome Adams, the surgeon general of the United States, has warned that the upcoming week will be the “hardest yet” in terms of American lives
COVID-19, Holy Week, and Preparing for Suffering with Love {Ep 104}
At dinner a few nights ago, we asked our kids if they have any questions for God during this time of COVID-19 and suffering. They
Penny’s Prayer for Church During COVID-19 Crisis
Penny was asked to write a prayer for our church. Our pastor sends out a prayer written by a member of our congregation every morning.
A Day of Unlimited Screen Time
Our household treated the first week of school closure due to COVID-19 as spring break, per our schools’ instruction. The kids asked for a day
Coronavirus, Suffering, and Two Questions About God
Suffering and death and events like our current experience with the coronavirus generally lead humans to ask at least two questions about God. Does God
Stories of the Saints Book Recommendation
Hooray for the UPS delivery man who brought me Stories of the Saints today. So excited for this gift! I can’t wait to dive into this
The Foundation is Shaking: Coronavirus and Living in Love {Ep. 103}
What do we do when the foundation is shaking with the upheaval of the coronavirus? Where do we turn when everything feels wobbly and everything
