Category: Authors

Featuring authors of interest and insights.

When your Blog is not on a Blog Roll (Guest Post, Anita Mathias)

Welcome to our first guest contributor in our series Spiritual Guidance for Bloggers, celebrated author Anita Mathias. Anita is originally from Jamshedpur, India, she went to a Himalayan boarding school, spent a number of years in the U.S. and now lives in Oxford, England. So, obviously, in one fell swoop this series is now officially an international one! 

For a partial list of future contributing writers click here.

Anita is tackling the spiritual hazards of the elusive blogroll. See, as a blogger you tend to enjoy finding yourself listed and linked with people you admire.

Have you ever felt like missing a slot on a blogroll was the emotional equivalent to being the leftover that no one wanted for their dodgeball team in gym class? Take it away, Anita…

You know that awkward moment, when you check a blogroll, kind of hoping you’ll be on it, and well—you’re not?

And your heart sinks.

And you say….

* * *

Well, 20 years ago–forget that, 2 years ago, if I were blogging then–I would have heard the word of torment, the word of the accuser of the brethren, the word of demand: MORE.

Blog more, comment more, network more. Get your name out there more.

Demon whispers.

I hear them, I hear them, and as Odysseus poured wax into the ears of his sailors so they’d be proof against the song of the sirens

I pour honey into my ears,

The honey of truth.

* * *

And this is what the Lover of Anita says.

“Who gave human beings their mouths? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:11-12

And I still say More, but it’s not a fist-clenched anxious more.

It’s a hands open, humble one.

More of your spirit, Lord, more of you. Help me believe more deeply for you said:

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”(John 7:38).

Ah, give me that, Lord. Streams of living water flowing through my blog, flowing to find readers to bless. And if my blog blesses people, well, I guess I don’t deeply care about blog-rolls.

Ah, let me swim, oh Lord, in the waters from your sanctuary. For it is written of the river which flows from your sanctuary: Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” (Ezekiel 47: 12).

To grow in the waters of Spirit which flow from your sanctuary, and to bear fruit each month, fruit for food and leaves for healing—fruit from the Spirit!! And when you are swimming in the waters which flow from the sanctuary, when the tree of your life grows in it, and bears fruit every month—well then, blogrolls are secondary.

* * *

And I bring you again the two loaves and five fish of my talent. And I see you bless it. And, ouch, I see you break it.

And it doesn’t resemble the way I hoped to write, the way I planned to write, the way I was taught to write, the way I used to write.

And you—YOU distribute the loaves of words which have come from brokenness and quietness, words you have whispered to me in my distress—and seeing them read, I am satisfied.

I smile if I am on a blogroll,

And am still satisfied if I am not,

Because hearing, overhearing and recording your whispers, Lord,

That is the greatest work you have ever given me!!

 Anita Mathias is the author of Wandering Between Two Worlds,” (Benediction Classics, 2007) and blogs at Dreaming Beneath the Spires.

Interview with Amos Yong

My conversation with the foremost Pentecostal Theologian, Amos Yong, has 2 parts. First, we talk about the themes in his new book “The Bible, Disability, and the Church”.

Click for Video (part I)

Below is part II of our talk. We cover some excellent topics like healing, God’s will, social oppression in the church, communal prayers of lament, his Disability Bible project (and more).

Click to view Part II

The Spiritual Guidance for Bloggers Series: An Introduction

Click for Attribution link.

If I were to caption this photo for the project at hand, it would say,
“Sweater cubicle? or are bloggers too isolated for their own spiritual good?”

As I promised on Timothy Dalrymple‘s blog a bit ago, I am covering the topic of spiritual guidance for bloggers (as a series). Thankfully, some talent bloggers are joining us, too.

In plenty of ways technology has outpaced our spiritual reflection. The needed inner gaze at the practice (spiritual or otherwise) of blogging itself has not been encountered effectively. Bloggers have specific spiritual needs and encounter spiritual pitfalls that are under-addressed…even on blogs themselves, where you’d expect them to be handled. Well, no more.

In the next few weeks, I’ll lay this topic out and do just that, with the help of some talented bloggers as featured guest contributors.

For me, it’s an EPIC mashup of blogging experience (since 2006), and three scores of credit hours with my seminary education (M.A. in Religion, Spiritual Formation concentration) cross-fertilizing at the perfect juncture to rock this thing out. Boom. Pow!

For example:
Pitfall #1. Bloggers can be grandiose when introducing a new series.

If you are a blogger, this is especially for you. You and I both need this.

If you know someone who blogs, please send them over. Encourage him or her to read and participate in this series. If they seem reluctant, or just too busy, just say, “See, that’s exactly the whole point!”

A peek at some of the upcoming themes:

  • Seductions Specific to Christian Bloggers and What to do About it
  • Overcoming the Spiritual Pitfalls of Blogging
  • A Writer’s Mistress is a Blog (humor)
  • The Best Spiritual Disciplines for Bloggers
  • Blogging and Community: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Plus, Articles from fantastic Guest Writers:

– Thom Turner

– Joy Bennet

– Ed Cyzewski

– Anita Mathias

– Jennifer Luitwieler

– Sarah Bessey

– Warwick Fuller

– Ray Hollenbach

…and others.

Secretly Wanting to Have a Signature Fragrance

Katy Perry's 2nd fragrance is called Meow.

I submitted the following article as a guest post for Stuff Christians Like over the summer. I haven’t heard from Jon Acuff, so I’m going rogue and posting it here, in an edited form. (I’ve had a humor post there -on prayer- so, no, I’m not crushed or anything.)

Kick back, relax, and have a laugh.

Secretly Wanting to Have a Signature Fragrance

Now, before you say, “This is not really a Christian struggle. I, for one, have never wanted my own fragrance,” just hear me out. Because, before you finish reading this, the thought will take root, and even intrigue you. You’ll see that smells have always mattered somehow to your Christian life. And believe me, you’ll make a kind of internal agreement with yourself to sign a fragrance deal, if the opportunity ever arises.

Let’s face it: smell does matter. No one wants to be the “stinky kid”. Do you remember “the stinky kid”? In childhood, my brother spilled his vat of Drakkar Noir in his bedroom, and ruined that once-delightful fragrance for me…forever. No one hopes for that. So, be assured, no one in their right mind turns down a fragrance contract. You wouldn’t either. Let me explain:

Back when meteoric pop star Katy Perry was just pastor’s kid Katy Hudson belting out gospel songs to Christian audiences, a fragrance deal was an impossibility. But, now? Well, now she’s a big hit. The next obvious professional move is marketing a smell. A signature smell. And she has. Her (first) fragrance is called Purr sells for $45 for 1.7 oz. Her eau de parfum begins with the aroma of peach nectar and forbidden apple, then evolves with a distinct floral bouquet of jasmine blossom, Bulgarian rose and vanilla orchid, and slowly reveals accents of creamy sandalwood and musk. Plus it comes in a purple, cat shaped bottle, complete with rhinestone cat eyes, collar, and heart shaped id tag. Apparently, Katy has gotten some recognition for her naming her cat Kitty Purry; and from the looks of the Purr marketing posters, Katy likes being associated with felines, especially if they have a shinny, form-fitting coat.

But celerities aside…Being associated with a positive scent just seems to make sense with God’s message. As a Christian, you know, at some gut level, that you really should have a godly fragrance about you. Yes. In literal terms. It’s practically an evangelistic tool. Cinnamon for example. Imagine if every Christian, at the very least, smelled like cinnamon. You have to agree that the world would be a better place. Am I right?

So, now you might be thinking, “Hum. Girl, you’re not as crazy as I thought at first…” But, listen. I know this:  If you’re worth your weight in salt as a good Evangelical, you’ll say to me, “But, Lisa, can you prove your point using Scripture?” To that I say, “Check, and….wait for it. Wait. For. It. …Mate.” I say “Check Mate” in Christian love.

You bet I can prove it. God is super cool about us smelling awesome. For instance, in Exodus 30:22-33, God has Moses go into 11 verses about making special perfume to anoint his priests, and all the things of the Tent of Meeting. We’re talking about God’s abode! Plus, after that, they made incense too, as an added touch. Since God doesn’t have a nose, I’m pretty sure that this was something for his people to enjoy. The fragrant oil was made with five sweet and delightful aromas: Liquid myrrh, sweet cinnamon oil, sweet smelling cane, or calamus ; and cassia. I actually bought a sample of this online right after I canceled my order for an old ossuary box (I made that last part up). For the record, prophets and kings got anointed with fragrant oil too. Boom!

Of course, there’s way more Biblical proof. I won’t include the actual wording of King Solomon’s thoughts on scents and sensuality, because it’s rated M for Mature. But, let’s just say the wise king found many smells very, very sexy. His palace and massage parlor probably smelled amazing.

Even though Jesus had a beard, some lady in the village of Bethany gave him this really expensive aftershave cologne called spikenard that they used back in olden Bible times. (Mark 14:3) I’m actually wearing some spikenard right now, because I love the earthy, mossy, dark oriental qualities that seem perfect for any occasion…from feasting to, well, execution.

But, wait, there’s more. Paul specifically instructs Christians, and the church to be a sweet smelling fragrance of Christ in 2 Corinthians 14-17. Yes. Those are his actual words. (He was REALLY ahead of the curve in marketing and public relations…well, sort of.) He also mentions that though we’ll smell like life to some, we will stink like death to those who reject God. This is an obvious downside; and I can imagine Katy Perry’s perfume could have a dead furball smell, in a manner of speaking.

So, really! Why don’t Christians get with it and get their own fragrance lines? Especially celebrity Christians. Rick Warren should have one for sure! I think it would have a breezy sandalwood odor with a light musk and juniper scent about it. Don’t you?

Francis Chan’s scent would be slightly more exotic. I would have woody, amber, and oriental overtones, with hints of mandarin, clove, and a marine finish of Gorse Flowers, obviously.

But, wait. Want about more controversial folks? Would it still work? How about Mark Driscoll? Simple. His would have leathery, resin of Myrrh undertones, Tonka bean, and a hint of grapefruit. A mannish hint, mind you.

I can imagine John Piper as a velvety spearmint, black tea, Oliban Wood, and just a smidgen of nutmeg.

Rob Bell: Lavender, Vetiver, Sage, Cardamom, Iris, Cocoa Bean, Amber, Vetiver, Rosemary, with a hint of German Leather.

I would be remiss if I left out the ladies. Nancy Leigh DeMoss? I’m thinking Jasmine, creamy Amyris Woods, with accents of fruity basil.

Joyce Myers is a trickier one. Probably Gardenia, musk, and pine needles with just an edgy hint of frankincense.

So there you have it: Plenty of reasons to smell fantastic. And God is okay with it.

What would your signature fragrance smell like?
Can you imagine any famous Christians and the scent that would be associated with them? Give it a whirl!