Sunday Reading Links!

Happy Sunday to you! Here are some good links for your weekend reading pleasure:

-"Think of the End to Motivate the Action"--short and simple, but oh-so-good-and-true.

-"A New Kind of Theological Master's Degree"--My reaction to this in a nutshell? OhNoYouGuysIMightHaveToGoBackToSchool. (Um, seriously. I'm a little disturbed at how much I want to do this.)

-"Counterpoint Reading"--a cool reading strategy.

-"A Cold Take on the Kavanaugh Debacle"--I really, really liked this.

-"At the Name of Jesus Everyone Will Be Embarrassed"--and I really, really loved this. Anne's advice about just deciding to regularly open your mouth with a blessing, till it becomes habit and you're just regularly talking to everyone you meet about Jesus, is...quite possibly life-changing. Thanks, Anne.

-"When Fear Tempts You to Quit"--I can't even pretend to this level of faith, but I am challenged and even encouraged by it.

-"Learning to Pray Again"--okay, so this is very Roman Catholic, and I'd quibble with her theology of the Eucharist somewhat, but...this is so worth reading, guys. I think she's very right about bringing your actual self to the Lord in prayer, and not the self you think He wants to see. Great reminder.


(And for more links and quotations and such than I ever manage to post here on the blog, follow me on Twitter!)

That's it for this week! I hope you had a good weekend!


Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Monday Links!

Well, I missed the weekend, so here are links to some good reading for your Monday!

-From Anne Kennedy: "Girl, Go to Church."

-And, speaking of Anne, I love this too: "Trading Ash for Honey."

-And here is something very good, from Fred Sanders, about a sort-of oblique approach to iconography and the Trinity: "The Prepared Throne."

-This is about reading the authors that the authors you love loved to read: "Climbing Your Own Family Tree."

-Emily Hubbard, who I worked with on Not Alone, wrote this piece on Medium, and I think it's worth signal-boosting: "Use Accurate Language When You Talk About People Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse or Assault Please."

-I love the college students at our parish, and so I loved this article: "Welcome to College. Join a Church."

-This is so cool: "Europe's Oldest Intact Book Is Discovered Inside the Coffin of a Saint."

-I enjoyed this article: "Fantasy vs. Reality through the Lens of To All the Boys I've Loved Before."

-Ouch: "Back to the Sources: A plagiarism incident involving Ann Voskamp shows the new dynamics of Christian publishing in a digital age."


From the Archives
-That time I met one of my literary heroines, Robin Jones Gunn.
-And the difference meeting her ended up making in my writing life.



(And for more links and quotations and such than I ever manage to post here on the blog, follow me on Twitter!)

That's it for this week! I hope you had a good weekend!


Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Links for Labor Day!

Here are links to some good reading and listening, for what's left of your weekend:

-"The Strange Truth About the Pill" - this article from the BBC has been making the rounds, and it's well-worth the read.

-"I Don't Want a Celebration of Life, I Want a Burial Service" - a friend from our parish posted this to his Facebook page, and I really liked it.

-"What Should We Make of the Sign Gifts?" - I loved this--so sensible, and Biblically-grounded. (And neither hard cessationist nor extreme charismatic. Very thoughtful, and worth listening to, whichever side of the debate you're on.) 

-And here is a very, very good sermon on wisdom, discernment, and growing in maturity.

-"On Wildness, Cracked Worlds, Monsters, and the Odd Nature of the Short Story" - this one is for my fellow writers out there, though I think the vibrancy of it will appeal to any reader. Also, this part seems like good advice for...many, many things:

“Here’s my theory on trail maintenance,” he said to us over and over again. “You take the worst stretch of trail, and you turn it into the best.” It was good advice, as it turns out.

(And for more links than I ever manage to post here on the blog, follow me on Twitter!)

That's it for this week! I hope you had a good Labor Day weekend!

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

linky-linky links!

Here are links to some good reading and watching, for what's left of your weekend:

-God always pouring himself out: "Well-Spring of Salvation." 

-I really enjoyed this video on "A Biblical Theology of the Household."

-Likewise, I enjoyed this article by a man who "eavesdropped on a saint"--i.e., learned about prayer from one of the little old ladies in his church: "Lessons from a Prayer Warrior."

-Nifty! "5 Hacks That Make Flowers Look More Expensive." 

-Um, so I truly want to put at least half of these hacks into practice in my own kitchen: "Here's How Hidden Cabinet Hacks Dramatically Increased My Cabinet Storage"

-Mmmm...sleeeeeeeeeep.... "How Many Hours of Sleep Do You Actually Need?"


(And for more links than I ever manage to post here on the blog, follow me on Twitter!)

That's it for this week! I hope you have a restful Sunday.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

linky linky links

Here are links to some good reading, for what's left of your weekend:


-Starting with this one, which is ridiculous and trainwreck-y. Um, these people are nuts. Bless them, but they're nuts: We Bought a Crack House.

-And this parody of the nutty situation: We bought a $3 million bungalow full of bats and were not happy with the result.


-On a more serious note, I appreciated this take on children's literature: Welcome to Lizard Motel.


-The feast of Pentecost is coming up, and this article from Michelle Van Loon explains what it is, why it matters, and how to celebrate it!


-I continue to find Jordan Peterson--and the takes on him, pro and con--kinda fascinating. Here are two good ones from Think Theology:

    12 Rules: the Review

----and---

   12 Rules for Jordan Peterson. 





(And for more links than I ever manage to post here on the blog, follow me on Twitter!)

That's it for this week! I hope you have a restful Sunday.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Links!

It's warm enough in SoCal that the hibiscuses are blooming!

Here are links to some good reading and listening, for what's left of your weekend:

-First, from Anne Kennedy, a message on The Life-Changing Magic of Not Tidying Up.

-And then, from Fred Sanders, an excellent sermon on Christ Alone.

-I'm not a huge fan of horror movies, but I like what Mike Duran has to say in this article about Why the Popularity of Horror Movies Might Encourage Christians, especially this bit:

The popularity of the horror genre may be a collective subconscious affirmation that the world is not the way it's supposed to be.

-Yes, yes, yes to all this: 7 Things I Love About Liturgical Protestant Worship.

-From Randy Alcorn: My Writing Process, Advice for Aspiring Authors, and Answers to Other Questions About Writing.

-This is deeply, truly important: Parents, Take Note of the Spiritual Practices Common to Kids Who Flourish as Adults.


(And for more links than I ever manage to post here on the blog, follow me on Twitter!)

That's it for this week! I hope you have a restful Sunday.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

links!

Happy Epiphany!

It's been such a stupid long time since I've posted a links post--mostly because my December was taken up with a (good and welcome, but time-intensive) freelance editing project.

But--it's Epiphany! and so here's a links post. I hope you enjoy clicking through it, while enjoying a nice cup of tea or cider or coffee or whatever your favorite winter-time drink is.

-It's the first anniversary of Nailed It!

-It's fun to see how other people celebrate the church year. Sarah's post, "Reflecting on Our Advent," is a particularly lovely account of one family's celebration.

-A thoughtful article: "Harvey Weinstein and Sexualized Pop Culture Call for Prophetic Engagement." Here's a snippet:

Non-Christians may be rightfully outraged at the exposure of anyone’s non-consensual harassment or assault of women. Christians can righteously join them. But we must recall that our Lord, the Creator of sex, has revealed a much higher standard.

-This retrospective on Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, on the occasion of their 70th anniversary, is quite fun. Here's to long marriages!

-Also just for fun: "True Kilts: Debunking the Myths about Highlanders and Clan Tartans."

-And I'm a bit late linking to this guide for Advent and Christmas, but it also includes a bit of good stuff for Epiphany.



Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

A Links Post! (and a small update)

Hi folks! 

Below, you can find a regular links post (I usually call them weekly links, but let's be honest: they're more like biweekly links).  But quickly, before getting to that, I just wanted to apologize about not having another entry in my blog series on writing a rule of life, The Rhythm of Our Days. 

The truth about having a rule of life is that it gives me guidance about what to say "yes" to each day, but it also gives me boundaries for my work. It tells me, "Do this first and then, if you have time, do that."

Everyone knows that there isn't enough time in a day to do everything. My rule just helps me to be honest about that. It tells me when to work, and when to stop working.

And this last week, there was time to do a lot, but there wasn't time to work on this series. I hope there will be time this week (there might be), but if not this week, there will almost certainly be time next week, during Thanksgiving break.

Thanks for hanging in there with me while I work on this! Now, onto the links!



-This looks like an excellent writing contest. (Free entry, and a great prize!)

-I don't know about you, but there are a lot of people in my life right now going through loss. Here's something helpful: Grieving Like God.

-If you are a Hamilton fan, you'll probably enjoy this collection of excellent fan-art--one drawing for each song of the musical.

-Ah, a properly admiring article about a book series I love. More people should read Lee and Miller. (Their books are kinda like Georgette Heyer in space.)

-Tim Keller on the book of Proverbs. I loved this quotation in particular:

Just as the Book of Psalms is the Lord’s Prayer applied practically to every possible situation and condition of our hearts, so the Book of Proverbs is the Ten Commandments applied to every possible situation in our daily lives.

-Sex in Movies. Was John Piper Right All Along?

-And, finally, an appreciation of an excellent actor, who played a vital role in one of my favorite TV series ever: When Robert Guillaume Played Aaron Sorkin's First Great Leader.






I hope you have a great week, folks!

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell


This post contains Amazon affiliate links; if you purchase a book from this link, I receive a small percentage of the purchase price. I will probably use it to buy more books. (See full disclosure on sidebar of my blog.)

Weekly Links!

~ LINKS TO SOME INTERESTING READING, FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR WEEKEND ~


-When Masculinity Turns Toxic.


-I love this: Why You Should Say Bad Things About My Books.



-Yes! It can be worth consuming stories with worldviews you disagree with--but you should always do it with discernment, and without expecting them to be perfect: The Doctor Doesn't Believe in the Devil.


-Both this article and the article after it I found thanks to Tim Motte, so my thanks to him: Tolkien's Map.


-And: This excellent twin review comparing Rothfuss and Tolkien.


-Sometimes it's just nice to read someone say good things about a good thing you already love: "The Princess Bride" at 30.



-For those of you with high-schoolers: did you know your kid can apply to be an intern at NASA?


-Pilgrimage to the National Parks: Awe, Wonder, and What's Missing.


-Helpful: Homemade Halloween Hacks for Parents in a Hurry.




I hope what's left of your Sunday is peaceful and restful.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Weekly Links!

photo credit: Betsy Barber.

~ LINKS TO SOME INTERESTING READING, FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR WEEKEND ~

-I remember reading this in Touchstone years ago, but it was good to reread this fascinating theory about the Chronicles of Narnia: Narnia's Secret.


-A good reminder for my fellow writers: The Folly of Self-Rejection.


-This blog post is full of such lovely food ideas: Lifestyle Lessons.


-Good stuff from Wesley Hill: An Impatience with Biblical Exegesis.


-More helpful advice for writers, on what to do when you get The Call from an agent: All About Author Etiquette. 


-I already wanted to read this book, because I already knew I like the author, but this post made me really want to read this book: The Big Idea: David Walton.


-So, as Anne Kennedy always says, "struggling" is the Christian word for failure.  Here, Russell Moore gets even more incisive about our common attitude towards "struggling" with sin: Are You "Struggling" With Sin?


-This sermon on divine omniscience, by Dr. Fred Sanders, is really good. I particularly appreciated his explanation of what Ps. 139 would mean in the mouth of Adam, vs. what it would mean in the mouth of Jesus, and then what being completely known by God means for us, whose life is hid in Christ: Divine Omniscience.



I hope what's left of your Sunday is peaceful and restful.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Weekly Links: Growing, Eating, Praying, and more!

some very cool baby shower decorations

~ LINKS TO SOME INTERESTING READING, FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR WEEKEND ~

-For all of us who aren't kids, but are still working hard on becoming really cool adults: Quick Thoughts on Comparison, and the Angst of Growing Up Slowly.  


-This sounds like an awesome diet plan: I Ate Hundreds of Bowls of Queso and Somehow Lost 10 Pounds.


-And...I really want to go and work here for a few days! If you're in France, maybe you can go and volunteer and tell me how it was...? For 20 Years the French Have Been Building a Medieval Castle Using Medieval Techniques, and the Result Is Incredible.


-And it'd hardly be a links post without hearing from Anne...but, seriously, guys, go hear from Anne (and add her dad to your prayers): It's Okay if You Can't Pray.  

(ETA: I've been corresponding with my grandma, a great woman of prayer, about this post. I think it is always good to pray. I think what comforts me about Anne's post is the reminder that God will still do His good work, even when we fail to ask Him for it. But "help, Lord," is always a good prayer--even if we're not capable of anything more. So, I'm grateful for Anne's reminder that God does not depend on us, and I'm also grateful for my grandma's reminder that it's good to pray anyway.)


-I really like where this guy ended up in his last line: VidAngel Let Me Remove the Sex from Game of Thrones, So Why Do I Still Feel Like a Pervert?


-Yes, this is about working from home, but for me the most interesting part was the section about how hard it was for the scientist to find a group to study that met his requirements: Why Working From Home Should Be Standard Practice.


I hope what's left of your Sunday is peaceful and restful.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Weekly Links!

~ LINKS TO SOME INTERESTING READING and listening, FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR WEEKEND ~


-So, if you read any of these things, read this one: Even the Wind and the Waves Obey Him.


-This was fascinating: The Last Surviving Sea Silk Seamstress.


-A worthy book review: How to Think, by Alan Jacobs.


-So helpful: Rereading Ephesians.


-Theologian Alastair Roberts is doing a sort of AMA over at "Curious Cat," a new-to-me site/app. Good stuff: Zugzwanged at Curious Cat.


-Mere Fidelity is back! In their first podcast of the new season, they discuss the Nashville statement (two of the podcasters signed and two didn't). Edifying and interesting, as always.



I hope what's left of your Sunday is peaceful and restful.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Weekly Links!

The hibiscus on my patio is gorgeous right now.

~ LINKS TO SOME INTERESTING READING, FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR WEEKEND ~


-This is funny: "Unrealistic Things in YA Books, Pt. 2"


-So is this: "Celebrating the Many Doubtful Looks of Princess Anne"


-This is long, but it kept my attention the entire time: "'Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God," by Brian Zahnd (Long Review)"


-Interesting: "Chemists Say You Should Add a Little Water to Your Whisky. Here's Why."


-This podcast from Writing Excuses was really helpful: "Structuring a Short Piece"


-Finally: "What Brands Are Actually Behind Trader Joe's Snacks?"

I hope what's left of your Sunday is peaceful and restful.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Weekly Links - MLMs, costume design, hard work, late manuscripts, and more!

~ LINKS TO SOME INTERESTING READING, FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR WEEKEND ~


It's been a few weeks since I put a links post together, so this one is LONG. It is also in no particular order. Enjoy!


-MLMs are bad news. We knew that, right?


-However late you've been with a manuscript, I bet this guy was later.


-An interesting philosophical explanation of how miracles can be. 


-On God and Charlottesville.


-A take on why anthology editors reject the stories that they do.


-This article on smartphones might have a click-baity title, but the content is well-researched and fascinating.


-This article on the work it takes to become an author is an oldie, but it was new to me, and I enjoyed it.


-Here is a little gem  of a story about some seminarians and their local pub.


-And here's an analysis of why Belle's dress in the recent Disney live-action remake was so disappointing (from a costume design perspective).


-And finally, why having rules for yourself is a good idea.





I hope what's left of your Sunday is peaceful and restful.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Weekly Links: story-boarding, anti-popes, and more!

Sunset in Reno, where I attended a writing conference this weekend.

~ LINKS TO SOME INTERESTING READING, FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR WEEKEND ~


-For my fellow writers, a helpful article on how to plot and story-board with Scrivener.


-And for my fellow writers who write poetry, here's an article on how to actually make some money from it.


-And one more writing link, on when to adopt a pen name.



-For my fellow liturgy nerds, here's a helpful and interesting overview of Anglican vestments.


-This is a helpful article, and I especially appreciate the last section, which articulates the positive vision: The Bible and Same-Sex Relationships: A Review Article.


-And speaking of, here's a helpful reminder: The Church Has Always Known Theological Controversy.


-And a moving article from a parent who's further down the road than I am: On Being the Happiest Millionaire: Jane Gets Married. I really liked this part:

[Our daughter and new son-in-law] will go on an exciting trip after the wedding and we will go home, having let them go. If we have done our job well, then now we are honored parents, friends. As a result, sometimes they will choose to come home for Christmas, not out of duty, but because they wish to do so. If we made the parting easy, then the return will be easy as well! The time has come, so far as their lives go, to play a supporting role to their starring turn and this is good.

-And let's end with something funny. I've really been enjoying the D-List Saints column over at Christ and Pop Culture. This one, The Guy Who Just Decided He Was Pope, was particularly good. Here's a snippet:

No, seriously—not only did the guy write large chunks of the Western liturgy, he also straight-up invented the concept of an “antipope.” What have you done with your life?

I hope what's left of your Sunday is peaceful and restful.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell