MEMORY RESIDUE

The Missional Introvert: Part One

My wife and I have decided that we want to lead our family as a family on mission. That means that "extended family" is being built around our family's mission, and that also means discipleship is taking place and discipleship takes access to and opening one’s life. Being available. Here's the thing though: I am an introvert. It’s not an excuse; it’s just the truth of the matter. As much as I love people, they tire me out. I need down time. Like, literally, all-by-myself-time: to contemplate, to read, and sometimes to watch movies which makes fodder for future conversations. Whatever it is, that balance must be maintained if I’m going to function well. The interesting [...]

By Joel|2014-08-28T14:30:34+00:00December 19th, 2013|discipleship, Featured, Missional Community|

Simplifying

Elise Boulding said: Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things. I've been simplifying my home. It's different than de-cluttering. I'm not just throwing away clutter, but I've been prayerfully restructuring and organizing in a way to avoid clutter being a part of my life. I've taken a bit of fascination in the many blogs and books on minimalism. I think it points to the desire of an overstimulated, sensationalist culture to [...]

By Joel|2015-04-07T19:14:01+00:00November 1st, 2013|Featured, Simplicity|

Telling Truths and other things that linger

So, haunting my short-term memories has been the second song in my Morning and Night series. Telling Truths is based on the book, Telling the Truth: the Gospel as tragedy, comedy, and fairy tale. This was actually the first Buechner book that I picked up years ago. It's a short book with pretty simple themes - which hold great depth. I read through the book in one sitting while visiting my parents (where I found the book). Then, I sat and pondered what I just experienced. Then I opened the book back up and savored ever word. Buechner does such a masterful job at not only conveying truths, but in drawing you into landscapes and conversations, and familiar [...]

By Joel|2018-01-17T23:59:20+00:00October 14th, 2013|Morning and Night, Music|

Morning and Night: Part 1 (Coffee Song)

I've been writing more music lately and it's been a lot of fun. I decided I need music to drink my coffee to in the morning; music that draws my attention to some of the underlying themes that I often think about: grace, mercy, and what that means to my day. I also need contemplative music for nighttime to drink my tea to, to put the day to rest. So, here you go. This is my first song. It's called "Coffee Song" (clever title, I know). As I wrote this first song, I was contemplating this excerpt from one of my favorite authors, Frederick Buechner (I think most of my morning songs will be based on [...]

By Joel|2018-01-17T23:57:49+00:00August 15th, 2013|Featured, Morning and Night, Music|

Memoirs of a Visitor

The Missional Introvert: Part One

Simplifying

Telling Truths and other things that linger

Morning and Night: Part 1 (Coffee Song)