Blog - Debra Rienstra

By Debra Rienstra In cultural commentary

The Enemy Within

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By Debra Rienstra In nature

On Cicadas, Parasites, and Creepy, Slimy Things

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By Debra Rienstra In memoir

The Remnants of Their Lives: An Ancestry Adventure

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Uncategorized

A Vote is Not a Valentine–Or a Virtue Test

It seems to me people have all kinds of unhelpful notions about what a vote means. And that can lead to them choosing not to vote, usually for either (or both) of two reasons. 1. They don’t think their vote matters. 2. They want to…

Debra RienstraMay 4, 2024

climate change spirituality theology

What Can the Church Offer to a World in Crisis?

What distinctive gifts does the church bring to the table? What can we offer, right now, in this moment in history? What gifts of the church are suited well for what we need?

Debra RienstraApril 6, 2024

cultural commentary pop culture

Messiah Complex

The cinematography is amazing! The production design incredible! The acting top-notch! The directing visionary! Eh. I was bored.

Debra RienstraMarch 23, 2024

liturgical year

Unless a Seed Falls: John 12:20-36

Even I have to admit, it looks terrible: broken, rotting stalks, bare dirt, no happy winged visitors. I tell myself there are over-wintering insects in there, that native roots are strong, that spring is coming. But right now: stillness, death.

Debra RienstraFebruary 24, 2024

liturgical year Pious Petunia silly

Pious Petunia Lifts Us Gently Over a Candy-Coated Lenten Threshold

Miss P recommends relaxed bemusement at the strained and unnecessary efforts of some Christians to claw back holy meaning for Ash Wednesday out of the lacey pink clutches of commercialized romance.

Debra RienstraFebruary 10, 2024

arts theology

Blessed Unrest

We often wonder what God is calling us to do in a particular moment or passage of life. Could we ask ourselves, in such moments, “What is my blessed unrest here?”

Debra RienstraJanuary 27, 2024

liturgical year spirituality

Communion of Dust

After prayers comes time for the imposition. I turn to our pastor and thumb ashes onto his forehead, the sign of the cross: Jack, remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. He places the mark on me, says the words. Then…

Debra RienstraMarch 8, 2014

Michigan nature spirituality

A Biblical Approach to Winter: Scattering Frost and Hurling Hail

To those among our readers who do not live in the wintry climes of North America, I apologize for another lament on this blog about cold, snowy weather. Please forgive us. Still in the grip of this relentless winter, we Midwest dwellers are suffering from…

Debra RienstraFebruary 22, 2014

Calvin events review

The Festival Geek Recommends: A Top Ten List

Despite the continued deep freeze here in Michigan, I spy a glow of hope on the horizon: something wonderful is coming! I don’t mean spring. That’s doubtful. I mean Calvin’s Festival of Faith and Writing, our biennial celebration of books, authors, publishing, reading, and faith,…

Debra RienstraFebruary 7, 2014

cultural commentary silly

An Ode to Cable

Oh cable, I could not part with you! I came close, though. You know how it works: you negotiate a one-year deal, and then when the special rate eventually expires, some even-more-obscene amount quietly drains from your bank account. That’s your cue to get on…

Debra RienstraJanuary 25, 2014

The Enemy Within

On Cicadas, Parasites, and Creepy, Slimy Things

The Remnants of Their Lives: An Ancestry Adventure

A Vote is Not a Valentine–Or a Virtue Test

What Can the Church Offer to a World in Crisis?

Messiah Complex

Unless a Seed Falls: John 12:20-36

Pious Petunia Lifts Us Gently Over a Candy-Coated Lenten Threshold

Blessed Unrest

Communion of Dust

A Biblical Approach to Winter: Scattering Frost and Hurling Hail

The Festival Geek Recommends: A Top Ten List

An Ode to Cable

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