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

cultural commentary review

Hypermodernity Got Ya Down? Put a Bonnet On It!

I have never read an Amish romance novel. I tried once—not very hard—and couldn’t do it, couldn’t even get past page three. However, I did just now manage to read with great delight, cover to cover, Valerie Weaver-Zurcher’s new book, The Thrill of the Chaste:…

Debra RienstraJune 15, 2013

Pious Petunia

Pious Petunia Celebrates Summer

Dear Miss Petunia: My husband and I bicker every summer about his preference for golf over worship services on sunny Sunday mornings. “I worship God so much better on the golf course!” he claims. I think he’s just being lazy about the spiritual life. Either…

Debra RienstraJune 1, 2013

memoir spirituality

Unfinished Business

I suppose I have simply gotten used to unfinished business. As more academic years slide past and pile up behind me, I have less a sense of closure in May than a sense of constant motion. Even this year, when two of my own children…

Debra RienstraMay 18, 2013

review spirituality

Making the Case for Church

I wonder, though. Is a defense of the church even possible? Even with the most airtight arguments or winsome stories, could we ever convince the skeptic that the church is a good and beautiful place to center your life?

Debra RienstraMay 4, 2013

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

Hypermodernity Got Ya Down? Put a Bonnet On It!

Pious Petunia Celebrates Summer

Unfinished Business

Making the Case for Church

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