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Debra Rienstra
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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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A Vote is Not a Valentine–Or a Virtue Test 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…
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Debra RienstraMay 4, 2024
What Can the Church Offer to a World in Crisis? climate changespiritualitytheology

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?
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Debra RienstraApril 6, 2024
Messiah Complex cultural commentarypop culture

Messiah Complex

The cinematography is amazing! The production design incredible! The acting top-notch! The directing visionary! Eh. I was bored.
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Debra RienstraMarch 23, 2024
Unless a Seed Falls: John 12:20-36 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.
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Debra RienstraFebruary 24, 2024
Pious Petunia Lifts Us Gently Over a Candy-Coated Lenten Threshold liturgical yearPious Petuniasilly

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.
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Debra RienstraFebruary 10, 2024
Blessed Unrest artstheology

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?”
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Debra RienstraJanuary 27, 2024
None But the Angels arts

None But the Angels

Today, I would like to give some grateful public praise to people who put in a lot of none-but-the-angels labor: musicians.
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Debra RienstraMarch 10, 2012
I’m Giving Up Boorishness for Lent cultural commentaryliturgical yearpop culture

I’m Giving Up Boorishness for Lent

So I wonder if this show is helping us discover what we value after all: modesty, decency, responsibility, honor.
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Debra RienstraFebruary 25, 2012
Retreat memoirspirituality

Retreat

at do you do when you are old and your friends die, and you are left with that aching, empty space where they used to be?
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Debra RienstraFebruary 11, 2012
Let’s Give in and Make It Fun politicssilly

Let’s Give in and Make It Fun

I’m despairing enough about the state of public rhetoric and irresponsible Washington gridlock to agree with this. But if we’re going to change the system, let’s do it right. Debates, however slickly produced, are a bore. Here are some better ideas.
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Debra RienstraJanuary 28, 2012
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Popular Posts

  • Communio Sanctorum November 1, 2014
  • On Trolleys and Flying Shrimp: Two Philosophers Weigh in on The Good Place February 16, 2019
  • Refugia May 11, 2019
  • The Weight of This Sad Time September 29, 2018
  • Saturday of the Harrowed Hearts April 3, 2015

Recent Posts

  • The Enemy Within November 16, 2024
  • Third Act/ Third Act Faith August 21, 2024
  • On Cicadas, Parasites, and Creepy, Slimy Things June 15, 2024
  • The Remnants of Their Lives: An Ancestry Adventure May 18, 2024
  • Volts Podcast May 15, 2024

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Contact

Debra Rienstra
debra.rienstra@gmail.com
616-526-8526

Calvin University
CFAC 270
3201 Burton St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

© 2026 Debra Rienstra. Built on Public Platform

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