*My market flowers for my birthday weekend. Joe has the best autumn flowers. Garden dahlias.*

Happy Friday. Surprised to find us here again so quickly although this week was LONG. But I collected a few things amongst a busy week. Enjoy!

THINGS I BOOKMARKED

Disappearing Acts – Lore Wilbert’s words once again comfort and challenge about faith, politics, family, and being seen. “But, I don’t know, maybe it’s just easier for some people to dissent, to speak up, to lose what little respect they think their family has for them. I don’t know. Maybe Jesus was right and we have to be willing to leave them. I don’t know.”

How Can You Cheer Love and Hate At the Same Time? - David French writes thoughtfully about the vast difference between Erika Kirk’s words at the memorial and President Trump’s and deputy chief Stephen Miller’s. I tried to grab a couple quotes to share as I know many probably don’t go read the whole article, but there were too many good quotes. This is the best conclusion one below. But go read the whole thing. Please.

“The good is still very good. Erika Kirk’s act of forgiveness should be remembered for a very long time. But MAGA Christianity is also rooted in a dangerous distortion of Christian theology, one that motivates otherwise good people to walk a dark and dangerous path.”

A Christian Case Against Capitalism – This book review by James K.A. Smith is not only fantastic, but the book looks fantastic too. Need it. Ordering it. If you read it too, let me know so we can chat about it!

We Need To Think Straight About God and Politics – A powerful article from David Brooks about the Kirk Memorial and the intersection of faith and politics. Absolutely must read.

“The ceremony bounced back and forth between prayer and political point scoring, between people offering to love their enemies and President Trump proudly hating them, between declarations that all humans are made in the image of God and Stephen Miller basically declaring that all his enemies are vermin.”

“What happens when people operate without any coherent theory of how religion should relate to politics?”

“The critics of Christian nationalism sometimes argue that it is a political movement using the language and symbols of religion in order to win elections. But the events of the past week have proved that this is a genuinely religious movement and Charlie Kirk was a genuinely religious man. The problem is that unrestrained faith and unrestrained partisanship are an incredibly combustible mixture. I am one of those who fear that the powerful emotions kicked up by the martyrdom of Kirk will lead many Republicans to conclude that their opponents are irredeemably evil and that anything that causes them suffering is permissible. It’s possible for faithful people to wander a long way from the cross.”

And to round out the fact that not everything I read, think, or talk about is as heavy as those links; a little levity:

British Obsessions: Carpet – While contemplating some house renovations, I happened to jokingly google why Brits are obsessed with carpet. Much to my surprise (though it shouldn’t have been), many articles and posts have been written on the subject. I am not alone in my query. This one was the first I read and it sums it up pretty well. But the comments are even better. And several other posts I read echo similar thoughts. It is an obsession, and most foreigners think it is strange and unhygienic. Not to rant too much on the subject, but I do get it. I also grew up in a carpeted house and I guess class that likes posh carpet in their homes. But it is an older generation thing in the States, and older construction too, which doesn’t seem to have hit (yet) in Britain. In the US, all design shows, design houses, and interior design publications feature wood floors with nice area rugs for that aesthetic and coziness. That is considered the nicest style, easiest to care for, and most beautiful aesthetic. So, you could argue I am just a product of my generation and current trend – but I would disagree since it isn’t just aesthetic for us, but also for health. The stats on asthma and allergy issues due to wall-to-wall carpeting are not good. We’re hoping to solve some of these issues when we can remove more of the carpeting in our house. And again, other cultures also find carpeting weird. I think it is time to rethink carpet and get back to the more easily cleaned rugs on hard floors that our ancestors knew so well. Or at least don’t keep questioning those of us who are changing it for ourselves.

WHAT I LISTENED TO

Two Christians Debate the Assassination of Charlie Kirk – The Deep End podcast with Lecrae, Justin Giboney and Corey Ruth. I found this podcast episode really helpful and civil. I have long appreciated Justin Giboney’s faithful Christian stance on politics and faith and hearing him and Corey Ruth have a thoughtful debate about what’s going on in America in Christianity and politics was really good. I recommend listening to it, but you can also watch it on YouTube (with ads).

Neighbor by Andy Gullahorn – This song.
“When the chasm between us feels so wide,
that it’s hard to imagine the other side.
We don’t have to see things eye to eye.
For me to love you like you are my neighbor.”