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Author Archives: awtraughber
Sunday’s Best: Science of the Self
It’s the first Sunday of 2026, and I’m already feeling a little behind. But that’s okay because there’s still time to get ye olde act together! After a good, latter-day run, Calvin and Hobbes has reverted back to some early … Continue reading
Posted in Comics
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The Strangest Thing
Like lots of other people across the country, I spent my New Year’s Day watching the series finale of Stranger Things at a local movie theater. It was a great way to wrap things up: big screen, comfy seat, a … Continue reading
New Year’s Day 2026 (Hope to Carry On)
The new year started off with a slightly-later-than-usual pre-dawn walk up into the valley. The breeze was nice and the road mostly quiet. Morning prayer, some monastic podcast, talk, and then the first full song of the year. You just … Continue reading
Posted in Caedmon's Calling, Faith, Life in the Fifth Act, The Long Story
Tagged Caedmon's Call, Rich Mullins
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A Song about the Strange Way
There’s a characteristically awkward-yet-humorous moment about 2:40 minutes into Nate Bargatze’s “nativity scene” sketch with Mary, Joseph, and the Wise Men that brings up an interesting point about the songs of the season: Jesus gets a fair amount, Mary a … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Music
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Sunday’s Best: Star Light, Star Bright?
There’s not much seasonal humor in this week’s Sunday funnies. The classic Calvin and Hobbes is brilliant as always (with a great final panel). Frazz is funny, even if it ends up being a fart joke. But I think it’s … Continue reading
Posted in Comics, Holidays
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Waking Up the Dead . . . Again
A few days ago I posted some thoughts on my Thanksgiving Day viewing of Rian Johnson’s latest Knives Out mystery: Wake Up Dead Man. As I mentioned then, I really appreciated what Johnson was able to do with the sincerity … Continue reading
Posted in Church, Faith, Movies
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Sunday’s Best: A Day Late but Not a Dollar Short
Yesterday was the beginning of Advent; it was also a solid day in the Sunday funnies. The snow is already falling in Charles Schulz’s classic Peanuts. For some reason, the final panel struck me as being particularly funny (which is … Continue reading
Posted in Comics, Holidays
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In the Darkness, Waiting (Advent Week One)
Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which marks the beginning of a new year in the church calendar. (Last Sunday was Christ the King Sunday, a recent addition to the church calendar that mostly only liturgical churches celebrate.) As … Continue reading
Quick Thoughts on Hamnet
Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet is the kind of movie where the whole thing really depends on the final act. Most of the movie keeps its two leads apart, with Jessie Buckley’s Agnes Shakespeare at “home” and Paul Mescal’s Will Shakespeare living … Continue reading
Posted in Movies
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Waking Up the Dead
I’m curious to see what Christian writers will have to say about the new Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man. It’s the find of movie that will likely infuriate one end of the spectrum and bring out some misguided … Continue reading
Posted in Church, Faith, Movies
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Space Enough, and Time 