Author Archives: awtraughber

Not Perfect Apart from Us

When it’s time to start talking about “life in the fifth act” with my students, I often use Hebrews 11-12 as my starting point (which is why it’s neat that the passage is the New Testament epistle reading for the … Continue reading

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Non-Curiosity, the New Standard?

Seth Godin asked a good question today of contemporary culture and our relationship with curiosity: The bestselling novel of 1961 was Allen Drury’s Advise and Consent. Millions of people read this 690-page political novel. In 2016, the big sellers were … Continue reading

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Strangers and Exiles, Seeking

Today’s daily office reading from Hebrews 11 captures one of my favorite snippets in what is an already-amazing chapter.  After talking about Abel and Noah, Abraham and Sarah, the writer digs in for a bit: These all died in faith, … Continue reading

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Another Way the Force Wakes Up

Much digital ink has been spilled over the last year writing about the return of the Star Wars franchise to the big screen, for with Star Wars: The Force Awakens and most recently with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. … Continue reading

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Assurance, Conviction, Commendation

Today’s epistolary reading from the daily office is the first third of one of my favorite chapters from one of my favorite books: Hebrews 11.  The chapter finishes out over the rest of the week.  The chapter rings loudly, even … Continue reading

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Sherlock and the Posthumous Game (or There’s Something About Mary)

Last night saw the premiere of the fourth (and many assume final) series of Sherlock on Masterpiece Mystery.  Perhaps its a repeat of my thoughts on Doctor Who‘s Christmas special, where absence has made the heart grow fonder.  I can’t … Continue reading

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Checking the Settings

Yesterday Michael Dougherty of The Week tweeted what I am assuming is his version of a “new year’s resolution,” and I like it a lot. Process setting. System setting. Ritual setting. Not goal setting. Don’t get me wrong.  I have … Continue reading

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Don’t Get Captured

This morning’s routine was thrown out of whack because of the holiday.  God bless the good folks at Zippy’s for putting up with people like me early each Sunday.  Instead, I had a quick breakfast at Starbucks before heading to … Continue reading

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The Last of 2016

And so ends a year that our culture has anthropomorphized for the last couple of months.  Thought I’d end a year in posts with something other than a “best-of” list (though I would like to get around to that at … Continue reading

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“The Land of My Sojourn”

At the final Behold the Lamb of God concert this Christmas season, Andrew Peterson added Rich Mullins’ “Land of My Sojourn” to his set list.  It’s the final song on Mullins’ masterpiece, A Liturgy, A Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band. … Continue reading

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