Around the Web:

Love Letters

Kate Deddens writes at the Circe Institute blog of her love of letters and the changing perspectives we have on communication in our digital age. It’s a long piece, but worth the effort—in fact, the effort is a part of the point. She writes,

• Today all around me I see a stark, utilitarian focus in writing in this age of technology: all must be said to purpose—briefly and efficiently; effortless interaction seems the primary goal as though thoughts are like footballs that simply need punting. Writing is regarded as a chore. Often, so is reading. Extra words, like Mozart’s famous “too many notes,” are regarded as distractions, time-consuming, even burdens on the reader. “Why does Melville ply us with his dense prose so packed with allusions? That is so boring,” I hear my students complain. “Why does Tolstoy carry on endlessly chasing one description after the other? Why can’t he just cut to the chase?” “Why does Tolkien play at length with interwoven plot lines in his wordy fantasies? Why can’t he get to the point?”Why? For one thing, I think it is because ‘the point’ is not the only thing that matters.

Read more.

7 Things Your Church Needs From You

Tim Challies writes at his blog about the things your church needs from you, challenging every Christian to get involved in their local body of believers. It’s a message we often need to repeat to ourselves. It is easy to give up on church because it takes work.

• Would that be you? Would the people of your church weep as they remember you for all the good you did to others? Find the place you can serve your church, and serve there without fail, without excuse, without requiring praise and accolades. Do it for the good of others and the glory of God.

From showing up to giving back, Challies’ insights are helpful in our daily walk as families seeking to serve Christ and shine His light. Read more.

The Weight of Motherhood

In a touching piece at the Huffington Post, Kristin Shaw writes of the fleeting nature of childhood. She rolls the moments like pearls between her fingers, reminding us to delight in these days.

• Forty-four pounds is what my 5-year-old son weighs today.Forty-four pounds of boy. Forty-four pounds of love and intelligence and sweetness and curiosity in a compact ball of energy.This morning, he holds up his arms for me to pick him up, and they look closer to me and longer than ever, as if I were looking down at him through a magnifying glass. I bend my knees to hoist him with more effort.

  I could have said

  no, you are a big boy now.No, you have to walk.

  No, I have too many other things to carry.

  But I don’t say no. 

Read more.

Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse by Torben Kuhlmann

Megan over at Redeemed Reader introduces us to a lower-middle-grade book about a mouse who wants to fly.

• An intrepid mouse, determined to escape the peril of mousetraps and predators by emigrating to America, devises a series of flying contraptions based on what he has read in human libraries. His first attempt at building a flying machine to glide like a bat is followed by the addition of steam power from what he witnessed in a train station, then finally a new design closer to “a proper plane” that allows him to make the trans-Atlantic journey. 

Bet you didn’t know Charles Lindbergh was inspired by this mouse. Read more.

Around the Warren:

Glorious Defeat

Scott James challenges his son to a writing contest…and loses beautifully.

• Then I look to the other end of the desk where my boy drives his pencil furiously across the page. My mood lightens considerably as I watch him work. Between us sits the think-sheet listing all the ideas we conjured up before we set to writing. He finishes with a flourish and passes his notebook over to me. I read through his story and concede defeat once again. No, that doesn’t quite capture it. More like, I rejoice in glorious defeat.

It’s a father’s delight in spurring his son to creativity. Read more.

“One Christian cultural task is to show the beauty…”

Martin Luther writes of the connection of art and faith. Paul Boekell puts it into a piece of art.

Playing Favorites: The Napping House

Alan Howell reminds us that all bedtime books are not created equal and introduces us to one that he calls a favorite.

• It begins by welcoming us to the Napping House where we’re told that everyone is sleeping.  We’re introduced to a granny, a boy and a collection of household pets and creatures who are all blissfully dozing the day away.  But one resident is not asleep.  A wakeful flea serves as the catalyst to wake up all the House’s occupants one by one.  And eventually (spoiler alert), the bed’s “spell” is broken and everyone emerges from their slumber to joyfully meet the day. 

Alan explores the deeper themes that the beautifully written book help him explore. Read more.

Rabbits With Swords (and Rewards!): A Fun Contest

The one and only Ming introduces us to an exciting contest featuring Rabbits with Swords (I wonder where she got that concept from?) and the kids of the Story Warren community. We want to hear from you! Learn more.

Something to Do with Your Kids:

Need an activity for a rainy day? Introduce the kids to Seuret and Pointillism with Qtip Painting from The Artful Parent. Read more.

And Something to Watch

The only thing better than a video of kangaroos kickboxing in a suburban neighborhood in Australia is one with “The Eye of the Tiger” as a soundtrack. As Jonathan Rogers said recently about this video: “What a world this is!”

Thank you for reading. We’re on your side.