The Warren & the World Vol 4, Issue 21

The Warren & the World is Story Warren’s weekly newsletter, providing a round-up of our favorite things from around the web as well as a review of what was on our site over the past week. We’re glad you’re here!

Ember Falls Kickstarter Close to Goal!

The Kickstarter for S.D. Smith’s new novel, Ember Falls, book 2 of the Green Ember series, is nearing its goal, but there is still time to join in on the fun! If you haven’t yet, hop on over and back the project. The Kickstarter supporters will be the first ones to receive the book! Use the hashtags #TheGreenEmber and #RabbitsWithSwords when you share on social media about the Kickstarter!

Around the Web

The Wonder of Waking Up to an Ordinary day

Trevin Wax recalls why he loves Chesterton as he reads G.K.’s study on why an ordinary day is extraordinary.

There are many reasons why I’ve chosen to read through the works of G. K. Chesterton over the next few years. But one reason stands out above all: Chesterton helps me see, really see the world around me. And in seeing, I experience joy in life and gratitude for existence.

To the Parents of Kids Who Aren’t Going to Get an Award

Sara Borgstede writes at For Every Mom about celebrating the hard things and the brave things.

It’s invitation season. Graduations, commencements, and parties.
It’s award season. Scholarships, college acceptance, promotions. Sports teams and students of the year.
It’s senior picture and prom season.
All of these events are exciting and worthy of celebration. The awards are hard-won and much deserved. I applaud the recipients and appreciate their moments to shine.
It’s just that, as a mom I see there are other awards missing. Really important ones.

It’s That Simple and That Difficult

Kris Camealy writes at Grace Table about loving those who are different than we are.

What does loving my neighbor look like in real life?
What about when they reject me? What about when they always say or do the one thing they know will push all my buttons in one fell swoop–like Will Ferrel’s character in the film Elf, who gets in the elevator, and pushes every button, for every floor of the high rise building.

When God’s Plan Doesn’t Seem Wonderful

Lindsay Frank’s reminds us of our good God, even when things are hard.

Ding. A text lit up my phone as I sat in a bookstore curled up with a devotional book. “Another seizure,” it read. I sighed, heart heavy. I knew what it meant. My friend was rushing her baby to the ER for the countless time. Another trauma for her. Another burden too heavy for her to bear. My heart ached, knowing from personal experience what she was likely facing for the day.
I quickly put my book back on the shelf. As I was doing so, I couldn’t help but notice the bookstore shelves lined with popular American pastors touting themes of health, wealth and prosperity. Numerous books, all promoting the notion that God stands ready to give you a life free of hardships or pain. Like salt in a wound, their message irritated me deeply.

Around the Warren

The Long Triumph

Helena Sorensen writes about living in the truths we know, but struggle to believe.

Writing for Story Warren is an honor and a joy, but it makes me feel like a hypocrite. I talk about how messes are beautiful proofs of the life we’re building with our kids. Then my kids make a mess, and I just want a clean house. I talk about taking time to grieve our losses, but when it comes down to it, I’m a coward. I don’t want to grieve.
It would be easier if we experienced all truths in the same way, if, as soon as we heard the truth of God, our eyes were opened, and we received it fully, and there was no more doubt. But most truths are things that we wear like garments. Every day we make a conscious choice to put them on. We cling to them; we hope to be identified with them. But they are external. They can be taken off and laid aside. With time and use, they tend to grow tattered and threadbare.

A Review of Ember Falls: The Green Ember Book II

Glenn McCarty writes the first review of Ember Falls. It’s the only one out there, guys!

In a recent post for Story Warren, I talked about old stories, the kind we all grew up with, stories which offered a picture of a world in flux, good struggling to triumph against evil, heroes committed to courage against desperate circumstances. To me these stories aren’t just words contained within the pages of a book, they’re like arrows which point us to something deeper, the real Truth, the “One Story of love prevailing and death undone.” Those are the kind of stories worth hearing, re-telling, and sharing with friends.S.D. Smith’s Ember Falls – a story we’ve been anticipating around these parts for quite some time – is exactly that kind of story. It has deep roots, tapping the bedrock of our shared experiences, giving young readers new horizons to explore and new questions to wrestle with. And that, my friends, is a cause for celebration.

Something to Do with Your Kids

It’s Memorial Day weekend. Rather than just making it about picnics, take some time with your kids to talk through the meaning of the holiday and commemorate it. Here are some suggestions for how to do so.