Faith - Jeffrey Overstreet

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Faith

A collection of 14 posts

Frame 3: Unlearning to Read Along My Commute

A journal entry about the curse of compulsive reading.

Where did the "evangel" in "evangelical" go?

Where did the "evangel" in "evangelical" go?

I try to avoid posts that aren't focused on the arts and imagination. But we're living in a world where an "evangelical" leader calls our President a "dream President" for evangelicals. So if I'm going to retain any capacity to

The Bible says it, but that doesn't settle it.

The Bible says it, but that doesn't settle it.

It happens far too often. It happens in sermons broadcast around the globe. It happens in political speeches. It happens behind closed doors where pastors reprimand congregants. It happened to me just a few weeks ago. I heard someone say (and I'm paraphrasing): "But the Bible says

Mourning with those who mourn

Mourning with those who mourn

In memory of Clementa Carlos Pinckney (1973-2015), Democrat, South Carolina Senate; senior pastor of Mother Emanuel A.M.E. [African Methodist Episcopal] Church; martyred with eight of his congregation.

Moments of violence, then grace and love

One year ago today, my friends and colleagues at Seattle Pacific University responded to gunshots with courage, selflessness, faith, generosity, and grace.

From the writer of Amazing Grace

"Our pleasure and our duty, Though opposite before, Since we have seen his beauty, Are joined to part no more..."

Off-Duty Angel: A Few Thoughts on Easter

I heard this somewhere. It stuck. I think about it often, especially at Easter. I think it's true. The story goes like so... When you and I, who were designed to be gardeners, were banished from the garden for trying to make ourselves like God... (And by the

Wearing God — Lauren Winner's New Book is Full of Surprises About God

Did you know that the Bible describes God as a "laboring woman"? How often do you think of God as someone who smells things? Do smells really make a difference for God? If so, what does that mean? How often do you look at a piece of bread

Up on my sweet-smelling soapbox

Soap A makes your hands smell fruity and fresh. Soap B has no scent at all. Which one makes your hands cleaner? And what does this have to do with movies?

An Hour of Wisdom and Storytelling with Joe Henry

Joe Henry, who recorded my favorite record of 2014 (Invisible Hour), was the guest on the latest installment of the excellent podcast "On Being," with Krista Tippett.

Seek Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly.

Bear with me. This isn't a movie review or a music review. This is just something that's on my mind today. I'll explain why, but first I have to write down the heavy stuff.

Why We Need "Selma"

We need this movie. We need it for this reason: Wherever Martin Luther King Jr. carried his dream, racists and scoffers assembled. Americans have made some admirable progress since then. But is it over? Was the dream realized? When I praise this movie that was made in celebration of King's dream — g

The "Most Christian" Movie of the Year?

In Selma — and I'm pretty sure about this — there is more gospel quoted, more gospel celebrated, more gospel embraced and openly lived out than in any so-called "Christian movie" released in 2014. (Except the one that was, you know, a Jesus movie.)

Selma (2014): My Review and a Looking Closer Film Forum

By choosing intimacy over an epic scale, by going small instead of large, by discernment and selectivity over throwing everything available to her at the screen, Ava Duvernay has surpassed all expectations with a masterfully crafted film that will become a standard by which historical films are meas