Tag: christianity
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Do We Really Love the Poor, or Just the Idea of Helping Them?
I love a good memoir. I’ve always been an avid reader, and my bookshelf is diverse– almost confusingly so. But hand me someone’s carefully crafted life story laid out in pages, and I’ll have it finished within days, barely stopping to come up for air. One of the best I’ve read in a long time…
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The Church Needs Introverts, Too.
Fellow introverts: do you ever feel like the church worships extroverts? I’ve been an introvert for as long as I can remember. It’s not that I don’t like people or enjoy their company; I do. But I am energized by my alone time. I have a finite social battery, and once it runs out, it’s…
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We Need More Songs Like “Worn” on Christian Radio
I remember my first introduction to contemporary Christian music and CCM radio. I don’t remember where I was or who I listened to, but I remember my mind being blown. Having until then only heard hymns or southern gospel in the church, I had no idea that Christian music could sound like what I listened…
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We Need to Talk About “The Talk”
It’s every parent’s least favorite conversation and every youth minister’s most awkward lesson. For the kids, it ranges from excruciating to titillating. It’s got cutesy euphemisms out the wazoo, like “the birds and the bees” or “the facts of life,” signaling our collective discomfort with the topic. It’s the sex talk. Because the Bible talks…
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Christian Parents: Talk to your kids about their mental health.
Chrisitan parents, the kids are not alright. And they haven’t been for awhile. In 2012, I was 16 years old, and just beginning to deal with severe anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. At the time, I thought I was the only one because no one else was talking about it. Now, 10 years later, I…
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7 Things Christians with Mental Illnesses are Tired of Hearing
The mental health conversation has come a long way, even in the 10 years or so since I was diagnosed. There’s now a strong community of voices speaking out about their experiences who refuse to be silenced by stigma. Yet the stigma persists, especially, unfortunately, within the church. There’s a unique set of questions and…
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Asking God to Sit With You When Words Won’t Come
TW: anxiety attack At the beginning of the year, my anxiety was at an all-time high. The destruction and death toll of 2020 weighed heavy on my mind, and the uncertainties of the future were not lost on me. More often than not, I preferred to hide from the outside world. I struggled to shut…
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BOOK PREVIEW | Jesus Can Relate
Thank you all for your support and feedback on my previous Book Preview posts. All the craziness of 2020 has slowed down my writing process quite a bit, but I’m hoping to get back on track. Here’s an excerpt from one of my favorite parts so far, chapter 5, which is entitled “Jesus Can Relate”…
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Advent: Don’t Skip the Genealogies
I recently began an Advent study during my personal quiet time (Advent: the period of time before Christmas, usually beginning on Dec. 1, in which Christians reflect on Christ’s first coming while looking forward to his second). I’m reading through the accounts of the birth of Christ, and surrounding events, in both Matthew and Luke. …
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MUSINGS VLOG | Marriage + Mental Health (Feat. Josh)
**FULL VIDEO THIS TIME** Apologies for the cutoff last time. This is the full, 17-minute vlog. A vital aspect of mental health that isn’t often discussed is how it affects relationships. Depression and anxiety can make marriage more difficult, but a great partner can make both more bearable. In this episode, I sat down with…
Madison J. Caplinger 