John Chandler

Finished reading: Surrender to Love by David G. Benner 📚

So good. Short and ‘simple’, but also beautiful and deep. This book reflects a core understanding of Christianity that seems to be lost or neglected in many of the conversations that Christianity (in North America) keeps getting inserted into.

Finished reading: A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan 📚

This one was rough to read. The history classes of my youth of course included the Klan, but certainly didn’t cover how widespread their prominence was beyond the South.

Finished reading: Our Unforming by Cindy S. Lee 📚

This is one of the most helpful and important books I’ve read in the last few years. I will be recommending it often, I expect.

We have a 12" MacBook around the house that I often pick up for some lightweight work. It still runs well, and I wish Apple would revisit something small like this with the new Apple silicon chips.

Consortio Dei #24 - Doug Moister

Sometimes, having a podcast is just an excuse to ‘hang out’ with people you really like.

I’m torn on the promise, and premise, of the Apple Vision Pro.

I meet with others for spiritual direction via Zoom a handful of times every week – I would have thought it a barrier, but it offers a better sense of connection than I would have expected.

To use something like Vision Pro for a more immersive experience of a one on one meeting seems appealing. But to be represented by some digitized version of myself, or see someone else that way… that’s not appealing at all.

I suppose a future solution might be an actual capture of someone’s face with the goggles digitally removed, but that still feels too impersonal and inauthentic.

But if I could use them someday to sit in my cozy reading chair while coding with multiple large app windows floating before me? That’s appealing.

Finished reading: Wrestling with God by Ronald Rolheiser 📚

Every time I read Rolheiser, I hope that he will be more widely read by others. And by me.

Trellis: The Prompts Folder

It’s easier to write about something when you always have something to write about. ✍️

MacOS 13.4 has been very unstable for me. Anyone else been experiencing this?

Landscaping finally going in soon, so hopefully this is the last time I grill while standing on dirt.

I like exploring different regions and processes and such with my coffee, but if I were marooned with a shipload of this, I’d be content. ☕️

Finished reading: A Non-Anxious Presence by Mark Sayers 📚

I’ve read most of his books, and appreciated them all. This one didn’t meet expectations, but perhaps that’s because they were high. But I appreciate that Edwin Friedman’s writings continue to be considered, and find new audiences.

This galaxy is feeling a little crowded.

Finished reading: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin 📚

It was fine, I guess. Actually, I think it was probably pretty good, but I’ve read so many books of this type, I’m kind of inoculated against them. I expected that going in, but I couldn’t help myself.

Finished reading: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles 📚

I determined to read back through his previous books after reading The Lincoln Highway last year. And now that I’ve read those, I consider anything he writes to be must read for me. Gliding prose, and engaging development of characters.

A rule is a way of structuring awareness.

— Rick Rubin

With new music that I like, I usually show rigorous self-discipline in listening only once a day, so I don’t burn out on them.

But with The First Two Pages of Frankenstein, I have no such restraint. 🎵

Happy The National release day to all who celebrate. 🎶

Scythe — second play since we got it at Christmas