By Amy Butler “The true alchemists do not change lead into gold,” observed American author William H. Gass. “They change the world into words.” As one who spends a lot of time trying to change the world into words –…
The church and Kanye West
By Amy Butler The church could learn a lot from Kanye West. This might seem a novel idea both to churchy folks and to Kanye, but humor me. There is much worry these days about the future of the church…
The church and Kanye West
By Amy Butler The church could learn a lot from Kanye West. This might seem a novel idea both to churchy folks and to Kanye, but humor me. There is much worry these days about the future of the church…
The struggle is real
By Amy Butler It has of late become the newest and most frequent lament of the oppressed in my household: “The struggle is real!” If I were to say to one of my teenage kids: “Please put your dirty dishes…
The struggle is real
By Amy Butler It has of late become the newest and most frequent lament of the oppressed in my household: “The struggle is real!” If I were to say to one of my teenage kids: “Please put your dirty dishes…
Back from the bridge
By Amy Butler Almost 50 years ago her world fell apart. Teenage angst plus serious, debilitating mental illness led her one biting winter day to the rail of a bridge, one leg over the side, ready to say goodbye to…
A safe space to be vulnerable
By Amy Butler Last week I watched a TED talk by University of Houston social work professor Brené Brown. In the video, Brown talks about her research on human connection. We all crave human connection, she says, but the shame…
Jackie Robinson’s lesson for the church
By Amy Butler Last weekend I saw “42,” the new film about the life of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. This fact is notable, as I don’t often get to the movies in general and also I am not a big…
A letter to the SBNR
By Amy Butler Dear Spiritual But Not Religious Friends, Are your ears burning? You’re causing quite a stir in my circles these days. Many of my colleagues claim you are the biggest challenge of the church today. You probably didn’t…