09|24: This embodied month.

A monthly newsletter about God's grace in the little, precious, tangible particularities of a life.

Hi sweet neighbors,

Once each month, I interrupt the typical broadcast of more serious posts with something of a lighthearted test case of the primary message I have been preaching—that the Spirit is present in and wants to lavish grace upon all of your embodied experiences.

Simply put, I want to tell you where the life-giving Spirit is meeting me through tangible means, and I want to encourage you with a few important reminders:

1. This is your monthly reminder that your Good Father delights in your non-aesthetic moments too.

   

2. This is your monthly reminder to let aesthetic beauty build in your heart a bright hope for a world that is to come rather than an anxious attachment to the world where moth and rust destroy.

3. This is your monthly reminder that whatever your heart is looking for, at the deepest level, it will be found in Christ—and if you are a member of the body of Christ, then it is most likely to find sustainable relief as you invest your whole self into the life of that body.

4. This is your monthly reminder to stay hydrated, to wear sunscreen, to eat plenty of protein and fiber, to move your body regularly in ways that feel good to you, to get enough sleep, and to floss your teeth.

5. This is your monthly reminder that I am praying for you—by name or by email address if you are a subscriber, or in thought if you are just passing through. I value you, and you are important to me as a whole person. (If you have a specific prayer request, you’re welcome to send me a message.) I firmly believe that the very God who created you loves you, delights in you, and desires to heal your pain and restore your heart to life and wholeness.

So without further ado, this is my embodied month—September 2024:

What is inspiring me?

What am I eating?

I eat these baked pumpkin oatmeal bars all year, not just during autumn, but I figured that spooky season would be a fitting time to share them.

I used to be a “foodie,” but now, with three kids to feed and not a lot of time to cook, I do whatever I can to build routines of meals that are (1) convenient, (2) nutritious, (3) inexpensive, and hopefully (4) tasty. It is incredibly difficult to find recipes that meet all four of these criteria, but these fit the bill! There are certainly many ways you could adapt them to make them tastier or prettier (add chocolate chips or vanilla or cinnamon, bake them in a muffin tray, etc.), but since this is what I eat for breakfast most mornings and make them in bulk on afternoons when I’m rushing around multi-tasking, my main goal here is fast and easy. This recipe has only six ingredients, including a full can of pumpkin puree (y’all, I can’t stand when pumpkin recipes only use 3/4 the can…), and you can mix it all in one bowl.

Here’s what to do: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a 9x13” pan with parchment paper. In a big bowl, add 5 cups old fashioned oats, 1 cup ground flax seed meal, 1/2 cup maple syrup, one 29-oz can (or two 15-oz cans) pumpkin puree, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Dump mixture into prepared pan, then spread with a spatula until even and smooth. Bake for 15 minutes, then allow to cool in pan for a couple hours before lifting out the parchment paper and slicing into bars. Store in the refrigerator, and eat either chilled or warmed up in the microwave.

What ordinary object is dear to me?

I dedicate this one to my dear new friend Anna L., who introduced me to the best Goodwill I’ve ever visited.

I am a BIG fan of indigo and white ware, but I’m awfully picky about the designs (e.g., I’m not really a Blue Willow gal). This folksy pattern is right up my alley though, and I’ve been on the lookout for a pedestal bowl like this for serving cookies, fruit, etc., so when I saw it at Goodwill for $12, I said yes please!

When I brought it home, I used the trusty Google Lens to see if I could find out more about it, and I found the exact same piece from a couple of online antique retailers selling for $95–125. Self-five!

What am I listening to?*

*Don’t read anything into the lyrics—I’m just here for the vibes!

What am I reading?

My second favorite thing about this book is Hoekema’s use of the term psychosomatic unity (as opposed to tri- or dichotomy) to describe the human composition. The evangelistic implications of this anthropology he explains as follows, and I really couldn’t agree more:

In its evangelistic and missionary task, the church should also remember that it is dealing with the whole person. Though the chief purpose of missions is to confront people with the gospel so that they may repent of their sins and be saved through faith in Christ, yet the church must never forget that the objects of its mission enterprise have bodily as well as spiritual needs. Keeping in mind the fact that man is a unitary being, we should avoid expressions like “soul-saving” to describe the work of the missionary, and we should opt for the holistic and comprehensive approach in missions. This approach, which is sometimes referred to as “the ministry of word and deed,” directs missionaries to be concerned not only about winning converts to Christ but also about improving the living conditions of these converts and their neighbors, working in such areas as agriculture, diet, and health.¹

(I would of course add that this “holistic and comprehensive approach” is not only a tool for evangelism, but also the model of fellowship commanded for the local church; cf. Acts 2:42–47)

Oh, but my favorite thing about this book has to be the stunning masterpiece of a cover design. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful and compelling?

Now what about you?

All recommendations—for recipes, for books, for movies, for music, for art, or for any other material experience that cheers your heart—are more than welcome in the comments. What are the rest of us missing out on that you just can’t wait to share with somebody? This our neighborhood, and we need one another.

Until next time—

Affectionate thanks,

HLS

1. Anthony A. Hoekema, Created in God’s Image (Eerdmans, 1986), 223.