(In)courage

A Letter to the Ethiopian Eunuch

by Amber on January 29, 2012

in (In)courage

Back when the church first began, you traveled to Jerusalem to worship. It’s described that your way back home to your Queen and her treasure is a desert road. I imagine your chariot like my car pulled off on the side. Maybe a break to find a little drink. Maybe you say “I can go no further. What is it I’m missing?” You send your questions up, “Who is this humiliated man I’m reading about here? Why is he led to slaughter?”

Far away, right about the time that Stephen is stoned and hearts feel like desert-places, God speaks to Philip, ”Go way out of your way for me. Go way into the desert.”

… continue reading over at (In)Courage.

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The Dream for the New Year

by Amber on December 31, 2011

in (In)courage

We’ve moved back to the Rock House, and our den here is blinding in the mornings, sun pouring in. This used to be Grandma and Grandpa’s home, and now it’s ours, outlined in hot pink azaleas and wild poppies in the Spring. Now books line the shelf where Grandma’s dolls used to be. Now four boys rattle the walls, the sixth generation of Haines to live here.

… continue reading at (In)Courage!

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On Community, Suffering, and Hope

When we left “the ministry” after our first year of marriage, when Seth started law school and I the MFA in Poetry, we were so church sick, bone-weary soul sick, and we’ve found that this sickness is not unique to us, especially in our online community. More times than not, I’m coming across deep wounds, [...]

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Portrait of a Free Woman

Peace runs deep. Because he has spoken peace all over me, called me beautiful, Spirit-born, I fight my inner dark, choose this day the Holy. The spaghetti in the pot smells good, my kitchen like oil, my bed like honey. … continue reading at (In)Courage!

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A Haines Home Companion: On Sharing Real Life

At the end of my pregnancy, I quit blogging. In fact I wasn’t sure I would ever write in public again. I realized that things would change soon with 4 boys, and one morning I woke up and decided that I wanted to enjoy my life in its precious stage; I wanted to live it [...]

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Love for the Mysterious Man

I remember that first time I saw Seth in the Student Center. His polo shirt and bright eyes, the way he exuded happiness, it sucked me in and dulled my usual attraction to the dark mysterious fellows who ignored the world and rocked a constant set of headphones. He was not a “bad boy.” It [...]

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