Delighted to have @karenswallowprior.bsky.social on the show today to talk about her new book, You Have a Calling, along with all things good and beautiful and true. (And birds, natch.)

Embrace the real. Do the work. Be authentic. Accept limitations. Reject the grift. Pursue the good. Look for the beauty.

Humans lack a “microscopic” eye, the poem later explains, for the simple reason that “man is not a fly.” Our eyes were made less to “inspect a mite” and more to “comprehend the heaven” (193-96). open.substack.com/pub/karenswa...

Today’s run

Liberty University's latest IRS filing shows over $18M paid to top leaders—some in part-time/ceremonial roles. Ex: Jonathan Falwell's pay jumped nearly 400% to $822,573 when he became chancellor. Pres Emeritus Jerry Prevo makes nearly $800K but is rarely on campus. julieroys.com/liberty-univ...

New restrictions on campus speech in Texas have spurred a lawsuit from a coalition of student groups, including a Dallas ministry concerned about the impact on Bible studies, worship nights, and evangelism on campus.

After the SBC's statement lamented Charlie Kirk's death and praised him. Rev. Dwight McKissic says it fails to grapple with Kirk's rhetoric on race. "Lament his death, praise his Gospel views and point out his anti-biblical racial views." 1/2 julieroys.com/sbc-statemen...

Free speech for me but not for thee.

Alexander Pope, like all great poets a kind of prophet, sees in his own cultural context that it is in “pride, in reasoning pride, our error lies” (123). Pride is the besetting sin of his age. open.substack.com/pub/karenswa...

A good word about what's at risk in this moment: www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

About last night …

Presumptuous man! the reason wouldst thou find, Why form'd so weak, so little, and so blind? First, if thou canst, the harder reason guess, Why form'd no weaker, blinder, and no less! — Alexander Pope open.substack.com/pub/karenswa...

“The good life is one that sees and celebrates the fullness of the earth and its infinite goodness-and contributes to that goodness. This is the very purpose of your calling.” @karenswallowprior.bsky.social

Perhaps you, like me, need your attention drawn more to what is good. Here are words from You Have a Calling that I re-read for myself today. @brazospress.bsky.social

In Genesis, God calls the creation of animals “good.” In the story of Noah, God makes a covenant with “every living creature.” God personally feeds animals in the Book of Psalms. wapo.st/3KndxkU

Took a couple days off social media and was finally able to finish my first-time read of this classic. (I may share my thoughts at some point but not yet.)

Say first, of God above, or man below, What can we reason, but from what we know? — Alexander Pope open.substack.com/pub/karenswa...

Be angry and grift not.

This is a powerful read. It’s long but worth it. Liberty University spotlighted is one example of many evangelical and related networks bowing to similar gods at the cost of innocents. I feel like sobbing really. @karenswallowprior.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/karenswa...

Alexander Pope is clear to first point out that reason, as great as it is, is limited because we can only reason “from what we know” which is a really important point to make in a time in which reason reigned supreme. open.substack.com/pub/karenswa...

I love this.

Tomorrow at The Priory we begin our reading of Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man. Receive it in your inbox at the link below: substack.com/@karenswallo...

If you haven’t read You Have a Calling, what are you waiting for? If you have read it but haven’t left a review, what are you waiting for? 🙂 @brazospress.bsky.social

University teaching which seeks to form goodness and courage, the seeping in of institutional greed and callousness, and the decision to continue the former even though it means confronting the latter. open.substack.com/pub/karenswa... By @karenswallowprior.bsky.social

Some reflections for Labor Day from You Have a Calling (with help from Robert Hayden) @brazospress.bsky.social

He Found a Clam, A CLAM! 😊 #dog #dogday #bluesky

Perfect listening for your Labor Day weekend: www.myfaithradio.com/programs/rec...

This is really good news!

My @NewarkAdvocate column asking you to think about your calling, which may or may not have anything to do with ministry per se; hat tip, @karenswallowprior.bsky.social for the book I suggest if you're interested in the question... www.newarkadvocate.com/story/opinio...

I’m coming your way next week, Colorado Springs! center.uccs.edu/cse/2025/08/...

Couldn’t put this one down. I really have a lot to learn about how deep this darkness goes. Not a book for the faint-of-heart. But important.

@karenswallowprior.bsky.social’s “You Have a Calling” is written for Christians trying to make sense of their vocation in a world of ever-changing options and mounting burnout.

The reader reviews of You Have a Calling are coming in. Hope you will also read and review! Thank you! @brazospress

Watching Sinners. 'It's a shame no one dresses like that anymore,' I say as I wear khaki shorts and a t-shirt and prop my feet in my Hello Kitty socks on the coffee table.

As I continue to sort and organize books that have never been in one place for 26 years, the symptoms of that dis-ease continue to appear. Apparently, I needed E. M. Tillyard in every place my books were! 😂 Also, here’s a pic my husband snapped the other night while doing some work outside.

I don’t believe in “no regrets.” I think they can be some of life’s greatest “teachers.” — @melbjorgen.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/karenswa...

Because not all women “are people other people come out of” (as someone recently said), I am giving away one copy of this book (I’m a contributor) to one person at each of my social media channels. Comment, share, tag. I will pick someone at the end of the week.

The thing about yoga is that you can think you are doing the pose right … then your instructor comes and gently corrects your form … and you’re like, “Wow! That is totally different. And that seems like a metaphor for life.

Baylor English professor Alan Jacobs does not want his students to use AI in his course. blog.ayjay.org/a-word-to-my...

This was such a great read, like the whole thing is quotable. But this one struck me deep. "These realities require asking God to reset my heart to accept all that is truly beyond my understanding, and then to listen, not to the noise, but to his peace."

“God is always nearby. Listening is a huge part of a calling. More recently processing my husband’s and my seeing a UFO floating above the homes in my neighborhood and navigating polar-opposite political views of family members.” open.substack.com/pub/karenswa...

I wrote about @karenswallowprior.bsky.social 's newest book, You Have a Calling, today. This isn't really an objective review at all, but I am the prioress of my soul and of my Substack, so I wrote what I wanted to write and you can read it if you want to. www.amy-colleen.com/p/book-revie...

The free downloadable discussion guide for You Have a Calling is now available on my website: karenswallowprior.com Group discounts for the book are available from @brazospress for 10 or more copies.

Gift link (I hope because I can't tell!) 🎁 www.christianitytoday.com/2015/09/past...

I wrote this about Doug Wilson—he of recent CNN fame—ten years ago. www.christianitytoday.com/2015/09/past...

You Have a Calling is a “pleasant surprise.” 😊 youtu.be/Uu4j9dMbvxQ

Late summer in my garden

NEW feature review this week of the latest book from @karenswallowprior.bsky.social Our reviewer called it timely, graceful, and "a much-needed corrective to the modern vocational confusion." Read more: buff.ly/iTjAnwt

“…part personal testimony, part literary essay, and part theological reflection, delivered in the humane, discursive style of Montaigne…” Newest review of You Have a Calling! Source: The Englewood Review of Books