*culture is not optional

Kept objects

by The *cino Community

A series of very short essays on meaningful things people have seen fit to keep around.

The company we keep

by Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

Moving from anti-matter schizophrenia to an appropriate delight in things.

Extra copies

by Jeremy Huggins

On the complexities of giving out favorite books.

A chisel to remember him by

by Bill Boerman-Cornell

A simple tool can tell a book’s worth of memories.

Letters from the saints

by Sherri B. Lantinga

A confession about a collection and reflection on its purpose.

Defective connections

by Susan Matheson

Everyday things can surround us with the stories of our lives.

The old dishrag

by Terrilynn Quillen

On the rag that does the dirty work as a reminder of God’s love.

The velveteen bear

by John Seel

A childhood gift becomes a constant companion.

We owe how much?

by Raymond Blanton

Deep remembering may or may not depend on the things we actually keep.

No rest, no peace in The Wire

by Craig Detweiler

On the broader implications of the upside down world in David Simon’s Baltimore.

Grant’s recommendations 4.4.08

by Grant Elgersma

A 1968 film about an English boarding school rebel may send you looking for African folk music.

Teachable Moment

by Raymond Blanton

Kitchen scraps and theology

by Bill Boerman-Cornell

How to worship God through composting.

The clarity of a dumpster

by Neil E. Das

Could filling a roll-off be considered a spiritual discipline?

Treasure in the trash

by Grant Elgersma

Agn's Varda's amazing film, The Gleaners and I, explores the subjectivity of value and beauty as she captures images of the forgotten, the hidden, and the abandoned.

Finding the eyes to see

Geez Magazine

Aiden Enns articulates his struggles with the “culture industry” in 21st century society.

Snapshots of my Redneck Brother

Orion Magazine

BK Loren writes about claiming relatives we hardly resemble anymore.

Japanese Packaging Design #3: Gifted With Beauty

PingMag

An exploration of the intricate art of packaging in Japan.