Joshua Ray

author (forthcoming with PRH)
pastor
plums in the icebox enthusiast

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

T. M. Z. Lewis

[C. S. Lewis @CSLewisDaily]

Brad Paisley says one thing made Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding unlike any other celebrity wedding he's attended. https://t.co/NzXJpS7mRq

[Joshin and Jokien @joshcarlosjosh]

I'm going on an adventure! Thrilled to announce that I've signed a contract for my debut book! LIGHT AND HIGH BEAUTY will explore how J.R.R. Tolkien's faith informed the foundations of the story and world of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and seek to apply those lessons and truths to our own journeys through an increasingly dark world. For the Shadow is "only a small and passing thing: there [is] light and high beauty forever beyond its reach." I can't wait to embark on this journey through this timeless story together!

When I started this Twitter account and then later my Jokien with Tolkien newsletter, I never imagined that it would all lead to this, but it seems that—just like Frodo and Sam—I've been swept up in a larger story than I first realized. Huge thanks to my agent and also to my editor at WaterBrook/PRH Christian for being some of the first to join the Fellowship of the Book (hehe) and help make this dream a reality.

Art Credit: "The Star of Hope" by Matěj Čadil, 2018.

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

until recently I was primarily a "stay up late and write in the evenings" sort of writer, but this year I switched to "get up before everyone and everything else to write," and let me tell you...

the difference is night and day

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

@racheljwelcher I signed a book deal this week!

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

@nienna121

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

You know the recipe is going to be good when the amount of sugar is measured in cups.

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

No one is about to get into more mischief than a toddler walking by with a step stool.

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

Interestingly, even the earliest dates for John tend to be after the traditional 64 AD date of Peter's martyrdom. Assuming an early date for the synoptics, their silence about who cut off the servant's ear and John's identification of who it was take on another layer of meaning.

[Olivia Hofer Hancock @oghofer]

Matthew: One of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear

Luke: One of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear

John: Peter. It was Peter.

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

If "the least of these" does not extend beyond the persecuted Church, then surely Christ's commands to love your neighbor and your enemy still apply. No amount of interpretive maneuvering can absolve us of those responsibilities.

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

There are good exegetical
reasons to interpret "the least of these" in Matthew 25 as either referring exclusively to Christians or generally to mankind, but as soon as you use either as an EXCUSE not to help a particular group instead of an EXHORTATION, you've missed the point.

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

Deep, profound grief changes you as a person at a fundamental level.

Part of the grieving process involves learning who you yourself are now and accepting that you will not ever again wholly be who you were before.

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

Writer Anne Lamott has written that all prayers can essentially be boiled down to one of three categories:

- Help!
- Thank you
- Wow

I've found that distillation clarifying and helpful. What am I *really* praying right now, down at the root of all my many words?

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

The version of "the floor is lava" for parents is "the floor is LEGOs"

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

@albertmohler

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

@NeilShenvi Trump has reshaped the GOP—and certain factions of Conservative Evangelicalism—into his own image.

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

@taylorsschumann Like watching the newly hatched turtles heading for the ocean 😅😭

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

@albertmohler

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

4 year old watching Tom Cruise in the Olympics Closing Ceremony: "Is he a superhero?"

Me: "...yes"

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

In case there was any doubt, there is no one you can come across in person, on social media, or anywhere else that is not included in either "Love your neighbor as yourself" or "love your enemies." So love.

[Joshua Ray @JoshuaRay]

@danielwalbert [looks up from notepad] "Is this 'Big Eva' in the room with us right now?"