What Would MLK Do?

Susan Isaacs January 19th, 2011

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This week our nation honored the life of Martin Luther King Jr., a Christian activist who led the civil rights movement using nonviolent means. He was assassinated for it. And though the civil rights movement continued, and though I believe that history is teleological, lately it doesn't seem to be moving toward a happy place. It's been a dark chapter in our history, as these last few weeks have highlighted.

The economy is in the toilet. Our culture has becom … (Read More)

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Permission To Speak Freely

Susan Isaacs November 8th, 2010

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I'm out on a mini tour with author Anne Jackson and musician Solveig Leithaug to support Anne's new book, "Permission to Speak Freely." Her book was borne out of a question she posted on her blog a couple years ago: "What is the one thing you feel you can't say in church?" Within a week she had over 500 responses. People wrote about their addictions to porn, alcohol and food. They were afraid to talk about poverty because their church … (Read More)

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Save Blue Like Jazz

Susan Isaacs October 4th, 2010

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I can point to several authors who influenced my Christian faith: CS Lewis, NT Wright, Henri Nouwen and Walter Wangerin Jr., to name a few. There are fewer authors that influenced me as a writer. But I can only think of two authors who influenced me as a writer of faith: Anne Lamott and Donald Miller. Specifically their books Traveling Mercies and Blue Like Jazz.

By 2004, my spiritual and professional life had hit the skids. The only job I could get was working at a c … (Read More)

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Why I Went Back to Church

Susan Isaacs August 31st, 2010

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I've heard my share of "leaving church" stories; and not from immature, fair-weather Christians but from long-term, mature believers – many who had been in leadership. They grew disillusioned by schisms and scandals, they got tired of what felt like a formulaic service, they didn't feel fed, they didn't feel needed. So they left – not God, but church. And they're not alone. Anne Rice is just the latest statistic. As George Barn … (Read More)

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Death Be Not Proud – Susan Isaacs on SBE

Erik Guzman July 30th, 2010

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Writer, actor and funny lady Susan Isaacs is our guest this week on Steve Brown Etc. She joined us from the mountaintop in Colorado, but she's emotionally in the valley. Don't miss this thoughtful discussion about death, suffering and a good God who's in control of the whole mess.

(If you're on the front page of the site, click "Read More" to see audio player options.)

Susan Isaacs is the author of Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky b … (Read More)

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For Honey: Death Be Not Proud

Susan Isaacs July 26th, 2010

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"It is a fearful thing to love what death can touch." – Chaim Stern

This is a eulogy to a pet. If you are not inclined to maudlin pet tributes nor have room in your theology for pets in heaven, then save me the embarrassment and yourself the frustration, and give this piece a skip.

My dearest cat died on Sunday. Honey was 13 years old. I'd held out hope she would be one of those cats that made it to 18. But even if she had, it wouldn't hav … (Read More)

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