The Best of 2013

I’ve snowshoed acquaintances into a snowy wood who walk the road back as new friends.

I’ve stood before audiences of doubting strangers and seen them flood the Soulation book table afterwards as new fans. And while I wish it was simply me and my style that draws people, I know it’s something more.

Dale and I and the Soulation Team are whipping up some synergy together in the Soulation kitchen. We are cooking up banquets that require long lists of ingredients, days of studying, and perfecting our craft. But, in cooking theological feasts, we’re realizing how an 800 word post or an eight minute vlog isn’t enough.

Feasting, and I mean Babette’s Feast feasting (which if you haven’t seen, you can stream it this weekend!), doesn’t happen in snack pack size.

No amount of blogging and vlogging will adequately cover the human pursuit of loving Jesus.

We could write another book, but while we love hearing of people changed by our published work, we’re noticing that for many, you want more guidance than a book.

How many of you are hungry for more direction into growing more fully human, like Jesus?

A New Place 

We are creating a new place to invite you. This space will be safe, like all our Soulation spaces. It will be beautiful and honest and engaging. It will take the pacing of our Soulation Gatherings (slow and steady) with the intensity of the best college class (worth your money) and add the personal touch of a spiritual director.

We are calling this new place our Soulation ‘Soul Gym.’

Just like a Fitness Center which provides several ways to work out your body, the Soul Gym will offer several options to strengthen your soul.  For 2014, Dale and I will roll out three new topics for our Soul Gym track, open to members only. The recent Duck Dynasty controversy has proven the incredible need for the topic for March 2014: Spiritual Truth Without Spiritual Arrogance.

What does this mean for our writing? You’ll still be able to find me writing at RubySlippers.org and Dale at FreeAtLast.me. But Dale and I will be limiting our online writing to once a week. We’re cooking up a feast for you and we want it to be multi-coursed and unforgettable. For 2014, the focused vlogging, interviewing, and in-depth exploration will be taking place in the Soul Gym.

But, RubySlippers fans don’t need to worry. You can still count on me sharing my sexuality and faith thoughts regularly with you here, for free.

And, in keeping with the time we’ve spent together, I’d love to know some of your “taking stock” of 2013 thoughts. What stands out to you about 2013? How did you change?

For me, 2013 is the year my son put weight on his skis, Soulation grew to impact well over 300,000, and my husband and I celebrated our 12th year of marriage with the purchase of a tiny sailboat. We’re sailors now.

Dale turned 40 and I turned 34 which is a good age to start learning how to really have fun. “Fun” is going to be my word to practice in 2014. I’m counting on my husband and son to be guides.

And in my writing, in case you missed them, here are 2013′s . . .

Top 10 Most Read and Watched from RubySlippers

Is Itsy-Bitsy Wrong? Bikinis and Modesty

Irrigating Deserts: What Soulation Gatherings Look Like

Gay Marriage: Lessons for Both Sides (be sure to notice the comments)

Should Bondage and Domination Be Part of a Christian’s Sex Life?

Taking Sexual Hunger Seriously

A Friendly Firearm Debate- Part 2 Safety

Breaking Shame: Why Purity Culture Works

Why I Don’t Give out Sex Like Gold Star Stickers

Why 30-Year-Old Virgins are Not Sexless

S&M Revisited: Pain, Pleasure and Sex

Let me close off by offering a little inspiration for 2014.

https://vimeo.com/80032633

Consider how Soulation is building American souls to love Jesus more intelligently, honestly and beautifully. See the postscript for some tangible highlights of 2013.

Would you donate to Soulation before 2013 closes? You can give here.

Grateful to have you engaged with me in this work of growing more human,

Jonalyn Grace Fincher

Vice President, Soulation

p.s. Soulation’s 2013 in pictorial review