from the margins

exploring faith’s foundations from the edge

Isaiah, All Kirsten Trued Isaiah, All Kirsten Trued

Outsourcing Stability: Why Egypt Keeps Showing Up

Isaiah 30 paints a picture of a nation placing its trust in the wrong place—looking to Egypt for security instead of facing uncomfortable truths at home. The text critiques this dependence, calling it both fruitless and avoidant. It raises a broader question: when we're feeling uncertain, where do we turn, and why?

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Hosea, All Kirsten Trued Hosea, All Kirsten Trued

Smoke, Mirrors, and Altars: Hosea's Take on Empty Rituals

Hosea 8–10 confronts a problem that still feels familiar: going through the motions without real conviction. The people build altars and offer sacrifices, but the actions are hollow—detached from justice, trust, and integrity. This post explores how tradition can drift into performance and what that tension reveals about the search for authenticity.

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Living the Metaphor: When Your Life Becomes the Message

What happens when your personal life becomes a message to the world? In Hosea 1–7, the prophet’s marriage and children aren’t just part of his story—they are the story. This reflection explores the tension between public roles and private lives, especially when they collide in unexpected, symbolic ways.

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2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Psalms, All Kirsten Trued 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Psalms, All Kirsten Trued

Dust, Debris, and a Deadline: Temple Cleanup on a Grand Scale

Hezekiah’s temple restoration wasn’t just a construction project—it was a moment of collective reckoning. The priests and Levites didn’t just clean the space; they faced their own shame and got to work. This story feels less about rituals and more about the emotional weight of trying to make something right again.

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When the Market Crashes: A Port City’s Eulogy

Isaiah 23 tells the story of Tyre, a wealthy trade city whose collapse sends shockwaves through the ancient world. It’s not fire and fury—it’s economic silence, and somehow that feels eerily familiar. What does it mean when financial power isn’t enough to hold a city—or a system—together?

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Isaiah, All Kirsten Trued Isaiah, All Kirsten Trued

When God Hits Pause: A Curious Look at Isaiah 18

Isaiah 18 paints a vivid picture of global tension—racing messengers, rising powers—and then takes an unexpected turn: God simply watches. This quiet pause, compared to summer heat or morning dew, opens up questions about timing, presence, and restraint. What if stepping back isn’t absence, but a different kind of engagement?

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Lucifer, Lost in Translation?

Isaiah 14:12 is often quoted as a reference to the fall of Satan—but in its original context, it’s aimed at the king of Babylon. The verse, rich with poetic imagery, was never about demons or angels, but about the downfall of earthly power. This blog explores how one verse shifted from royal insult to cosmic myth.

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Micah, All Kirsten Trued Micah, All Kirsten Trued

Micah: The Prophet from the Middle of Nowhere

Micah wasn’t a big-city prophet—he came from a small town and spoke with the clarity of someone outside the system. His critiques of corruption are sharp, but they’re paired with a longing for justice and peace. This reflection explores how Micah’s rural roots might have shaped his bold and grounded voice.

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Amos, All Kirsten Trued Amos, All Kirsten Trued

Holy Noise and Hollow Deeds: Amos Has Notes

Amos 1–5 doesn’t hold back: music, rituals, and offerings get rejected in favor of something far less showy—justice. This ancient text isn’t obsessed with belief or ceremony but with how people treat each other. It’s a sharp reminder that ethical behavior can’t be outsourced to tradition.

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Sour Grapes and Six Woes: Isaiah's Guide to a Failing Society

Isaiah 5 reads like a poetic takedown of a society losing its way—starting with sour grapes and ending in total collapse. The chapter lays out six “woes” that feel surprisingly current: unchecked greed, moral confusion, and a culture that numbs instead of noticing. It’s less about condemnation and more about holding up a mirror.

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When Perfume Turns to Stench

Isaiah 3 offers a dramatic reversal of beauty and status, where perfume turns to stench and fine accessories vanish. These aren't just wardrobe changes—they're symbolic markers of identity and power. This post explores how ancient fashion conveyed deeper meaning, and what it might reveal about the symbols we still cling to today.

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