Stories First

Journal

The story behind every story. Each Monday: the verse, the chapter, the design, and how the print was pulled.

Scenic view of a rural farm at sunrise with a barn and trees casting long shadows. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.
The Anchor Story No. 08

He Is Risen: The Stone Rolled Away

Meaning of the Resurrection in the gospel accounts: the empty tomb, the witnesses, and why Easter hope is present tense, not nostalgia.

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A serene view of an empty road stretching through a desert at sunset with distant mountains. Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.
The Anchor Story No. 07

Do Not Look Back

The story of Lot in Genesis 19: Sodom, mercy, and the cost of hesitation when God says leave. What the narrative asks of anyone...

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Powerful ocean waves under stormy skies. Photo by Ray Bilcliff on Pexels.
The Anchor Story No. 06

Running, Found, and Sent Again

Jonah and the whale meaning: running from calling, prayer in the dark, and mercy you cannot outrun. The book of Jonah in plain language.

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A person at an outdoor picnic holding fresh bread with seasonal fruits and flowers. Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.
The Anchor Story No. 05

Five Loaves, Two Fish, More Than Enough

Jesus feeds the 5000 in Matthew 14: what the miracle teaches about scarcity, trust, and offering what you actually have. Plus the collection it...

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Explore the dramatic rock formations of Salta's stunning canyons, an awe-inspiring natural wonder. Photo by Gabii Fernandez on Pexels.
The Anchor Story No. 04

When the Way Forward Opens Through the Water

Moses parting the Red Sea in Exodus 14: what it means when you are trapped between the army and the water, and why faith...

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Side view of a young man posing thoughtfully by a mosaic glass window with soft light. Photo by Minh Đức on Pexels.
The Anchor

On Wearing A Verse You Haven't Lived Up To Yet

The first time you put on a shirt with a verse on the back you have not yet lived up to, you may feel...

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Two friends having a lively conversation over coffee in a cozy coffee shop setting. Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.
The Anchor

What If The Shirt Did The Witnessing For You?

Most Christians don't want to be the office Christian. They also don't want to disappear. There is a middle move, and it has to...

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A minimalist clothing rack displaying neutral-toned outfits in an organized indoor setting. Photo by www.kaboompics.com on Pexels.
The Anchor

On Buying Christian Clothing That Doesn't Look Like Christian Clothing

If you have ever stood in front of a closet full of decent clothing and a single Christian tee bought online three years ago,...

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Two stone tablets with hand-cut Roman numerals printed on a heavyweight cotton tee.
The Anchor Story No. 09

The Ten Commandments: Moses on the Mountain

What the Ten Commandments are, in order, and why Exodus 20 still anchors moral language today. Plus the stone-tablet print it inspired.

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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse rendered as a horizontal procession on a heavyweight cotton tee.
The Anchor Story No. 17

The Four Horsemen: What Revelation 6 Actually Describes

Four horsemen of the apocalypse meaning in plain language: conquest, war, famine, and death in Revelation 6, read slowly. Plus the print it inspired.

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David and Goliath back-print rendered on a heavyweight cotton tee.
The Anchor Story No. 02

David and Goliath: The Battle Was Never Yours to Win

What the David and Goliath story in 1 Samuel 17 actually teaches about fear, armor, and who owns the fight. Plus the back-print tee...

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Cozy workspace setup with open notebook and coffee near a sunlit window. Photo by Bedia on Pexels.
Dispatch

A Note On Why The Journal Exists

What this archive is for, what you'll find here, and how the cadence works between the newsletter and the public site.

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