iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Forgot about this app once Threads picked up steam. Anybody still hanging out here?

Reposted by Justin Lonas

The Englewood Review of Books @erbks.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

NEW REVIEW on the site today: @jryanlonas.bsky.social is reviewing the new book from Brian Miller, called Sanctifying Suburbia: How the Suburbs Became the Promised Land for American Evangelicals. Read the review here: buff.ly/ABar6BH

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

The Blues Brothers is a Wes Anderson movie: — childhood wounds — ironic, offbeat script and delivery — long segments of pop music — odd set pieces — uncanny movements — use of closeups — tender moral core underneath comic violence and destruction. I will not be taking questions at this time.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

"How much cruelty is occasioned simply because of the *noise* that is within us: the din is too great to realize exactly what we are doing to others, or what is being done to others in our name...

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Sometimes, loving your enemy starts with recognizing that they were never your friend.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

In an era when all the news most people read is the headlines, headline writers have a great responsibility. And the legacy media here in the U.S. is blowing it badly, often (looking at you @nytimes.com, @cnn.com, @usatoday.com, etc.)

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Can't shake the feeling that what is going on in the U.S. these days is a dirty amalgam of what it would look like if the Confederacy won the Civil War and the Soviets won the cold war...which begs the question of whether "winning" a war (real or cultural) can ever lead to flourishing long term.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

We're wrapping up reading LOTR aloud as a family and just finished "The Scouring of the Shire" this week. (1/4)

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

It's really the ripe moment for someone to do a very toothy film adaptation of Walker Percy's satirical 1971 novel Love in the Ruins. Who should direct?

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Passed a car parked on Main St. here in Chattanooga this morning with two bumper stickers: 1) Tr*mp/Vance 2024 "Take America Back" 2) a simple blue sticker reading "I ❤️ the Constitution" My brother in Christ, you cannot have both.

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Reposted by Justin Lonas

Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 15/05/2025

The VP of El Salvador repeatedly told me "the ball is in your court" when it comes to bringing Abrego Garcia home — making clear Trump is violating a 9-0 SCOTUS ruling to “facilitate” his return. I said this in my recent letter to Trump, and here's the video to back it up:

youtu.be

WATCH: Van Hollen meeting with Vice President of El Salvador

YouTube video by Senator Chris Van Hollen

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Are we to the part where three spirits visit him and he repents and makes reparations to everyone he's wronged, yet?

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

"The Lord is not Nemesis. He is free, acting toward His own ends, indifferent to the harsh symmetry of revenge." —Marilynne Robinson, Reading Genesis

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Waiting for all my "law and order" people to tell me when the President's lawbreaking bothers them... Which laws matter? Which parts of the Constitution need following? Or was this always just an excuse to gut government services for those in poverty and brutalize non-white citizens & immigrants?

media.tenor.com

a man wearing a suit and tie is standing in a field of yellow flowers

ALT: a man wearing a suit and tie is standing in a field of yellow flowers

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

I will never not be amazed at how the people that taught: — that private character matters in public office — all media is inherently propaganda — the federal government is inherently tyrrannical and local is best — law enforcement officers are state revenue agents and to be distrusted — etc.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

A world of artificial love Artificial images of Artificial friends and foes Artificial brains in our hands Makes hate seem one real thing to grasp.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

"Dangerous times call for high levels of both calm and courage. You need to assume the worst is going to happen, and work backwards from there." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

theatlantic.com

A Ticking Clock on American Freedom

It’s later than you think, but it’s not too late.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

It's a common lament that Americans need to know history better in order to actually self-govern and "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity."

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Christian nationalism (at least at a popular level) stems from the same heart-impulse as Peter's sword-blow upon Malchus' ear in the garden. It's the assumption that God needs protection. But the way of Jesus is always the way of the cross, but confident in resurrection. A blessed Easter to all

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

I've been working through Holy Week in poetry over the past few years, and it's not a complete set yet, but it's become a cherished aspect of worship for me. Sharing here for you all as well (1/6)

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

My daughter (15), when I got home from work and showed her @booker.senate.gov working on his filibuster: "He's cooking! He's STILL cooking after 23 hours. He's a brisket!"

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Reposted by Justin Lonas

Joseph Fasano @josephfasano.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Spring has come back again. The Earth is like a child who knows poems by heart. —Rilke

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

5 years. It feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Serious question for Canadian friends on here: My family & I were planning a summer road trip through Ontario/Quebec, and with the current state of US/CAN relations, we're really eager to spend time and money north of the border. How are you feeling about American visitors these days? #Canada

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

20 Years ago when I was getting to the end of an undergrad journalism degree, I lamented the Internet's killing of local & national newspaper business because it meant my degree wasn't going to get me a job. At this remove, it's hard not to see that as the beginning of an authoritarian long-game...

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

I'd really rather not publicly speak about political issues, but that's privilege talking.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

In a culture where the currency is manufactured outrage (let's call it "crypto-anger" in largest supply among those who have the most leisure to mine it), the power of standing still & speaking clearly and boldly to power and kindly and gently to those who are weak is the only way to be truly heard.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

"The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error" — William Jennings Bryan * A quote which was DRILLED into us at my alma mater (so-named for Mr. Bryan), but always appropriate to encourage the soul of truthtellers.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Really love watching my country be run into the ground by a grifter who promised grifting all along the campaign trail & then still being maligned by people who support him (& are now also suffering) because they think opposition to the grifter has something to do with "ideology" instead of reality.

media.tenor.com

a man with a mustache says it 's the best in a movie clip

ALT: a man with a mustache says it 's the best in a movie clip

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Reposted by Justin Lonas

The Englewood Review of Books @erbks.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

"His work is both accessible and profound, a pointed argument that every American Christian needs to wrestle with." -- @jryanlonas.bsky.social in his NEW REVIEW of Malcolm Foley's The Anti-Greed Gospel buff.ly/CljMM54 @malcolmbfoley.bsky.social @brazospress.bsky.social

buff.ly

Malcolm Foley – The Anti-Greed Gospel [Feature Review]

Theology News & Book Reviews for Christian Readers

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

No matter how low the bar for doing one simple thing right and acting in light of justice and reality is set, they find a way to crawl under it...

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Reposted by Justin Lonas

Robin Jester Wootton @robinjesterwootton.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

This is how Bullies work: If you say out loud they scare you, they scare you harder. That's how you know who they are. Good people who are not bullies will feel sorry for the way they make you feel unsafe. They will apologize and ask how they can be better. If that does not happen, then you know.+

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Reminder that real people suffer globally when politicians fail to exercise constitutional oversight or respect court orders locally (and thanks for great reporting, @christianitytoday.com and @emilybelz.bsky.social). Keep calling/writing Congresspeople. www.christianitytoday.com/2025/02/usai...

christianitytoday.com

Supply Chains Break and Hospitals Shutter After USAID Freeze - Christianity Today

Christian donations can only do so much to fill the gap when facilities grapple with layoffs, scarce drugs, and unanswered questions.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

A lot of talk about "efficiency" these days, but what people mean by "efficient" is a blinkered idea of financial ROI—if it makes money, it's good. If not, it's bad.

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Reposted by Justin Lonas

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 24/02/2025

After three years of failure, Putin can’t win on the ground, but he can win in his enemies’ heads—if we let him. www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

theatlantic.com

Putin’s Three Years of Humiliation

The Russian president can’t win his war against Ukraine unless he persuades its allies to betray it.

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Reposted by Justin Lonas

Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Worst. Episode. EVER.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Man, it must be nice to have congressmen and senators who will even have town halls where they have to remember they have constituents... Tennessee has been living the unaccountable government nightmare for a long time now. Power no longer belongs to the people here in any practical sense.

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Justin Lonas @jryanlonas.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

If they try to do this, I will donate 1/3 to orgs that lost USAID funding, 1/3 to "friends of national parks" type orgs, and 1/3 to civil rights orgs. Maybe add in a few more or shift the breakdown, but you get the picture. apnews.com/video/trump-...

apnews.com

Trump backs idea to send some DOGE savings to American citizens

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he likes the idea of giving some of the savings from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency back to U.S. citizens as a kind of dividend.

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