WRITING

Matt Mooney

Matt Mooney

Somebody See Me

Matt & Ginny start the second half of season 1 with a seemingly simply question: What is a good life? An entire episode focused on the life of a man known as Bulldog– told through the eyes of his brother, Chris Wheeler. It is a journey of Chris beginning to see a person who was there all along. You can learn more about Chris & Lindsey Wheeler as well as learn more about Lindsey’s book Sacred Tears at bottleoftears.com. Produced by Matthew Lyle MooneyMusic provided by Musicbed & Blue Dot Sessions.Sound effects provided by creators Freesound.org

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we are not our talents

In the age of television talent shows galore, our hosts attend one that manages to flip the narrative of what a talent show is & could be. Chelsea, Jordan & Claire want to sing at the bEfriend talent show hosted by 99 Balloons, but to do so they will have to overcome their fear of what others will think of them. In addition, Jamie shares a story of when celebrating someone with a disability is actually demeaning. Listen along as we contrast these two stories and are challenged to treat persons with disability as individuals instead of as a monolithic…

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we are not our bodies. Part 2.

Matthew Lyle & Ginny Mooney continue the discussion of healing and the church by delving into the lives of their friends with disability who do not want to be healed, cured or fixed. When they stumble upon an article, written by Madeleine Ryan, entitled Dear Parents: Your Child with Autism is Perfect it is though they are reading everything they have lived with their own daughter. Madeleine describes her journey throughout life and why the changes she desires have nothing to do with her autism. You can find out more about Madeleine and her newly released first novel- A Room…

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we are not our bodies. Part 1

When the loss of a child becomes a nationwide, prayer movement to #wakeupolive what does it say about the church and its relationship to healing? to suffering? In the first part of a two-part series discussing healing & the church, Matthew Lyle Mooney along with his wife, Ginny Mooney, set out to discuss the awkward relationship the current Christian culture has with disability. Along the way, they talk with author KJ Ramsey & friend, Emeka NNaka, who help challenge the cultural norms that exist around disability. Music & sound provided by Musicbed, Blue Dot Sessions & Freesound.org Script available at…

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summer

Summer is here.  At 5, 6 and 8 we got rascals riding bikes and swimming at a skill level whereby we are not in constant stress.  I told Ginny sometime some summer not long ago that I was done going to pools.  With 3 that cannot swim alone, I can only act like I’m listening to whatever adult is talking to me, my head drawing a repeated triangle from locating the 3 bobbing heads while I simultaneously feign my best impression of the laid back dad & try not to tell this person what an idiot they are for trying…

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weekends with rascals

I’ve worked hard to develop a new habit of carving out Monday mornings to sit and think and pray and grasp for some semblance of sanity before I cannonball into the week that will eat my lunch if I let it.  It’s a rebellious act of counter-intuition as weekends are supposed to be the very thing that serves us this way.  Now, I love my weekends at home and all- but it’s not a peaceful-cup-of-coffee-type of experience currently. If I had to measure, I would say it packs about the same rest as being chased by a pack of wolves….

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The Surface Dialogue Guidebook

We’ve reached that point in these beloved Ozarks where we’re just all waiting around for the good weather.  We get all four seasons here; just enough of winter to know we don’t want to move north; which we needed no help knowin’.  Being bone-tired of Ole Man Winter being a hanger-on is all you’re allowed to talk about- other than the razorback basketball revival- in these parts; whether it be the gal sacking your groceries or the college hipster handing you $4 coffee, so goes the surface dialogue guidebook.  It’s unwritten but just as real as the holy book itself…

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shifting gears

I often look at my backside in the mirror. I move quickly past the place that you imagined I was seeking and find the splotchy spot just above the bend of my right leg.  It’s my biggest scar- remnants of days I spent riding my Honda 80 dirt bike for hours on end along the hill behind my house where within a 3-minute ride Arkansas turned into Oklahoma. Often times I would lug the unstarted motorcycle to the top of a certain steep drop off in order to mount the red machine, point it downhill and coast until max speed;…

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striving for a secret

Check it out, Ginny & Lena are in the current edition of National Geographic.  A while back, a wonderful photographer followed our family around for a few days in order to capture photos illustrative of an article on brain development…fascinating article and wonderful pictures (we think).               _____________________________________ If you have been around me much, it does not take long to learn of certain things that come along as a part of the package- tethered to the molecules that combine to make me: At 37, I am still unable to grow any semblance of…

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from Fergie to Ferguson

Against my better judgment, Ginny convinced me last Monday to sit beside her and watch the American Music Awards.  I begrudgingly complied- mainly due to the fact that I love her and if she invites me to sit close to her, I do it- every time.  I’m a sucker that way, but that doesn’t mean I don’t moan on and on about the drivel that she makes me watch. Ginny admittedly loves television.  She loves awards shows.  Loves reality tv.  She once made me watch the Bachelor; she seemed happy.  I put my foot down and told her I would…

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3,000 words

By Matt Mooney | March 25, 2010

I think we’re back up & running on the worldwide web.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, than this is my longest post ever.

a few flakes & a hack job

By Matt Mooney | March 21, 2010

Well, it’s snowing blizzard style in Fayetteville, and the family is getting a serious case of cabin fever.  Ok, Hazel & I are, and the others are content to sit at home all day, every day.  The new look of the blog is not due to style preference, but rather the server that this blog…

and now the women (sorry)….aka Blue Like Jazz

By Matt Mooney | March 17, 2010

Apparently, John Ortberg has a book out entitled, “The Me I Want to Be”- the same title I used on my previous post. This is disheartening due to the fact that I like to fancy myself as original, endlessly creative, and handsome.  Thus, my apology to John and all of you for unwittingly stealing his…

the me I want to be

By Matt Mooney | March 12, 2010

Anders is awesome.  Hazel is fast & furious.  Ginny is busy. I have been enjoying a stay-cation this week- beginning on Wednesday and ending today.  For those not familiar- a stay-cation is just like a vacation, only it has no destination.  Yes, this is a complex idea- reserved only for folks without the means to…

the gift of presence

By Matt Mooney | March 7, 2010

MM:  I’ve had the opportunity to speak a couple of times the last few weeks.  This helps to explain the infrequency of blog posts; preparing to speak absorbs me a way that few other things do.  Last night I was able to teach on something that has become quite near & dear to Ginny &…

a month of mr.

By Matt Mooney | February 24, 2010

In a lame attempt to revive an old pastime that I have let fall off the radar, I have a question.  This is where you leave an answer in the reply box.  It’s called feedback, and helps me pretend to curb the narcissism inherent in a blog.  With no further ado….What music are you currently…

a Top 10

By Matt Mooney | February 16, 2010

Anders will be three weeks tomorrow.  His arrival ushered in all kinds of lessons and reminders…big, flashing, neon signs pointing out things unnoticed or heretofore forgotten.  I’m sure one day, we’ll have something of worth to type that doesn’t center on our children- but for now, in the haze of all that accompanies adding a…

ben rector

By Matt Mooney | February 11, 2010

Our friend, Ben has a new cd coming out Feb. 16th.  This means Ginny will be happy for at least a week.  Hazel will have some new songs to shake it to.  And Anders will be sleepy. It’s gonna be good…

99 balloons international?

By Matt Mooney | February 9, 2010

…has a ring doesn’t it? The board of 99 balloons is looking at the possibility of expanding the vision of what we are currently doing.  I gotta say, it is exciting to dream.  We are examining various ways to make an impact locally, nationally, and internationally.  I’ve got a meeting with some friends this Thursday…

surprises thus far

By Matt Mooney | February 7, 2010

With help from these guys, we redid the blog in order to have a space that better connected folks with the different pieces of our story.  The site remains www.theatypicallife.com, and we like it.  Hope you do as well. We’ve been busy enjoying the adjustment that accompanies adding a person to the family.  In the midst of…