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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a vulnerable tension. back from Africa.

By Matt Mooney | July 19, 2013

I am that guy- just back from the trip that makes me look at all of it a little bit different. I look aghast at my child who grabs at gifts with a fervor that makes me question all of my parenting techniques.  Attending a chicken buffet, within the confines of my head, I question…

Headed Out

By Matt Mooney | July 6, 2013

Thanks to all of you who have made the blog series for the book launch so much fun; also thanks to those of you have encouraged me and help spread the word so well. I am hurriedly attempting to type this out in a hotel room in Chicago. I’m typing on an iPad instead of…

Unfinished Stories:: Jessica Turner

By Matt Mooney | June 17, 2013

Since I was a little girl, I have always been told to pay attention to the tone of my voice and how I speak to others. I come from a line of strong-willed women who weren’t afraid to speak – and that fearlessness can be my biggest strength and my biggest weakness. As a mother,…

the. (a guest post for extraordinary ordinary)

By Matt Mooney | June 7, 2013

Thanks so much to all of you who have relayed encouragement about the book and what resonated through your reading.  I appreciate the kind words as well as all the help you have provided in helping me spread the world. Here is a guest post I wrote for another blog. ____________________ THE. Ginny & I…

Walking Beside (a Deeper Church post)

By Matt Mooney | May 31, 2013

Folks….the book lands in mailboxes today.  I’m almost believing this is really going to happen- almost.   We are continuing to gather great writers for the blog series.  Check back soon for a guest post.  Until then, here is a post I wrote for Deeper Church attempting to relay the humbling reality of being loved…

Unfinished Stories:: Jennifer Dukes Lee

By Matt Mooney | May 28, 2013

_________________________ For the upcoming release of  “A Story Unfinished”, we are gathering writers, friends and good folk around two themes.  Feel free to join us, spread the word or just bask in some great truths. _________________________ “Honey,” I tell my husband. “I’ve got something I want you to see.” I slide my forefinger across the…

By Matt Mooney | May 16, 2013

Well, here goes nothing. We are kicking off a couple of blog series here at the atypical life in order to gather folks around two themes that are near and dear to our hearts.  We’ve timed the series to coordinate with the launch of An Unfinished Story– which should be rolling out around June 1st….

life in the land of consumers

By Matt Mooney | April 27, 2013

As you can see over there in the margin, we are trying to gather a group of folks who blog to tell stories around two broad themes (May 15th thru the end of June). The themes are Glimpses of Redemption & Unfinished Stories and I am excited at the group that is forming to tackle…

bowl cuts & potty talk

By Matt Mooney | April 16, 2013

Thanks to each of you have encouraged me about the book or ordered it or pretended as though you ordered it.  I guess hesitantly excited would best describe my feelings as the release date nears.  I am working through the last edit this week and it has been wild to see it all come to…

and the rooster crowed

By Matt Mooney | April 2, 2013

I hope that your Easter weekend allowed you some time to reflect on the claims of a man. I believe him. I have waivered and wandered and always returned to the one I could not believe spread arms wide in welcome. When I was in junior high, I was small. Until 9th grade came around-…