Author: Rachel

Welcome to the web home of Rachel Heston Davis--young adult lit writer, newspaper stringer, and associate editor at Written World Communications. Please, make yourself at home. :) You can find loads of information here. For a peek into the secret life of an obsessive writer, read my blog. To see those writing projects on which I'm obsessing, visit the Writing page. If you're a fellow storyteller or story reader, I recommend Resources and Links to point you in the right direction. And as always, check my news feed for updates on projects and publishing!

Falwell Shows Patriarchy’s True Colors

ByRachel August 26, 2020 0 Comments
It takes much these days to pull the Observational Ginger out of hibernation. A years-long menage-a-trois between powerful evangelical leaders and a 20-year-old kid just might do it, though. I had dropped into Reuters for my daily pandemic briefing when allegations of Jerry Falwell Jr.’s voyeuristic arrangement with a business partner slapped me across my unsuspecting face. I was accosted with...

Dobson’s Immigration Newsletter: Christian Principles Work Until They Don’t?

ByRachel July 25, 2019 5 Comments
In his July newsletter, James Dobson of Focus on the Family fame weighed in on the crisis unfolding at the border as refugees are detained in terrible conditions. His comments disappointed and surprised me. I’ve long disagreed with Dobson’s fundamentalist approach to faith, but before this political era, I at least considered him intellectually honest and consistent in applying his own...

BREAKING: Gillette Dares To Assume That Men Are Decent People

ByRachel January 17, 2019 1 Comment
Quite frequently, when the phrase “toxic masculinity” makes its way into the news, I hear some version of this statement: Quit calling masculinity ‘toxic.’ It makes men feel bad about being masculine, and that harms them. People who say this seem to think that the phrase “toxic masculinity” means that masculinity, in and of itself, is toxic. But this is a misunderstanding. When...

Donald Trump perfectly illustrates this Christian principle…

ByRachel December 3, 2018 2 Comments
George H.W. Bush died this weekend. He is the first president Jaron and I were aware of in childhood, so we experienced a wave of bittersweet nostalgia at the news—even though, as adults, we disagree with many of Bush’s political beliefs. His death prompted discussion on how we’ll feel when other former presidents go. Bill Clinton, Bush junior, Barack Obama, and—well, You-Know-Who. My...

Courtland Sykes and the Facebook Post Heard ‘Round the U.S.

ByRachel January 29, 2018 0 Comments
I don’t often write about individual politicians. I typically reserve my comments for issues and concepts. So congratulations to Missouri US Senate candidate Courtland Sykes for making such a controversial statement this season that it’s drawn even a hibernating Observational Ginger from her cave. Cortland Sykes, who wants the good people of Missouri to make him their political...