The Pietist Schoolman

Here

• Twenty-five hours and counting until I preach my first sermon, on Revelation 7:9-17.
• I piggybacked on the arguments of two much more gifted scholars: first, Roger Olson’s lament that some Christian colleges borrow liberally from a business model led me again to revisit the history of Bethel University and the educational philosophy of its longtime president, Carl H. Lundquist; then John Fea’s proposal for a center dedicated to the ways that the study of history can promote civic virtues prompted some brief reflections of my own on historical virtues like patience, empathy, and hospitality.
• A somewhat muted celebration of Reformation Day — mostly an excuse to link to the thing I’ve done that’s been seen and heard by the most people.
• Nominations are open for the Cliopatria Awards, recognizing excellence in history-related blogging.

There

• A podcast, a blog, and now a forum for the discussion of literature, theology, and other things that humans (sometimes) do well… Yes, the Christian Humanists are truly becoming the kings of all media.
• I admire the Anglican tradition in so many respects, but some Episcopalians drive me crackers. (Thanks, Michial Farmer.) Pelagius?!?
• The new issue of Christian History magazine is now available. Editor Chris Armstrong reports that it “tells the fascinating story of how early and medieval Christians pioneered the healthcare institutions on which we now rely, including the modern hospital.”
• Kyle Roberts wrote “an open letter to women in seminary” that I hope is read by plenty of men and women (in and out of seminaries).
• Two great pieces in Relevant magazine: Ryan Hamm argued that “The point of All Saints’ Day is to remember and celebrate the depth and breadth of Christians….”; and Alastair Bryan Sterne makes a nuanced case for some kind of membership in a local church(H/T Don Johnson).

  

• It’s not a blog post, but… I’ve been writing this with half my attention on PBS Arts from the Blue Ridge Mountains: Give Me the Banjo, a new documentary featuring Earl Scruggs, Béla Fleck, Pete Seeger, Ralph Stanley, Taj Mahal, and Steve Martin. It’s followed by a fascinating conversation between Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell. Great stuff if you love bluegrass, folk, country, and other roots music!