In Saturday’s links wrap, I mentioned Rachel Denhollander, the former gymnast whose testimony at the sentencing hearing of serial sexual abuser Larry Nassar went viral — particularly among her fellow Christians, who were inspired that she used that difficult platform to talk about the Bible’s message of grace and forgiveness. But I also encouraged anyone … More On Sexual Abuse and the Church
I’m very happy to announce that Come Back to Jesus, our free Lenten devotional, is now available for download! This lower-resolution version (1 MB) should work well for tablets and smaller devices; if you’d like to print a hard copy, you can download a higher-res option (31 MB) from Scribd. My Pietist Option co-author Mark Pattie and I each contributed … More Come Back to Jesus: A Lenten Devotional by the Readers and Authors of The Pietist Option
I preached this sermon yesterday at Rice Creek Covenant Church in Lino Lakes, Minnesota. I was there partly to teach an adult class on The Pietist Option, but the text came from the congregation’s participation in our denomination’s Immerse Bible reading program. They’d just finished Exodus 1-24… I have to say, it’s risky to invite a non-preacher to … More God Will Speak… and We Will Die
Dear madam or sir, I write in hope that you exist. Honestly, it’s hard for me to imagine that there are individuals in this or any society who have the ability to donate $75 million to their favorite good cause. (Subtract a few zeroes and I’d still need to battle my budget a bit.) But … More An Open Letter to Anyone with $75 Million to Give to Christian Colleges
Yesterday I shared a review of The Pietist Option from someone who doesn’t share our religious instincts. (John Fea thinks my response was itself a model of Pietism.) Today, a review from someone who does: Covenant pastor David Swanson wrote a lengthy piece on our book for the Englewood Review of Books, a wide-ranging weekly review published by … More The Englewood Review of Books on The Pietist Option
Now, that may seem like an unlikely title. But honestly, I’m delighted that The Gospel Coalition published a fairly lengthy review of The Pietist Option, by Union University dean Nathan Finn. Now, I would fully expect a TGC review of our book to raise serious concerns, as when Finn blames our “Pietist ethos” for introducing into evangelicalism a … More The Gospel Coalition Review of The Pietist Option
Among other upcoming speaking engagements, I’m eager to return to Bethlehem Covenant Church in Minneapolis for a multi-day seminar (February 9-11) entitled Always Reforming: The Pietist Option for Covenanters and Other Protestants. The title comes from the venerable, vexing Protestant idea that the church is “reformed, and always reforming” (ecclesia semper reformanda est). It’s a line … More Always Reforming, Always Planting
I don’t understand how actual big shot author types survive authentic speaking tours. I’m only averaging one Pietist Option-related event per month from January through March, and even that’s enough to make me feel tired. But then, that’s partly because I’m not only teaching about Pietism, but giving sermons at three different churches. It’s been a … More Where You Can Hear Me Speak (and Preach!) This Winter
If I don’t write a whole lot around here for the next four weeks, it’s partly because I’m busy editing Come Back to Jesus: A Lenten Devotional from the Readers and Authors of The Pietist Option. Submissions have started to come in from the 38 readers who signed up to join Mark and me in writing daily devotions … More How You Can Request a Free Copy of Our Forthcoming Lenten Devotional
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him … More Fourth Sunday in Advent
The Pietist Schoolman 