Dear President Trump, I write to wish you and your family happy holidays, in the truest, fullest sense of that phrase. While you’ve tried often to convince our fellow Christians that “happy holidays” is part of a secular war on our faith, I hope your aversion to fake news will not keep you from reading historian … More Happy Holidays, Mr. President
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance … More Third Sunday in Advent
Sam and I wrap up our third season by considering some of the legacies of the Protestant Reformation: from democracy and free inquiry to religious pluralism and secularization to the notion that Protestants are “reformed and always reforming” (and why that means you should all buy The Pietist Option). Featured Book Alec Ryrie, Protestants: The Faith That Made the Modern World … More Thursday’s Podcast: Legacies of the Protestant Reformation
It’s the time of year when I’d like to be blogging… except that doing so would make me feel guilty for not reducing the size of the five stacks of papers hiding behind my laptop screen. But as I continue to take a break from The Pietist Schoolman this week, let me at least suggest some people … More Who I’m Reading: Jason Barnhart
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem… (Isa 40:1-2a) How long, O Lord? I ask versions of David’s question often at this time of year, the Christian season of waiting. How long until Jesus returns? How long until God fills the hungry and lifts up the lowly? How long, I ask — like … More Second Sunday in Advent
Today is yet another release date for The Pietist Option, as the audio version of our book comes available. So if you have a long commute, or Christmas travel coming up, or simply enjoy listening to books as much as reading them… You can download our audiobook from Christian Audio, where members only have to spend $7.49. (There’s … More For Your Listening Pleasure: The Pietist Option as Audiobook
We don’t plan a massive speaking tour for The Pietist Option, but at least once a month this winter you’ll have several chances to hear one or both of us. We’ll start this Sunday morning in the western suburbs of Minneapolis, when Mark and I visit Excelsior Covenant Church. Mark will be preaching at both services (Contemporary, … More Hear Mark and Me Speak This Sunday
So I’ve had an idea for a brief sequel to The Pietist Option. But Mark and I will need the help of our readers to bring it to fruition. Tentatively, we’re calling it: It’s always seemed appropriate that we’d extend the themes of a book on Pietism through so pietistic a genre of spiritual writing as the … More How You Can Help Us Write a Sequel to The Pietist Option
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that … More First Sunday in Advent
If you’re like me, the thought of shopping this particular November morning fills you with dread. And yet, those Christmas presents aren’t going to buy themselves. So why not head over to Amazon and buy copies of The Pietist Option for your friends and family! The hardcover is currently 30% off: just $16.14. And if you’d like … More Beat Black Friday with The Pietist Option
The Pietist Schoolman 