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
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
I’m not entirely sure what took me out this night, the longest of the year, to attend “A Service of Comfort, Hope, and Healing” at my father-in-law’s church in Cedar Falls, Iowa. By way of explanation, I mumbled something to my wife about Stacey and GW. It’s been months now since the deaths of those close friends, … More Blue Christmas: Comfort, Hope, and Healing
Before supper tonight, we prayed words that I’ve probably said more than 40,000 times now: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest And let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen Whether the gifts in question were this evening’s tacos and rice, some grander meal, or any of the other blessings that were on my mind at … More Come, Lord Jesus (really)
Here… • For the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, I recalled one Christian college’s willingness to welcome Japanese American students. • My series on Gary Burge’s Mapping Your Academic Career continued with some reflections on finding your voice as a teacher. • Gift ideas: histories and biographies that made Best of 2016 lists. • How did … More That Was The Week That Was
Last night we joined my parents in the “Hanging of the Greens” service at Memorial Baptist Church in Pulaski, Virginia. The kids and I sang Marty Haugen’s version of the Annunciation and Magnificat (from “Holden Evening Prayer”), and I contributed short meditations about three symbols common to this time of year. Once we’re to Christmas, I’ll share what I wrote … More Candle Light: An Advent Meditation
On the eve of celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace, it’s been a bit dispiriting to read the comments section the last couple of days. But I thought I’d solicit some reader responses to a less controversial set of questions: What’s your favorite Christmas (or Advent) carol or other song? Why do you like it so … More Your Favorite Christmas Carols?
I’ve spent a fair amount of time this month criticizing the leaders of other Christian colleges and universities. I don’t regret the posts, but it’s certainly not the kind of thing I enjoy writing. And it risks creating the false impression that I’m deeply dissatisfied with or disillusioned by Christian higher education. So as we near the … More Why I Love Being Part of a Christian Learning Community
If I’d just been a bit more patient, I could have saved myself the time and trouble of writing my own response to Liberty University president Jerry Falwell, Jr. and just let Eastern Mennonite University president Loren Swartzendruber talk. (H/T Scot McKnight) Mine ended by reflecting on the season of Advent; that’s where Loren’s starts: … More From One Christian College President in Virginia to Another…
The Pietist Schoolman 