Christmas is my favorite holiday, but as I get older, I find myself increasingly aware of the complicated emotions that it inspires in so many. So on this shortest day of the year, I thought I’d reprise a piece I wrote at the same time two years ago. Grace and peace to you all, however … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: Blue Christmas
Yesterday was a surreal day at Bethel University: In the morning, a couple hundred employees crowded into a room in our student commons to hear our president explain significant cuts and restructuring in academic programs and co-curricular/administrative staffing, necessary to avoid the multi-million dollar deficits projected for the next two fiscal years. In the evening, … More “He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how”
Thanks to Pastor Doug Bixby, for effectively switching places with me yesterday: while he was back in my hometown participating in the annual meeting of the Covenant Church, I had the chance to preach and teach at the church he serves in Attleboro, Massachusetts. (And thanks to their associate pastor, Chris Wall, for being such … More Stories of Hope: Joseph… and Judah
“He was brilliant,” said his friend Joel Frederickson of our late colleague Adam Johnson, at the Bethel memorial service this morning. “But he never acted like he was brilliant.” Over and over that hour, we heard students, alumni, and friends bear witness to Adam’s humble brilliance. But the meaning we most often attach to the … More Be Thou My Vision
As we wake to the Resurrection dawn of Easter, Mark Pattie (Lino Lakes, MN) brings our devotional near to its conclusion. Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. (John … More A New Day
For this Wednesday of Holy Week, a lovely meditation on hope by Krista Brumberg Stevens (Andover, MA). Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before … More Reclaiming Hope
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
It’s hard to believe that it was just three days ago. I was in the car when I got a text from my pastor: “Did you see the news? There’s been an explosion and collapse of a building at Minnehaha.” Kyrie eleison, I wrote back once I saw the images. Christ, have mercy. By the … More How You Can Help Minnehaha Academy
Here… • I belatedly celebrated a pair of blogging anniversaries. • Want to understand Pietism? Start by singing this hymn. • I wrestled again with 1 Samuel 15. • Only 36% of Republicans think that colleges have a positive impact on America. I shared some quick thoughts — including a potential implication for Christian colleges. … More That Was The Week That Was
Thanks to a hectic week, I only had a chance to share a tribute to my grandfather and to announce the Amazon Prime premiere of a new documentary on Pietism. I’ll be back to my usual blogging pace next week, but in the meantime, here are a few other links from around the blogosphere: • … More That Was The Week That Was
