Matt Erickson

Last night I finished reading The Patient Ferment of the Early Church by Alan Kreider. In so many ways I appreciated his attention to patience in patristic writing and the in-depth exploration of catechesis. But at times I felt he slanted evidence toward his pre-conceived notion of patience. 📚

I wrote about “Living for Peace in a World on Fire,” the eighth in my ongoing reflections on the Beatitudes.

There are few television series I return to more than once, but Kelly and I always seem to enjoy Endeavour, the prequel series to Inspector Morse, with Shaun Evans and Roger Allam. Is it just the Oxford charm? I don’t know…but possibly.

Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 15 August 2026 with Thomas Kelly on life from the center, Dallas Willard’s business cards, Brad East on AI, can we retire from tech to live offline?, the great seminary sorting, filmmaking of Robert Bresson, and more.

Friends, I’m working on a writing project and am crowd-sourcing recommendations on kenosis both generally and specifically in Philippians 2. If you have any recommendations, please share them!

I was looking through some photos from a few years ago and found this one I took of my son climbing up and standing in the middle of a formation at Arches National Park. We had just arrived at the park in time to catch sunset and didn’t want to miss the amazing views.

I watched Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Dekalog S1E1, Dekalog: One, and thought it felt even more fitting for our current day and time then it must have in the late 80s and early 90s. 🍿

I continue writing on the Beatitudes with this seventh essay entitled “Living in Purity of Heart.”

Such a powerful and evocative passage:

“Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.” (Psalm 77:19)

Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 8 August 2026 - with Russell Moore on avoiding technological brain rot, Robert Ordway on Screwtape in your pocket, TGC on AI use, Dan Cohen on authorial voice, Chris Green introducing an essay by Ernest Hello on “Amen,” and more.

I’m taking time to rewatch some films that have intrigued me but which I have not quite known what to do with. One of those is Koyaanisqatsi, which I watched again last night. Honestly, I had a hard time falling asleep after watching it, considering how far life has changed even since then. 🍿

Have you read this book? What did you think?

I’m currently reading: The Patient Ferment of the Early Church by Alan Kreider 📚

I’m always amazed by how many people I talk to who deeply appreicate Henri Nouwen’s writing. What is it, do you think, that makes Nouwen’s writing so meaningful to so many people across such a wide swath of Christian backgrounds?

I’m so thankful to be included on this list of recent notable books by Byron Borger at Hearts & Minds Books. Plus, you can purchase a copy of The Pastor as Gardener for 20% off through them via this post.

“Seeing mercy in God and encountering the mercy of God, we are blessed and enter true flourishing as we reflect that mercy to others and the world around us.”

Today I continued a series of reflections on the Beatitudes with this sixth post: “The Good Life is a Merciful Life.”

While officiating a wedding in California this weekend, Kelly and I were grateful for the chance to sneak away for some hiking near Lake Tahoe, like this beautiful path beside Emerald Bay.

Finished reading: Inspiration and Incarnation Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament by Peter Enns 📚I really appreciated this book and how Enns explores the diversity and 2nd Temple hermeneutic by which NT authors engage the OT. Very relevant to current conversations with young adults.

Just finished reading: Bonhoeffer and King Speaking Truth to Power by J. Deotis Roberts 📚

Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 1 August 2026 - with Gregory of Nazianzus on the incarnation, the need for good guides, Chris Smith on the Sermon on the Mount, megachurches growing, what is evangelicalism?, Brian Doerksen’s passing, and more.

I’m in CT Pastors with “We Need Good Guides” - Ministry leaders need wisdom and companionship—writings from the past have something to offer us.

I continued my writing on the Beatitudes today with “Living Hungry for the Right Things.”

Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 25 July 2026 - with Comment’s “Seedbeds of Christian Humanism,” Eugene Peterson’s legacy as a rock, Richard Foster’s spiritual formation booklist, Stanley Hauerwas on why love is not enough, JI Packer’s legacy, and more.

I gather around these two honest prayers today:

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1)_

and

“Mine, O thou lord of life, send my roots rain.” - Gerard Manley Hopkins

Just finished reading: Drawn by Beauty Awe and Wonder in the Christian Life by Matthew Z. Capps for a book review due out in September. 📚

“The Counterintuitive Blessing of Meekness” - the fourth in a series I am writing on the Beatitudes.