“Recovering Contemplative Exegesis” - the seventh part of my reflections on Eugene Peterson’s Working the Angles.

On this #GivingTuesday join me in supporting the work of two outstanding efforts for the kingdom of God: Sheepfold Ministries in the Horn of Africa and Congo Initiative in eastern Congo. More info here.

Thomas Oden on the authority of a true shepherd in Pastoral Theology: Essentials for Ministry, p. 53.

The proper authority of ministry is not external, manipulative, alien power that distances itself from those “under” it, but rather a legitimized and happily received influence that wishes only good for its recipient, a leadership that boldly guides but only on the basis of a deeply empathic sense of what the flock yearns for and needs.

More here.

For me, the only upside of being sick is the chance to read more than normal, including delving into some works from my childhood in this new edition of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Books of Earthsea that I checked out from the library.

The latest edition of The Weekend Wanderer is here.

“In reading, teaching, and preaching the Scriptures it happens: we cease to listen to the Scriptures.” - Eugene Peterson. Read my latest on Working the Angles here.

Some reflections after spending time in the book of Daniel: “Faith and the Baptized Imagination: Biblical Apocalyptic as the Key to Exile Faith”.

I’m more convinced than ever that we need trusted, ancient guides on what it means to be a pastor in a culture that no longer understands the calling and role of the shepherd within the local congregation.

This weekend’s version of The Weekend Wanderer is available here with features on Ebola in Congo, hostages freed in Cameroon, varieties of American evangelicalism, mothers of the Reformation, and more.

Spending time studying the book of Daniel is so much fun but also leaves my head swimming in ancient near-eastern history, apocalyptic imagery, the raging of earthly kingdoms, exilic tension, visions of the end of the world, and so much more.

Josef Pieper

The strain of self-mastery, which for us countrymen of Kant is inseparable from any concept of upbringing and moderation and is generally tied to and fused with the concept of virtue, is an accompanying phenomenon only of less perfect and beginner stages, whereas authentic, perfected virtue, by dint of the very definition of the concept, bears the happily radiant seal of spontaneity, of freedom from constraint and of self-evident inclination. (From A Brief Reader on the Virtues of the Human Heart, p. 10)

Conflict moment: what to do when our amazing Milwaukee County library system does not have a book that I want to read but am not sure if I want to buy? What book is it, you say? Ivan Illich’s In the Vineyard of the Text: A Commentary to Hugh’s Didascalicon.

Spending some time with Thomas Oden this morning in preparation for a book discussion next week.

Praying by the Book, in which I interact with Eugene Peterson’s call for pastors to recover their use of the Psalms as a curriculum for prayer.

I enjoyed reading Kathleen Norris’ thoughts on apocalyptic literature in Amazing Grace the other day and thought I’d share it here.

The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with faith and politics, unrest in Egypt, The Pelican Project, online church, Jeanne Murray Walker on sonnets, and more!

My favorite – and only – piano student.

Judah Smith’s endeavor seems like the next logical move resulting from a radically dis-incarnate, gnostic theology within evangelicalism.

Pastors, if you haven’t seen this already, here is a great resource for your church from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship as you near Advent.

Recovering Prayer - my fourth reflection on Eugene Peterson’s Working the Angles: “prayer is the central and essential act for maintaining the essential shape of ministry.”

Trying to finish my portion of the writing work on an Advent devotional for @EastbrookChurch today. I appreciate your prayers as our team develops this resource for our church’s Advent journey.

On Sundays at my blog, I’m beginning a new series of posts on meaningful prayers I’ve encountered over the years from various sources. Here is the first: The Prayer of St. Patrick (not the abbreviated version).

The latest edition of The Weekend Wanderer is here, including Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, Asia Bibi, Fleming Rutledge, and more.

All Saints’ Day: A Celebration - a brief reflection on the importance of All Saints’ Day, regardless of our church tradition.

“A good sermon is one side of a passionate conversation. It has to be heard in that way.” - Rev. John Ames in Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead from my post “Preaching as a Three-Way Conversation”.