: “Renewing the Ecology of Ministry” - Lingering over the words of ecologists helps me see the …
: I shared this quote from Frederick Buechner on calling in my message this past Sunday, and it …
: O Most Awesome and Holy God, Three in One and One in Three, lead us into true worship of You in …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 30 May 2026 - A Pastor and a Philosopher in a Garden, Pope Leo on …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 30 May 2026 - A Pastor and a Philosopher in a Garden, Pope Leo on …
: “Is Pastoring More Like a Startup or a Garden?” - I have enjoyed sharing about The Pastor as …
: Sometimes when hiking my beloved Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin there are portions that are not that …
: Looking through some old photos I found this one that my wife took of me staring up at “The Tree of …
: Beautiful hiking all weekend with my wife, Kelly, along the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. One special …
: God reminds us and invites us into gratitude today: “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me.” …
: In preparation for Pentecost Sunday: “The Holy Spirit is Like…Three images of the Holy Spirit in …
: I really enjoyed this conversation with Joseph Lear about my book The Pastor as Gardener. His …
: Christian Wiman on Jesus in _Glimmerings_ “I think of the man who was so gentle with the woman at the well or the woman who touched the hem of …
: A good word for preachers and service leaders today: “I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; …
: I love this statement from Gregory of Nyssa: “We regard falling from God’s friendship as the only …
: Hello, friends. Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 16 May 2026 with Gregory of Nyssa on life’s …
: I found this book review I wrote that was never published for Makoto Fujimura’s 2025 book Art Is: A …
: I just finished reading: Beauty A Theological Engagement with Gregory of Nyssa by Natalie Carnes 📚 …
: “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 9 May 2026 with lessons on faith from the garden, Black churches …
: Friends, I am trying to research more fully the contextual situation that led Christians to flee to …
: I really enjoyed Andrew Camp’s thoughtful questions and engagement with “The Pastor as Gardener” on …
: Last week I traveled to the Middle East to visit friends and church partners. It was certainly an …
: Just finished reading: Make Your Home in This Luminous Dark Mysticism, Art, and the Path of …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 2 May 2026 with Kenneth Tanner on the Road to Emmaus, Christian …
: I’m thankful for Joseph Lear’s thoughtful and generous engagement with my book, The Pastor as …
: I was grateful to write an OpEd with the help of World Relief staff about our international …
: Currently reading: Saving Beauty by Byung-Chul Han 📚
: There’s nothing quite like being with believers in another part of the world that will give …
: “Three Ways to Read 1 Corinthians 13: spiritual formation through Scripture”
: I rewatched The Taste of Things this past weekend and I loved it just as much the second time. The …
: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this …
: Love this from Eugene Peterson: "The meaning of our lives..." Love this from Eugene Peterson: “The meaning of our lives on any plane, of the circumstances we …
: “The Holy Foolishness of ‘Thinking He Was the Gardener’” — It was an honor to write this original …
: Today is National Gardening Day, so I thought it would be a nice opportunity to share an excerpt …
: I enjoyed a great conversation, “The Image of a Pastor,” with Chase Replogle on the PastorWriter …
: This conversation between Ross Douthat and Ben Sasse was quite moving.
: Currently reading: The Gospel of John by Craig S. Keener 📚
: “A crucial eccentricity of the Christian faith is the assertion that people are saved by grace. …
: I wrote about “Jesus’ New Gardening: Joining Jesus in Resurrection Gardening” here.
: ”‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has …
: Why had I not heard of Byung-Chul Han until now? Thanks to @ablerism for mentioning The Burnout …
: “The age of haste, its cinematographic succession of point-like presences, has no access to beauty …
: “Tracing the Journey” - a devotional poetry cycle for Holy Week
: One of my favorite passages today in the psalm reading for morning prayer: “Whom have I in heaven …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 28 March 2026 with links to an interview with Fleming Rutledge, …
: Completed a re-reading of The Brothers Karamazov Bicentennial Edition by Fyodor Dostoevsky 📚
: It was such a joy to be with the wonderfully hospitable and gracious folks at Upper House in …
: I am so excited to celebrate today’s release of my new book The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision …
: Tomorrow (3/24) is launch day for my book, “The Pastor as Gardener,” so apologize now for posting …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 21 March 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 21 March 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Currently reading: Action in waiting, by Karl Barth on Christoph Blumhardt 📚
: Writing a letter to a parishioner who is incarcerated puts a different perspective on my day.
: I was blown away by this review of The Pastor as Gardener by Byron Borger of Hearts and Minds Books. …
: It was such a joy to enter into meaningful conversation with Joel Lawrence and Zach Wagner about my …
: Just finished reading: Blessed Are the Others Jesus’ Way in a Violet World by Andrew DeCort. What a …
: Still reflecting on this verse I read in morning prayer today: “Blessed are those who have regard …
: Last summer, I attended a pastors gathering and met a bunch of wonderful people. One of those people …
: In the latest episode of “Field Notes for Pastors,” Dr. Vince Bacote highlights the crucial role of …
: It’s getting real! So excited to hold a copy of The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 14 March 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Today is a commemoration day for St. Gregory the Great, author of the renowned Pastoral Rule or …
: Friends, if you had to make a list of your top 5 movies of all time, what would they be? If you want …
: I’m in CT Pastors writing about prayer in the three seasons of the sermon: planning, delivering, and …
: “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it” (Luke 19:41). Why did Jesus weep over …
: I really enjoyed having a meaningful, thoughtful conversation with Josh Ritter, Canon for Formation …
: St Ephrem the Syrian on the tears of Jesus “His tears were like the rain, and Lazarus like a grain of wheat, and the tomb like the earth. He …
: What does it mean to listen for God? In the latest episode of “Field Notes for Pastors,” I have the …
: Ephrem the Syrian on Jesus' tears at Lazarus' tomb “His tears were like the rain, and Lazarus like a grain of wheat, and the tomb like the earth. He …
: Just finished reading: Behold the Beauty of the Lord by Henri J. M. Nouwen 📚
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 7 March 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: I am working on messages for a preaching series called “The Tears of Jesus,” and I have to honestly …
: “To see Christ is to see God and all of humanity. This mystery has evoked in me a burning desire to …
: Just finished reading: The Philokalia Vol 5 by G.E.H. Palmer. It feels like a milestone to complete …
: I wrote about Lent in terms of waiting through the lens of Noah and those with him on the ark in …
: Deep reflections from my friend Asher Imtiaz on attention. Listen to the entire episode here.
: In the latest episode of “Field Notes for Pastors,” I speak with Asher Imtiaz about how his journey …
: It seems fitting that today’s Saturday spiritual practice in the Eastbrook Church Lent devotional …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 28 February 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Working on upcoming sermons in our Lenten series “The Tears of Jesus” today. I appreciate your …
: Here is “Waiting for the Word” - a prayer-poem I wrote at a retreat with the Northumbria Community …
: In one month my first book will be yours to read. Pre-order it wherever and whenever you buy books!
: Last night, my wife and I finished reading aloud Telling Secrets by Frederick Buechner. I love this …
: Happy to have my article “Finding Our Way Back with Christ: Four pathways for preaching in Lent” …
: In the latest episode of “Field Notes for Pastors,” Daniel Grothe shares the importance of place in …
: These words from Jesus stop me in my tracks every time: “On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the …
: As we begin Lent, I’m looking forward to journeying into the tears of Jesus recorded in …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 21 February 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Wendell Berry on beginning with our own lives “The only real, practical, hope-giving way to remedy the fragmentation that is the disease of the …
: “When we consider Jesus as ‘the image of the invisible God’ (Col 1:15), it is worth paying attention …
: Just finished reading Train Dreams by Denis Johnson aloud with my wife, Kelly. Had to read it before …
: Are we nurturing our souls, or just surviving the demands of ministry? In the latest episode of …
: It was a huge privilege to join the UpWords Podcast with John Terrill of Upper House/SL Brown …
: In divided days, what is it that God asks of His people? Is it merely exorbitant worship or …
: Listen to the latest episode of the “Field Notes for Pastors” podcast with Steve Smith, founder of …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 7 February 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: I wrote a prayer-reflection on experiencing the healing presence of Christ in our lives called …
: Here is the latest episode of “Field Notes for Pastors” with Greg Marshall exploring “The Stories We …
: “I read so many times or hear on podcasts, ‘How do you avoid burnout?’ I don’t think that’s a …
: I wrote about “Hope Beyond Optimism: Living Christ’s Future into the Present.”
: In this week’s episode of “Field Notes for Pastors” Mandy Smith reminds us the journey from …
: I’m thrilled to host Dr. Vince Bacote on Monday night, Jan 26, at 7 PM at Eastbrook Church for a …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 24 January 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: “To be hurt is unavoidable in this world, and we have choices to make as to how we will handle it.” …
: I love that feeling when I read an article that I think is really interesting and then realize that …
: I wrote about how “Our Faith is Personal But Not Private” - a reflection on the public nature of our …
: “Churches can die without even knowing it. We oftentimes simulate life in the building through our …
: The latest episode of “Field Notes for Pastors” has my dear friend, Bishop Walter Harvey, in a …
: God, give us eyes to see: “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer”for 17 January 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: What do we need in this time, in this moment, in this life? At least this that Wendell Berry writes …
: “A God-Centered Vision for Pastoral Calling and Identity” with Winn Collier - the first episode of …
: Such powerful words: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” of 10 January 2026 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: I am thrilled to announce the launch of my new podcast, “Field Notes for Pastors,” which launches …
: Today is the one year anniversary of my father’s passing. I would appreciate prayer for our family, …
: Because someone asked me about this, here are my top reads of 2025, with a complete list of my …
: I was so glad to preach on “Faith-Shaped Pursuits and Priorities” this past Sunday. I enjoyed …
: “Looking Back, Stepping Forward: A spiritual practice for the turning of the year”
: I wrote about Advent hope in the life of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist: “Filled with the …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 13 December 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Currently reading: The Philokalia Vol 5 by G.E.H. Palmer, et al 📚
: Last night my wife and I watched “Wake Up, Dead Man,” the third installment of the “Knives Out” …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 6 December 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: These words move me: “He prays in his head to God. He wishes they weren’t beggars. He realizes that …
: Currently reading: Seeking God by Esther De Waal 📚
: “Keep Watch: The Call to Advent Attentiveness”
: Getting a little bit closer on this. Coming in mid-January…
: I don’t know if this is my third or fourth time, but I’m currently reading: The Sacred Journey by …
: As part of my multi-year project of reading The Philokalia, I finished reading: The Philokalia Vol 4 …
: I’m really enjoying working on a new podcast for early 2026 where I interview friends from various …
: Currently reading: The Magic Hours by John Bleasdale. I was delighted that our local county library …
: Just finished reading: Glittering Images by Susan Howatch 📚
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 15 November 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Vocational Holiness: Reading the Life of Jacques Maritain - my reflections on The Very Rich Hours of …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 8 November 2025 - weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Thrilled to have the artwork for my forthcoming book be the cover for the Spring 2026 catalog for …
: “What’s Worth Dying For: The Story of Polycarp” - an illustration I planned to include in my sermon …
: Strangest moment in awhile in my life as a preacher: getting stung by a large bee midway through my …
: I was reading the account of Stephen’s martyrdom and vision of Jesus, and was reminded of the …
: I love spending time with ministry leaders around the world. Such a joy to have a conversation with …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 25 October 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Makoto Fujimura: “Art cannot be seen fully until our minds, usually filled with fears and anxiety, …
: “Reading Scripture with Others’ Eyes: toward an international hermeneutical community” - some …
: “The Good and Faithful Servant” - a message from Dr. Sujith from this past weekend at Eastbrook …
: A meaningful exhortation from a little read epistle in Scripture: “Dear friend, do not imitate what …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 18 October 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: “To live in three dimensions” - a little prayer reflection on really living
: On this feast day of St Teresa of Avila, I am reminded of her poem “Christ Has No Body” and her …
: This past weekend at Eastbrook Church we had the privilege of hosting Bishop Francis Omondi from …
: I was so encouraged to see my friend, Asher Imtiaz, present at Doxology 2025 alongside of Marilynne …
: One of the most compelling encounters with God: “After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 4 October 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: I’m so excited to share that pre-orders for my first book, The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision …
: “The Inspiring and Challenging Generosity of John Wesley”
: Dear friends in ministry, can you help me with something? Please share some of your responses to …
: “Radical Generosity” - my sermon from yesterday at Eastbrook Church on Acts 4-5. Being captivated by …
: Currently reading: The Very Rich Hours of Jacques Maritain by Ralph McInerny
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 27 September 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: “Guess What? You’re Blessed” - Exploring the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 at my blog today.
: Invited our staff at Eastbrook Church to memorize the Beatitudes together this Fall. We need words …
: Last night I happened to read “Pray Without Ceasing” by Wendell Berry in Fidelity. It felt like a …
: Does anyone have any feedback on whether it is worth reading the entire 3-volume Gulag Archipelago …
: “A Prayer for Our Distressed Times” - something I shared in services yesterday at Eastbrook Church.
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 20 September 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: “Putting on Christ’s Character in Divided Days” - some reflections on Ephesians 4 that I find …
: Just finished reading Love’s Braided Dance by Norman Wirzba, which seems entirely appropriate for …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 13 September 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Because we need more beauty…
: And finally, after a multi-year hiatus where I paused reading about 2/3 of the way through the book, …
: While hiking yesterday a segment of the Ice Age Trail took me through an urban setting. I snapped …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 6 September 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: This past weekend in services at @EastbrookChurch we asked people to fill out a card that completed …
: When I draw near to the end of a sermon series, I usually share resources I utilized in my study and …
: Just finished reading: Being Consumed by William T. Cavanaugh 📚
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 30 August 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: It was so kind of Tom Wright to time the release of this book with a new walk through the book of …
: Today at our monthly church staff lunch, one of our pastors shared part of his story and asked us a …
: A friend recommended it so I am currently reading: On Being a Theologian of the Cross by Gerhard O. …
: “The Radical Simplicity and Generosity of Jesus and His People” - a brief reflection from Luke and …
: Just finished reading: The Children of Men by P. D. James 📚 I must admit that I have watched the …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 23 August 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Currently reading: First and Second Samuel by Eugene H. Peterson 📚
: “For every good derives its goodness from God, and in so far as it distances itself from Him—in its …
: Just finished reading: On the Orthodox Faith by Saint John of Damascus 📚
: “From Idealism to Faith-Filled Realism: Quotations from Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Eugene Peterson”
: I’m excited to share the cover for my forthcoming book, “The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision …
: This past weekend at Eastbrook Church, I preached on the difference between idealized faith and …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 16 August 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: One of my favorite books of all time, since first reading it as a college student.
: Eugene Peterson on David's cracked legacy in 2 Samuel 13-20 “Telling a story theologically (as this story is told) does not mean dressing it up in Sunday best. …
: “Broken and Broken” - my message from this past weekend at Eastbrook Church about Nathan’s …
: What a day! Woke up at 2 AM with flooding in my home basement. At 6 AM went to our church campus …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 9 August 2025 - some articles, a podcast, and a song at the …
: Working on messages on the life of David in our current series at Eastbrook Church, “The Pursuit of …
: Just finished reading: Modern Technology and the Human Future by Craig M. Gay 📚
: “When the Respected Fall” - a message from Kelly Erickson (my wife) on David and Bathsheba from 2 …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 2 August 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: “When Jesus Wept: Seeing God in the Tears of Jesus”
: “Invited to the Table” – my message on David and Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel 9 from this past weekend …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 26 July 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Listening to it today while working, I still believe Peter Gabriel’s “Passion” is one of the best …
: Finished reading: Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn’t by Gavin Ortlund. I was pleasantly …
: Today I remember my nephew, Lynus Wade Erickson, who passed away 4 years ago and would have been 26 …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 19 July 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Currently reading: Disability Studies and the Hebrew Bible: Figuring Mephibosheth in the David Story …
: Working on a message about Mephibosheth as part of a preaching series on the life of David. There is …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 12 July 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: I wrote a reflection on biblical revenge and recompense following a message on David sparing Saul’s …
: Here is my message, “Wait for It,” from this past weekend at Eastbrook Church. We’re walking through …
: After planting a serviceberry tree in honor of my father, who passed in January, I picked up and am …
: Just finished reading: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 📚
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 28 June 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Has anyone read the updated version of Exclusion and Embrace by Miroslav Volf to comment on whether …
: “Write Your Own Psalm: a spiritual formation exercise’ I developed with my wife, Kelly, who is a …
: Just finished slowly reading The Philokalia Vol 3 by G.E.H. Palmer, Kallistos Ware, et al. I am …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 21 June 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: “Why Juneteenth Matters for Christians”
: It is a great joy to be at one of my favorite places in Wisconsin, Fort Wilderness, where I have the …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 14 June 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: “A Prayer - after reflecting on the life of Moses”
: Working on some messages related to the Psalms of Ascent and pilgrimage for next week at a Camp …
: “Reading the Story of the Bible Three Ways” - a reflection on how we read biblical narratives after …
: Finishing up a series of messages for a weeklong retreat in northern Wisconsin next week on one of …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 7 June 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: I wrote a little reflection called “Crimes Against the Self.”
: Currently reading: The Great River: The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi by Boyce Upholt 📚
: I appreciate prayer support as I work on messages today for our series, “The Pursuit of God,” on the …
: “Gregory of Nyssa and the Pursuit of God” - a brief reflection on a great thinker and mystical …
: A highlight yesterday was being part of baptizing 22 people at Lake Michigan’s lakefront after …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 31 May 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Also, here is the bibliography I utilized for our most recent series at Eastbrook Church, “Seeing …
: As we mark Ascension Day today, here is my message from this past weekend at Eastbrook Church, …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 24 Mary 2025 - weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Currently reading: Dracula by Bram Stoker 📚
: The Unseen is Seen: a poetic reflection on the incarnation
: It is such a good feeling to send in my page proof edits to my editor for my forthcoming book. Such …
: My favorite wildflower of all time: the trillium.
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 17 May 2025 - weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Working on a message for an upcoming weekend at church on the ascension is a good pairing with …
: Here is the latest episode of the “Behind the Sermon” podcast with further reflections on the road …
: Currently reading: Ascension and Ecclesia by Douglas Farrow 📚
: “Seeing Jesus Here” – my message from this past weekend at Eastbrook Church on the Road to Emmaus in …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 3 May 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Here is the latest episode of the “Behind the Sermon” podcast from Eastbrook Church on messages from …
: This past weekend at Eastbrook, I preached the first of two messages on the Road to Emmaus story in …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 26 April 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Just finished reading: Passions of the Soul by Rowan Williams 📚
: Does anyone have a book recommendation outside the Bible on the ascension of Christ?
: I wrote about “4 Spiritual Practices for Eastertide”
: What are some of your most meaningful spiritual practices during Eastertide?
: Yesterday at Eastbrook Church I preached a message, “Seeing Jesus Resurrected,” for Easter and to …
: I wrote “A Prayer for Christlike Service.”
: Here is my latest “Behind the Sermon” podcast episode on Jesus the Jubilee from Leviticus 25, Isaiah …
: Currently reading: Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich 📚
: This past weekend at Eastbrook Church, I preached a message entitled “Jesus the Jubilee” from …
: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 12 April 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Working on a sermon on the jubilee in Leviticus 25 and I keep hearing this song by Eden Burning in …
: When I draw near to the end of a sermon series, I share resources I utilized in my study and …
: Continuing study for this weekend’s message from Leviticus 25 on the jubilee. Although I’ve read …
: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” - a reflection on Leviticus 19 and Luke 10
: It was such a gift to be at Laity Lodge for the first time ever last week for a pastor’s retreat. It …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 5 April 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Here’s the “Behind the Sermon” podcast episode related to my message, “Jesus the Holy Obedient One,” …
: As part of a preaching series on Leviticus this Lent, I’m doing some work to close out the series on …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 29 March 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Currently reading: Leviticus by Ephraim Radner 📚
: Here’s the “Behind the Sermon” podcast episode related to my message, “Jesus the Perfect High …
: Friends, talk to me about the up-sides and down-sides of Substack in comparison with a typical blog. …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 22 March 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of …
: Alongside the many other festivities on St. Patrick’s Day it seems only appropriate to also share …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 15 March 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Friends, I appreciate your prayer support today as I work on a couple upcoming messages for our …
: This week we started a new podcast bonus episode called “Behind the Sermon” at Eastbrook Church, …
: Reread The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. 📚 This is my first reading of it since high school …
: “Jesus, Holy God With Us” – my message from this past weekend at Eastbrook Church to begin our …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer: 8 March 2025” - weekly curated selection of news, stories, resources, …
: Here’s my bibliography for our recently completed sermon series “Authentic Faith: Growing with James …
: I’m really looking forward to this new preaching series for Lent, “Holy God, Wholly Given: Lent in …
: Journey to the Cross 2025: beginning our Lenten journey.
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 1 March 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Friends, I deeply appreciate your support as I work on messages today for the next couple of weeks …
: Yesterday, our preacher at Eastbrook Church, Jenny Ellefson, mentioned the Covenant Prayer of John …
: So great to talk on a video call with a group of ministers from around the country tonight about …
: Currently reading: Cosmic Liturgy by Hans Urs von Balthasar 📚
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 22 February 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: A Prayer of Mary McLeod Bethune.
: The Calling of God’s People: a word from Micah 6 - In recent days, I have been thinking quite a bit …
: So, after many failed attempts to make my way through it, I finally read through The Resurrection of …
: “Prayer: A Litany of Humility” - attributed to Rafael Cardinal Merry Del Val: “Jesus! Meek and …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 15 February 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: A photographer friend asked me to work with him in an upcoming project by articulating a theology of …
: Looking for recommendations of good fiction to read aloud. Any suggestions?
: Enjoying reading Richard Foster’s classic book, Streams of Living Water with our staff at Eastbrook …
: My wife, Kelly, and I just finished reading aloud This Is Happiness by Niall Williams. What a …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 8 February 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 1 February 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, …
: Always challenged by the statement from Archbishop William Temple: “The Church is the only society …
: “God Is One”: I love this clear and deep description of the Trinity by St. Maximos the Confessor/
: Here is the “The Weekend Wanderer” for 25 January 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, …
: Working on sermon planning for Easter and beyond today. For everyone, what is something you wish …
: Working on the Lenten devotional for Eastbrook Church. I am so excited about our journey in Lent as …
: “Any Man’s Death Could End the Story”: An Excerpt from Wendell Berry’s “Rising”
: The design of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Quadracci Pavilion by Santiago Calatrava continues to …
: “In Memoriam: Keith Erickson, my father (1944-2025)”: There are so many things I could say about my …
: Friends, I appreciate your prayers for my mother and our entire extended family after the death of …
: Divine Justice and the Vulnerable: insights from Nicholas Wolterstorff.
: I wrote about the joys of reading aloud.
: Celebrating my lovely bride’s birthday today. So thankful to mark another year together all the way …
: As part of my ongoing posts on my recent sabbatical, here is my Sabbatical Reading List with a few …
: Friends, I appreciate your prayer support as I work on my first sermon since returning from …
: My first post after returning from sabbatical was all about “What I did on my sabbatical,” but this …
: Today is my first day back at Eastbrook Church after a three month pastoral sabbatical. This week, …
: Just completed reading: Inheriting Paradise by Vigen Guroian 📚
: Just finished reading: The Idiot (Vintage Classics) by Fyodor Dostoevsky 📚 Not necessarily my …
: Enjoying the beauty of Door County, Wisconsin, as the colors change and leaves fall during the week.
: Another day at the writing desk, rewriting a chapter and having conversations with authors and their …
: Doing research for the next round of manuscript rewrites for my book project. Thankful for good …
: Just finished reading aloud, with my wife, Kelly, Glowrushes by Roberto Piumini. What a beautiful …
: Just finished the delightful The 13 Clocks by James Thurber 📚
: Currently reading: The Art of Being a Creature by Ragan Sutterfield 📚
: No filters on this photo of an amazing sunset last night.
: “As Jesus walked this earth, living and working among all kinds and classes of people, he gave us …
: Love this photo from a trip out west this past year. Makes me want to enter that craggy cave path …
: When I draw near to the end of a sermon series, I share resources I utilized in my study and …
: Looking forward to getting our staff into Richard Foster’s classic book, Streams of Living Water, …
: You Have Loved Us First - a poem by Søren Kierkegaard
: Found this while walking through a back alley in the Third Ward in Milwaukee this past weekend. Bob …
: Just finished reading: The Care of Souls by Harold L. Senkbeil 📚 What a wonderful book on pastoral …
: Caught the moon over Spider Lake before sunset up here at Fort Wilderness while on a walk last …
: So thankful to return to a favorite, beautiful place in northern Wisconsin at Fort Wilderness where …
: Currently reading: Hope Against Hope by Nadezhda Mandelstam 📚
: Just finished reading Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay 📚
: Working on a series of devotionals on community for ministry staff at a camp this summer, and …
: While on a hike recently, I came across this stunningly dense and channeled bark. I don’t know what …
: Spent the morning talking with an old friend over coffee. It’s a gift to enjoy conversation with …
: Does anyone have recommendations on musical renditions of Psalm 1 that you could point me toward? I …
: “Wholeness does not mean perfection: it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life.” - …
: Does anyone have recommendations on literature in the genre of fiction or poetry that addresses …
: Last Friday, Kelly and I went for a walk along the Lake Michigan coast at the Seven Bridges Trail in …
: Lesslie Newbigin on the church, the gospel, and politics “The church as a truly universal supranational society is the bearer of the vision that alone can …
: It was so great to talk through my Doctor of Ministry project with the staff of Eastbrook Church …
: Just finished reading The Jesus Prayer by Lev Gillet. If you are looking for a succinct introduction …
: What might the significance be of Mary mistaking Jesus for a gardener? That’s what I explored in my …
: Just finished reading: Another Name: Septology VI-VII by Jon Fosse which completes the parts of …
: I enjoyed reading portions of The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware to better familiarize myself with …
: I just finished reading: I Is Another by Jon Fosse 📚
: “Five Important Contemporary Books on Spiritual Formation and Discipleship” - If there are other …
: I just finished reading The Other Name by Jon Fosse. At times beautiful, at times shocking, at times …
: Currently reading: The Great Enigma: New Collected Poems by Tomas Transtromer 📚
: I read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley for the first time this past week. It was a quirky, …
: One of the highlights from last week when traveling with Kelly for a weeklong getaway in the Smoky …
: Last night I finished reading: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner 📚
: I just finished reading: Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri 📚 I really enjoyed this funny, …
: “Why the Psalms are Essential for Spiritual Growth” - some thoughts posted today on my blog
: I’m doing some work on “stages of faith” or developmental spirituality. What is your favorite image …
: Just completed reading This Sacred Life by Norman Wirzba 📚 I really enjoy Wirzba’s work on food, …
: “The Radiant Brilliance of God in Us” - St. Athanasius on Psalm 1 and the power of meditating on the …
: I appreciate your prayer support today as I work on sermons for our new Lenten sermon series at …
: So thankful today that I get to begin the Lenten journey, celebrate Valentine’s Day, and also …
: “Being unable to cure death, wretchedness and ignorance, men have decided, in order to be happy, not …
: One of the unintended consequences of my sermon this past weekend at Eastbrook from Ecclesiastes 12, …
: Such a wonderful thing to see the room full at our first ever “City Summit” at Eastbrook Church this …
: It was a great joy to hear Miroslav Volf yesterday at two great events hosted by Upper House in …
: Mary Oliver’s “The Journey” is the latest addition to the series “Poetry for Epiphany.”
: I have so enjoyed reading this treasure of a book on prayer: The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox …
: Spent time this morning with a family as they said goodbye to a dear husband, father, and friend …
: “The greatness of the great Christian saints lies in their readiness to be questioned, judged, …
: Is anyone familiar enough with the writings of Tomáš Halík to make a recommendation of a good place …
: Just finished reading: A Theology in Outline by Robert W. Jenson. What a thought-provoking and …
: “The primary reason for being the church is not to solve problems but to cultivate the life of …
: Here is “The baptism of Christ” by Malcolm Guite as part of the series “Poetry for Epiphany.”
: I appreciate your prayer support today as I work on a sermon for a memorial service on Saturday and …
: Here is R. S. Thomas’ poem “The Coming” as part of the series at my blog “Poetry for Epiphany.”
: I appreciate your prayer support as I work on a message from Ecclesiastes 3 for this weekend at …
: One of the simple things I’ve enjoyed adding into our staff rhythm at Eastbrook Church is a weekly …
: Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.: “I Have a Dream” and Letter from a Birmingham Jail
: I’m so glad to be back at the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination at Western …
: Currently reading: Sounding the Seasons by Malcolm Guite 📚 Using this wonderful book as a part of my …
: Just finished reading: Dune by Frank Herbert 📚
: On that same hike, my youngest son took this photo of me without my knowledge that ended up looking …
: I took this photo on a hike this past Saturday. I love the way the frost lingers in the shadows …
: So happy to share my latest article, “Preaching Like Jazz,” published by Preaching Today this week.
: At the recommendation of one of my daughters-in-law, I am finally reading: Dune by Frank Herbert. I …
: Here is Rowan Williams’ poem “Advent Calendar” as part of the “Poetry for Advent” series.
: For all pastors and others working on Christmas Eve and Christmas messages this week, may you know …
: Recently completed A Sunlit Absence by Martin Laird. This is a great follow-up to his earlier Into …
: When I conclude a sermon series, I usually share resources I utilized in my study and preparation …
: Madeleine L’Engle’s “Into the Darkest Hour” is today’s contribution to “Poetry for Advent”
: “Speed is in direct conflict with character formation.” I write about this and a few other things in …
: Random question: can anyone tell me if Jean-Pierre De Caussade’s Abandonment to Divine Providence is …
: “New leadership is needed for new times, but it will not come from finding more wiley ways to …
: First freeze and first thaw of the streams. A pic while trail running last week on the Ice Age Trail …
: Some reflections after Christ the King Sunday on Jesus, the kingdom of God, and rival kingdoms that …
: I love this 15th century icon of Jesus’ transfiguration traditionally associated with the work of …
: Still two of the most powerful verses to me: “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under …
: I’m working on a side project to assemble a pretty thorough bibliography on Psalm 1. I’m hoping to …
: Henri Nouwen in Life of the Beloved: “Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life …
: Henri Nouwen in Life of the Beloved “Self-rejection is greatest enemy of the spiritual life because …
: A photo from last week while on a hike on the Ice Age Trail near West Bend, Wisconsin. Thankful for …
: “Transfigured: a prayer reflection” - drawing upon Jesus’ transfiguration and the words of 2 Peter 2
: After being gone for two weeks in East Africa, it is a joy to return to the family and staff at …
: Currently reading: The Scandal of the Incarnation by Hans Urs Von Balthasar 📚
: Currently reading: The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald 📚
: Just finished reading: The Rublev Trinity by Gabriel Bunge 📚
: I appreciate your prayer support today as I work on messages for our series, “Growing in Faith: …
: It was so great to spend the day together on Tuesday as Eastbrook Church staff for our annual all …
: Thankful that my latest article with Preaching Today dropped today: “Spiritually Formed Preachers: …
: It was a poignant moment to have Dr. Jack Sara, President of Bethlehem Bible College, with us for …
: Currently reading: Second Nature by Michael Pollan 📚
: Does anyone have recommended resources on seasons in a congregation’s life? I’m not referring to the …
: One instance of autumn’s variegated beauty.
: “A Prayer of God’s Lavish Love Enfleshed”
: “One of the purposes for which God instituted prayer may have been to bear witness that the course …
: Beautiful hike yesterday on segments of the Ice Age Trail in eastern Wisconsin. This pic is from a …
: “Holy Spirit Hovers Electric” - a poem based on Luke 1:26-38
: Sunrise at Klode Park Wednesday morning. No filters or adjustments. Just an amazing, golden sunrise …
: “Saying ‘Yes’ to God in Our Discipleship” - a little reflection on the life of Philip the Evangelist …
: Yesterday afternoon’s hike through the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center was quiet and beautiful. We …
: We recently started a midday prayer gathering with our staff at Eastbrook Church every Wednesday and …
: Just finished reading: Soil and Sacrament by Fred Bahnson 📚
: I always love being able to celebrate baptism with those who have made a decision to follow Jesus at …
: When I conclude a sermon series, I usually share resources I utilized in my study and preparation …
: Last Friday we dropped of our youngest son, David, for his freshman year at college. We’re so …
: So thankful for Winn Collier sharing this 2011 NPR interview with Eugene Peterson with me and …
: “Unveiled with God: Prayer as a Pathway to Relational Encounter with God and Ourselves” - some …
: Visited someone in the hospital today who has endured a lot. They said to me: “Someone once told me, …
: Last night over the rooftops with no filter or adjustments. Amazing.
: Sometimes when my kids are in town, they enjoy taking cool and artistic pictures of one another. I …
: “Love is a Great Room with a Lot of Doors”: grief and love in Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
: I loved being with the staff of Eastbrook Academy at their annual staff retreat before the …
: What are the best books you know or recommend on the topic of humility? It could be any genre, …
: I’m so thankful for all those in our Food Pantry team at Eastbrook Church who grow fresh food for …
: Looking forward to beginning a new preaching series this weekend at Eastbrook Church on prayer …
: Looking forward to beginning a new preaching series this weekend at Eastbrook Church on prayer …
: I’m re-reading Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy after recently finishing his later Border Trilogy. …
: Looking out my office window at the rain I’m so thankful (1) for the rain, and (2) that our outdoor …
: I just finished reading Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry. 📚 While I have always enjoyed Berry’s …
: Just finished reading: Kind of blue by Ashley Kahn 📚
: So grateful for the chance to share with our summer interns and year-long ministry residents at …
: Sunset over the Mississippi River near my hometown from this past weekend.
: Talking with some colleagues yesterday about the drive to do more in ministry, I said one of the …
: The textures of the natural world are astounding.
: I am pleased to announce I have signed a book contract with Eerdmans Publishing for my forthcoming …
: Last Friday, Kelly and I hiked to a spot with a hidden grove of wild blackberries, foraging nearly 7 …
: I just finished rewatching Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life and, my goodness, I love this film. It is …
: In a disorienting time for pastoral ministry, Thomas Oden’s comments from the 1980s are still …
: Just finished a slow and long read through The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church by Vladimir …
: Just finished reading Being Disciples by Rowan Williams. I loved this book throughout but the last …
: Just finished re-reading The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy. Now on to Cities of the Plain to complete …
: What is some of the best advice you have received on dealing with conflict? I’m crowd-sourcing for …
: So sad to hear this news that Cormac McCarthy died. He was one of my favorite living authors.
: One thing that I am often reminded of as a Senior Pastor is that while I do, in a sense, “lead” our …
: Just finished reading: Gregory the Great by George E. Demacopoulos 📚
: So proud and happy to celebrate my son, Josh, as he turns 21. From his smart mind, his creativity …
: Remembering my trip to Iona a few weeks back, which included a visit to the Isle of Staffa. Staff is …
: So proud of our youngest son, David, who graduated this past weekend from Eastbrook Academy and will …
: I appreciate your prayer support as I work on messages today for the next two weekends at …
: I’m having fun this morning working on writing an upcoming article on bringing spiritual formation …
: Here’s the photo I shared in my message today at @EastbrookChurch from my last week’s …
: Currently reading: Lifting the Veil by Malcolm Guite 📚
: On the edge of taking flight
: Friends, I appreciate your prayer support as we have lost two members of our congregation in their …
: Currently reading: A Journey of Sea and Stone by Tracy Balzer 📚
: This is your Monday reminder that Easter is not a simply day but a season and, even more, a way of …
: Last week I revisited a place I hadn’t been to in a long time and rediscovered a beautiful prayer …
: Currently reading: Three Hours by Fleming Rutledge 📚
: For Palm Sunday: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we …
: Currently reading: Being Christian by Rowan Williams 📚
: I took this photo last night in Milwaukee while walking around with my family. I loved the …
: I’m so proud of my youngest son, David, who today delivered his capstone Senior Thesis presentation …
: For any pastors or church leaders, I have a research question for you. Do you or do any pastors or …
: Beautiful places from last week’s vacation: Deep Creek trail in the Smoky Mountains just outside of …
: “Food is the daily sacrament of unnecessary goodness, ordained for a continual remembrance that the …
: So thankful to be with family and friends in beautiful places.
: As I’m working on a message from Genesis, chapters 6-7, on the first part of the flood and Noah’s …
: Canopy of beauty lofted overhead. The unobservant are unaware.
: Currently reading: Frederick Douglass by David W. Blight 📚
: Working on messages for upcoming weekends at @EastbrookChurch from Genesis, chapters 5-7, bridging …
: O God, make us children of quietness, and heirs of peace. – St. Clement of Alexandria,
: A couple weeks ago, Kelly and I were in South Carolina. I still cannot get over this picture of the …
: Thomas Kelly on a life rooted in the deep Center of Christ “We have seen and known some people who seem to have found this deep Center of living, where the …
: Just finished reading A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly and still contemplating all I read! …
: As I prepare for this coming weekend’s message at @EastbrookChurch on Cain and Abel, I’m struck by …
: As we begin the journey of Lent, I want to share a devotional resource we wrote together at …
: “Being unable to cure death, wretchedness and ignorance, men have decided, in order to be happy, not …
: Living freely and lightly with Jesus I always love this rendition of Matthew 11:29-30 by Eugene Peterson in The Message: “Are you tired? …
: Currently re-reading: The Contemplative Pastor by Eugene H. Peterson 📚
: Working on a sermon today from Genesis 3:14-24 for this weekend at @EastbrookChurch to conclude our …
: I love this recent article from Paul Kingsnorth bringing togther Celtic Christianity, the desert …
: So thankful to celebrate 25 years of marriage today with my wonderful wife, Kelly.
: Just finished reading: Super-Infinite by Katherine Rundell 📚
: Just back from speaking at a weekend retreat with middle school and high school students. What a …
: Love sitting around a table with my wife, Kelly, and talking with other church leaders who are …
: “But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you …
: Lord, have mercy upon us in our nation. Show us the toward toward Your healing and mercy. Show us …
: What’s your favorite movie that addresses the human desire to have a second chance or a new …
: Currently reading: Early Christian Readings of Genesis One by Craig D. Allert 📚
: Currently reading: Sonorous Desert by Kim Haines-Eitzen 📚
: What’s the one book you are most excited to read in 2023 and why?
: The world is a stunning place. Even barrenness can be beautiful.
: Currently reading: Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy 📚
: Currently reading: The History of Theological Education by Justo L. González 📚
: This year I’m changing my approach to reading Scripture devotionally. Instead of long swaths and …
: So glad to be back at Western Theological Seminary @westernsem this week for another DMin cohort …
: This weekend at @EastbrookChurch we begin a sermon series from Genesis, chapters 1-11, that leads …
: In the next hour: practicing my sermon for Christmas Eve services (Saturday at 1, 2:30, 4, and 5:30 …
: A highlight from this past weekend was enjoying a performance of Handel’s Messiah with our family at …
: “Whatever else the Christian faith is, and whatever Christian life is all about, it finds its …
: Looks like a blizzard is on its way here in Wisconsin in the midst of travel and preparing for …
: Bono on "Surrender" “‘Surrender’ might be the most powerful word in the lexicon…I am persuaded by the thought that the …
: Currently reading: Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading Of The Bible by Ellen F. …
: Currently reading: Agrarian Spirit by Norman Wirzba 📚
: Took this photo while out on a hike near the Ice Age Trail. I love all the colors framing two …
: Meditating on this powerful verse today: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on …
: A photo from hiking at Scuppernong Springs on Friday. Beautiful cloudy skies canopy the land’s fine …
: A picture from last Friday’s hike with Kelly at Milwaukee’s Grant Park. After hiking the ridge trail …
: Currently reading: Surrender by Bono 📚
: Currently reading: How to Inhabit Time by James K. A. Smith 📚
: Currently reading: The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy 📚
: Beginning to work on some teaching about anxiety for a retreat I’m speaking at in 2023. Friends, …
: A photo from Friday’s hike near Butler Lake on the Ice Age Trail. I love this time of year.
: Currently reading: Evangelical Anxiety by Charles Marsh 📚
: Another striking forest photo from this past weekend while hiking the Ice Age Trail, just south of …
: Beautiful trees on the Ice Age Trail, just south of Loew Lake near Erin, Wisconsin, while on a hike …
: I am continually amazed by this verse, and I hope that never wears off: “His divine power has given …
: Currently reading: Leading with a Limp by Dan B. Allender 📚
: Dipping into an old favorite as I work on my message for this coming weekend from Hebrews 10:25 with …
: Currently reading: The Art of Patience by Sylvain Tesson 📚
: “We must pray who we actually are, not who we think we should be….The way of prayer is not to cover …
: Currently reading: This Sacred Life by Norman Wirzba 📚
: Currently re-reading: Answering God by Eugene H. Peterson 📚
: Currently reading: Run with the Horses by Eugene H. Peterson 📚
: Currently reading: The Pastor in a Secular Age (Ministry in a Secular Age Book #2) by Andrew Root 📚
: Currently reading: Earth and Altar by Eugene H. Peterson 📚
: A beautiful view of Spider Lake while at Fort Wilderness last week. So thankful for that meaningful …
: Just finished reading: The Gardener’s Son by Cormac McCarthy 📚
: Currently reading: This Hallelujah Banquet by Eugene H. Peterson 📚
: I love this picture from last year while traveling near a covered bridge.
: Currently reading: A Commentary on the Apostles’ Creed by Rufinus. 📚
: Currently reading: Dogmatics in Outline by Karl Barth 📚
: So thankful to celebrate my son, Josh, on his twentieth birthday. I’m so proud of him and thrilled …
: Currently reading: Dostoevsky by Rowan Williams 📚
: Something about this texture fascinates me.
: Just finished reading Savage Gods by Paul Kingsnorth 📚
: Okay, friends, what are your top recommendations for resources on Genesis 1-11. They could be …
: Doing some work on ministry and metaphor, specifically on how our conception of what it means to be …
: Currently reading: The Inner Voice of Love by Henri J. M. Nouwen 📚
: Friends, I’m exploring doing a sermon series on the Apostles Creed in the future. I’m looking for …
: Just finished reading: The Sunset Limited by Cormac McCarthy 📚
: Currently re-reading: Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places by Eugene H. Peterson 📚
: I just finished reading The Love That Is God by Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt 📚
: Just finished reading: The Chosen by Chaim Potok 📚
: Just finished reading Letters to a Young Pastor by Eric E. Peterson and Eugene H. Peterson 📚 - this …
: Currently reading: The Dwelling of the Light by Rowan Williams 📚
: So glad to see my article on Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and ministry see the light of day in …
: Just finished reading George Eliot’s Middlemarch by George Eliot 📚
: Just finished James Rebanks’ Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey, which struck me as beautiful, …
: The Fells reservation and reservoir in Medford and Winchester, MA.
: Point Beach State Forest from three weeks ago.
: What do we see or not see? What is above or below us? To what do we give our attention?
: Just finished reading: T Bone Burnett by Lloyd Sachs. 📚
: I love this beautifully haunting photo from a hike in the Maquoketa Caves State Park during last …
: This pic from the Ice Age Trail near Monches, Wisconsin, at dusk continues to captivate me.
: Enjoy “The Weekend Wanderer” for July 10 with Scot McKnight on the difference between platform and …
: Schiltz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from a couple weeks ago.
: The Middlesex Fells Reservation and reservoir in Medford and Winchester, MA.
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 12 June 2021 with an Algerian pastor fined and his church ordered …
: Here is a prayer resource for self-reflection during these divided times. I developed this as part …
: This past Sunday at Eastbrook Church, we paused our weekend series so I could share about being a …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 5 June 2021 with Andy Crouch on the K-shaped recovery, the …
: It was so great to enjoy a beautiful afternoon yesterday with my family in Lincoln Park in Chicago. …
: The pastor “will understand the people of God as a grouping of persons who God has called …
: Here is The Weekend Wanderer for May 8 2021 - remembering Marva Dawn, provacative suggestions from …
: Emily Dickinson’s “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” has always been a wonderfully alluring poem …
: “The pastor reads Ecclesiastes to get scrubbed clean from illusion and sentiment, from ideas that …
: I’m a bit of a book nerd, so every time I work through a preaching series I love to share the books …
: I love stanza IV of “East Coker” from T. S. Eliot’s Four Quartets, which is the latest installment …
: I just finished reading Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation by …
: I’m blogging through Eugene Peterson’s Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work. Here is the fourth …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 24 April 2021 with Esau McCaulley on talking to his kids about …
: I’m blogging my way through Eugene Peterson’s Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work over the next …
: Currently reading: A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There by Aldo Leopold 📚
: Here is the “The Weekend Wanderer” for 17 April 2021 with David Garrison on praying for the Muslim …
: I’m blogging my way through Eugene Peterson’s Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work over the next …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Christian clergy kidnapped in Nigeria, …
: Here is George Herbert’s poem “Easter Wings” in the first installment of a new blog series …
: I’m beginning a blog series on Eugene Peterson’s Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work over the next …
: Currently reading: Five smooth stones for pastoral work by Eugene H. Peterson 📚
: Here is Geoffrey Hill with his poem “Lachrimae Amantis” in the latest and final installment of …
: Here is E. Pauline Johnson, also known as Tekahionwake, with her poem “Brier (Good Friday)” in the …
: This past weekend I just finished reading the very interesting and thought-provoking book Harlan …
: Just finished reading: The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Egan, Dan 📚
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Leland Ryken on teaching literature and …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 13 March 2021 with Jay Kim on learning about embodied church, RIP …
: Here is Luci Shaw with “Judas / Peter” in the latest installment of #PoetryforLent
: Currently reading: The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary by …
: Here is Gerard Manley Hopkins with “I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark, Not Day” in the latest …
: Currently reading: The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture by Wendell Berry 📚
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 27 February 2021 with Alan Jacobs on Amazon taking Ryan T. …
: Here is Langston Hughes with “The Ballad of Mary’s Son” in the latest installment of #PoetryforLent
: As I began a preaching series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount this past weekend, I’ve been thinking …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 20 February 2021 with Korie Little Edwards on the failings and …
: The #PoetryforLent series for 2021 kicks off today with John Donne’s “Hymn to God, My God, in My …
: What spiritual practices are you taking up for #Lent this year? How do you hope these will help you …
: Pondering from Matthew 4: Jesus focuses on His disciples, but He lets the crowds listen in. He will …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 13 February 2021 with the growing church in Iran, a new …
: Just finished reading: Distant Neighbors: The Selected Letters of Wendell Berry & Gary Snyder by …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 6 February 2021 with the bold architecture of Chicago’s black …
: I am reflecting deeply on the meaning of the wilderness in Scripture. In the wilderness, we are …
: Currently reading: Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist and Other Essays by Kingsnorth, Paul …
: Just finished reading: White noise by Don DeLillo 📚
: Each day, we echo our baptism by surrendering ourselves to God in death to self and rising up in …
: This past weekend at @EastbrookChurch I made a case for the necessity of a baptismal spirituality …
: The strange beauty of nature. (Taken at Door Bluff Headlands Park, Gills Rock, Wisconsin, 10 days …
: I wrote about Jesus, Herod, and ways in which idolatry can grip our hearts here.
: Last week, Kelly and I escaped to Door County for a couple days. Here is the stunning view of Green …
: Currently reading: Art and Faith: A Theology of Making by Fujimura, Makoto 📚
: A plaque outside Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in a photo taken several years ago.
: It was such a joy to preach with my wife, Kelly, on the life of Mary this past weekend at …
: One of the great tensions of life as a pastor is not losing the wonder of seasons of celebration …
: Loving the latest album by Ólafur Arnalds, “Some Kind of Peace.” There are some gorgeous and moving …
: This past weekend I preached from John 17 and was struck by how profound it is that Jesus prayed for …
: As I continue to reflect on unity as we walk through a preaching series on that toipc at Eastrook …
: The beauty of enjoying 60-degree days here in Wisconsin during November is beyond words. It will end …
: Here is the latest “Weekend Wanderer” with John Piper’s surprising take on the 2020 election, …
: Working hard to finish an article on preaching and the Christian year. In the midst of so many …
: Currently reading: The Index of Self-Destructive Acts by Christopher Beha 📚
: I took this photo about a month ago while hiking the Ice Age Trail. A few moments after I snapped …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with an exhortation to reading aloud, reviews …
: Today’s blog post is an extended bibliography related to faith and politics that I developed for a …
: Here is the latest “Weekend Wanderer” with the Fetzer Insitute’s study on American spirituality, …
: We had the amazing opportunity to host Dr. Vince Bacote this past week at @EastbrookChurch with a …
: I invited my 15-year-old son to watch the Presidential Debate with me last night as a sort of …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with reflections on the Breonna Taylor verdict, …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with a throwback from J I Packer on the Bible …
: I appreciate your prayer support as I work on two upcoming messages for @EastbrookChurch as part of …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with an excerpt from @ayjay’s latest book, …
: Every time I check social media I wonder whether I should have checked it. I wish there was a …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Chadwick Boseman’s faith, Barna says 1 in …
: Hello, friends, what is your favorite resource (e.g., book, online message, video, article) on the …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for this weekend with some news on Kenosha, Wisconsin, a review of …
: It was a breath of fresh air this morning to share breakfast with a friend and discuss spiritually …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Tim Keller on theories of justice, Tom …
: What Love Is This?: a prayer reflection on Psalm 145 – sometimes I need to pray my way around …
: For our church’s summer-long journey through the Epistle to the Hebrews I wrote prayers reflecting …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with responses to the Beirut explosion, …
: As I see Moses at the burning bush, I wonder whether interruptions are God’s activity? Could …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with George Yancey’s model for racial healing, …
: I’ve been thinking about our blind spots and whether it’s possible to see them and change them. Here …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Ed Stetzer on the NY Times assessment of …
: “How Does Spiritual Formation Happen?: themes of Dallas Willard’s Renovation of the Heart’.
: “Do we empty the Messiah of His true power by grasping for other types of power—power of influence, …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Mark Regnerus on the church and marriage, …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Vince Bacote @vbacote on another run at …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Esau McCaulley on the Bible & black anger, NT …
: The sufferings we endure are not meaningless within the hands of God. As the Apostle Paul outlines …
: Here is latest “Weekend Wanderer” with “How to Cope with That ‘Always-On’ Feeling,” should churches …
: In Memoriam: Ravi Zacharias - some thoughts on Ravi and an invitation to share your anecdotes and …
: It was a pleasure to join with Lawrence Aker III and Matt Woodley of Preaching Today to talk about …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with the death of missionary pilot Joyce Lin, …
: Dallas Willard’s advice, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life,” is much-needed advice …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with the UK Blessing, perspectives on the …
: Why Does God Seem Distant?: The Holy Pursuit of the Hidden God - This reminds us that God’s …
: Lamenting Our Losses - three vital parts of lament during the pandemic
: Does anyone have recommendations on the best way to learn Latin on one’s own? It’s something I have …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with two articles on bodily life and why online …
: “Joining Jesus in Prayer: Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Praying the Psalms” - some wisdom from a good guide …
: In Psalm 131 the psalmist reminds us that when we enter into the presence of God through prayer, we …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Chris Palusky on at-risk children and …
: Going back in time to enjoy this song by Michael J. Pritzl and The Violet Burning: “Forty Weight”. …
: “Spiritual Tourists or Pilgrims?: Eugene Peterson from A Long Obedience in the Same Direction“ - …
: In the midst of this strange time, I’m thoroughly enjoying the pair of bluebirds that are nesting in …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Tom Howard’s “When Christ Conquered …
: I wrote a series of prayers to accompany a preaching series on the minor prophets and, after someone …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Travis Ryan Pickell on Holy Saturday, Tish …
: “The Wonderful Reversal - something I wrote as part of the @EastbrookChurch daily Lenten devotional.
: “10 Reasons Holy Week Can Become More Powerful during the Time of the Virus”
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with NT Wright on Christianity’s response to …
: As we prepare for Palm Sunday, here is Enrique Simonet’s painting, “Flevit super illam (He wept over …
: James Weldon Johnson, “The Crucifixion,” as part of the Poetry for Lent series.
: “Learning to Respond to COVID-19 from Early Christians: Eusebius from his Ecclesiastical History.
: Here is the latest “Weekend Wanderer” with NT Wright on COVID-19, the NAE & CT’s joint statement on …
: Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem “Peace”, though intensely personal, is still so meaningful to me during …
: “Taking Shelter in God” Isaiah does not say, “Because you trust in God you will never face distress …
: Here is the latest “Weekend Wanderer” with updates on COVID-19 from Harvard Medical School, C. S. …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with public health links for COVID-19, a …
: “The Weekend Wanderer” for this week: Jamie Aten’s advice on preparing churches for COVID-19, a …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with shocking news of Jean Vanier’s sexual …
: Beginning a weekly mini-series on my blog today “Poetry for Lent.” Today’s poem is George Herbert’s …
: A solemn, realistic, and freeing reminder: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with “Polyamory: Pastors’ Next Sexual …
: On this cold but sunny day in Milwaukee, I needed to remember that sunshine also brings warmth, soft …
: Okay, pastors and ministry leaders, along with guidance from Scripture are there any recommendations …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with NT Wright on loving knowledge, Nathan …
: One of the most difficult aspects of preaching is making a well-known text come alive again for …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Christian Wiman on cancer & suffering, …
: This past weekend I preached a message on the prophet Amos that has been about 20 years in the …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Vince Bacote @vbacote on facing truth on …
: Lac ‘Assal, one of the most striking places I have ever visited.
: Today in the life of a pastor: pastoral counseling, working on messages from Amos and Obadiah (I’ve …
: One of my favorite photos of nature from a trip to the Horn of Africa a few weeks ago.
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with a testimony amidst Christian persecution in …
: Working my way through the minor prophets for a preaching series right now, and I am so amazed by …
: One of my great joys as a pastor is preaching the word of God. One of the greatest joys of my life …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Christians in Iran, in-depth answers to …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Esau McCaulley on Herod’s slaughter of the …
: “Sprouting Glory”: a Christmas reflection
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Christianity Today calling for Trump’s …
: A prayer for today: “My Altar to You.”
: One of the greateset challenges for me is practicing God’s presence when I feel busy or stressed. I …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer with Tish Harrison Warren on Advent, church …
: “An Angel at the Altar” - I wrote this after reflecting on Luke 1:5-25 as part of my Advent …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Fleming Rutledge on Advent, Christian …
: I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what it means to wait upon the Lord. It’s not an easy or …
: Some thoughts on “Singing Our Faith in Advent”: “I realize we have been singing our faith into our …
: Visiting a family from church at the hospital this morning, and then running into another family …
: One of my secrets to preaching well in our “Love-Sex-Body” series at @EastbrookChurch is that my …
: Here is the latest “Weekend Wanderer” with “A Tale of Two Churches,” Thomas Kidd on evangelicalism, …
: Over the past several weeks, as part of a preaching series on love, sexuality and the body, I …
: “The main task of ethics is to enable us to ask better questions about the issues of our day. An …
: So @ayjay not sure if you’re still on here, but I was fascinated by your blog post about your …
: Here is this weekend’s edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Tish Harrison Warren on charity & …
: “Virtue is nothing other than perfect love of God” - St Augustine from On the Morals of the Catholic …
: The preaching that is most difficult tends to be the most rewarding, both in terms of the preachers’ …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with an evangelical call for restitution-based …
: I wrote this article at @PreachingToday for those trying to prepare sermons creatively for Advent: …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Kanye & Jesus, Mark Galli using Jerry …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with the ongoing decline of Christianity in US, …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed winning Nobel Peace …
: This morning our staff at @EastbrookChurch heard church leaders and international workers from …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with tensions at Syria/Turkey border, …
: Annie Dillard on Christian worship, mixing TNT on Sunday morning, and the need for crash helmets.
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with conversation around Brandt Jean’s …
: “Returning to Square One: Eugene Peterson on the Essence of Christian Spirituality” - Last Friday I …
: Textured beauty: an autumn sky hangs over a willow trunk fallen in water near the Wehr Nature Center …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Alan Jacobs on “evangelical,” Esau …
: Tim Keller’s categories of idolatry in Counterfeit Gods is a very helpful listing of the ways in …
: Our second child just submitted all his college applications last night. It’s hard to believe we are …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Hart on Hell, Catholicism made Onsi Kamel a …
: Here are some reflections on pastoral ministry in conversation with John Chrysostom’s brief but …
: “Solitude Brings Coherence”: When we are attentive to our inner voices and more intimate thoughts, …
: John Chrysostom on Preaching to please God and not for human praise.
: When I first encountered this “Litany of Humility” attributed to Rafael Cardinal Merry Del Val it …
: Here’s this weekend’s edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with the passing of Jarrid Wilson, STEM’s …
: A lot of what I do is help people learn how to listen: to God, to Scripture, to others, to …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Father Chito from the Philippines, Philip …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with a majority-world perspective on world …
: After re-reading Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, I am even more moved by it than before. The combination …
: There’s nothing quite like the oncoming sound of kids excitedly running out from the school building …
: I feel like this tree could be a parable, like “If your roots are strong, you can hang in there,” …
: "You forget what you want to remember and you remember what you want to forget" He pulled the boy closer. Just remember that the things you put into your head are there forever, he …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” with reflections by Michael Frost, Russell Moore, & David French on …
: Spending time studying the prayers of St Paul in his epistles is such an interesting experience, …
: Question: does love require agreement or affirmation of another’s position?
: I re-worked some reflections from a few years ago on Abraham, birds, God, and spiritual conflict …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with the first woman General Secretary of the AG, Brian …
: After a week away, “The Weekend Wanderer” is back with Joshua Harris’ loss of faith, reflections on …
: The stunning Ouimet Canyon in Ontario.
: Every time I read Eugene Peterson, I reminded of how wise his insights are about pastoral ministry …
: “The well-established and much-verified fact is that following Jesus is not a consumer activity. …
: Mist over Lake Superior in Grand Portage, Minnesota. Another photo from last week’s Lake Superior …
: Back from vacation with too many beautiful photos from around Lake Superior to share.
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Milliner’s field guide to Richard Rohr, …
: The more I study Scripture, the more I am amazed at the depths found within it. There are depths …
: “Only that fellowship which faces disillusionment, with all its unhappy and ugly aspects, begins to …
: Eugene Peterson in Practice Resurrection: “Christian maturity is not a matter of doing more for God; …
: The type of growth Christ has in mind for His Church Thinking about these words today as I work on a message from Ephesians 4. >“The Church is in Christ …
: Another photo from last week at Fort Wilderness in northern Wisconsin. There’s just something about …
: Evening sky before sunset and a rainfall on a quick trip to the Dells to visit our oldest son, …
: “We are God’s: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God’s: let his wisdom and will …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is now available with Jeremy Begbie’s recommendations …
: Finishing up a beautiful week here in the north woods of Wisconsin at Fort Wilderness, teaching …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Lincoln’s Bible, Hymns in Hong Kong, US …
: As a former “worship leader” and now Senior Pastor, I think a lot about worship in Christ’s church. …
: This summer I’m reading Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. The other day, I came across …
: Emanuel, Charleston, Forgiveness, and the Future - some reflections after viewing the documentary, …
: If you missed the most recent edition of “The Weekend Wanderer,” which I failed to share here, you …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with controversy on Platt praying for President …
: Becoming De-occupied with Ourselves: Some stunning insights from Baron Friedrich von Hügel on the …
: I appreciate any prayer support you want to offer today as I work on two messages from Ephesians for …
: Reflecting a little bit today about how God’s good words about us—His blessings—take on even more …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Wilken on religious freedom, Tim Keller …
: The range of blessing as a pastor: Friday, I celebrate with a couple as officiant for their wedding; …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with pressure on Christians in Iraq and India, …
: These words from Josef Pieper captured my attention as I prepared messages on distraction & …
: I appreciate your prayer support as I work on messages for this weekend at @EastbrookChurch plus …
: When I arrived at work this morning at @EastbrookChurch, this full rainbow was over the office. I …
: Listening at Morning: a prayer poem.
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with Olaudah Equiano, university students …
: Retelling Scripture: Pär Lagerkvist’s Barabbas - a brief reflection on a book recommended by Eugene …
: Can anyone point me toward resources (e.g., books, articles, manuals) related to the topic of church …
: So great to sit with a group of pastors here in Milwaukee seeking to stand together across racial …
: Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for May 11-12 with Asia Bibi, Jemar Tisby, 18 paintings Christians …
: These humble words from St. Augustine as he comments on Paul’s teaching in 2 Thessalonians 2:5-7 …
: Great to meet and hear from @austinkleon last night at @boswellbooks in Milwaukee. Here he is …
: From a hike two weeks ago on the Ice Age Trail near Lapham Peak in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit.
: Neil Postman on form and the shaping of culture from Amusing Ourselves to Death.
: A little late, but you can access this past weekend’s edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” here with …
: I always enjoy participating with students at Eastbrook Academy for all school worship. Today I …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with Ajith Fernando on the Sri Lanka bombings, …
: If you haven’t read it yet, I would encourage you to take a look at “Six Biblical Responses to Sri …
: I appreciate your prayer support as I work on messages for the next couple of weekends at …
: Happy to share my messages from Good Friday, “The Painful Gift of Forgiveness,” and Resurrection …
: As Spring arrives here in Wisconsin, I begin looking forward to speaking at Fort Wilderness this …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with Wesley Hill on Jesus’ resurrection, Notre …
: I’m praying for a lot of ministry friends during one of our most active and joyful times of the year …
: Here is the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Iraqi Christians facing deportation, Ajith …
: I appreciate the way that Scot McKnight outlines the unfortunate way folks idealize Christian …
: Spending some time with this great book as I work on a sermon series for this summer at …
: “Peace: two poems” — one by George Herbert and the other by Gerard Manley Hopkins, each with a …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer”: remembering Evelyne Reisacher, David Brooks on …
: James Tissot, Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
: In Memoriam: Evelyne Reisacher.
: I just finished re-reading That Hideous Strength, the third novel of C S Lewis’ Space Trilogy. One …
: The hunger to know that is built into each of us is vital to living well and finding meaning and …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” with Hans Boersma on Scripture memorization in …
: I love this series of paintings by Ilya Rapin themed around the temptation of Jesus.
: What is your favorite book to recommend on the nature of pastoral ministry? It could be theological, …
: “Take heed to yourselves, lest you be void of that saving grace of God which you offer to others…and …
: Re-reading C S Lewis’ That Hideous Strength this last month has reminded me of what an interesting …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” includes a 1993 article on story by Robert Jenson, Mark …
: Here’s the latest edition of The Weekend Wanderer with a look at Iranian converts in England, …
: Pleased to write this article for Christianity Today’s Pastors imprint: “The Disturbing Temptations …
: “Accordingly, two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self…the heavenly …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer,” with what people are giving up for #Lent, James …
: “Understanding Ash Wednesday” - a short video pulled together by our team at @EastbrookChurch
: “Beginning with Hunger” - a reflection on hunger and desire as we begin the journey of #Lent
: Looking forward to beginning our journey through #Lent as @EastbrookChurch with the “Hungry for God” …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with Jemar Tisby on race-relations in the …
: It’s hard not to enjoy this Tiny Desk Concert by Ólafur Arnalds at NPR Music.
: I’m working on a preaching series related to the good neighbor, so a few questions for you. What do …
: I came across these words by W. H. Auden in his foreword to Dag Hammarskjöld’s Markings and thought …
: I love this prayer of St. Anselm, which is part of my Sunday blogging of historic prayers in the …
: “The point of everything in corporate worship is not personal experience, but building up the church …
: Attention “is the essential and necessary means of our growth in knowledge and of any progress that …
: “In the same books I also read of the Word, God, that his birth came not from human stock, not from …
: I’ve enjoyed preaching my way through various titles of Christ recently at @EastbrookChurch, …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with Jemar Tisby, Roger Olson on evangelical …
: I am so thankful to celebrate 21 years of marriage to my lovely wife, Kelly, today.
: I can never quite get over C. S. Lewis’ quote: “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” But I love …
: Snow day in Milwaukee means I am getting the chance to work my way through the first draft of the …
: The latest edition of the “Weekend Wanderer” is here with Muslim conversions to Christ under ISIS, …
: I appreciate your prayer support as I work on messages for @EastbrookChurch related to Jesus as the …
: I appreciate your prayer support as I work on messages for @EastbrookChurch related to Jesus as the …
: Unexpectedly, my message on Jesus as the Son of Man this past weekend at @EastbrookChurch was one of …
: Today’s edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with Asia Bibi’s court case, church bombings in …
: I’m so thankful for some real progress on various projects this morning. Just when I’m celebrating …
: Snow day in Milwaukee means that in-between roof raking and snow shoveling outside I can focus on …
: The latest edition of The Weekend Wanderer is here, featuring Jemar Tisby on MLK, Peter Choi on …
: The latest edition of The Weekend Wanderer is here with articles on religious persecution in China & …
: Writing an essay on the eucharistic theology of Thomas Cranmer for a class I’m taking for fun next …
: “Distracted and Divided from the Good Life” - the first in a series of thoughts related to …
: Here’s the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer”. Enjoy news and essays on faith and culture with …
: There was that time I tried to use reverse psychology with college students on prayer and various …
: Going through a box of old sermon files that date back to my first days in vocational ministry. I’m …
: This came right out of my journal from earlier in this past year (with slight revisions): “Notes on …
: I resonated with this excerpt from Dallas Willard’s Renovation of the Heart on the gaps and …
: We had a wonderful time at the @EastbrookChurch Student Ministry Winter Retreat talking about the …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here. Enjoy articles on diverse theologians to read, …
: Pulling together concepts from Nicholas Carr, Alan Jacobs, Erling Kagge, Christopher Blum, Joshua …
: I appreciate your prayer support as I finalize four messages on living with undivided hearts in a …
: I’m working on a series of four messages for the @EastbrookChurch student ministry retreat this …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with John Wesley on preaching, Iranian …
: My final blog post on Eugene Peterson’s outstanding book on pastoral ministry, Working the Angles: …
: An Advent Prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo.
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with Fleming Rutledge, #ChurchToo, pressure on …
: When studying yesterday I came across these powerful reflections by John Oswalt on Isaiah 9 related …
: I appreciate your prayer support today as I continue working on messages for this coming weekend of …
: In light of preaching from Daniel’s apocalyptic visions during Advent, I couldn’t agree more with …
: Wendell Berry on the wisdom of simplicity from The Hidden Wound.
: The December 15, 2019, edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with gospel music and worship wars, …
: Eugene Peterson on spiritual direction in _Working the Angles_: Spiritual direction is the task of helping a person take seriously what is treated dismissively by …
: There are a lot of albums that I return to often, but one of the constants is Max Richter’s The Blue …
: I’m continuing my reflections on Eugene Peterson’s Working the Angles at my blog with attention to …
: Josef Pieper: > The prerequisite for justice is truth. Whoever rejects the truth, whether natural or …
: I spent a lot of time this past week thinking about imagination and its relation to faith. It …
: St. Bernard of Clairvaux: “if you prepare your interior ear … and keep your inner senses open, this …
: For your weekend enjoyment, the latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with Fleming …
: I appreciate your prayer support as I work on message preparation for the next three weekends at …
: “The Pastor as Guide on the Spiritual Quest” - the eighth part of my reflections on Eugene …
: Ivan Illich on his footnotes as landmarks No one should be misled into taking my footnotes as either proof of, or invitation to, scholarship. …
: I loved preaching Daniel 8 at the beginning of Advent with my message “Faith Looking Forward”. I …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here, featuring Jo Saxton on narcissism, a …
: “Finding Peace: Isaiah” - the first week’s Sunday reading for our Advent devotional at @Eastbrook …
: Choosing Hell: W. H. Auden on Charles Williams’ view of Hell.
: I appreciate your prayer support today as I map out messages for the four weekends of Advent that …
: “Recovering Contemplative Exegesis” - the seventh part of my reflections on Eugene Peterson’s …
: On this #GivingTuesday join me in supporting the work of two outstanding efforts for the kingdom of …
: Thomas Oden on the authority of a true shepherd Thomas Oden on the authority of a true shepherd in Pastoral Theology: Essentials for Ministry, p. …
: For me, the only upside of being sick is the chance to read more than normal, including delving into …
: The latest edition of The Weekend Wanderer is here.
: “In reading, teaching, and preaching the Scriptures it happens: we cease to listen to the …
: Some reflections after spending time in the book of Daniel: “Faith and the Baptized Imagination: …
: I’m more convinced than ever that we need trusted, ancient guides on what it means to be a pastor in …
: This weekend’s version of The Weekend Wanderer is available here with features on Ebola in Congo, …
: Spending time studying the book of Daniel is so much fun but also leaves my head swimming in ancient …
: Josef Pieper: 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... Josef Pieper The strain of self-mastery, which for us countrymen of Kant is inseparable from any …
: Conflict moment: what to do when our amazing Milwaukee County library system does not have a book …
: 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 …
: I enjoyed reading Kathleen Norris’ thoughts on apocalyptic literature in Amazing Grace the other day …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with faith and politics, unrest in Egypt, The …
: My favorite – and only – piano student.
: Judah Smith’s endeavor seems like the next logical move resulting from a radically dis-incarnate, …
: Pastors, if you haven’t seen this already, here is a great resource for your church from the Calvin …
: Recovering Prayer - my fourth reflection on Eugene Peterson’s Working the Angles: “prayer is the …
: Trying to finish my portion of the writing work on an Advent devotional for @EastbrookChurch today. …
: On Sundays at my blog, I’m beginning a new series of posts on meaningful prayers I’ve encountered …
: The latest edition of The Weekend Wanderer is here, including Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, …
: All Saints’ Day: A Celebration - a brief reflection on the importance of All Saints’ Day, regardless …
: “A good sermon is one side of a passionate conversation. It has to be heard in that way.” - Rev. …
: “The Holy Trigonometry of Pastoral Calling” - the third of my reflections on Eugene Peterson’s book, …
: Learning to Pay Attention - the second of my reflections on Eugene Peterson’s book, Working the …
: The latest edition of “The Weekend Wanderer” is here with a look at Eugene Peterson, the 81% of …
: “Abandoning Our Pastoral Calling” - my first in a series of reflections on Eugene Peterson’s Working …