Matt Erickson
Today is the one year anniversary of my father’s passing. I would appreciate prayer for our family, especially my mother, as we remember, grieve, and also rejoice in the resurrection through Christ. Thank you, everyone!
Because someone asked me about this, here are my top reads of 2025, with a complete list of my reading for those who are curious.
I was so glad to preach on “Faith-Shaped Pursuits and Priorities” this past Sunday. I enjoyed rethinking Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:33 about seeking first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness as making our top priority what God cares about and God’s intention for goodness in the world.
I wrote about Advent hope in the life of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist: “Filled with the Wild Winds of Hope”
Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 13 December 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, resources, and media on the intersection of faith and culture for you to explore through your weekend.
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” movies and we loved it. Friends, there is a lot of gospel in this movie, IMHO.
Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 6 December 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, resources, and media on the intersection of faith and culture for you to explore through your weekend.
These words move me:
“He prays in his head to God. He wishes they weren’t beggars. He realizes that to God, we are all beggars, praying for blessings we could never repay or gain in trade. We beg and we hope for mercy.”
Daniel Nayeri in The Teacher of Nomad Land
Currently reading: Seeking God by Esther De Waal 📚
I don’t know if this is my third or fourth time, but I’m currently reading: The Sacred Journey by Frederick Buechner 📚
As part of my multi-year project of reading The Philokalia, I finished reading: The Philokalia Vol 4 by G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, and Kallistos Ware 📚
I’m really enjoying working on a new podcast for early 2026 where I interview friends from various backgrounds speaking into the life and work of pastors and others in ministry. This ties in with work related to my forthcoming book, The Pastor as Gardener. More to come soon!
Currently reading: The Magic Hours by John Bleasdale. I was delighted that our local county library system had it in circulation! 📚
Just finished reading: Glittering Images by Susan Howatch 📚
Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 15 November 2025 - a weekly curated selection of news, stories, resources, and media on the intersection of faith and culture for you to explore through your weekend.
Vocational Holiness: Reading the Life of Jacques Maritain - my reflections on The Very Rich Hours of Jacques Maritain: A Spiritual Life by Ralph McInerny
Here is “The Weekend Wanderer” for 8 November 2025 - weekly curated selection of news, stories, resources, and media on the intersection of faith and culture for you to explore through your weekend.
Thrilled to have the artwork for my forthcoming book be the cover for the Spring 2026 catalog for Eerdmans Books. Of course, this is where I have the joy of saying: “And you can preorder the book here.”
“What’s Worth Dying For: The Story of Polycarp” - an illustration I planned to include in my sermon this past week but had to cut out for the sake of time.
