David W. Swanson's (Occasional) Newsletter
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Mustard Seeds and Yeast
February 3, 2024
At the conclusion of a recent ministry conference, I bumped into one of the organizers and was able to share how refreshing the experience had been. I'm not...
The Connection Between Racial and Environmental Injustice
January 20, 2024
The new book has a title.
How much to say in 2024? How loudly to say it?
January 6, 2024
Photo credit: Elena. How helpful is it to publicly oppose the MAGA-Trump movement in 2024? I've been wondering about this and am struggling to come up with...
God's Plans Are Better Than Ours
December 24, 2023
A Christmas Eve sermon.
Peacemaking Before the Parousia
December 16, 2023
I preached from 2 Peter 3:8-15 last Sunday. The passage ends, "Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at...
Maturity Matters
December 9, 2023
Yesterday I had two calls with people I've not met in person. The first was with a congregation out east, a mostly white church that has taken decisive steps...
Thankful
November 22, 2023
Leaf litter on a recent walk through a drizzly Jackson Park. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are a few things I'm thankful for. Beautiful architecture....
The Privilege of Uncomplicated Grief
November 18, 2023
The immature instinct to make complicated situations simple.
But do we love them?
October 28, 2023
Changing minds is more difficult than signaling self-righteousness.
Some Recommendations
August 12, 2023
Racial justice in Oregon, literary farm life in Illinois, fly fishing in Washington, and sabbath-keeping... everywhere.
Du Bois on (Mostly) Ignoring the Racists
July 31, 2023
Limiting the time spent defending the truth from those committed to ignorance.
Learning Where We Are
June 24, 2023
On learning to know where we are so that we might love God and neighbor.
The Solution to Simplistic Solutions
May 20, 2023
“The farther you are from the problem, the simpler the solution seems.”
Ecosystems of Jubilee
May 6, 2023
A manifesto for the church to join Jesus's Jubilee campaign and bring God's economy to the neighborhood.
Feeling Forsaken
April 8, 2023
Christ's cry of rejection becomes our anthem of resurrection.
Becoming People Who Won't Look Away
April 1, 2023
Rejecting apathy and cynicism in the face of predictable tragedies
Naming Places and Placing Names
March 4, 2023
Choosing to remember the people behind the names.
On Not Walking Away
February 4, 2023
Earlier this week I read a critique of critical race theory (CRT) which provoked a couple of observations which I posted to social media. Today I read a...
My Year With Books
December 31, 2022
The authors who helped me attend affectionately in 2022.
The State of the Multiethnic Church Movement
November 19, 2022
Glimpses of the future from Dallas and Indianapolis
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