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It was cold and snowy in Jackson Park this morning, but this red-tailed hawk, hermit thrush, and downy woodpecker made my Tuesday walk more than worth it.
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Got to walk into a (very chilly) new year with my favorite person this afternoon.
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Happy New Year! Because the days to come will challenge those committed to justice and reconciliation, I’d love for you to join Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson, Latasha Morrison, and me as we root ourselves in Christ’s hope for the work ahead.
Register here.
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Took the boys to see this gorgeous animated film this afternoon. It will probably have a limited release, but it’s definitely worth seeing in a theater if you can.
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Driving home through Indiana under overcast skies and scattered clouds of sandhill cranes.
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In today’s newsletter I write about some of the books that steadied me during an unexpected year.
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In tomorrow’s newsletter I’m reflecting on the books that were important to me this year, so I’m curious, what did you read in 2024 that you’d recommend to the rest of us?
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“Because of His visitation, we may no longer desire God as if He were lacking: our redemption is no longer a question of pursuit but of surrender to Him who is always and everywhere present. Therefore at every moment we pray… we may depart from our anxiety into His peace.” -Auden
Merry Christmas!
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Elizabeth Bruenig in The Atlantic on mercy: >American society tends to favor swift and harsh punishments; it recoils from mercy. Our problem is not and has never been too much mercy, but rather too little. Clemency is an opportunity to correct for this militant and vengeful tendency.
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Some experimental baking this morning: pumpkin sourdough with cranberries and pecans.
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Equipment for Dying, an essay about flying small airplanes around Venezuelan jungles and ordination to the pastorate.
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Another perfect day to spend a few hours with our feathered neighbors in Jackson Park.
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Maggie and I saw Over the Rhine this week and it got me thinking about Advent.
“We exchange promised land propaganda for wilderness wisdom because we expect to find God here, in the wilds of the world as it actually is.”
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It’s been my tradition for many years to make it to a Taize service during Advent. Last night’s service felt especially timely.
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Below freezing and scattered snow, perfect weather for the search for the perfect tree.
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Our church’s nonprofit releases a new hoodie each year. This one is extra-special; it features our new logo which points to our roots in restorative practices. All proceeds benefit our work with young people in our community.
Let me know if you pick one up!
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Question for lead/senior pastors: Do you have an official job description?
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“Who in public life could quote without fear or embarrassment any saying of Jesus on the subject of peace? Martin Luther King Jr. could do so, and did so. But who now?”
Wendell Berry, “Against Killing Children”
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Christian, if Advent hasn’t been a part of your annual rhythm, might I suggest that this dumpster fire of a year is the perfect time to begin?
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One of the unique roles pastors play is orienting our churches to redemptive history. “History to us is the record of human experience,” writes Abraham Heschel, “to the prophet it is a record of God’s experience.”
It’s a vital responsibility, especially during tumultuous times.
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In today’s newsletters I share 10 convictions after the election.
“Love can seem flimsy and cheap on a week like this. It isn’t. In fact, despite what the despair-dealers and purveyors of utilitarian accommodation would have us believe, love is everything.”
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Veggie chili, cornbread, and apple crisp with homemade caramel sauce… very happy with my choices on this rainy afternoon.
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On December 4, 1962, having endured racist intimidation including being fired and forced from her home, Fannie Lou Hamer walked into the Sunflower County courthouse in Mississippi and demanded her right to vote.
For the saints who fought – and fight still – for justice and equality, we give thanks.
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Last night was a blast! I got to share about Plundered in South Bend alongside some wonderful friends: Adam Gustine, Andrew Morrell, and Michaele LaVigne. It’s so encouraging to hear local communities engage with the challenges and opportunities I wrestle with in the book.
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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
(Psalm 46:1-3)
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