David Swanson

Wed, 27 May 2026 08:53:09 -0500

Wearing my A Rocha USA hat while watering the New Community Outreach gardens. Love that I get to support these two incredible organizations!

Tue, 26 May 2026 10:29:48 -0500

Paddled my new folding kayak about an hour south from our neighborhood beach. Now enjoying some day-off reading with the Chicago skyline as a backdrop.

Sat, 23 May 2026 09:36:57 -0500

We Are Not Helpless: “As we reclaim our God-desired agency over the small decisions, gentle words, and generous actions which make up a human life, we find that we are not as helpless before the systems of violence as we were led to believe.”

Wed, 20 May 2026 08:54:59 -0500

Church folks: Is there any way your pastor could use AI for sermon preparation that would be OK with you?

Mon, 18 May 2026 09:29:13 -0500

I recently had the privilege of preaching for a seminary commencement. I spoke about the temptation of relevancy pastors face. “A Christianity that has appropriated the tools of consumer capitalism expects measurable and impressive results from its ministers.”

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:36:24 -0500

After the stillness of winter, it’s always such a lift to hear the birdsong return to Jackson Park. Thanks to the ruby-crowned kinglets, white-throated sparrows, yellow-rumped warblers, and all the others who joined me for my walk this morning.

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:15:59 -0500

The Crowd Has Departed: To those who value efficiency and power, the work we’ve given ourselves to will typically appear foolish and weak.

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:12:52 -0500

Such a gift to spend the weekend in beautiful Seattle, but I’m glad to be home for a walk through Jackson Park to welcome back migrators like these yellow-rumped and palm warblers.

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:12:36 -0500

Against Inevitability: “But if inevitabilism is an invention than it isn’t inevitable. Altman’s version of utopia isn’t a foregone conclusion, even if his investors want us to think it is.”

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:29:13 -0500

Jesus doesn’t need our weapons: “The problem with a vision of a violent Jesus who justifies our warmongering is not that it makes our Savior too powerful; it makes him weak, embarrassingly weak.”

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:33:23 -0500

A beautiful morning in Jackson Park made even better by the cherry blossoms and the first palm warbler of the season.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:31:28 -0500

A good morning with the birds of Jackson Park, including kinglets, flickers, and this handsome blue-winged teal.

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:07:01 -0500

A Plea to Pastors: “The vows you and I took when we said yes to this strange vocation include fidelity to Jesus Christ alone. Yet the people in your congregation are being tempted to place their hopes in a leader obsessed with his own greatness.”

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:04:03 -0500

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 07:44:17 -0500

A plea to pastors: “But some things are worth fighting about and faithfulness to Jesus and loyalty to his kingdom are some of those things.”

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:47:09 -0500

Ending the day with a “know your rights” webinar. I’m grateful for Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and other local orgs who train Chicago residents to be good neighbors.

Find trainings here.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:06:55 -0500

In today’s newsletter, with help from the “kneel-ins” at southern churches in the 1960s, I’m thinking about that anti-ICE church protest in St. Paul.

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:21:18 -0500

I’ve been searching for words since waking up to news of my home country’s lethal attack against the country of my childhood. I think I found them.

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:35:59 -0500

Can the illegal and immoral actions of our hypocritical president be an answer to persistent, fervent prayer? Countless Venezuelan Christians are prone to think so and the rest of us might consider taking their hard-earned perspective into account as we offer our own opinions.

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:54:36 -0500

Guys, did you know it snows in Michigan?

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:55:35 -0500

Five inches last night. A bunch more today. 55 mph winds. I guess we live in Michigan now.

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:31:39 -0500

What book did you read this year that you’re most likely to recommend to the rest of us? Here’s what I read in 2025.

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 17:44:27 -0500

On the second day of Christmas we braved a bit of freezing rain to enjoy the winter beauty of northern Michigan.

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 06:48:44 -0500

Merry Christmas. Last night I preached from Isaiah 9:2-7, “Salvation in the Shadows.”

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:35:31 -0500

“Can you fulfill your responsibilities without violating Jesus’ teachings? If not, could it be that your loyalty to Jesus calls you to walk away?”

Thank you to Christians for Social Action for publishing my appeal to ICE agents who share my faith.