David W. Swanson

Pastor and Author

Bits and Pieces

  • I’m beginning the process of two author interviews via email.  Mark De Ymaz (and coauthor Harry Li) has written a very practical book about multi-ethnic churches called Ethnic Blends.  I’ll be going back and forth with Mark about his experiences and thoughts as the pastor of a multi-ethnic church and sending the final interview of to my friends at Out of Ur.  Steve Sherwood is a friend and professor at George Fox University who has written a very creative book about- to oversimplify- the ways he understand the atoning work of Jesus.  I’ll be posting our interview about Embraced: Prodigals at the Cross here and expect this blog’s readers to appreciate Steve’s perspective.
  • Speaking of books, I’m finally getting close to finishing the magnificent work by Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy.  This is one I’ve been meaning to get to for some time and feel that I may as well start reading it from the beginning once I’ve finished.  Next up is A Failure of Nerve by Edwin H Friedman (highly recommended by a church planting mentor) and Practice Resurrection, the last of Eugene Peterson’s absolutely fantastic five-part spiritual theology series.  I mean to leave this one until summer, but doubt I’ll make it.
  • This morning, after our fourth church service in Bronzeville, we had 24 people sign up to help plant flowers and pick up trash at the school where we meet.  I’m a bit fuzzy on how to evaluate the health of a new church, but this seems like a great sign!
  • I’ve been thinking a lot about Arizona’s recently passed immigration law, the May Day marches advocating immigration reform, and this politician’s campaign promise to give drivers license exams only in English.  Each of these connects with my recent thoughts and questions about the “white anxiety crisis” and I hope to find some time to write a bit more about these ongoing responses to our country’s demographic shifts.

All for now.  May your Monday treat you well.

David Swanson

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4 responses to “Bits and Pieces”

  1. BC Avatar
    BC

    Re. Drivers license exams: you can take it in English here in the Arabic speaking Muslim kingdom of Jordan. It saddens me to think that there are those in the land of the free who would not wish to extend the same kind of courtesy to immigrants there. I’m also afraid that people in the States don’t realize how arrogant this kind of political posturing sounds to the rest of the world. Admittedly you may not be able to get the Drivers license exam here in anything other than Arabic and English (maybe Korean), and admittedly Stateside I’m sure there is somewhat of a concern about how many various languages an exam would have to be available in. But that’s what we get for being a nation of immigrants. I do think if you move to a new country you should learn the language of that country. But I don’t think you need to complete a drivers license exam in the new language. Heck – b/c I have a valid US license I didn’t even need to take an exam here in Jordan. I wonder if that is a two-way street?

    Reply
    1. David Avatar
      David

      I’d not thought about how this type of story plays overseas. For those who consider ours to be a country that shows hospitality to immigrants and visitors, stories like this must seem particularly odd.

      Reply
  2. Larry Eisner Avatar
    Larry Eisner

    I don’t have much to say other than the idea that I really really wanted to retire to Arizona when I got older, and if I were to retire today, AZ would be scratched off the potential list. I’m quite sad about this. I’m stinking mad, sad, and all sorts of things.

    I understand the need to protect US interests, jobs-wise or to ensure security in light of terrorism or what have you. But this is not the solution. This is more akin to Nazi Germany, where one must carry papers everywhere they go if their name is not the government-accepted type of name, or if their look doesn’t match the local government’s idea of “American”. Ugh. It’s just infuriating.

    Sorry, nothing really constructive there. Just venting a week’s worth of anger on the topic. Thanks for giving me the space. 🙂

    Reply
    1. David Avatar
      David

      Any time Larry.

      Reply

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