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The Welcoming Congregation
I’ve written another book review for the Englewood Review of Books. “You’re going to preach an entire sermon series about hospitality?” This was a friend’s confused response as I was sharing about my preaching plans. She conceded that hospitality might merit some discussion but couldn’t imagine that the topic warranted more than one sermon. Her…
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“…humanity as a privilege.”
People are frightened of themselves. It’s like Freud saying that the best thing is to have no sensation at all, as if we’re supposed to live painlessly and unconsciously in the world. I have a much different view. The ancients are right: the dear old human experience is a singular, difficult, shadowed, brilliant experience that…
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Team Spirit by Errol Morris
Have you seen this 8 minute film (commercial) for ESPN by the well-known filmmaker Errol Morris? It’s creatively done and reminds me of some his documentaries I’ve enjoyed: The Thin Blue Line, The Fog of War, and Standard Operating Procedure. Here’s what I wonder about this: What did ESPN think I’d feel while watching? I imagine…
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On the Nightstand
Our family is anticipating some quiet vacation time in the coming days. As we’ve done the past few years, we’ll be staying at a friend’s cottage. It’s not quite the middle of nowhere but there’s nothing noisy within a 30 minute drive. Just how we like it. Walks, playing in the lake, cooking, sleeping and…
David W. Swanson
Pastor and Author
David W. Swanson 