Hey Friends, Whether I’m ready or not, and whether I want to or not, I turn 60 on Monday! Pam is celebrating with me that day by taking a trip to Ithaca, NY, to see Cornell University and the surrounding area. Although many of you don’t have Spotify, I wanted to share a playlist called “Greg Austen-Sixty Songs that Saved … Read More
What’s a Carpenter | Theogian?
I’m taking a few courses online through Cornell University right now, and one of my assignments this week gave me the opportunity to write an “elevator pitch” for this site. It was a fun exercise, and I thought I’d share it: Although I haven’t been able to write a lot recently due to various challenges– some of which I’d love … Read More
What I Learned from Marilynne Robinson
Hi All, I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and have many fun things to look forward to over the next month. One of my favorite traditions is spending a day in Princeton between Christmas and New Year’s with my boys. One of our annual stops is Labyrinth Books on Nassau Street. Almost two years ago, while browsing about, I … Read More
Does the Church Have One Foundation or Two?
I’ve read a lot of church hurt and deconstruction/deconversion books over the years. Among my favorites is one by Brian Zahnd appropriately titled When Everything is on Fire. Although I don’t agree with everything in it (that’s true of most books), here are just two reasons I appreciate his book: Here’s a sample to give you a feel from a … Read More
Reassessing My Evangelical Identity
I’ve been in a season of having both the challenge of reassessing my vocational direction and identity, and the gift of reimagining both. And so, I offer this piece as, first, a way to connect with new subscribers and update those who still find value in this blog and are journeying with me (thank you!); and, second, as a way … Read More
Hell Revisited
In 2019, I wrote a post titled “Understanding Jesus’ Teaching on Hell.” In it, I admitted that “I’ve wrestled for years with the Bible’s teaching on hell and its implications,” and this is certainly still true. At that time, I also shared some quotes that had helped me the most, and now—six years later—I’d like to do the same. The last … Read More
Is Your View of the Finished Work of Christ Too Small?
“Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady.” -lyric from U2’s song “Stand Up Comedy” Over the last year, as I discontinued church planting efforts and stepped back into full-time work as a finish carpenter and contractor, I’ve had Bono’s words above echo in my mind almost daily. Yes, we sometimes participate with God as his hands … Read More
On Civility, Cancel Culture, and Abortion
I could have titled this piece “Notable Quotes and Controversies of the Last Few Weeks,” but although it would have been accurate, it wouldn’t have been very descriptive about what the quotes or controversies were about. That’s why I decided to go with the above. Additionally, as regular readers will know, I’ve often written about these topics, and they frequently … Read More
Hope for Cynics: Looking Outside Ourselves, 3 of 3
As you and I continue to work on ourselves (Part 2), Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 reminds us that even bunglers and “bungler” realities can’t diminish the beauty of wisdom, the status of the poor in God’s eyes, or the value of quiet, unsung, heroic acts of service (Part 1). This is a comfort, no doubt. But even heroic acts of service … Read More
Hope for Cynics, 2 of 3: Grappling with the Bungler
13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. 14 There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered … Read More