Augustine’s advice to people preaching: “It is by no means pointless to repeat things that are known, both to instruct those who don’t know them and encourage those who do.” Augustine’s advice to people listening to sermons: “Look not at the preacher but at the one preached.”

A personal note: I am leaving CT.

"As fate would have it, Cage had already read the Infancy Gospel of Thomas years ago" Yeah I guess that makes sense.

Chariots of Fire but make it Mormons and pickleball

Appreciated this—an important book about the mounting legal attacks on free press.

Supreme Court decides to pass on opportunity to revisit the constitutional protection of same-sex marriage.

Thomas Cranmer’s advice on preaching, around the time he became Archbishop of Canterbury: Definitely keep it under an hour and a half.

A breathtaking organizational collapse (Probably some lessons here.)

Doesn’t look good

Back when religious conflict came with limericks

Love a good opening line.

When newspapers couldn't just link the documents

The power of positive Peale

Hard times www.11alive.com/article/news...

Whatever the best theological explanation of the mechanics of salvation—how it works that Christ’s death works—a good account should start with the fact it works *for you.* It should include the prepositional power of the crucifixion.

Books the algorithm thinks I might find interesting, correctly

The shape of spirituality is, partly, shaped by the politics of navigating around power. From my weekend email on media, church history, and prayer: danielsilliman.substack.com/i/176817474/...

A thesis: The news can be written and delivered in a way that prompts virtue. ... like how some urban design encourages safer driving, some makes it feel crazy to walk. sillimandaniel.substack.com/i/176221135/...

Squirrel sitting on top of the target on my neighbor’s shooting range, eating nuts and chittering, like tempting fate’s not a thing.

From the archives, the evangelical "Mount Rushmore," per 1970s @christianitytoday.com

The “church of the future” turns 50. religionnews.com/2025/10/08/w...

Great read: @danielsilliman.bsky.social goes from gas station memories to the nearby casino to examine how gambling has become a form of alternative spirituality for Americans. "To me, at least, all this gambling sounds like wild, misdirected prayer." www.christianitytoday.com/2025/09/gamb...

a remarkably thoughtful piece by my colleague @danielsilliman.bsky.social on the spirituality of (yes, really, folks!) gambling www.christianitytoday.com/2025/09/gamb...

Classic cover from the @christianitytoday.com archives

I first discovered John Huffman, the one minister around Nixon who told the president he should publicly confess to Watergate, in the digital archives of old newspapers. Only later did I realize he was connected to @christianitytoday.com, was still alive, and I would one day write his obit.

Today in the life of my Appalachian church, we remembered the hurricane that hit a year ago, prayed for a family whose daughter has died, for a family whose daughter is having emergency brain surgery, and for a minister who has returned home to a country at war. Also, Scripture, singing, a potluck.

Popular Trinitarian beliefs not adding up, per the latest Lifeway study.

A sixth conference is looking at leaving the Mennonite Church USA, the progressive anabaptist denomination that formed in 2002

Florida considers a bill to allow church volunteers to serve as armed security. www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...

From America's next poet laureate:

“As far as you yourself are concerned, love.” — Augustine, sermon on 1 John

Lecrae's prayer for the church:

Bible reading this morning like "tag yourself"

How Charlie Kirk became Charlie Kirk: www.christianitytoday.com/2025/09/died...

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average hourly wage for American clergy is $30.64. For comparison, marriage and family therapists earn $33.04 and roofers earn $26.85.

Fascinating look at the woman named as one of three recipients of Paul's letter to Philemon margmowczko.com/apphia/

Good mail day

In the @christianitytoday.com daily newsletter, a thought on how cool it is to see people moved by awe

Got to write about the second person to ever complete the Appalachian Trail for @christianitytoday.com, Gene Espy. “I got what I intended out of the Appalachian Trail,” he once said. “I got to see God’s work in nature.” www.christianitytoday.com/2025/09/died...

Gen Z churchgoers average 23 services per year. Millennials: 22 Gen X: 19 Boomers: 17 Elders: 17

Spiffy new logo for the podcast

“Two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.”

Eighty percent of payday loans are rolled over because the borrower can’t repay them. Four out of five borrowers get at least 11 payday loans in a row.

The school shooting in Minnesota was the 30th mass shooting in the US in the month of August, according to the records kept by the Gun Violence Archive.

Some millennial Christians are starting to inherit wealth. According to this study, they plan to steward the money differently than their parents.

The new head of the World Evangelical Alliance to @christianitytoday.com:

The new head of the World Evangelical Alliance, talking to @christianitytoday.com:

I wrote for @christianitytoday.bsky.social about the good, the better, and the Instagrammable of short-term missions trips: www.christianitytoday.com/2025/08/hone...

My latest obit for @christianitytoday.com comes with songs www.christianitytoday.com/2025/08/chuc...