For the past 18 months, I’ve been writing short pieces for our church email newsletter. These were simply thoughts and questions on the texts and themes we were talking about when we gather on Sundays. It did not occur to me to post these on my blog, which has sat dormant for some time now. Obviously, I am not a “blogger.” Today, I compiled those brief pieces of writing into documents that cover 2022 and 2023. If any of these titles sound interesting to you, click on them, and you’ll see how the themes progress through the weeks and months we were covering these things. [ I didn’t include the writings of my associates, as those are theirs.] You can find them in our church website archive at fremontpres.org.

One thing that struck me as I read through these: I mention several of my “mentors-at-a-distance,” who have now passed away. I grieve the passing of Earl Palmer, long-time pastor of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle (the first preacher I ever heard in a church), and Tim Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Church in New York. Keller’s work on the book of Jonah especially shaped our series here. I am incredibly indebted to them and their shaping of my thinking and preaching.

I plan on resuming weekly notes in August of this year. Our upcoming themes will be on how Jesus taught and commissioned his followers, how the prophet Isaiah reveals God’s heart “With and For the City,” and then, how Jesus speaks about what a generous life looks like.

I hope you enjoy reading!

Grace and peace, David