When you talk about Brueggeman’s work finding you at exactly the right time, I couldn’t help but think about how I feel similarly about you and other authors like Rachel Held Evans and Shane Claiborne. Your work hit me at a time when my deconstruction could have gone in many different directions, and I feel incredibly grateful it went in the one I find myself now. It’s also such a beautiful reminder to me that there have always been faithful Christian witnesses critiquing empire and dreaming of a just, restored world. It’s helpful for me to remember that wrestling with God and with the injustices of our world isn’t new, and I feel really grateful to be in the lineage of this sacred practice.
What a wonderful tribute. Brueggemann has been a powerful influence on my Quaker faith and practice, too, particularly in understanding how each of us can bear prophetic witness to the immanence of the Beloved Community… while doing our bit to help manifest it here on earth.
There are so many good prayer books in the mix right now, Val. But for my own stuff, there is a chapter specifically focused on prayer in "Miracles and Other Reasonable Things" that I think may be helpful. But I also have A Rhythm of Prayer which has a lot of prayers from other folks that you can also borrow and my latest Field Notes for the Wilderness has some options/ideas in there, too. If you want to expand a bit, perhaps Kate Bowler's The Lives We Actually Have or Kayla Craig's Every Season Sacred or John O'Donohue's To Bless the Space Between Us?
I’m a little behind on seeing this Substack, so I hope & pray you see my comment!!!! 🙏
Your voice is what brought me to his healing work! I’m not a reader… I can’t emphasize that enough! However, I found Out of Sorts “just at that moment” like you were talking about him! AND DON’T MISS THIS PART… I’ve been listening to a podcast called BEMA Discipleship, hosted by Impact Ministries leader, Marty Solomon, all year long. He finishes his 5 session program with quotes from YOUR books, Out of Sorts & Jesus Feminist!! Sarah!!!! I had to pull my truck over for several minutes and have an intense mind-blowing moment about how GREAT the Hound of Heaven is to pursue us!!! God brought me and you and Marty all together in that moment… across time, communication mediums, imagination, and all other external sources for the benefit of all of us working toward this dream of God’s Kingdom come and God’s will be done! It was so beautiful, I had to share it with you!!
If you would rather read the transcript instead of listen to the podcast, it’s included in the show notes!! If you listen some other way than Apple Podcasts, it’s Session 5, episode 204!! Thank YOU, Walter, Brueggeman, Marty Solomon, and all those who are pushing through this noisy world to reach people like me who know there’s more to Jesus, the Bible, and our faith than what we’re finding in our comfortable spaces & places!!
I remember VERY early on in my evolving/deconstruction reading The Prophetic Imagination because you were quoting him and I was sad it wasn't about a charismatic experience of future-telling and supernatural divination gifts haha That stage didn't last long, but it is funny in retrospect. I was so baby, so wrong about so many things. hahaha
What a loss for our world but aren't we glad we had him for as long as we did? Brilliant man but so down to earth and he made complicated seem simple in a semi complicated way. He was funny and a loving human being.
I am sorry for all the troubles in Canada right now and keeping you all in my prayers. If you'd like a good chuckle but a very warm remembrance of Dr B. Go listen to Jason Micheli's post Crank Calling Walter Brueggemann. It's the best. I tried to send it to you and couldn't for reasons beyond my scope. This will add a little sparkle to your day.
When you talk about Brueggeman’s work finding you at exactly the right time, I couldn’t help but think about how I feel similarly about you and other authors like Rachel Held Evans and Shane Claiborne. Your work hit me at a time when my deconstruction could have gone in many different directions, and I feel incredibly grateful it went in the one I find myself now. It’s also such a beautiful reminder to me that there have always been faithful Christian witnesses critiquing empire and dreaming of a just, restored world. It’s helpful for me to remember that wrestling with God and with the injustices of our world isn’t new, and I feel really grateful to be in the lineage of this sacred practice.
Oh, that made me a bit teary, Courtney, thank you so much for the gift of your words here.
My sentiments exactly!!
What a wonderful tribute. Brueggemann has been a powerful influence on my Quaker faith and practice, too, particularly in understanding how each of us can bear prophetic witness to the immanence of the Beloved Community… while doing our bit to help manifest it here on earth.
great tribute... he life was a gift to so many of us
Sarah, which of your books would most help be understand, in my post evangelical life, about prayer.
There are so many good prayer books in the mix right now, Val. But for my own stuff, there is a chapter specifically focused on prayer in "Miracles and Other Reasonable Things" that I think may be helpful. But I also have A Rhythm of Prayer which has a lot of prayers from other folks that you can also borrow and my latest Field Notes for the Wilderness has some options/ideas in there, too. If you want to expand a bit, perhaps Kate Bowler's The Lives We Actually Have or Kayla Craig's Every Season Sacred or John O'Donohue's To Bless the Space Between Us?
thank you. :) Val
Oh btw, which book is "Miracles and Other Reasonable Things" in?
That's the book title
Thank, Jenna. :) Val
Thank you, Sarah, for taking the time and making the deep thinking effort to put your thoughts into words and sharing them.
I’m a little behind on seeing this Substack, so I hope & pray you see my comment!!!! 🙏
Your voice is what brought me to his healing work! I’m not a reader… I can’t emphasize that enough! However, I found Out of Sorts “just at that moment” like you were talking about him! AND DON’T MISS THIS PART… I’ve been listening to a podcast called BEMA Discipleship, hosted by Impact Ministries leader, Marty Solomon, all year long. He finishes his 5 session program with quotes from YOUR books, Out of Sorts & Jesus Feminist!! Sarah!!!! I had to pull my truck over for several minutes and have an intense mind-blowing moment about how GREAT the Hound of Heaven is to pursue us!!! God brought me and you and Marty all together in that moment… across time, communication mediums, imagination, and all other external sources for the benefit of all of us working toward this dream of God’s Kingdom come and God’s will be done! It was so beautiful, I had to share it with you!!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bema-podcast/id1148115183?i=1000506960052
If you would rather read the transcript instead of listen to the podcast, it’s included in the show notes!! If you listen some other way than Apple Podcasts, it’s Session 5, episode 204!! Thank YOU, Walter, Brueggeman, Marty Solomon, and all those who are pushing through this noisy world to reach people like me who know there’s more to Jesus, the Bible, and our faith than what we’re finding in our comfortable spaces & places!!
Sarah I was wondering which of Walter Bs books you would recommend to start reading?
I remember VERY early on in my evolving/deconstruction reading The Prophetic Imagination because you were quoting him and I was sad it wasn't about a charismatic experience of future-telling and supernatural divination gifts haha That stage didn't last long, but it is funny in retrospect. I was so baby, so wrong about so many things. hahaha
What a loss for our world but aren't we glad we had him for as long as we did? Brilliant man but so down to earth and he made complicated seem simple in a semi complicated way. He was funny and a loving human being.
I am sorry for all the troubles in Canada right now and keeping you all in my prayers. If you'd like a good chuckle but a very warm remembrance of Dr B. Go listen to Jason Micheli's post Crank Calling Walter Brueggemann. It's the best. I tried to send it to you and couldn't for reasons beyond my scope. This will add a little sparkle to your day.