2022: a year in two parts
My year could be divided roughly in two parts. Between January and early August, I had at least ten essays published in various venues, plus a book, a few podcasts, and reviews in academics journals. During that time I gave a number of presentations and also wrote a peer-reviewed journal article that was published later in the fall. But since the start of the fall semester, it’s been pretty quiet.
The reasons why are many. Two are professional; the others are related to family, health, and travel. First, I submitted my application for tenure and promotion in late September, so I spent August and September on that. Second, I completed the revisions and endnotes for a new book manuscript, which I submitted in early December. On the personal side, our house got hit with Covid a third time in ten months in late summer, followed by some other health issues with our kids. Thankfully, all of that is behind us now. But it meant that every waking second not sleeping, teaching, revising the manuscript, or applying for T&P was spent caring for the family. Oh, and did I mention we’re in the middle of a move? I’m told those are stressful, too.
It was a good year, though. I found out last week that I have officially received both tenure and promotion, which is a relief. The book is in the hands of the publisher. I’ve recorded two podcasts due out in the next couple months. I’m working on not one but two books due in the next thirty months. And I’ve got a bunch of smaller pieces in process of being published or set to be written this winter and spring. More on that in a coming post.
For now, here’s a list of publications, presentations, and interviews from my year.
Podcasts
The Liberating Arts (Liberal Learning for Life, 25 April 2022). A short interview on the liberal arts and education I recorded way back in May 2021.
The Doctrine of Scripture (Mere Fidelity, 26 April 2022). My first bona fide theology podcast, with the lovely guys at Mere Fi, covering my first book.
Faith, Politics, Ecology, and Despair (The Arts of Travel Podcast, 19 June 2022). A somewhat random, challenging, but invigorating conversation about Wendell Berry, ecology, left politics, and Christian faith.
The Bible as the Church’s Book (Crackers and Grape Juice, 8 July 2022). A conversation about my second book with another OG faith-and-theology pod.
Essays
Grace upon Grace (Comment, 13 January 2022). The first of two pieces this year on gratitude to God. This is the synthetic one, locating gratitude in Christian theological grammar.
Jewish Jesus, Black Christ (The Christian Century, 25 January 2022). A long-simmering essay—the magazine’s cover story!—first drafted in August 2020.
Marked by Death (First Things, 2 March 2022). A short liturgical reflection for Ash Wednesday.
The Question of the Conquest (Christianity Today, 21 March 2022). A review of Charlie Trimm’s book about the conquest of Canaan. My favorite opening to something I wrote this year. And apparently the ninth most-read book review on CT’s website this year!
Unlearning Machines (Comment, 24 March 2022). A long review essay of Audrey Watters’ latest book, reflecting on Ed Tech and digital’s long mission to colonize education of every kind. This or the next essay were, I think, the best things I wrote this year, though it felt like no one happened upon this one. So be it.
Can We Be Human in Meatspace? (The New Atlantis, 2 May 2022). An even longer review essay, this time of Andy Crouch’s latest book. It sparked a whole series of exchanges, on Twitter, on blogs, and on email, with Alan Jacobs, with Jeff Bilbro, with Andy himself. All were gracious and kind. A blast to participate, and a fun and worthwhile book to kick it all off.
Another Option for Christian Politics (Front Porch Republic, 4 July 2022). A short piece proposing, somewhat tongue in cheek, one more saint as a substitute for the Benedict Option. My first for FPR.
The Ruins of Christendom (Los Angeles Review of Books, 10 July 2022). A review essay of Stanley Hauerwas’s latest book on Hauerwas and politics. I promised to come under 2,000 words, and I kept my word. This one pairs well with the next piece.
The Church in the Immanent Frame (First Things, 14 July 2022). A shorter review of Andrew Root’s book on the crisis of church decline in the West. So much of Root’s diagnosis is apt, but I took modest issue with what I perceived to be a kind of resignation to social and cultural norms and presuppositions the church not only need not accept, but will assuredly outlast.
Response to Alastair Roberts (Theopolis, 11 August 2022). A long response to Alastair’s own long engagement with my second book. He then replied to my reply. Just wonderful.
Academic
Review of Edwin Chr. van Driel, Rethinking Paul: Protestant Theology and Pauline Exegesis (Modern Theology, online 2022). This one was published early-access online in February, though only now is it in print, in the January 2023 issue of the journal. It’s a superb and thought-provoking book, so I’m glad the editors gave me some real space to engage it in the review.
The Church’s Book: Theology of Scripture in Ecclesial Context (Eerdmans, May 2022). The book! My second. My second overall, that is, and my second on the Bible. But my first written, in a sense, since it’s a major revision of my dissertation, initially completed in May 2017. So happy to see this out in the world. Originally $50, then $25. Now down to $20 on the Bezos site. Go buy it today!
Is Scripture a Gift? Reflections on the Divine-Ecclesial Provision of the Canon (Religions, Fall 2022). This one was a labor of love, though emphasis on labor. My second piece related to gratitude to God, albeit focused on the canon, in a sort of experimental key. Not sure the whole thing holds together, but I’m confident the pieces work. And it was a pleasure canvassing the literature on the gift.
Talks, Lectures, Presentations
“The Word of the Lord: Reading Scripture in and for Christ’s Body,” CSART Public Lecture, Abilene, TX, February 15, 2022. Link to video here.
“Hearing the Word of the Lord,” Intersection Webinar: Siburt Institute for Church Ministry, April 12, 2022. Link to video here.
“Response to Reviews of The Doctrine of Scripture,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 8, 2022. The CSC devoted a session to my first book. They met in person, but alas, I wasn’t able to be there. So I Zoomed into the session, listened to the papers, then gave my response via Zoom. They could actually see and hear me! No tech snafus! An academia miracle.
“Tradition and Liturgy for Churches of Christ,” University Church of Christ, August 24, 2022. A two-part presentation on sacred tradition, liturgy, and the role of Christian doctrine in hearing and reading Scripture. There’s nothing quite like committed CoC laypeople in a Wednesday night class. You rise to their level, not the other way around.
“Reading Scripture with the Church,” University Church of Christ, August 31, 2022. The aforementioned part two.
“Preaching for Martyrs in Training,” Summit Lectureship, Abilene, TX, October 14, 2022. A chat with some CoC preachers about the state of the church, Gen Z, and the power of preaching for the spiritual formation of an illiterate and uncatechized generation.
“The Word of the Lord,” Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene, TX, October 19, 2022. A happy visit to the local Episcopal parish—they’re like CoC-ers, only their potlocks include wine and Compline. I talked about the Bible. They were a rapt audience. It was lovely.
“Knowing Christ,” ACU Commencement Address, Abilene, TX, December 16, 2022. This one was a surprise. Last May, at commencement ceremonies, I was shocked and overwhelmed to receive the award—voted on by the students!—of Teacher of the Year. (Here’s the write-up by the student newspaper and ACU’s magazine, respectively.) One of the honors of the award is that the TOTY give the December commencement address later the same year. So here I am, in all my glory, giving a charge to the December 2022 graduating class of ACU; I’m introduced around 1:02:00 and I finish the speech around 1:14:00. Enjoy:
