David W. Swanson
@davidwswanson.bsky.social
South Side Chicago husband, dad, pastor and author. I think about Ida B. Wells when I get confused.
https://dwswanson.com/
https://dwswanson.com/
Over the years I've landed on a few social media boundaries that have been helpful in keeping these spaces in their proper places:
- no SM before breakfast or after dinner
- no SM on my phone (IG is off unless I've recently posted)
- SM breaks for Advent and Lent
- no SM before breakfast or after dinner
- no SM on my phone (IG is off unless I've recently posted)
- SM breaks for Advent and Lent
February 18, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Over the years I've landed on a few social media boundaries that have been helpful in keeping these spaces in their proper places:
- no SM before breakfast or after dinner
- no SM on my phone (IG is off unless I've recently posted)
- SM breaks for Advent and Lent
- no SM before breakfast or after dinner
- no SM on my phone (IG is off unless I've recently posted)
- SM breaks for Advent and Lent
The song sparrows and cardinals were singing enthusiastically this morning.
February 17, 2026 at 3:51 PM
The song sparrows and cardinals were singing enthusiastically this morning.
Studying Revelation 13 for Sunday's sermon: A violent, blasphemous, power-hungry empire animated by Satan and legitimized by deceptive religion.
"Let anyone who has an ear listen." (13:9)
"Let anyone who has an ear listen." (13:9)
February 16, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Studying Revelation 13 for Sunday's sermon: A violent, blasphemous, power-hungry empire animated by Satan and legitimized by deceptive religion.
"Let anyone who has an ear listen." (13:9)
"Let anyone who has an ear listen." (13:9)
A Plea to Pastors
The discipleship opportunity provided by this political moment
buttondown.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Heading out for a few days with the amazing A Rocha USA board.
A Rocha's mission is to live out God’s calling to care for creation and equip others to do likewise. Learn more here: arocha.us
A Rocha's mission is to live out God’s calling to care for creation and equip others to do likewise. Learn more here: arocha.us
February 12, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Heading out for a few days with the amazing A Rocha USA board.
A Rocha's mission is to live out God’s calling to care for creation and equip others to do likewise. Learn more here: arocha.us
A Rocha's mission is to live out God’s calling to care for creation and equip others to do likewise. Learn more here: arocha.us
At this point, people who deny the presidential administration's white supremacist assumptions and aims are either willfully ignorant or quietly supportive. The evidence is simply to overwhelming to deny.
February 11, 2026 at 8:01 PM
At this point, people who deny the presidential administration's white supremacist assumptions and aims are either willfully ignorant or quietly supportive. The evidence is simply to overwhelming to deny.
I got to hangout with this little downy woodpecker for a few minutes during this morning's sabbath walk through Jackson Park.
February 10, 2026 at 5:55 PM
I got to hangout with this little downy woodpecker for a few minutes during this morning's sabbath walk through Jackson Park.
Yesterday during worship I invited our kids to reflect on the racist video posted by the president earlier in the week.
I said that the video was racist because it treated a group of people as less-than human than other people. 1/
I said that the video was racist because it treated a group of people as less-than human than other people. 1/
February 9, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Yesterday during worship I invited our kids to reflect on the racist video posted by the president earlier in the week.
I said that the video was racist because it treated a group of people as less-than human than other people. 1/
I said that the video was racist because it treated a group of people as less-than human than other people. 1/
What's everybody bringing to the Super Bowl party? I'm gonna try my hand at this...
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025...
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025...
Jalapeño-Corn Dip (Published 2024)
cooking.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:26 PM
What's everybody bringing to the Super Bowl party? I'm gonna try my hand at this...
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025...
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025...
Reminds me of the Minneapolis pastor who told me about the guy in his church who has started a door-replacement ministry for all the doors ICE agents have kicked in.
ICE has grabbed so many people from their vehicles that there are abandoned cars across Minnesota.
This tow truck driver returns the cars for free as a public service, and he’s been getting death threats.
They hate the helpers.
Which is why must keep helping.
This tow truck driver returns the cars for free as a public service, and he’s been getting death threats.
They hate the helpers.
Which is why must keep helping.
Twin Cities tow truck driver returns abandoned vehicles to families after ICE arrests
Juan Leon sends a "chase" car to check out where abandoned vehicles are located and arranges discreet drop-offs. Since late December, he estimated they have dropped off 250 cars.
www.cbsnews.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Reminds me of the Minneapolis pastor who told me about the guy in his church who has started a door-replacement ministry for all the doors ICE agents have kicked in.
"To describe the president as a racist is to say something almost too obvious."
buttondown.com/david.w.swan...
buttondown.com/david.w.swan...
When the President Is a Racist
Telling the truth without getting distracted
buttondown.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
"To describe the president as a racist is to say something almost too obvious."
buttondown.com/david.w.swan...
buttondown.com/david.w.swan...
"God is not dead neither doth the ruler of the universe slumber and sleep. As a Nation sows so shall it reap. Men do not gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles. To sow the wind is to reap the whirlwind." - Anna Julia Haywood Cooper (1902)
February 5, 2026 at 5:27 PM
"God is not dead neither doth the ruler of the universe slumber and sleep. As a Nation sows so shall it reap. Men do not gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles. To sow the wind is to reap the whirlwind." - Anna Julia Haywood Cooper (1902)
Reposted by David W. Swanson
Believing that preaching the gospel meant staying silent about politics, a generation of pastors – precisely when churches are desperate for moral clarity – find themselves tongue-tied as fascism stares us in the face.
Holy Spirit, open our mouths.
Holy Spirit, open our mouths.
February 5, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Believing that preaching the gospel meant staying silent about politics, a generation of pastors – precisely when churches are desperate for moral clarity – find themselves tongue-tied as fascism stares us in the face.
Holy Spirit, open our mouths.
Holy Spirit, open our mouths.
Believing that preaching the gospel meant staying silent about politics, a generation of pastors – precisely when churches are desperate for moral clarity – find themselves tongue-tied as fascism stares us in the face.
Holy Spirit, open our mouths.
Holy Spirit, open our mouths.
February 5, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Believing that preaching the gospel meant staying silent about politics, a generation of pastors – precisely when churches are desperate for moral clarity – find themselves tongue-tied as fascism stares us in the face.
Holy Spirit, open our mouths.
Holy Spirit, open our mouths.
Ending the day with a "know your rights" webinar. I'm grateful for Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and other local orgs who train Chicago residents to be good neighbors.
Find trainings here: www.icirr.org/fsn
Find trainings here: www.icirr.org/fsn
February 3, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Ending the day with a "know your rights" webinar. I'm grateful for Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and other local orgs who train Chicago residents to be good neighbors.
Find trainings here: www.icirr.org/fsn
Find trainings here: www.icirr.org/fsn
The widest possible difference... still!
February 2, 2026 at 5:54 PM
The widest possible difference... still!
From the conclusion of today's sermon from Revelation 6 and 7, "Sheltered by God."
February 2, 2026 at 12:05 AM
From the conclusion of today's sermon from Revelation 6 and 7, "Sheltered by God."
Good morning preachers! What's your sermon today? I'm coming from Revelation 6-7, "God’s protection outlasts the world’s persecution."
February 1, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Good morning preachers! What's your sermon today? I'm coming from Revelation 6-7, "God’s protection outlasts the world’s persecution."
In today's newsletter, with help from the "kneel-ins" at southern churches in the 1960s, I'm thinking about that anti-ICE church protest in St. Paul.
buttondown.com/david.w.swan...
buttondown.com/david.w.swan...
Protesting in Church
Exposing hypocrisy and inviting repentance
buttondown.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:55 PM
In today's newsletter, with help from the "kneel-ins" at southern churches in the 1960s, I'm thinking about that anti-ICE church protest in St. Paul.
buttondown.com/david.w.swan...
buttondown.com/david.w.swan...
Al Hsu edited my most recent book with @ivpress.bsky.social and I'll forever be grateful for his careful reading and wise direction. It was good to see Al and others from the IVP team this week at my denomination's conference.
You can find my books with IVP here: www.ivpress.com/david-w-swan...
You can find my books with IVP here: www.ivpress.com/david-w-swan...
January 30, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Al Hsu edited my most recent book with @ivpress.bsky.social and I'll forever be grateful for his careful reading and wise direction. It was good to see Al and others from the IVP team this week at my denomination's conference.
You can find my books with IVP here: www.ivpress.com/david-w-swan...
You can find my books with IVP here: www.ivpress.com/david-w-swan...
Reposted by David W. Swanson
An authoritarian regime explains the violence it inflicts on its people with propaganda aimed at making those same people just enough less human so as to justify their destruction.
January 25, 2026 at 1:29 AM
An authoritarian regime explains the violence it inflicts on its people with propaganda aimed at making those same people just enough less human so as to justify their destruction.
An authoritarian regime explains the violence it inflicts on its people with propaganda aimed at making those same people just enough less human so as to justify their destruction.
January 25, 2026 at 1:29 AM
An authoritarian regime explains the violence it inflicts on its people with propaganda aimed at making those same people just enough less human so as to justify their destruction.
From Jim Crow to MAGA, state-sanctioned terror is always justified by state-sponsored propaganda.
January 24, 2026 at 9:10 PM
From Jim Crow to MAGA, state-sanctioned terror is always justified by state-sponsored propaganda.
Reposted by David W. Swanson
If you are waiting for the white church to betray the power-hungry status quo which birthed it and to which it remains bound, you’re going to be waiting for a very, very long time.
January 22, 2026 at 3:12 PM
If you are waiting for the white church to betray the power-hungry status quo which birthed it and to which it remains bound, you’re going to be waiting for a very, very long time.
If you are waiting for the white church to betray the power-hungry status quo which birthed it and to which it remains bound, you’re going to be waiting for a very, very long time.
January 22, 2026 at 3:12 PM
If you are waiting for the white church to betray the power-hungry status quo which birthed it and to which it remains bound, you’re going to be waiting for a very, very long time.
