http://www.pietisten.org/authors/LindahlElder.htmlen-ushttp://www.pietisten.org/fall97/whereiswaldenstrom.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/fall97/whereiswaldenstrom.htmlFor only the second time in the history of the publication Pietisten, Tommy Carlson's Paul Peter Waldenström’s column has not appeared. The Summer 1997, number went to press without Waldenström! The Editor tells me the absence was due to Tommy's trip to Europe and scheduling. Do you know who PPW is? Did you miss his column?http://www.pietisten.org/fall98/hereandthere.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/fall98/hereandthere.htmlDuring the years 1845-1930, 1.2 million Swedes, 25% of the Swedish population, emigrated to North America. This mass exodus, fueled by social discontent, poor crops, religious persecution, land fever, and new opportunities, split the country into two distinct groups–(A) Swedes who stayed, and (B) Swedes who left to become assimilated into an alien culture. America-fever tore families apart geographically and emotionally. In this essay, I am interested in the various ways those in Group B adapted, or failed to adapt, as they settled in as immigrants. http://www.pietisten.org/winter99/computers.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter99/computers.htmlThey are everywhere. And it makes no difference whether you associate with them or try to avoid them. Like it or not, computers will share our destiny and the destiny of our children’s children. Are they our servants or our masters? Do they think, and, if so, is their thinking superior to that of humans? Where does this leave us?http://www.pietisten.org/winter99/erickson.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter99/erickson.htmlDean Erickson was a special person, a man of integrity, wisdom, patience, good judgment, kindness, and understanding. He had a first-rate mind and was committed to the Christian Faith. Albin was dedicated to helping the on-coming generations find an integrated heritage of faith and learning.http://www.pietisten.org/summer99/rosenius.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/summer99/rosenius.htmlReaders have asked for more information about some of the personalities of Pietisten’s roots. Rosenius granted Elder Lindahl a Narnian type interview in September, 1867. Picture the two of them taking coffee together in a konditori in Umeå, Sweden.http://www.pietisten.org/fall99/refusal.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/fall99/refusal.htmlA new structure, the Courtyard Building, which will provide 130 new apartments, is being added to the existing building that has 125 apartments. The land on which both the old and new buildings are located was originally a swamp. Basset Creek, which was straightened out and redirected to the West, once meandered through the wetland on which the Covenant Manor complex is now located. How can such an impressive complex of buildings be constructed on such a marshy spot?http://www.pietisten.org/spring00/friend.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/spring00/friend.htmlOn a late afternoon in the middle of November, as I passed the Gustaf Adolph Kirche in Grossauheim, Germany, I heard the strains of an old song. The front door of the Church was open, so I walked in. Up on the second floor, at the rear of the church, I could see a light. http://www.pietisten.org/spring00/rosenius.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/spring00/rosenius.htmlWhen I read your letter through, I knew only, that the more I loved you the more misery the letter revealed. Oh, my dear brother, I see so well how it is with you. I know your nature partly through personal contact and partly through your letters which clearly reflect your entire being.http://www.pietisten.org/summer00/universe.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/summer00/universe.htmlWhat is the universe? Do other earths exist, and are they inhabited? Are there countless solar systems? What is space? Does it make sense to talk about up or down; inner or outer space? Is space finite and limited, infinite and endless, or what? What is time? How are space and time related? Is the universe aging, and will it finally run down? What is the relation between God and the universe?http://www.pietisten.org/winter00/zuni.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter00/zuni.htmlA few weeks ago, Muriel and I received a phone call from Cibola General Hospital in Grants, New Mexico, telling us that my sister Carol had collapsed at a gas station off I-40 and was in intensive care.http://www.pietisten.org/spring01/fredrika.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/spring01/fredrika.htmlDuring this year, Swedes are celebrating the 200th anniversary of Fredrika Bremer’s birthday. Fredrika had a life-long interest in human development, especially of women, and in the moral and spiritual advancement of society. Her "everlasting sermon" was how much good there is in people, and how much care each must take to call it forth. "Self-improvement must never stand still," she wrote in her diary. Its an on-going process.http://www.pietisten.org/summer01/highwall.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/summer01/highwall.htmlSome questions I've been pondering these days are: What does it mean for Muslims to take their beliefs seriously in a secular state like ours? What are the conditions for the possibility of looking at one's religious faith objectively and critically? What are the consequences of separating or not separating church and state?http://www.pietisten.org/winter02/bcwy.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter02/bcwy.htmlWe are so often exhorted to learn to know God’s will, and Jesus Himself taught us to pray to God, saying, "Your will be done," but what are we to understand by God’s will? What is the will of God? Paul in Romans 12 gives an interesting and comprehensive answer to this question when he in verse two puts the phrase, "the good, the acceptable, and the perfect," as an appositive.http://www.pietisten.org/winter02/freshpress.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter02/freshpress.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter02/muscle.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter02/muscle.htmlMake a fist and look at its size. I’ve read that the size of one’s fist is about the size of one’s heart. As one grows from infancy to adulthood, the fist size is a good indicator of the size of the heart at each stage of one’s physical development. An infant’s heart and fist, for example, are about the same size.http://www.pietisten.org/summer02/facetoface.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/summer02/facetoface.html“Your face is familiar, but I can’t come up with your name.” It’s a pretty common line, especially if you live in a retirement community. http://www.pietisten.org/summer03/bookstobusiness.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/summer03/bookstobusiness.htmlPeter was a colleague in the Humanities Division at North Park. He taught English, creative writing, and literature, became the Divisional Chair, and in 1986, Academic Dean. Three years later, he surprised us with the news that he was leaving the academic world to take over the manufacturing business his grandfather started in 1917.http://www.pietisten.org/summer03/heretics.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/summer03/heretics.htmlThe word “Heretic” is pejorative. A heretic, one who dissents from established practices or doctrines, from an accepted system of ideas, is usually unpopular with the majority. He sometimes suffers condemnation, persecution, excommunication, imprisonment or even death. And those who agree with non-conformist views, for example with those of Pelagius, Peter Abelard, Martin Luther, Giordano Bruno, Galileo, Johannes Kepler, Charles G. Finney, P. P. Waldenstršm, et al, may at times find themselves open to criticism, even at risk.http://www.pietisten.org/winter0304/ingrid.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter0304/ingrid.htmlThis recent book gives one an excellent picture of immigrant emellan, of a life lived in-between two countries, two cultures, and two languages. I highly recommend Ingrid’s book to the readers of Pietisten and to anyone who wants to read about an exciting, modern immigrant experience.http://www.pietisten.org/winter0304/skogsbergh.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter0304/skogsbergh.htmlErik August Skogsbergh was born in Värmland, Sweden, on June 24, 1850. He was converted at age 19, and attended Mission Schools in Kristinehamn and Ahlberg for about two years. Lutheran Pastor, Dr. Olof Olsson, third President of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and Covenant leader and Scholar, Dr. P. P. Waldenström, were his life-long teachers and friends.http://www.pietisten.org/fall04/orphantrains.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/fall04/orphantrains.htmlCharles Loring Brace (1826-1890), a Methodist Minister, believed it was his Christian duty to help the multitudes of homeless New York City children. His mission was to round up orphaned, neglected, or homeless children who roamed the streets by day and night and put them on trains bound for the Midwest and elsewhere for placement into rural homes.http://www.pietisten.org/fall04/varmland.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/fall04/varmland.htmlIf you stand still, look, and listen, I will give a small homily. Yes, we are now in Värmland where you and I have never been before. First, a bit of an orientation.http://www.pietisten.org/winter0405/andthereshallbewars.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter0405/andthereshallbewars.htmlThis is an authentic story of patriotism and bravery. When Bud was drafted in April, 1941 at age 22, he thought he would be away from his beloved farming and market-gardening business in Minnesota for about a year. Actually, he served “for the duration” until July, 1945. Almost 42 months of this time was overseas duty, much in combat in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. Bud was a model GI who willingly, honorably, and efficiently did his part to defeat Hitler. The point of his title, and Bud’s belief, is that there will always be wars until the Prince of Peace is affirmed by the nations of this world.http://www.pietisten.org/winter0405/gravity.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter0405/gravity.htmlThere’s a silent, constant force around us which pulls us all down toward the center of the earth. Though it’s invisible, we see the effects and experience the pull of that steady, encircling force everywhere. There are some great benefits for the steadiness it provides, and yet we’d all like to find some relief from its everlasting grip. I refer to this relief as a search for levity, the desire to be light of foot and heart.http://www.pietisten.org/winter05/geared.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/winter05/geared.htmlThe Gospel is good news about God’s amazing grace, love, redemption, the kingdom of God, hope, and the life to come. It’s an ancient story about the possibility of new life for the human spirit, eternally appropriate in every time and at every place. Jesus of Nazareth is the way, the truth, and the life.http://www.pietisten.org/summer06/narcissism.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/summer06/narcissism.htmlHumans are born selfish.  When one observes young children at play, the central, operative word is often “mine.”  It is like:  What’s mine is mine, and what my playmates want is also mine.  Toddlers do not at first feel the interests of the other, share toys or offer possessions. They live in the moment, grabbing things without thinking about the wishes, needs, or even the private property of their playmates.http://www.pietisten.org/christmas06/human.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/christmas06/human.htmlIt is unfortunate that in the Christian Church the idea of hope is most often associated with the end rather with the beginning of life’s pilgrimage. Unfortunate, I believe, because as a consequence hope as a present-time orientation is often ignored or degraded.http://www.pietisten.org/christmas06/married.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/christmas06/married.htmlAnne Lindahl and Jed Bassett, both North Parkers, were married on Sunday, July 9, 2006, in Libertyville Covenant Church in Libertyville, Illinois. Pastor Peter Hawkinson of Winnetka Covenant Church officiated; Pastor Dwight Nelson of Libertyville Covenant Church, and uncle of Karl Nelson, webmaster of www.pietisten.org, led the service. Youth Pastor Chris Gredenius assisted. Anne and Jed’s beautiful, classic wedding brought many North Park University students and alumni together.http://www.pietisten.org/christmas07/oneheart.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/christmas07/oneheart.htmlDick celebrates this life-giving gift as he weaves together two threads, one about the physical ordeal he went through leading to well-being, and the other about the spiritual lessons he learned in the process. These parallel stories run throughout the book, connecting nicely into what might be classified as an extended, edifying Christian tract.http://www.pietisten.org/christmas07/sabbath.htmlhttp://www.pietisten.org/christmas07/sabbath.htmlPicture two young boys, maybe nine and twelve, on Sunday mornings standing in the narthex of the Swedish Mission Church in Stambaugh, Michigan handing out little text-only Sions Basun hymn books to the people as they arrive for worship. While the boys greeted people, the huge bell above them clanged loudly when sexton Art Thompson pulled on a thick rope nearby.