Fall 2004

Volume XIX, Number 1

In This Issue

• Mission Friends by Phil Johnson

  Dr. David Nygaard, Ph.D., is Director of Rural Development for the Aga Khan Foundation. His office is in Geneva, Switzerland. David, Mary, their dog Suki, and cat Murph live on the trolley line in the community of Carouge. David and Mary are "Mission Friends" extraordinaire.

• Tributes Tribute to Paul Holmer by Bruce Carlson

  One of our most formidable Christian apologists, Paul Holmer, joined the heavenly symposium on June 29th 2004.

• Karl Olsson Refresher Nils Holgersson and Dante Alighieri

  Covenant Chris Craft University and Pietisten continue this series of selections from the writings of Dr. Karl Olsson (1913-1996). This selection is from his column in Covenant Weekly, December 14, 1956.

• News and Notes North Parks's Women's Rowing Team Does it Again! by Anne Lindahl

  Anne Lindahl reports on the National Champion North Park women's rowing team.

• Waldenstrom's Commentary Luke 14:1, 7-14 and Waldenström's Commentary by Paul Peter Waldenström and translated by Tommy Carlson
• In Vårmland, the Beautiful translated by Elder M. Lindahl

  If 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.

• Redefining the Covenant, Parts I, II, and III by Philip Keillor

  The Evangelical Covenant Church of America (ECCA) appears to be redefining itself as it solidifies positions taken on controversial issues. This action has costs: moving the ECCA away from its treasured affirmation of freedom in Christ and weakening some of its claimed distinctives.

• Pressing On by Bob Bach

  Bob Bach tells the story of Aaron Markuson, 94-year-old veteran Covenant pastor, and his wife Margaret.

• The Orphan Train by Elder M. Lindahl

  Charles 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.

• The Ministry of Laughter by David Mampel

  When Phil Johnson asked me to write an article about clowning for Pietisten, I immediately said “yes” because it presented an opportunity to examine my life as a clown and celebrate all the joys it has given me over the years.

• Covenant Bible College by Rebekah Eklund

  “Think you know Bible college?” asks the Covenant Bible College (CBC) website. If you answered yes, and you’ve never heard of CBC, prepare to have your perceptions changed.

• Sweden and Sarajevo by Tom Tredway

  Sweden is mentioned but once in David Fromkin’s Europe’s Last Summer, (Knopf, 2004), the latest and one of the most readable treatments of the First World War to have appeared in the last decade. So why should readers of the Pietisten be concerned with the book?

• Books Books from Pietisten Readers

  Dr. Tim Johnson's Finding God in the Questions; Glenn Olsen's Beginning at Jerusalem

• Tributes F. Burton Nelson by Peter Sandstrom

  A vast sea of acquaintances knew Burton Nelson in any of several roles: seminary professor, pastor, theologian, Bonhoeffer scholar, social critic, ecumenist, author, and editor, among others.

• Tributes Harriet Wistrom

  Generations of North Park students knew Harriet Wistrom. She was the kind, gracious woman who lived for many years in the apartment above the boiler room and was the wife of our great boss, Ivar, and mother of Susie and Carl.

• An Evening with W. Harry Davis by Phil Johnson

  At 81, Harry Davis, author and veteran Minneapolis civil rights leader, retains the energy of a man who was a Golden Gloves boxer in his youth. His stories about his personal life and about the people and institutions of the African-American community in Minneapolis riveted the group gathered at the home of Carolyn and Glenn Ayres to meet the author.

• Bruce Carlson Honored by North Park University

  North Park paid tribute to one of its graduates with the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa. Few people have been more involved in fine arts than Bruce Carlson, who was named by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as one of the "100 most influential people in music" in the history of the state of Minnesota.

Regular Features

• News and Notes

  Where are they now?; Meet Violet Iben Ecklund-Johnson; California Wedding, Saturday, May 29; Bethlehem Wedding, August 27, 2004

• Sightings in Christian Music by Glen Wiberg

  Early in the 60s I was listening to a classical music station and was stopped dead in my tracks by the deep, mellow voice of the black baritone, William Warfield singing "Shall We Gather at the River."

• Practical, Therapeutic, Theological Thought Reaching out--Drawing in by Penrod

  Never has it seemed more important to me to reach out, to cross barriers, to break down dividing walls as Christians are called to do. Perhaps one might say that it is a time to set one's eyes and one's purpose on a different front.

• Green with Reene by Irene Ecklund

  Gardening under trees is easy with plants adapted to dry shade.

• Out and About

  A Party in Seattle; Istanbul Wedding; International Falls Reunion

• Post: Readers Respond
• Sport Prophecy NFL predictions by Eric