Matthew Warren

Encounter: Polities, Policies and Property (oh my!), and How to Start Those Conversations

Stumbled across this podcast today. This episode from 2023 was really helpful. If you are a @pcusa.bsky.social TE or RE on session, it’s worth a listen. open.spotify.com/episode/3TjO...

When the richest man in the world had the levers of political power for a few weeks, his top priority was to take money from the poorest of the poor. Horrific.

As a former barista who is still a Starbucks regular, I’ll choose solidarity over slaking my thirst on 11/13.

Also, there need to be more unionized stores in NJ.

Americans are more aware of the vulnerabilities in our democratic political system—and of the need to stand up and act—than they’ve been in my lifetime.

The results of the current madness could end up serving the nation.

We’re learning about the realities of maintaining democracy in real time.

This is morally repugnant behavior.

“…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…” - Matthew 25:35

Pumpkin sitting on a table.

Carved pumpkin showing the head of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Carved and illuminated pumpkin sitting on a table showing the head of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Carved and illuminated pumpkin showing the head of Sonic the Hedgehog. This photo is darker than the others to allow the jack-o’-lantern to shine brighter.

This one went…faster.

“Gotta go fast!”

Pumpkin on a table. Two knives to the right.

Carved pumpkin picturing Princess Tiana and a frog about to kiss.

Carved pumpkin picturing Princess Tiana and a frog about to kiss.

Carved pumpkin picturing Princess Tiana and a frog about to kiss on a step.

Took a while, but I think this 🎃 turned out nicely.

In college, I was told that I would receive an F if I used Wikipedia. Today, it is the first place that I direct my high school students to go when starting their research.

Screenshot of the audiobook cover for “Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI” by Karen Hao.

Anyone frustrated by the warehouse boom in NJ over the past few years should be concerned about the potential for a data center boom over the next few years. Imagine a giant warehouse that also extracts endless electricity and water resources.

This is the book that has me thinking about this:

Hardback copy of my book, Say Her Name: Centering Black Feminism and Black Women in Sport. The cover is peach in color, with four different depictions of Black women playing various sports with different hair types.

My first book, Say Her Name: Centering Black Feminism and Black Women in Sport, came out this March with Rutgers University Press. Since then I've given talks in Boston, Urbana-Champaign, Charlotte and most recently Memphis. /1

God, Slavery, and Early Christianity is out in the real world with @universitypress.cambridge.org!

I have some extra, so retweet this by the end of Oct. 19 if you’re interested in receiving a copy!

Book info here: www.cambridge.org/core/books/g...

YouTube video by Washington National Cathedral Sermon by The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde | 1.21.25

This feels more prophetic every day: youtu.be/xwwaEuDeqM8?...

Jump to 12:24

Reading this little essay between innings. Go Phils! firstthings.com/a-perfect-ga...

David Bentley Hart (A Philosopher’s God)

So much to unpack in this short interview. open.spotify.com/episode/45zv...

Red triangle with exclamation mark above "Action Alert" logo and text urging to "End the Federal Government Shutdown," promoting advocacy and urgency.

The Office of Public Witness has released a pastoral and prophetic statement on the federal government shutdown. Read more and take action here: www.votervoice.net/PCUSA/Campai...

Sermon tomorrow is on Acts 15:36–16:40. Lots there. I’m excited to compare Lydia & the jailer. Both believe, are baptized, & show hospitality to Paul & Silas. Contrast that w/ the men who exploit the woman w/the spirit & those who violently imprison Paul. “Secretly” in 16:37 ≈ “while wearing masks.”

Characterizing “Support of law enforcement” as a “foundational principle” is a bit odd, too. FBI didn’t exist until 1908. DOJ in 1870. NYPD in 1845. First attorney general is in 1789, but the role has evolved from legal council to President to the chief law enforcement officer.

Ep. 189 David Bentley Hart - Authoritarianism, Artificial Intelligence, and Apokatastasis (the Greek word for universal salvation, or the restoration of all things)

This packed quite the punch open.spotify.com/episode/7G3X...

“Do not be afraid.”

Finished reading Sir Gawain & the Green Knight with my students today. We read parts 1 & 2, & 4 in class & they read 3 at home. They did the reading & their excitement & surprise over the scene in the Green Chapel was so wonderful to witness.

Printed pages, no AI, group discussion = rich experience

Frankfurt’s “On Bullshit” sits on my desk. A modern classic. This podcast made me aware of his earlier work on “The Importance of What We Care About.” As an educator, I am convinced that we need to do more to help young people find worthwhile things to care about. open.spotify.com/episode/07LI...

Am I up late because I am writing lesson plans? No.

But I did just submit a short story to a literary magazine for the first time!

The first US-born leader of the Catholic church singled out the Tesla chief as an example of the kind of wealth he said was undermining 'the value of human life, of the family, of the value of society' on.ft.com/4653oC8

“We who follow Jesus announce the corralling of violence, the drawing down of its range of influence, and the shrinking of its power, not by our ability to handle violence in its ‘proper use’ but by our refusal to live subject to its power, or persuaded by its effectiveness.” (2/2)

Photo of a book showing its cover. “Acts” by Willie James Jennings.

Photo of page 138 of “Acts” by Willie James Jennings.

Willie James Jennings commenting on Acts 14, which is my text for this morning:

“Violence is in the world that God never ceases to love, and the disciples are placed between that violence and those subject to its pull.” (1/2)

Psalm 11:5: "The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates the lover of violence."

Be mindful of what you love today.

NJ students in grades 6-12 will now learn about “the history of organized labor, notable strikes throughout history, unionization drives, and the collective bargaining process and existing legal protections in the workplace.”

This is genuinely so important, and so good to see. Jersey strong, baby!!

I was called “The Stephen King” guy @mclsnj.bsky.social in Hightstown today as I picked up 19 books.

I felt seen.

Photo of one unpolished brown boot without laces and an open can of brown Kiwi shoe polish.

Photo of one polished and now drying brown boot without laces and an open can of brown Kiwi shoe polish.

Photo of two polished and buffed brown boots without laces.

Photo of two polished and buffed brown boots without laces being held by a hand to show off the shine.

Apparently, you can polish your shoes! And it’s actually kind of therapeutic. They aren’t perfect, but neither am I.

The school year may begin now.

This part here is the ideal toward which we should strive. But many simply do not believe in such concern for others.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” -John 13:35

“…and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” -Rev. 22:2