Welcome to The Cottage, a newsletter and online community to inspire faith that is surprising, beautiful, and just. We’re trying to create a bit of hope in the chaos. Please consider joining in. Your financial support is appreciated but not required! Subscribe now Read more ..read more

TODAY is the final day of the special May subscription rate at The Cottage — 20% of a yearly subscription. I only offer this rate once a year. I hope you’ll sign up before it expires! Get 20% off for 1 year I wanted to reach out to you on this historic morning. Today, we woke up in a country where, for the very first time in our nation’s history, a former president has been found guilty by a jury of his peers on thirty-four felony counts. When I heard the news yesterday, I cried. I’m not entirely sure why. But I had an emotional response to hearing, “guilty. . . guilty. . .guilty.” I never tho ..read more

May is almost over and there are TWO things happening at the Cottage in the next TWO days - the May special wraps up AND a few friends and I are launching a new, free newsletter. I don’t want you to miss out - information on both are below. OPPORTUNITY #1: May Celebration Discount Only TWO more days to take advantage of the May Birthday Celebration at The Cottage. Get 20% off a paid subscription — that’s the lowest price of the year. You can upgrade from free to paid or give a subscription to a friend. For info about this once-a-year offer, click on this button: Get 20% off for 1 year OPPOR ..read more

May is birthday month at The Cottage. To celebrate, we’re offering an annual subscription at the deepest discount of the year — 20% off for all new subscriptions, gift subscriptions, or upgrades from free to paid. Get 20% off for 1 year New benefit for paid subscribers: Sunday Musings are now sent on Saturday to paid supporters. Readers have long asked for this perk! I hope it will help preaching friends and those leading Bible study groups on Sunday to receive the weekly reflection a day early. ENDS SOON — LAST DAY for the discount is MAY 31! Sunday Musings are still emailed to the entire com ..read more

As many of you already know, I’m taking a bit of a sabbatical right now. I’m writing and doing some podcasts, but I’ve cut way down on other responsibilities and have taken six months off of doing public events. I know that big, scary, important things are happening in the world — and I felt I needed to reground myself before launching back into public life this autumn. At first, it was hard — and I didn’t know what I was doing — or even who I was — when doing less or (shockingly!) nothing. But, in recent weeks, it has gotten easier to enjoy the simple and familiar pleasures in my own home, ga ..read more

For paid subscribers at The Cottage: Join me and Tripp Fuller of Homebrewed Christianity talking about religion and politics in our private RUINING DINNER podcast. This month, we’ve invited our friend, Tim Whitaker of the New Evangelicals, along for the fun. Anything could happen (and often does). This week’s theme: FAITH IN A TOXIC PUBLIC SQUARE. And we … Read more ..read more

May is birthday month at The Cottage! To celebrate, we’re offering an annual subscription at the deepest discount of the year — 20% off for all new subscriptions, gift subscriptions, or upgrades from free to paid. Get 20% off for 1 year New benefit for paid subscribers: Sunday Musings are now sent on Saturday to paid supporters. Readers have long asked for this perk! I hope i… Read more ..read more

It’s the Third Thursday in May! And that means another great Cottage conversation — this month with Brian McLaren on his new book, Life After Doom. Here’s the recording of the live discussion. It is a good one. And he mentions a number of other books and authors — you may want to have a notepad nearby to jot them down. The book was featured in Tuesday’s … Read more ..read more

Today is special at The Cottage. It is release day for Brian McLaren’s new book, Life After Doom. It is special for a personal reason: Brian and I are good colleagues and friends. It has never ceased to amaze us how we care about the same issues, see the world in similar ways, and discern spiritual trends and issues that are often under the surface. This friendship has influenced our writing and speaking for two decades. In a real way, you — our readers — have benefited from it through the work we each do. Release days are like birthdays for authors. And it is particularly special when a frien ..read more

May is the Cottage’s birthday month. To celebrate, I’m offering the lowest subscriber rate of the year — 20% of annual subscriptions! Click the button below for more information and to sign-up for the special rate. You can also give a gift (just click “Gift” at the top of the page). Get 20% off for 1 year Paid subscribers support the Cottage and ensure that it continues to share beauty and hope with readers around the world. As a way to thank those who contribute financially, I offer monthly online conversations with authors, artists, and activists in faith and spirituality. This coming Thursd ..read more