Post: Readers Respond

I welcome Pietisten, so I'm sending a contribution to it for postage fee or something.

Keep up the good work. I was glad to see a poem by my nephew David in there this issue, "Contemplation of a Young Pastor." I read this poem before but he has revised it wonderfully.

Hope things are going well for you. I got your note wishing me a "Happy New Year!" Well, I wish the same for you, and many more to come. Keep looking up, Ed Mampel, Rockford, Illinois.

A brief note to express my appreciation for the writing and thinking that goes into Pietisten. I especially enjoy the wonder-filled, whimsical and witty musings of P.J. G. Timothy Johnson, Boston, Massachusetts.

I hope the enclosed helps a little. Keep up the good work! Sally Johnson, Chicago, Illinois.

Thanks for your hard work. You have given me many insights for sermons and personal reflection. I especially enjoyed Jean Lambert's article in your most recent issue. Keep up the good work! P.S. Bengals by 6! David Oftinoski, Easton, Connecticut.

(Sorry, Dave, we already have a somewhat fallible Sports Prophet.)

Glad to be on the mailing list of Pietisten. I have no idea what I paid to enroll, Hope the enclosed helps to keep it going. Curtiss Johnson, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A fine addition to your contributing writers is Eric Johnson's sports comments. I presume he is the son of my friend Phil Johnson. I really enjoyed Phil's article, "A Blessed Escape."

When you send my next issue, enclose additional order forms. I've been passing your publication on to friends, and if I could include an order form, you may pick up some additional subscribers. Best wishes for a big circulation increase. Bob Florin, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In contrast to most Covenanters today, I feel like an old-timer. I've read the "Weekly" before it was the "Companion," ever since youth; I remember the ethnic church — we always went to THE SWEDISH church; I remember meeting T. W. [Anderson, President of the Covenant 1932-1958]; Milt [Milton Engebretson, President 1967-1986] at the airport. Yes, even P. P. [Waldenström, President of the Swedish Covenant, (1904-1915), member of the Swedish parliament, and editor of the original Pietisten from 1868-1915] in bust form at Lidingö.

I lived a while with a state church family [in Sweden] — the mother had been a servant in the Waldenström household years before. There was fondness. Didn't hear much Waldenström talk on the North Park campus.

Could it be that P. P. was more comfortable as yeast in a larger community? When I visited Covenanters in Sweden, I noted they were active in Missionskyrkan, but they were also at the State Church for Eucharist. They were state church folk.

I wonder how many Mission preachers returned to Augustana's fold. I've not heard that story; at least one East Coast leader who served from Wallace to Springfield returned to Augustana.

But back to now. We're doing well and anticipate June '90 retirement to enable us to travel, work in Sweden, wander to New Zealand, soak up Bermuda sun, and on and on 'til we spend our savings. Then we'll work again.

You probably have heard about my discovery of a bound collection of early Pietistens in a barn on a farm we bought here in the Colony. Its impact reached northern Maine! May yours, too!

May I use Tommy's Lagerkvist translation in two newsletters: church and New Sweden Historical Society? David Anderson, Timmerhuset, New Sweden, Maine.

A quick note to say that I have moved from Chicago to God's country, Yet I still am in need of Pietisten. Continue my subscription. Enclosed find a check for $10 for this year, as well as my new address. Dennis Anders, Stephenson, Michigan.

Thanks for sending the copies of Pietisten. Bob Bach's tribute to his parents was well worth the price of admission alone. Enclosed is the "price of admission." Roger Erickson, Plymouth, Michigan.

"Wearing the Pietisten hat" has proved a most exhilarating experience. Thanks. I've heard flattering/supportive noises from several readers. Thanks for printing the sermon. Jean Lambert, New York, New York.

A couple of Sundays ago you gave me a copy of Pietisten. You invited me to read it. I expressed the feeling that this type of reading was not for me. It's for theologians and those who seemingly delight in taking diverse stands when dealing with the scriptures. Specifically, I cited Dave Hawkinson's article. His spelling of the word Bible with a small b saddened me.

In dictionaries a capital letter is used as the initial letter in the word Bible. Using a small b is to me irreverent treatment of the greatest Book in the world. "It is a Book of writings inspired by God and of divine authority." I feel strongly that the Bible should be held in the highest honor, respect, and reverence, including using a capital B in its spelling.

School children seeing the word Bible on the blackboard with a small b could leave them with a lasting negative impression.

Thanks for the complimentary issue of Pietisten. As mentioned yesterday at church, the enclosed check is for two subscriptions. Wishing you an ever increasing circulation and subscribership. Milton Carlson, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Enclosed is a contribution, toward postage, or whatever, for Pietisten, It is not much, but you know... "If everyone would light one little candle..." Ralph Sturdy, Livingston, New Jersey.

I have just perused the latest edition of Pietisten. I am truly impressed — you seem to have more original ideas than ever before. The combination of Jesse Owens, the learning acquired in the basement of Nyvall on objective living, and the question asked of Phil by one of the inmates at the prison, "How do you become a philosopher?" gives one enough of a jolt, right? Robert Bach, Angel's Camp, California.

Like you, I was astounded at Klyne's article in Companion, That a conservative exegete should simply propose withdrawing the force of authority from a canonically included saying left me with an open mouth. Your response seems to me to have been appropriate both as to method and as to meaning. My check for reenlistment in the ranks of the faithful is enclosed. Zenos Hawkinson, Chicago, Illinois.

In my particular job, Phil, I have the sometimes overwhelming responsibility of caring for students (and parents) who are experiencing the traumatic effects of divorce. While I agree that the divorce does not initiate the pain or hurt, (see "The Grace of Divorce and the Freedom of Marriage, Vol. III, No. 2) the act of divorce, at the very least, exacerbates the wounds and brings with it a whole new set of disagreements surrounding the distribution of goods, alimony, and children. I have yet to see a divorce where all of the parties involved consider the act of divorce emanating from a structure of Grace. While I agree with you when you say that "if the break divorce makes possible were not an option, the consequences would be more tragic," there are studies now surfacing which are raising the issue of deferred effects of divorce on children. These studies suggest that even in "good" divorces, the hurt and pain not felt or understood in the earlier years of childhood, seem to surface later during the child's early adult years in the form of increased insecurity and illnesses such as Anorexia. Unfortunately, the study I am thinking about (in a recent issue of Newsweek) is more anecdotal than controlled.

In order to deal with the effects of loss (from death and /or divorce) we have initiated three different support groups at our school. There is a national program called RAINBOWS, which provides support group training for church and school personnel who agree to be facilitators for loss groups.

There are certainly marriages for which I feel that healing solutions are nearly impossible and without direct divine intervention, divorce is the only solution. I do, however, find it difficult even to call a divorce, which emanates from one of these nearly impossible situations, an act of Grace. I find divorce even from these situations and the subsequent results rather graceless. However, I do believe that God, full of Grace and forgiveness, is willing to answer the cries of all, including those marriages which have not discovered the Grace available in marriage. I also believe that we, who are God's people, must be emissaries of God's Grace in a rather graceless situation.

I rather doubt that we view the act of divorce with much difference. Like a lot of different perspectives, the differences in view are the differences of language and semantics. Randy Johnson, Des Plaines, Illinois.

Greetings! I am enjoying the publication and encourage you in your continued work! Ken Carlson, Bemidji , Minnesota.

It has been nice to receive your publication. The viewpoint of Pietisten is interesting and I thank you for your contribution to dialogue within the Covenant. Stephen Bilynskyj, Lincoln, Nebraska.

A Blessed Holiday Season — And thanks for good friendship and the great Pietisten. Like to be in contact for some writing. Have a great life. Runar Eldebo, Lidingö, Sweden

Keep up the great work! Things are well in Connecticut. Tim Heintzelman, Thomaston, Connecticut.

Thanks for the good work. Your courage for tackling important, if unpopular questions, is commendable. Keep it up! Ed (L. Edward ) Nelson, Longview, Washington.

During the spring term at the seminary, beginning on March 20th Steve Graham, our new professor of church history Ph.D. under Martin Marty at the University of Chicago — and I will be co-teaching the seminar, "Living Issues in Covenant Life and Thought." If we could secure 15 copies of back issues of Pietisten, I would be grateful.

It is my intention to speak a strong word of support of the journal and recommend that every member of the Seminar become a subscriber.

I truly believe that the contribution you and your cohorts are making through the journal is vastly significant. One project that I plan to suggest to the participants is that of reading all ten issues of Pietisten and writing a reflective response. I will let you know if one of them adopts the idea.

Best greetings to you and your editorial staff — F. Burton Nelson, Chicago, Illinois.

I read with interest your Pietisten publication. It takes a lot of work and study to put out such think papers. Keep it up. Also, if you would put me on your mailing list, I would appreciate it. Budrow Larson, Prior Lake, Minnesota

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Pietisten. It is well-written and well-edited. The articles are thought-provoking and helpful in both my pastoral ministry and my personal spiritual growth. Thank you for your gift of this fine periodical. Noel V. Cisneros, Hector, Minnesota.

Ebbc Bolin, Rector of Betel Institutet, writes thanking us for Pietisten and inviting interested American students to study at Betel Institute. The Institute is an accredited Bible School. Those who have an interest can obtain a prospectus by writing Ebbe Bolin, Rector, Betel Institutet, Orsa, Sweden.