Episode 238

Doug Basler

Finding Novels for the New Year

Doug Basler joins me to talk about his new book, All Swirling and Weaving: Reflections on Reading Fiction and Growing in Faith
Doug Basler joins me to talk about his new book, All Swirling and Weaving: Reflections on Reading Fiction and Growing in Faith
00:00 44:44

Show Notes:Doug Basler — Finding Novels for the New Year

Doug Basler is married to his wife, Katie, and is the father of Addie, Jackson, and Isaac. He currently serves as pastor of Union Park Presbyterian Church in Des Moines and First Presbyterian Church of Grimes. His pastoral ministry has also taken him to congregations in Aberdeen, Washington, and Cooke City, Montana.

Doug recently completed a Doctor of Ministry in the Sacred Art of Writing at Western Theological Seminary and holds degrees from Westmont College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the author of All Swirling and Weaving: Reflections on Reading Fiction and Growing in Faith, a work that explores how attentive engagement with literature can shape Christian imagination and spiritual formation.

A lifelong sports fan, Doug roots enthusiastically for the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bears, and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Host: Chase Replogle

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Author's Books

  • The Cultivation of Christmas Trees T.S. Eliot There are several attitudes towards Christmas, Some of which we may disregard: The social, the torpid, the patently commercial, The rowdy (the pubs being open till midnight), And the childish – which is not that of the child For whom the candle is a star, and the gilded angel Spreading its wings at the summit of the tree Is not only a decoration, but an angel. The child wonders at the Christmas Tree: Let him continue in the spirit of wonder At the Feast as an event not accepted as a pretext; So that the glittering rapture, the amazement Of the first-remembered Christmas Tree, So that the surprises, delight in new possessions (Each one with its peculiar and exciting smell), The expectation of the goose or turkey And the expected awe on its appearance, So that the reverence and the gaiety May not be forgotten in later experience, In the bored habituation, the fatigue, the tedium, The awareness of death, the consciousness of failure, Or in the piety of the convert Which may be tainted with a self-conceit Displeasing to God and disrespectful to children (And here I remember also with gratitude St.Lucy, her carol, and her crown of fire): So that before the end, the eightieth Christmas (By “eightieth” meaning whichever is last) The accumulated memories of annual emotion May be concentrated into a great joy Which shall be also a great fear, as on the occasion When fear came upon every soul: Because the beginning shall remind us of the end And the first coming of the second coming.
  • Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
  • Lemu Emu and Doug. Their idea for trick or treating… @libertymutual
  • Another successful tournament for Will. This kid trains five nights a week at Jiu Jitsu. His work ethic, discipline, and toughness amaze me. And a special things to @treycarterjj at @dynastyjiujitsu . Best coach and best gym there is.
  • Horse fieldtrip today. Ashley getting to nerd out on horses.
  • Wear a fake mustache and get free tickets to the Springfield Cardinals. We were in.
  • Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
  • Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
The Cultivation of Christmas Trees T.S. Eliot There are several attitudes towards Christmas, Some of which we may disregard: The social, the torpid, the patently commercial, The rowdy (the pubs being open till midnight), And the childish – which is not that of the child For whom the candle is a star, and the gilded angel Spreading its wings at the summit of the tree Is not only a decoration, but an angel. The child wonders at the Christmas Tree: Let him continue in the spirit of wonder At the Feast as an event not accepted as a pretext; So that the glittering rapture, the amazement Of the first-remembered Christmas Tree, So that the surprises, delight in new possessions (Each one with its peculiar and exciting smell), The expectation of the goose or turkey And the expected awe on its appearance, So that the reverence and the gaiety May not be forgotten in later experience, In the bored habituation, the fatigue, the tedium, The awareness of death, the consciousness of failure, Or in the piety of the convert Which may be tainted with a self-conceit Displeasing to God and disrespectful to children (And here I remember also with gratitude St.Lucy, her carol, and her crown of fire): So that before the end, the eightieth Christmas (By “eightieth” meaning whichever is last) The accumulated memories of annual emotion May be concentrated into a great joy Which shall be also a great fear, as on the occasion When fear came upon every soul: Because the beginning shall remind us of the end And the first coming of the second coming.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
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The Cultivation of Christmas Trees T.S. Eliot There are several attitudes towards Christmas, Some of which we may disregard: The social, the torpid, the patently commercial, The rowdy (the pubs being open till midnight), And the childish – which is not that of the child For whom the candle is a star, and the gilded angel Spreading its wings at the summit of the tree Is not only a decoration, but an angel. The child wonders at the Christmas Tree: Let him continue in the spirit of wonder At the Feast as an event not accepted as a pretext; So that the glittering rapture, the amazement Of the first-remembered Christmas Tree, So that the surprises, delight in new possessions (Each one with its peculiar and exciting smell), The expectation of the goose or turkey And the expected awe on its appearance, So that the reverence and the gaiety May not be forgotten in later experience, In the bored habituation, the fatigue, the tedium, The awareness of death, the consciousness of failure, Or in the piety of the convert Which may be tainted with a self-conceit Displeasing to God and disrespectful to children (And here I remember also with gratitude St.Lucy, her carol, and her crown of fire): So that before the end, the eightieth Christmas (By “eightieth” meaning whichever is last) The accumulated memories of annual emotion May be concentrated into a great joy Which shall be also a great fear, as on the occasion When fear came upon every soul: Because the beginning shall remind us of the end And the first coming of the second coming.
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
Will’s first South Dakota pheasant trip.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
Lemu Emu and Doug. Their idea for trick or treating… @libertymutual
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
Lemu Emu and Doug. Their idea for trick or treating… @libertymutual
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Another successful tournament for Will. This kid trains five nights a week at Jiu Jitsu. His work ethic, discipline, and toughness amaze me. And a special things to @treycarterjj at @dynastyjiujitsu . Best coach and best gym there is.
Another successful tournament for Will. This kid trains five nights a week at Jiu Jitsu. His work ethic, discipline, and toughness amaze me. And a special things to @treycarterjj at @dynastyjiujitsu . Best coach and best gym there is.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
Another successful tournament for Will. This kid trains five nights a week at Jiu Jitsu. His work ethic, discipline, and toughness amaze me. And a special things to @treycarterjj at @dynastyjiujitsu . Best coach and best gym there is.
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Horse fieldtrip today. Ashley getting to nerd out on horses.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
Horse fieldtrip today. Ashley getting to nerd out on horses.
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
4 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Wear a fake mustache and get free tickets to the Springfield Cardinals. We were in.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
Wear a fake mustache and get free tickets to the Springfield Cardinals. We were in.
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
Free hotdog night. Will did damage and the cardinals won in extra innings.
7 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
@thepastorwriter
@thepastorwriter
•
Follow
Last day and the best cup of Turkish coffee.
7 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

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