About

In Brief:

I completed an undergrad in Biblical Studies, and am currently pursuing graduate studies focusing on Christianity and Culture. I’m writing a thesis on the connection between eschatology, ethics and empires, in Paul’s day and in the present.  It has the working title: “Apocalyptic Eschatology and the Subversion of Empires: Reading Paul in New Creation Communities.”

I work at a shelter for street-involved and homeless youth, and volunteer at a drop-in for male and transgendered sex workers.

Married to Melanie in March of 2007. Good times had by all.

I read books.

I also speak occasionally at churches, conferences, and retreats, so if this interests you, feel free to get in touch with me.

Oh, and by the way, I use the tag “poser or prophet” not to suggest that I am a prophet (despite what my critics say) but to remind myself that, although I strive to live a life in line with the latter, I am more often found in the company of the former.

Any questions?

Responses

  1. DAN!!! How are things? I’m in my second year teaching in North York. This year Keith Brooks joined the staff. We were talking about beards and Your stinky tree planting beard came up. He said, ‘You know Dan Oudshorn?’ So, he mentioned your blog and the crack at the new monastacism living (you mentioned you were thinking about it to me before you went off to B.C.. I’m glad you attempted it. Don’t bury the idea). Where are you these days? Lets talk soon!
    Looking forward to hearing from you!
    Steve

  2. Steve!!!

    Forget the stinky beard, remember the monkey-boob knees? Those things stayed swollen for over a year, and they still give me pain.

    Congrats on the teaching job! Last I remember you had just started teachers’ college… man, it has been awhile.

    Say ‘hi’ to Keith for me, and tell him he needs to rethink his views on sexuality.

    I’ll try to send you an email soon. Peace,

    Dan

  3. Hello Dan, found yoiu thru another blog. Identified wtih your posting on your…frustrations? failures? anyway, live dn here in Wash on whidbey isle and have experienced may of the same things. I am 56 and have been involved in all kind of ‘ministries, etc. anyway, saying hello, will keep in touch. We occasionaly get up to Van. Are you part of any group or church? best to you and yours, daniel

  4. daniel:

    Thank you very much for this comment. I hope that you do keep in touch, as I would be interested to hear some more about your journey. Next time you make it to Van, leave me a note, and perhaps we can get together for a meal and a conversation (perhaps even a pint, if that’s one of your pleasures in life).

    I am a part of a church congregation — it’s called Mosaic (based upon the idea that we are all broken people, but that God can take those broken pieces and make us, both individually and corporately, into something beautiful) and it focuses on being a community for street-involved people. I also work and volunteer in some social service agencies (whose names I don’t mention on this blog).

    Lastly, I just added another post to my ‘failure’ category (On Hopelessness), and I would be curious to hear what you think when you read the quote from Stegner (if you have the time to read that post — no pressure though!).

    Grace and peace,

    Dan

  5. love your blogging dan. your work on fear is so helpful. i teach literature and worldview studies at briercrest college. gonna point some of my students in your direction …

  6. Hello Sean,

    Thanks for the comment and the encouragement. If you point any of your students this way, let them know I’d love to hear their thoughts or comments.

    I’d be curious to hear what you teach in ‘worldview studies’ — that term seems broad enough to include all sorts of interesting categories.

  7. Helo from whidbey Island a litle ways below you, is there a way to subscribe to your blog? and if you answer this will it come in a e-mail? I am a little new at this, thanks and best daniel

  8. Hello again, just saw your response to my earlier mssg, now i get it. I will read your new post, thanks again, daniel

  9. my first posts to a blog, all 3 here, amazing. Well I read your first post on failing and I was taken back to so many of our own ‘failures.’ My wife and i were directly involved in many ‘intentional communities’ and ‘missions’ (sorry for all the ‘quotes’),stayed in contact with many others over the years. I could have written your post almost word for word 30 yrs ago! We are still friends with and keep in touch with many of the folks from the old days. We also worked with homeless, drug abusers, sex workers, teen runaway shelters, Catholic workers, native american children, and for a few yrs i was the social therapy co-ordinator for the black prisoner caucus in a Wash, St. prison. I couldn’t begin to recount all the mistakes and failures! Now my wife and i are in our late 50’s and still keeping an eye for where we might be of service. And we still keep in touch with some of the successes. Well i won’t be presumptious enough to offer any advice and i apologise for the length. so blessings to you and your wife and if we get up to Vancouver we will send you a note and if your ever dn here by whidbey isle be sure and look us up! best, daniel

  10. hi :)

    so happy to find your blog; i remember those knees, it wasn’t stinky beard was it? wasn’t it stinky hair?

    i have a lot of catching up to do… looks like you’re blog will be my late night reading.
    can’t wait! send me your number would love to chat and catch up!

    Andrea Earl

    ps. i’m out east finishing my m thesis and working at the uni (ssu), and still a great admirer of the poor :) a friend just stuffed a jon sabrino article in my hand just as i left the uni… ‘redeeming globalization through its victims’… have you read it? miss you my friend! wished i could have been at the wedding!

  11. Hey Dan! I’m excited that you’ve agreed to be involved with Tuesday’s chapel. Can you email me so that we can talk more about it? Thanks!

  12. I guess this is a little bit random but I got to hear about you and your work and studies from your brother Josh via a gaming website we both frequent (strange ol’ world eh?)

    Anyway, I haven’t had a full chance to look at all that you’re doing/saying but my initial reaction was one of huge challenge and fascination.

    I have just started my doctoral studies here in England at London School of Theology on (the broad theme of) Evangelical atonement theory/practice.

    I’d like to be kept up to date with your work/plans – do you have a newsletter or somesuch?

    I wish you God’s richest blessing in all that you’re doing over there…

    Martyn Smith – England

    • Hey Martyn,

      Random, yes, but I reckon that’s one of the nifty things about this whole blogging thing. Sorry to say that I don’t have any sort of newsletter the details what I and others are involved in. Just my blog really, and I don’t talk too much about my work here, due to confidentiality issues.

      Hope all goes well for you at LST. I’m thinking about relocating to jolly old England for PhD studies as well so, who knows, maybe we’ll be neighbours one day.

  13. Have you looked at Faith and Theology blog recently and the postings on Stringfellow? I imagine you’ve read him (I have not) but if you haven’t, he might be helpful for you…

    • Roger,

      Yes, I was introduced to Stringfellow about four years ago, and I’ve been reading him on-and-off ever since. If you’re interesting in reading him, I would recommend An Ethic For Christians and Other Aliens in a Strange Land.

  14. In your opinion, where’s a good place to start with Moltmann? Theology of Hope?

    JT

  15. Just got sent your blog address by someone who only identified himself as Abe. I’d written a brief post about an article of yours that appeared in the New Zealand journal, Stimulus, back in 2006. I commented on my blog that I couldn’t find much out about you so it’s good to find your blog and the information and discussions on it.

  16. dan, where are you located? Something I read somewhere suggests it could be Vancouver. I was at Regent 1981-86 and I get down there from time to time.

  17. hello dan,

    my name is daeshin. dont really know what to say except that i have only read one of your posts so far about journeying with the poor, but i think that i am already hooked. i really enjoy your writing style and your Christian perspective.

    i hope to continue to read, interact and learn from your blog and your postings. thank you for sharing your life experiences, your thoughts, and your friendly, interesting writing talent.

    daeshin

  18. is there a way to subscribe to your blog? im fairly new at this blogging business.

    daeshin

  19. Can you get a hod of me by email? I’d like to ask you to do a class for my students

  20. Hey Dan – Talk about globalization… I just got off a skype call with my friend Tom Smith in South Africa, and he directed me to your blog, despite the fact that I live in Vancouver. (Delta, to be exact.) Please drop me an email sometime.

    Peace,
    Mike

  21. Hey Dan, is there any way I could chat with you a little bit?
    thanks

  22. I would appreciate if you would like to email me.

  23. Like many others above me, I would like to get in touch with you via email. I have been reading (and often enjoying) your blog for sometime. One of your recent posts touched a nerve and I would really like to talk about some things, but not for the world to see.

  24. Hey Dan, I was at an Epiphaneia conference a few months ago, and I really liked what I heard there. I was thinking about it the other day and really wanted to hear it again. I was wondering if you had a recording or transcript or something. I also heard you were at the previous years conference, and was wondering if you had a recording/transcript of that year too. Thanks
    Mike.

  25. Curious. Only read a couple of entries, but it made me wonder about your thoughts on women in ministry – preaching, teaching & all that. Would love to hear. Thanks.

  26. Dan,

    Where’s your post on cursing? I can’t find it.

    Would you mind emailing me the link?

  27. Thanks, Dan!


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