Author Archives: Peter T. Brandt

The Quota

Bands of masked, heavily armed men roam the streets. They are hunting. Dangerous people. At first, they are told exactly what they are hunting for: criminal immigrants. They are promised abundance. Easy work. A target-rich environment. Three thousand hunters are deployed. They are organized into five hundred teams of six. Each team is given aContinueContinue reading “The Quota”

Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics

Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics What’s a lie—and can we see it coming? Over the past few years, I’ve changed how I consume information—news, politics, even everyday claims. I no longer assume that authority equals accuracy. Instead, I do two things: It takes more time. But it replaces certainty with clarity. That framework is whyContinueContinue reading “Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics”

Extraordinary Threats

Extraordinary Measures This piece did not begin as an abstract inquiry. It began with a convergence of events—and a surge of emotion that would not settle. It all started when ICE operations expanded across Minnesota, producing fear among non-citizens.  Anger when a fellow SEM student from Africa was detained and informed he was being deported.ContinueContinue reading “Extraordinary Threats”

Killing Good

Are we, as a society, now literally killing good? On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and U.S. citizen, was fatally shot during a federal immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. She was inside her SUV on a residential street when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents approached her vehicle. AnContinueContinue reading “Killing Good”

Masculinity Reclaimed—or Rebranded Empire?

Shalom allows bends. Empire demands straight lines. In recent years, a growing chorus of public voices has urged men to “step up,” reclaim leadership, and take charge of their families—and society itself. The movement goes by different names and arises from different places, but its message is consistent: Society is in decline because men haveContinueContinue reading “Masculinity Reclaimed—or Rebranded Empire?”

The Fraud of the Fraud

A Brief Word Before You Read This reflection occupies a difficult space. It names real wrongdoing—and also how that wrongdoing can be stretched, repurposed, and narrated in ways that distort rather than clarify, often causing additional harm. It is not written to excuse failure, defend institutions, or minimize misconduct. It is written to protect proportion.ContinueContinue reading “The Fraud of the Fraud”

Libertas or is it Autonomy?

And the distinction between “freedom through autonomy” versus “freedom in Jesus”. In a recent seminary discussion, a few classmates described what might be called a Libertarian Lifestyle Ideal: minimal reliance on the state, no taxes, limited technology, an off-grid vision of self-sufficiency. I was genuinely grateful for their sincerity and their desire for simplicity andContinueContinue reading “Libertas or is it Autonomy?”

What’s Enough?

By Peter Brandt | SeePhas The Socioeconomics of Enough A Reflection on Economics, History, Scripture and a Conversation with a Young Buck Every one of us eventually faces the question: How much do I need? Do I have enough? Not enough in the shallow, consumer sense — but enough in the sense of our flourishing.ContinueContinue reading “What’s Enough?”

A Thanksgiving Parable

🌾 The Parable of Old Soil and New Earth There were once two neighboring fields, each weathered by time. One field, called Old Soil, had been planted for countless generations. Its people knew every bend of the river, every rhythm of the seasons, every voice of the forest. Their stories were as old as theContinueContinue reading “A Thanksgiving Parable”

The Rise of Therapeutic Christianity

Sometimes my mind drifts into the uncomfortable places—the ones most people avoid because they raise questions that disrupt the mood and challenge the assumptions in the room. I used to think this made me overly critical or pessimistic. But lately I’ve been wondering: What if these thoughts aren’t flaws? What if they’re invitations? Invitations toContinueContinue reading “The Rise of Therapeutic Christianity”

Who am I?

October 5, 2025 This question has grown more important to me in recent years. John Calvin (1509–1564) was a highly influential French theologian, pastor, and reformer during the Protestant Reformation. For much of my life, I’ve wrestled with the Calvinist idea of Total Depravity—the claim that we are born corrupt and incapable of good on our own. ItContinueContinue reading “Who am I?”

David and Donald: Flawed Leaders, Different Hearts

Lately, King David—the second king of Israel in the 10th century BC—keeps surfacing in my world. This weekend I’ll see the Sight and Sound production of David in Branson, MO. Over the past few years, I’ve spent time in the Hebrew Bible, trying to understand its literature and what it means for God’s kingdom. David’sContinueContinue reading “David and Donald: Flawed Leaders, Different Hearts”

2025 – Big Chill

What is the most important thing to know in life? We’re excited to gather for “Big Chill” again this summer! Each year we have a time of “devotion” – usually Sunday morning, but the time is flexible. And, as always, participation is optional. This year, our devotion time will focus on one big question: WhatContinueContinue reading “2025 – Big Chill”

The Journey to my Core Beliefs

Not to the center of the earth What Do I Believe? Over the past three years, my beliefs have undergone a profound transformation. Working within a “Christian” organization, I often found myself unsettled by the disconnect between what was professed there and what resonated with my core spiritual convictions. At its heart, my faith hasContinueContinue reading “The Journey to my Core Beliefs”

A Few Words on Salvation – Happy Easter! Is it? Part 2

Part 2 part 2 of 5+ Are you saved? If so, from what? Or to what? What does “being saved” mean? “Saving” is an interesting term we Christians use to describe what happens to us in our relationship with God. But there are widely varying ideas amongst Christians about the word “saved” – we’ll exploreContinueContinue reading “A Few Words on Salvation – Happy Easter! Is it? Part 2”

Happy Easter! Is it? pt.1

For much of my adult life, Easter has been a celebration. But over the last number of years the celebration has been muted. Why Easter Feels Different to Me Easter is supposed to be pure joy—full of proclamations like “Christ is Risen!” and “Jesus Saves!” Yet over the years, I’ve found the day more complex…ContinueContinue reading “Happy Easter! Is it? pt.1”

We were wrong!

She is one of nearly 1,583 people who have been charged and most convicted. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvged988377o Pamela Hemphill, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in prison, told the BBC that there should be no pardons for the riot on 6 January 2021. “Accepting a pardon would only insult the Capitol police officers, ruleContinueContinue reading “We were wrong!”

Reflections on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving and the Tension of American Memory: A Reflection Thanksgiving invites us each year to pause, give thanks, and reflect—but it also invites us to rise above the myths we’ve inherited. Like many American holidays, Thanksgiving carries a story full of contrasts: celebration woven with suffering, gratitude intertwined with tragedy. The First Thanksgiving: 1621 “TheContinueContinue reading “Reflections on Thanksgiving”

Reflection – Post Election 2024

First Reflection on Exiles – The Church in the Shadow of Empire by Preston Sprinkle A key question was asked about how we/I feel as an American about this election cycle from a fellow student from outside the US – What do you think of the election in light of the first chapter of thisContinueContinue reading “Reflection – Post Election 2024”

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

https://practicaltheologytoday.com/2024/09/19/where-the-right-and-left-agree/ “The bottom line is that conservatives and liberals are united, the left wing embraces the right, Pilate and Herod becomes friends, and the one proposition that unites them is that Jesus is impractical.” People tried to press Jesus into their civic and political agendas and he would not allow it.  In their mind, JesusContinueContinue reading “Can’t We All Just Get Along?”

A Blessing – for Dan and Jess’ Wedding

On Ausgust 31, 2024 – Daniel Brandt AND Jessica Kretzschmar – were married. At the reception, several speeches and toasts were made to the couple. This one is from me, Peter, Dan’s dad. Hi, I’m Peter, most of you may know me as the father of the groom, Dan’s dad, or just that old guyContinueContinue reading “A Blessing – for Dan and Jess’ Wedding”

In the Beginning

Using study of the Bible to Discern Big Chill 2024 Genesis 1 and 2 Background Our aspirations for this devotion and how we come together around the text Communal – texts from the Bible are intended to be spoken, together. Meditative – texts are intended to make us think – the literature is not writtenContinueContinue reading “In the Beginning”

More on Guns and Society

Guns and Society Peter Brandt 2022 In my research about guns, I would state my thesis on guns as follows: “Guns have been used by humans against one another as one of the leading causes of human death in our world and in our country since their invention – therefore, guns have not helped humansContinueContinue reading “More on Guns and Society”

The Truth About Guns, Gun Violence in the US

We have been duped: We are being told by the now Supreme Court (circa. 2022) we must adhere to the original tenants of the Constitution – not including some of the Bill of Rights, specifically those adopted after the Civil War – the Amendments 13 to 27. This is an artifact not from our founders,ContinueContinue reading “The Truth About Guns, Gun Violence in the US”

Evangelical objections to vaccines have nothing to do with Christianity

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/30/vaccine-resistance-evangelical-christianity/Washington Post Editorial on Evangelical resistance to Covid vaccines. There are many reasons I’ve heard for not taking Covid-19 vaccines. But, the anti-vaxxer community has three fundamental anti-vaxx messages for society: COVID-19 isn’t dangerousVaccines are dangerousYou can’t trust doctors or scientists They then back these up with disinformation from various sources – mostly opinions, orContinueContinue reading “Evangelical objections to vaccines have nothing to do with Christianity”