A. J. Swoboda - The Dusty Ones: Why Wandering Deepens Your Faith

A. J. Swoboda is the kind of pastor, writer, and theologian todays church desperately needs. Capable and engaging, he has a bent toward vulnerability that is simply honest and beautifully human. And its this human touch that makes The Dusty Ones a unique, well-rooted, and spiritually nourishing work. If youve experienced your own desert seasons or periods of wandering, this book is Swobodas gift to you.

Seth Haines , author of Coming Clean: A Story of Faith

A. J. Swoboda is one of the most authentic, profound, and kind people I know. In The Dusty Ones, this pastor-theologian-friend tackles the topic of wandering, reminding us, for example, of the mistakes Israel made while journeying to the promised land. Yet, the wandering in The Dusty Ones is about more than physical years in the desert; its about the wilderness and yearning of the heart. Reading The Dusty Ones is like talking to a friend whos wandering alongside us on this road of truth, which is always bumpy, but always worthwhile. A. J. draws from St. Augustine, noting how we were made for God and that our hearts are restless until they find rest in him. And thats okay. After all, on the road of life, you will get dusty.

Cornelia Becker Seigneur , author of WriterMom Tales and West Linn (Images of America series); founding director of Faith & Culture Writers Conference

At a time when the Christian faith is all too easily reduced to a neatly designed journey to a glorious destination, A. J. Swoboda brings us back to the ancient theme of wandering. Drawing on the stories of biblical characters and historical figures, Swoboda reminds us that God has always walked alongside his people, even through lifes more arduous terrain: God walks with wanderers and speaks to wandering hearts. A. J.s words are like water in our own wilderness, reminding us that God is forging a deep work in our desert spaces. May we all have the courage to live as one of the dusty ones.

Jo Saxton , chair of the board of 3D Movements; speaker and author

In The Dusty Ones , pastor and seminary professor A. J. Swoboda wrestles with the paradox of faith: on the road toward perfection in Christ, we can only move forward by acknowledging how far we have to go. This book is a must read for anyone concerned by how far our personal and cultural wanderings have separated us from God. Kudos to Swoboda for addressing a difficult issue with honesty and grace.

Matthew Sleeth , director of Blessed Earth ; author of 24/6

A. J. is one of those writers you discover as if he were a new indie band that you cant shut up about. Thats how I feel after reading his work. I connect with both his writing style and his message. And I want to tell everyone about it, and especially about The Dusty Ones . This notion of wandering has given words and hope to my own struggle as a professional pastor, where it sometimes seems dangerous to not know where Im at or where Im going. Read this book on your journey toward Christ, and be encouraged that were all just broken wanderers in search of Jesus.

David Lomas , pastor of Reality San Francisco; author of The Truest Thing about You

My favorite line in the whole hymnal comes from that old standard Come Thou Fount: Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. And oh, do I feel it, and so does my friend A. J. Swoboda. In The Dusty Ones , A. J. explores that inclination and, with his characteristic wit, charm, and insight, takes the reader through a personal journey of wandering along the pilgrim way of those who follow after Christ.

R. Anderson Campbell , assistant professor of Christian studies at George Fox University

A. J. Swoboda uses timely illustrations to discuss a timeless biblical trope: wandering. Using topics ranging from Freud to farming, he tackles the richness and agony of the twenty-first-century Christian journey with refreshing transparency. Along the way, he invites followers of Jesus to join in the grand pilgrimage and reminds us of Tolkiens great truth that not all those who wander are lost.

Leah Payne , professor of theology and cultural studies at George Fox Evangelical Seminary

I know A. J. Swoboda well. I know that his theology is historically grounded and profoundly biblical. I also know that, because of his gifts as a preacher, he has a rare ability to communicate that theology creatively and comprehensibly. This book is about the spiritual discipline of wandering, that mysterious counterpoint to the discipline of rootedness. As the evangelical community leans into a blossoming array of spiritual practices, it will look to books like this one.

Dan Brunner , professor of church history at George Fox Evangelical Seminary; coauthor of Introducing Evangelical Ecotheology