Why subscribe to Doug’s Substack?
We live in a world of “breaking news” and 280-character hot takes. This is a space for the opposite: the long view.
For 45 years, I served as a Presbyterian pastor in places ranging from the American Midwest and Florida to European cities like Zürich and The Hague. That career taught me that life is rarely lived in the shallows; the most meaningful moments happen at the intersection of our deepest convictions and our daily realities.
I write for those who believe that a life well-lived is an examined life.
What we explore here:
Faith: Not as a set of easy answers, but as a journey. Drawing on four decades as a pastor and preacher, plus miles walked solo along the Camino paths of Spain and Portugal, I write about finding the sacred in the ordinary, the unexpected, and the challenging.
Literature: I believe that “secular” stories often hold “sacred” truths. As a regular reviewer for the Reformed Journal and Englewood Review of Books, I share reflections on the books that shape our souls, from classic philosophy to modern fiction.
The Examined Life: Whether it’s “haircut tourism” in a foreign city or the quiet observations of retirement, I look for the wisdom hidden in travel, aging, and the art of paying attention.
What you’ll get
When you subscribe, you aren’t just getting another email. You’re joining a conversation. My goal is to provide a weekly moment of pause—a chance to look at your own life through the lenses of faith and literature.
About Doug
I am the author of seven nonfiction books, including The Traveler's Path: Finding Spiritual Growth and Inspiration Through Travel — winner of the 2026 Wilbur Award of Excellence from the Religion Communicators Council — and my memoir Chasing After Wind: A Pastor's Life. I have an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Calvin University, plus an MDiv and DMin from Princeton Theological Seminary.
My most frequent travel partner has been my wife, Susan DeYoung, and when I’m not writing or traveling, I’m likely keeping up with our two daughters—one a Presbyterian pastor, the other a health economist.
Start with my favorite posts:
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Please contact me using the email douglas.brouwer@gmail.com.
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Here are my books, which are available from amazon, barnesandnoble.com, walmart.com, eerdmans.com, or the publisher:
The Traveler’s Path: Finding Growth and Inspiration Through Travel (Reformed Journal Books/Front Edge Publishing)
CHASING AFTER WIND: A Pastor’s Life (Eerdmans Publishing Company)
The Truth About Who We Are: Letter to My Grandchildren (Wipf & Stock Publishers)
How to Become a Multicultural Church (Eerdmans Publishing Company)
What Am I Supposed To Do With My Life: Asking the Right Questions (Eerdmans Publishing Company)
Beyond ‘I Do’: What Christians Believe About Marriage (Eerdmans Publishing Company)
Remembering the Faith: What Christians Believe (Eerdmans Publishing Company)
I Heard It at the Potluck: Hope and Hilarity for People Under the Steeple (Harold Shaw Publishers)
