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“The Rev. Dev.” I’m Josh Steele, a pastor-turned-programmer (“Rev[erend]"-to-“Dev[eloper]”) who solves problems with a programmer’s eye for detail and a pastor’s heart for people. As a software engineer, I work mainly on backend development in Java, SQL, and Python for a cybersecurity company. But I’m also an ordained Anglican priest (currently resigned from active ministry), trying to figure out what, if anything, to do with three degrees in theology. After a long time away (for those theology degrees), I’m back in my hometown ofToledo, OH, where I live with my wife and three young children....

You can add the following caveats to everything I write online. If it doesn’t directly apply to you, feel free to move along I’m usually writing for a broad audience and just trying to get people thinking. If I’m interested in starting a debate or argument with a specific individual, I will say so directly. If you think reality is more complicated than what I wrote, you’re right All communication is an oversimplification of reality....

If you’d like to ask if I’m interested in guest content on my blog, please don’t. I’m not interested. For all other matters, the best way to contact me is to send an email to blog@joshuapsteele.com. I’ll do my best to read and reply as soon as possible! If you’d like to reach out to me elsewhere online, I try to keep links to all my social profiles updated on my homepage here and also over at steele....

(For a brief profile of what I’m like and what makes me tick as a worker, read this self-assessment. You can also view my resume on LinkedIn.) EXPERIENCE Software Engineer II - Proofpoint February 2023 - Present Led the design and development of a major user provisioning integration project, demonstrating leadership and technical skills. Authored scripts for system testing and delivered a technical presentation on the system. Mentored and trained new developers, showcasing leadership and interpersonal skills....

(Note: Since writing the essays below, I’ve left the academy and now work as a software engineer. Nevertheless, I’m keeping these around for posterity.) Wheaton College Graduate School (2017 - ) (Here’s the elevator pitch for my dissertation proposal: “Scriptural, But Not Religious: Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and a Biblical Critique of Religion.”) The Guilt of Karl Barth: Strengths and Weaknesses of Barth’s Römerbrief Reading of Romans 9:30–10:21 The Tree of Religion: Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer on the Tree of Knowledge in Genesis 2:4–3:24 When will Thy Kingdom Come?...

This is a /lists page, where I keep track of the lists I’m working on! Last Updated: 2025-04-16 Information Sources News Associated Press The Economist Ground News Reuters Newsletters Adam Kinzinger’s Newsletter Heather Cox Richardson’s Newsletter Timothy Snyder’s Newsletter Interesting and/or Useful Websites 12ft BlueSky Profile Cleanup City Guesser Cool Tools Effective Shell Fold N’ Fly Hacker Laws InterNACHI Home Inspection Image Gallery McMaster-Carr Online Catalog OpenTimes Sketchplanations Questions See my Questions page!...

Note: I haven’t updated this “My Story” page in quite some time. Check my “Now” page for more recent updates. But here’s the TL;DR: We’ve got three kids now. I quit my Ph.D. program, resigned from active ministry, and now work full-time as a software engineer. But I’m leaving this old “My Story” page up as a window into how I summarized my story back in 2021. From Childhood to College God’s faithfulness to me is linked with his faithfulness to my parents....

These days, I’m: Living in Toledo, OH (my hometown!) Raising 3 young kids (6yo, 4yo, 2yo) with my wife Enjoying my work as a software engineer Trying to lose weight (current weight: 225lbs; goal: 200lbs) Working on home repair projects Rehabilitating a vintage 1940s Craftsman table saw Buying too many books and tools (This is a now page, and if you have your own site, you should make one, too.)...

(Note: Since writing this “philosophy of ministry”, I have since resigned from active ministry. I now work full-time as a software engineer, and am trying to discern what my Christian “vocation” looks like, going forward. Nevertheless, I will leave what I’ve written below for posterity.) Every Christian is a theologian. I consider it my life’s work to help “everyday Christians” grow in their knowledge and love of God so that we all can put our gifts to good use by joining with God’s redemptive work in the world....

This is a /questions page, where I keep track of the questions I’m asking! Last Updated: 2025-03-15 Questions I’m Asking (These are in addition to these “self-elicitation” questions, which are always worth asking yourself!) Are “/questions” pages like this a thing? Can we make them a thing? If you have a /questions page, please let me know! What’s a good “budget” version of a Veto Pro Pac TP-LC tool bag?...