Years ago, I attended a workshop on worship renewal led by Robert Webber, who was one of the top names in that field in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Formations 03.06.2022: Born from Above
February 27, 2022 by
In the sliver of the Baptist family in which I grew up, Lent was something you brushed off your clothes. Honestly, anything past Christmas and Easter were looked upon with suspicion.
A View from the Pew: Trunk-or-Treat vs. Trick-or-Treat
October 27, 2021 by
Last month I explored the concept of fall festivals as church events and how to think about them in the current context. This month, I’d like to spend a little time unpacking a specific form of the fall festival known as “trunk-or-treat.”
Connections 05.16.2021: Learning from Experience
May 9, 2021 by
The writer of 1 John talks a lot about what we know. For example, he says, “By this we know that we abide in [God] and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit” (4:13).
A View from the Pew: Hugs and Kisses
November 17, 2020 by
Church in the time of COVID-19 is such a different experience that seminary students will be writing dissertations unraveling its impact on people of faith for years to come.
Connections 05.03.2020: Community from a Distance
April 26, 2020 by
We’ve been doing something counter-intuitive during these days of the COVID-19 pandemic: building community by staying apart. In our current situation, we love our neighbors by staying away from them.
Connections 08.25.2019: From Looking Down to Looking Out
August 18, 2019 by
Because of a back problem, the woman had been bent over for eighteen years. She had spent almost two decades looking at the ground and at people’s feet.
Connections 08.11.2019: From Indifference to Readiness
August 4, 2019 by
What does it mean to be indifferent to something? In the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, synonyms for “indifferent” are apathetic, complacent, disinterested, incurious, nonchalant, and unconcerned.
From the Flame
May 21, 2019 by
After the Halloween season, I purchased some seasonal candles on sale. A large one consisted of a layer of orange wax followed by a layer of black wax followed by another layer of orange wax.
Connections 04.14.2019: From the Colt’s Journal
April 7, 2019 by
Nobody asked me if I wanted to participate. But I was used to such treatment. I was hanging out, munching some grain, minding my own business, when two fellows came along and took me.
Turning Evil Away, a Lenten Devotion
March 12, 2019 by
The first time I remember being faced with temptation, I was 4 years old. I was in the checkout line at the drug store with my mom and sister.
Formations 03.17.2019: Freedom from the Law
March 10, 2019 by
Paul held the torah in high regard. In this week’s passage, he affirms, “So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.
Formations 12.9.2018: From the Wasteland
December 2, 2018 by
For this second Sunday of Advent, I’ll admit that part of my preference for this season is religious cover for my Scrooge-like demeanor. It persists most of the year, but November and December throw it into particular relief. Needless to say, this year I’ve surprised myself and have willfully listened to Christmas music before Thanksgiving.
Learning from Others’ Lenses
October 23, 2018 by
My seventh grade Sunday school class was studying King David using student workbooks and homework assignments. During the week that we studied today’s passage, our leader explained that these verses were proof that David cared for Bathsheba more than he cared for his other wives.
A View from the Pew: Long Courtships
June 19, 2018 by
Like the age-old question “How many licks does it take to get the center of a Tootsie Pop?” those seeking a new church home often struggle with how long they should visit a particular congregation before joining. It seems it takes people longer and longer to feel ready to commit to a local church these days, and even the most consistent churchgoers have a hard time settling on a church.
Connections 06.17.2018: From Old to New
June 10, 2018 by
Have you ever read advice that is intended to help you age well—or barely to age at all? Avoid the sun, get some sun each day, take vitamin D, don’t take vitamin D, use sunscreen at all times, sunscreen causes cancer, drink red wine, avoid red wine, be a vegetarian, go paleo, sleep more, sleep less, eat dairy, avoid dairy…
A View from the Pew: What to Look for When Visiting A New Church
May 22, 2018 by
Finding a church can be frustrating, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Instead of focusing on the color of the carpet or the wardrobe of the pastor, here are nine clues to help you find your local church home.
A View from the Pew: The Problem with Wednesdays
August 23, 2016 by
I’ve got a Wednesday night church attendance track record that rivals the Apostle Paul’s Pharisee credentials….
But now, for the first time in my life, I’m an erratic Wednesday night church attender.
A View from the Pew: Less Summer to Do Summer Ministry
July 20, 2016 by
If you have school-aged children in your life, it’s no secret that summer isn’t what it used to be. Here are five tips to ease the pressure and help your children’s spiritual formation remain at the top of your summer priority list.