One common concern I often hear from parents and other adult church members about including children in the corporate worship setting is that kids won’t “get” anything out of the worship or the sermon. From an adult perspective, there are…
The spiritual practice of taking the next step
By Jayne Davis “The road emerged only as I walked it.” — Jurgen Moltmann One of the most exciting things for me in a coaching conversation is listening for the next question. Rather than coming in with the expert hat…
Missing Church: Why I’m not a “Done” (Even If I Want to Be)
A couple of months ago, I posted about the experience of taking a break from attending church. It somehow garnered a lot more attention than I expected, enough that it prompted a follow-up question: Why go back? It’s a question that…
More rubato for our faith
Does your faith need a little more rubato and a little less strictness? All of us—and most all of creation—are designed in such a way that we have a solid framework of something behind us, just like a soft sofa…
A profoundly simple question – where is your faith?
It feels like a trick question. Like the one a teacher asks each new class: “How many months of the year have 28 days?” Just as surely as someone always yells out “February,” a more thoughtful student eventually realizes: “All…
When the wind blows
As a cyclist, I’m always aware of the wind. Thinking of the wind today reminded me of living in Oklahoma where a constant, ceaseless wind never leaves you alone. Like a pushy neighbor, wind squeezes uninhibited and uninvited through the…
1914 Christmas truce inspires debate, hope for peace in modern times
By Jeff Brumley The Christmas Truce of 1914 has been called heart-warming, inspiring and even miraculous. But could it ever be called repeatable? The historic event occurred on Christmas Day that year during World War I, when German and Allied…
Bodies in motion: Some Baptists are recovering the physical in worship, prayer
By Jeff Brumley Baptists have historically minimized bodily movement in worship and prayer out of concern for appearing too charismatic or Catholic, scholars and spiritual formation ministers say. Baptisms and altar calls and the occasional layings-on of hands are accepted,…
Christmas is where I believe again
Last year I realized that Christmas had become the crux of my faith. I was leading worship wondering if all this faith stuff was all it’s cracked up to be, and I found myself in a puddle of tears. I…
Interfaith dialogue requires hard work of forging relationships, Baptist pastor says
By Jeff Brumley Interfaith dialogue is about much more than symbolism, say those committed to the process. That’s because effective interfaith conversations require relationships, and relationships require more than annual prayer breakfasts or worship services that rotate among churches, mosques…
on mega-churches, millennials and modernism.
In my hometown there is a church. This church has a sanctuary. A steeple. A large staff of religious professionals. A jet. A hashtag campaign for each sermon series. A fleet of boats. A “membership” of over 8,000. And at…
More Americans exploring, sharing faith online
By Jeff Brumley A Pew Research study released last week found that one out of every five Americans share their faith online on a weekly basis. It seems like a lot more than that to Chris Canary, a minister at…