Moments of meditation, prayer, and devotional reading are crucial to faith development in all seasons. Advent, however, is a prime season for deepening one’s devotional life. And if you opt to go “paperless,” there are many excellent Advent devotional resources…
A Real Magic Wand
Our five-year-old granddaughter recently shared with her parents her Christmas wish list. Leading off, was this simple request: “a REAL magic wand”. She’s serious about this. She also asked for “a real fort”. We’re enjoying watching this exchange from a…
How can Jesus and Santa get along?
Every year I struggle with a Christmas ritual that millions of parents have no problem with: a visit with Santa Claus in a season that is about Jesus. How can Jesus and Santa get along? Why do I struggle? For some parents, Christmas…
What does it mean to be a minister without a congregation at Advent and Christmas?
Craig T. Kocher: What does it mean to be a minister without a congregation at Advent and Christmas?
Holiday Interrupted
I’ve been busy with the holidays since last week. When the grand jury’s decision in Ferguson was announced, I was picking up extended family from the airport. When a local action took place in my city the next day, I…
Thanking God ‘for all things’ or ‘in all things’?
Personal tragedy can make the Thanksgiving season very difficult. We need only remember Job to acknowledge that. After a series of events that included the deaths of all his children, his beloved servants, his contracting a painful illness, the inadequacy…
Mundane work, internal politics drive many from church, experts say
By Jeff Brumley A team of sociologists in Colorado say they were stunned recently by data showing a growing wave of once-dedicated church goers leaving their congregations. Their findings inspired the now-popular term “dones,” denoting Christians deciding to go it alone on…
A God with Skin on Her Face: Exploring the Mystery of Advent
Advent is derived from a Latin word meaning “arrival” or “coming.” The season of Advent on the church calendar marks something momentous. Henry Nouwen, who taught at both Harvard and Yale and authored over forty books, spent the last seven…
5 Things I’ve Learned in 5 Weeks Out of Church
Consider this official. I am issuing an apology to every member of every church that I have served over the last 20+ years. Two weeks ago, we set a personal record that I never thought I would reach. We hit…