Amid all the feelings this past political week has drawn out, several of my friends and colleagues lack words. Or have too many words to make sense of. Or fear their words have been ignored or will be silenced as…
Matthew Shepard’s story was almost my story
Editor’s note: Last weekend, the Dallas-based Turtle Creek Chorale performed Considering Matthew Shepard, a Grammy-nominated three-part oratorio composed by Craig Hella Johnson. The author serves as artistic director of the Turtle Creek Chorale. This piece first appeared in the Dallas…
Skillet’s John Cooper wants a revolution
In an era marked by cultural upheaval and deepening societal divides, John Cooper, the charismatic frontman of the Christian rock band Skillet, is making waves far beyond the music scene. With the release of Skillet’s new album, Revolution, Cooper is…
A playlist for women in ministry
Ever since I was a child, I have felt a connection to music and the way it draws on an artist’s experiences and ideas to invoke new experiences and ideas within the listeners. Throughout my journey, whether as a woman…
Politics, faith and mission: A conversation with Jimi Calhoun
Jimi Calhoun is full of stories about musicians with whom he’s performed, churches he’s served, and the human possibilities for which he hopes. As a bass player, he’s played across the globe with Dr. John, Parliament Funkadelic, Buddy Miles and…
Before evangelical males went after Taylor Swift, they hated on Amy Grant
“There is a difference between being secular and being ANTI-CHRISTIAN,” wrote Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen director for the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board. The anti-Christian culprit he had in mind was not one of the many examples of…
‘You forgive us, we’ll forgive you,’ the theology of John Prine
April 7 marked the four-year anniversary of the death of John Prine. A beloved American singer-songwriter, Prine was one of the first victims of COVID-19 when the disease took his last breath in the spring of 2020. The multi-Grammy-winning storyteller…
Big ideas at human size: An interview with Carrie Newcomer
Carrie Newcomer may be the holiest person I’ve ever met. The Quaker singer-songwriter embodies the peace and universal love that characterize Quakerism, and it comes across clearly in her songs, which are peopled with characters who are flawed, searching, quirky,…
What worshiping with other people does to you
Recently, I had the opportunity to sing in a choir behind praise and worship leader Charity Gayle at one of her concerts. What I experienced was beyond my expectations and I learned more than I imagined. My church choir was…