dI was in the kitchen doing dishes when the sound stopped me. Froze me in place. I went to the living room to check it out. I knew the face and the voice but not the song. So of course,…
40 years later, Parental Advisory warning label still impacts music industry
The “Washington wives” were four women who said a flood of obscene and violent rock music was a “family values” issue America must address. At a Senate hearing 40 years ago, they argued for a record labeling system that would…
Why Jennifer Knapp’s newest album ‘resonates’ with me
On Sept. 4, Jennifer Knapp’s newest recording venture hit the market. In this five-song extended play collection, Resonant, she pulled together some of her favorites covers. The term “resonant” refers to a deep, clear echoing of sound, and these songs…
Why you should care about the Kennedy Center board
The arts — in whatever form they take — play an important role in all societies. In fact, archeologists often look to the artistic and cultural remnants of a society to understand what it valued and believed. In addition to…
When worship becomes an act of cruelty
Why are white evangelicals so conditioned for cruelty? After all, the debacle that was Donald Trump’s first day in office included ending birthright citizenship, erasing transgender and intersex people, threatening to colonize our neighbors, lying about the 2020 election results,…
A divinity student’s post-election playlist: Hymn-singing through times of tension
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…