By Molly T. Marshall I recently heard a child grumble: “Do we really have to celebrate Jesus’ birth every year? Isn’t once enough?” Some of us may echo this sentiment more than we dare to say publicly, especially as we…
A spirituality of gratitude
By Molly T. Marshall Celebrating a college homecoming is an occasion for longing as well as gratitude. I returned to my alma mater, Oklahoma Baptist University, this past weekend to gather with the class of 1972. (My, they looked old!)…
Communing with saints
By Molly T. Marshall Some of the excesses of Catholic spirituality — veneration of statues and feasts that celebrate primarily a European notion of sainthood (brave men and docile women) — have left our branch of the church unsure about…
Flattening global mission
By Molly T. Marshall Thomas Friedman’s provocative book, The World is Flat, offers a glimpse of the rampant globalization taking place as world market forces shape widely disparate lands and people. Historical and geographical divisions matter less all the while,…
Is passion a calling?
By Molly T. Marshall When asked by young adults how to discern their life’s work, guidance counselors (as well as career advice books) urge them to “follow their passion.” Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown, questions this directive….
Seeking community
By Molly T. Marshall A visitor showed up at church a couple of weeks ago unannounced. She had recently begun to rear her very young grandchildren, in addition to the young girl she had adopted, and wanted them to receive…
God is speaking – still
By Molly T. Marshall My theology class was lively last evening; we were asking hard questions about the doctrine of revelation. To begin with, “doctrine” proved to be an uncomfortable word for many as it often conjures an ossified constellation…
Praying with monks
By Molly T. Marshall Twenty years ago few Baptist seminaries used the language of “spiritual formation” or “spirituality.” That was thought to be a Roman Catholic term, and while Baptists used terms like “discipleship” or “piety,” we had yet to…
Praying with monks
By Molly T. Marshall Twenty years ago few Baptist seminaries used the language of “spiritual formation” or “spirituality.” That was thought to be a Roman Catholic term, and while Baptists used terms like “discipleship” or “piety,” we had yet to…