Clik here to view.
N. T. Wright to Worship Leaders Today, Pt. 2: “On Lament in Worship”
This is a video of N. T. Wright, in the same breakfast setting as “Part 1” (the setting is recapped below), responding to a follow-up question from Todd Proctor about lament and the psalms in worship...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Are Emotions in Worship Wrong?
I decided not to post my full paper on emotion in contemporary worship at academia.edu just in case significant sections of it end up in my final dissertation. (My dissertation must be an original...
View ArticleClik here to view.
‘Whitsunday’ by George Hebert
In honor of Pentecost Sunday– or ‘Whitsunday, as many in England call it– here is the well-loved poem from the English poet, George Herbert: Whitsunday by George Herbert Listen sweet Dove unto my song,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How Many Minor Keys Are We Singing In?
Why ask the question? In April, 2014, I presented a 90-minute seminar as part of doctoral work at Durham University (England) on the place of sadness in contemporary praise and worship. You can read...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Should Worship Be Physically Expressive?
Come on, put your hands in the air! Clap along, now. The words echo through both arenas and sanctuaries; they are spoken by pop stars and pastors in concerts and worship services. It’s understandable...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Two Days with Eugene and Jan Peterson: A Reflection 5 Years Later
In the summer of 2010, through a series of connections helped largely by my publisher, I was able to write to Eugene Peterson. The first letter was mostly a ‘thank you’ for his blurb on my book,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Should Worship be Emotionally Expressive?
Several weeks ago, I wrote a post called, ‘Should worship be physically expressive?’ It seemed to be helpful to some folks and was posted on several other sites (Rooted Network, Church Leaders). I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Ache of Advent
Holly and wrote a blog together about why observing Advent as a season of preparation for Christmas has become meaningful for our family. Here’s an excerpt: The trouble with the generalized ‘holiday...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Christmas Reflection for New Year’s Eve
The start of a New Year is usually a time of hope. There’s something about a clean slate, a fresh start, that gives us reason to dream again. We recalibrate our lives, set new goals, and plan new...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What You (Probably) Don’t Know About Modern Worship
It seems to be in vogue to predict the impending demise of modern worship, with some even suggesting we 'kill megachurch worship’. But a closer look may make us think twice.
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lent Is An Invitation
Originally posted on New Life Downtown // blog: Lent is an invitation. It is not a burden or a requirement. It is not another way to demonstrate our religious performance for God. It isn’t an attempt...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When Character Was King
Yesterday my six year old son asked me who Donald Trump is and why he wants to be president. I told him a bit about Trump. My son was aghast that a bully was running for office. He asked me where the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Bach Was an Awesome Worship Leader…
…and Why His Music Still Speaks Today Guest post by Terri Moon [EDITOR’S NOTE: Terri is an accomplished violinist, who performs at various classical concerts in town and also teaches private lessons....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Easter Is Coming…But Not Yet (Why Holy Week Matters)
Easter is coming. We tell ourselves this on days when morning breaks with news of another massacre. We remind ourselves of this when the darkness is heavy and fear grips us by the throat. Easter is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Augustine on Atonement
Earlier this year, my friend and pastor of Bloom Denver, Andrew Arndt, sent this to me. I thought it’d be appropriate to share it today. Sometimes people emphasize the substitutionary aspect of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Easter in Belgium (Guest Post)
My friend and colleague at Durham (also pursuing his doctorate in theology, and my same ‘year’), Filip De Cavel, is a key leader in a large Evangelical denomination in Belgium. I reached out to Filip...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Genocide Against Christians (And How the Church Can Help)
Christians across the Middle East are suffering and dying for their faith, and the United States government has called it a genocide. Here are four ways you, your family, and your church can help....
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Does the Ascension of Jesus Mean?
Today is Ascension Day, or, if you’d like The Feast of the Ascension. Of all the moments in the life of Christ that we commemorate during the Church Calendar, the Feast of the Ascension may be the most...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Christians Shouldn’t Speak of the ‘Supernatural’
Christians believe in a Triune God who created the cosmos, and who stands in some way outside of it, or beyond it. To call God ‘holy’ is to acknowledge that God is completely ‘other’ than anything...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Pastoral Sabbatical: Why and What It Means
Originally posted on New Life Downtown // blog: I have been given the gift of a pastoral sabbatical this summer. This is a gift that comes round every seven years for full-time employees at New Life...
View Article
