Thoughts on Life and Worship

I missed the anniversary of Bob Webber's death by a few days. It was Wednesday, April 27 . For some reason, I was confused and thought it was today. Truth is, I thought about Bob throughout the day on Wednesday. Though I was only a student at his school in Florida for a few years and I never had the privilege of interacting with him at any length in person, he always acted like he was genuinely interested in me and what I was doing. He was both brilliant and accessible. His humor was delightful. He was taken from us far too early. I miss him very much. Bob built a school of prophets in Orange Park, Florida that continues to thrive even after his passing. It is the Robert E Webber Institute for Worship Studies . Student and graduates (of which I am one) have cultivated a fire in the belly for worship renewal. Worship renewal, like any prophetic ministry, is both richly rewarding and deeply discouraging. I have and continue to experience both. There are times, like the prophet ...

It is a beautiful day today. The sun is shining and the weather forecast is calling for temperatures in the sixties. After a long winter and a cold, wet spring, this day is long overdue. Things are coming to life. Birds are making nests. My daffodils are finally blooming. The grass seems greener each day. It feels like Easter. Easter, of course, is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I don’t know how Christians in the southern hemisphere perceive it, but I am very grateful that the renewal of life we experience in spring coincides with Eastertide. “Eastertide” is one of those stuffy liturgical sounding words. I don’t use it much because some folks in my tradition have an aversion to most things that look, sound, or smell like traditional liturgy. But the resurrection is the hinge-point of our faith. “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins” (I Cor. 15:17). It demands more than just one day ...

It has been a long time since I have entered a new post on my blog.  I miss it.  Writing clarifies my thinking.   But I've been quite distracted lately and I don't see that ending anytime soon.  This morning I responded to an article a colleague sent to me written by a mega-church pastor.  For reasons that are much too complex here (read my earlier blog, "Filtering the Waters of Willow Creek") I've developed an aversion to mega-churches and their primary leaders.  Still, I'm a learner and I am willing to read and listen.  The article had good stuff and I appreciated it. As I was reflecting on what I was reading, however, I was drawn back to the values that are deeply embedded in my soul.  I'm linking to The Call to an Ancient Evangelical Future in this post.  I encourage you to read it.  (Click on the yellow title.)  Though saturated with academic theological language, I hope that you will sense the forward-looking w...