This year I read 120 books published in 2020, and shared my ratings here on So What Faith. Based on my ratings, the top 20 books are Author Title Sarah CiavarriFinding Our Way to the Truth: Seven Lies Leaders Believe and How to Let Go of Them Kaitlin B. CurticeNative: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering GodKathy EscobarPracticing: Changing Yourself to Change the WorldGuthrie Graves-FitzsimmonsJust Faith: Reclaiming Progressive Christianity Lisa Greer and Larissa Read More …
Great New Books – December 2020 (#1901)
My latest list of great books features ten volumes published in 2020: (5.0) Finding Our Way to the Truth: Seven Lies Leaders Believe and How to Let Go of Them by Sarah Ciavarri (Fortress Press, 2020) (4.5) Without Oars: Casting Off into a Life of Pilgrimage by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson (Broadleaf Books, 2020) (4.5) Republican Jesus: How the Right Has Rewritten the Gospels by Tony Keddie (University of California Press, 2020) (4.5) The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Read More …
Giving Thanks: 10 Ministry Experiences (#1900)
Thanksgiving is a lifestyle, not simply a holiday scheduled the fourth Thursday of November. In the spirit of continuing the focus on thankfulness, today I'm reflecting on and giving thanks for the ten different ministry settings I've served. These settings vary in many ways, yet are all committed to making more real God's kin-dom on earth Founding: Less than 10 years ago to more than 150Size: Less than 100 active participants to more than 2,000Denomination: 5 Mainline Protestant Read More …
Enjoying the Beauty of Nature (#1899)
I'm someone who spends most of my time indoors. For the last week I've spent quite a bit more time outside, enjoying the breathtaking views and ideal climate in Naples, Florida. I invite you to take a few minutes to enjoy the beauty of nature by viewing and reflecting on the five images below. Which image do you feel most connected to? Explain the connection.Share an experience of being outside during the pandemic that was particularly meaningful or moving. Explore the sights, Read More …
The Critical Issue of COVID-19 (#1898)
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way most people live, including the way many worship. COVID-19: USA The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States since the onset of the pandemic now exceeds 10.8 million. And, sadly, nearly a quarter of a million of these individuals (245,000 as of November 15, 2020) have died. The spread of COVID-19 is accelerating nationwide. The dramatic growth in new cases is shown below using a screenshot of data provided by the New York Read More …
First Sunday After the Election (#1897)
The past seven days have been unusually stressful for many Americans. The Presidential election produced record turnout and vote counting took longer than many expected. Now, we know that Joe Biden is President-elect. Preaching Pastors have faced unexpected challenges throughout 2020. Nearly all pastors in congregational ministry have learned to preach to a virtual audience or have worked to improve competency. On top of the ongoing (and recently worsening) pandemic, today pastors Read More …
Great New Books – November 2020 (#1896)
My latest list of great books features ten volumes published in 2020: (5.0) Always a Guest: Speaking of Faith Far From Home by Barbara Brown Taylor (Westminster John Knox, 2020) (4.5) Sanctuary: Being Christian in the Wake of Trump by Heidi B. Neumark (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2020) (4.5) Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World by Tyson Yunkaporta (HarperOne, 2020) (4.5) The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket Read More …
No Longer Presbyterian (#1895)
Donald Trump was raised in the Presbyterian church, and in recent years continued to identify as Presbyterian despite not holding membership in a Presbyterian congregation or regularly attending worship. One week ago today Trump attended worship at the non-denominational International Church of Las Vegas. A few days after this experience, Trump changed his religious affiliation from Presbyterian to non-denominational Christian. Rather than announcing this shift in a televised event, Trump Read More …
Practice Christian Kissing (#1894)
Passage for reflection: 1 Peter 5:14 Churches are some of the friendliest and most welcoming places around. Whether navigating as newcomer or returning as a regular, people expect to receive a warm welcome. In reality, first-time experiences fall short of the ideal more often than not. When I visited one of the fastest growing congregations in the country I stood alone in the lobby for an extended period of time before and after worship watching people pass me by without receiving a single Read More …
Staying Put (#1893)
Passage for Reflection: Jonah 2:1-10 Jonah’s time in the belly of a whale – or, more likely, just a big fish – is one of the best-known stories from the minor prophets. The story is simple enough for even the youngest listener to picture yet nuanced enough to keep the serious scholar engaged. How did Jonah find himself in such a predicament? What’s it like to live for such a long time in such a strange situation? The top story of 2020 is the global pandemic of COVID-19. As this story Read More …