America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! –America the Beautiful (Katharine Lee Bates) It had been a long glorious morning full of adrenaline, symbolism, and splendid pomp and circumstance. Then we sang the second stanza of the hymn “America the Beautiful.” Confirming my soul in self-control … Read more
2016 had all the potential of being one of those watershed years of life because the big 4-0 was upon me. While my birthday came and went, the significance of 2016 seems to be the unusually large number of pop culture icons from my youth that passed away this year. So many of them have … Read more
The sugarplums have danced, presents are unwrapped (some even returned), trash cans are bulging along with our waistlines, and there are three days remaining in 2016. Now that we have finished our Christmas lists, most Americans turn to compiling a list of New Year’s resolutions. Is this among your annual rituals? Personally, I feel an … Read more
As mentioned last week singing familiar songs can become monotonous and it was this very problem that inspired Isaac Watts to pen Joy to the World. For believers thoughts and celebrations of Christmas should always done in light of the cross. Without the birth of Christ there would be no resurrection of Christ. It is this … Read more
Music and specifically carols are such a wonderful part of the Christmas season. Like anything else, singing very familiar songs can become rote, but beginning today I would encourage you to really pay attention to the lyrics. So many of them are full of rich reminders of the true meaning of Christmas-the birth of our … Read more
We are all striving for the elusive “abundant life” or longing to flourish. The culture defines this as success in terms of power, position, and wealth. It should be no surprise that this is not how Christ describes success. However, we might be surprised at what it might take to achieve it as well as … Read more
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday setting all kinds of sales records this year, it is hard to escape just how monetized the Christmas season has become. Whether or not you participated in these shopping extravaganzas, this time of year we are well aware of our personal economies as we make our lists and check … Read more
Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) was a British, Baptist preacher who was a great orator of his time and was known as the “Prince of Preachers.” He remains popular today as he is well regarded and read across denominational lines especially among devotional readers and pastors. If you have not read Spurgeon we would commend his Morning and … Read more
Technology is so much a part of our lives that we often do not realize its impact. It certainly is not all bad, but technology does seem to be one of those areas that we tend to be a bit careless about and underestimate its influence on our lives. One of The Collaborative’s mantra is … Read more
This blog originally appeared on The Green Room. The work of the artist should be squarely in the faith and work conversation. For art is an expression of God’s missional work. Both artistic citizens and art itself help build the common good. Joseph Polisi announced recently his retirement in June of 2018 as president of The Juilliard School. Great … Read more
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