There are many powerful rituals available for ministers to engage while leading people of faith. In this post, I want to share two stories about engaging ritual. This past weekend I took some of my seminary students to the “Beating…
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Clyde Edgerton: 8 Practices for Writing
This weekend I had many joys at the 29th Annual Southern Festival of Books! On Sunday afternoon, I met renowned and delightful Southern author of ten novels, Clyde Edgerton. He read from his current work and told stories. He even sang…
Read MoreAnatomy of a Schism – Design Ideas
Judging a Book by Its Cover The academic publishing process is deliberate and measured. So I am delighted to finally reach the design stage, and I’m very excited to share some ideas with my publisher, University of Tennessee Press. Below, you’ll find…
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Eastertide II
Practicing Resurrection B Last week I sent off final proofs on some devotions for Upper Room’s Disciplines 2015. My chosen theme for the week following Easter next year is practicing resurrection. I won’t be sharing what I wrote for Upper Room here…
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Late Summer Six-Word Stories We’ve just turned the corner from summer to autumn. Before the warm days slip away entirely, I want to share a few late summer six-word stories.* Most are from trips in September. The first three were…
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Remembering Will Campbell: Does Anyone Here NOT Know Amazing Grace? Memorial Service for Will Campbell, Mt. Juliet, TennesseeSaturday, June 22, 2013 Sitting under the words “Love your enemies” I feel my heart swell. They are painted on the walls…
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Practicing Resurrection II This picture is part of a series of six-word stories that capture Wendell Berry’s provocative idea of “practicing resurrection.” In late April the pathway around a lake near my house flooded. The walkway and surrounding fields were…
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Practicing Resurrection I During Ordinary Time this summer, my congregation is taking a point of departure from Wendell Berry and crafting worship around “practicing resurrection.” We are looking to the created world to see what speaks to us of God’s…
Read MoreEastertide III
A Six-Word Story* ____________ * This idea came from Six Word Story Everyday. At that site contributors offer pictures worth a lot of words, but they only use six to tell each story. Since that discovery, I’ve posted a number of these short…
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