blog
-
My Substack Anniversary: Why I Post There but Prefer to Post Here
Substack is prompting me to write about my anniversary on the platform. Apparently, it’s a great way to boost engagement, but I doubt it. Still, I’ll take up the invitation and share it to my preferred platform, this blog, as well. I feel a bit like an outsider on Substack. I am not overly active… Continue reading
-
Don’t Know What to Post? Try This!
To my dismay, my Instagram algorithm has been showing me influencer content—not content by influencers, but content aiming to help users become influencers. With increasing frequency, reels pop up in my feed with captions like this: “Don’t know what to post today? Try this!” or “Not sure what to share? Use this trending audio.” These… Continue reading
algorithms, blog, blogger, blogging, books, Christian writer, content creator, data cow, digital, digital content, digital platforms, digital writing, instagram, pressure to post, publishing, puritan wisdom for the digital age, Reading, reels, social media, thomas brooks, writer, writers as content creators, writing, writing in the digital age -
Worship Leader, Are You Using the Wrong Metric?
It’s Advent, a season of special services and rousing carols. Even people who rarely listen to traditional worship music will find themselves humming along to “What Child is This?” or belting out “Glo-o-o-o-o-oooo-o-o-o-o-ooooo-o-o-o-o-ooo-ria!” when “Angels We Have Heard on High” plays. For contemporary and traditional worship leaders, the pressure is on. It may be a… Continue reading
advent, blog, chistmas service, Christian life, Christian ministry, christian music, church, church leadership, church music, faith, hymns, Jesus, leadership, ministry, ministry life, Music, music ministry, organist, singing, singing church, spirit-filled singing, worship, worship leader, worship music, worship musician blog -
11 Lessons from 11 Years of Blogging
My favorite number is eleven, so it seems fitting to celebrate my eleventh blogging anniversary. Here are eleven little lessons I’ve learned from blogging: You never know what a blog will become. I registered for WordPress because I didn’t know GoodReads was a thing. I planned to use my blog for book reviews, but now… Continue reading
-
5 Times Flannery O’Connor was an Introverted Icon
Last year, I read Brad Gooch’s marvelous biography of Flannery at a time when I felt (to be honest) very crummy about my writing. It was exactly the encouragement I needed. For instance, I found out that when someone asked O’Connor what if she collected anything, she replied, “Rejection letters.” Her bluntness was balm to… Continue reading
-
Of The Making of Much Content There is No End: Reflecting on Ecclesiastes and Instagram
My Instagram feed is filled with “marketing experts” offering advice on producing endless content to build up a personal brand. But, why? These self-proclaimed “experts” have built massive followings of people who are desperate to gain followings…but for what? We have created a culture of people who are eager to be famous just for the… Continue reading
-
Social Media and Sabbaths
It’s Saturday evening, and I am filled with relief. Tomorrow, at last, is a Sabbath. Sundays are not restful for me. I rise earlier than other mornings and practice for an hour or so before my first church service, where I play the organ and direct the choir. After this, I snatch a few donut… Continue reading
blog, blogger, Book, books, bookworm, christian, christian blogger, Christian living, church, church life, church music, church musician, faith, fruit of the Spirit, Fruitful Worship, journal, literature, ministry, ministry life, music life, organist, pastor, Reading, reflection, theology, traditional worship, worship, worship leader, worship music, writer, writing -
Why I Moved to Iowa
I was asked today how I knew moving to Iowa was the right choice. This picture is the closest I can come to an answer. In June 2021, two weeks before our wedding, Billy and I visited Iowa for him to interview at Prairie Bible Church and it was one of the worst weekends of… Continue reading
-
Love
Foremost and fertile, it images the TrueVine in Whom all things are made and made anew.It is at once the soil and root:Love, agapé, the Spirit’s firstborn fruit. I’ll likely add more to this poem in the future, but it seemed thematic for Valentine’s Day. Did you know that love isn’t merely the first fruit… Continue reading
-
Reawaken Hymns Livestream
Yesterday, I participated in a livestream on the fruit of the Spirit in musical worship Nathan Drake of Reawaken Hymns. It was a wonderful time full of insight and humor. You can watch the complete livestream at the following link: Reawaken Hymns Livestream Continue reading
advice, Art, author, Bible, blog, blogger, christ, christian, christian blogger, Christian living, christian music, christianity, church, church life, church musician, contemporary worship, faith, gospel, humor, hymn, learning, ministry, ministry life, Music, music life, music major, musician, organist, pianist, prayer, reader, reflection, sacred music, singing, theology, theology and the arts, traditional worship, truth, worship, writer, writing -
Renew the Arts Podcast
I had the joy of recording a podcast for Renew the Arts, a patronage organization for Christian artists. We discussed my current project, the fruit of the Spirit in musical worship, and you can listen here: Renew the Arts Podcast Continue reading
Art, author, Bible, blog, blogger, Book, christ, christian, christian blogger, Christian living, christian music, christianity, church, church life, church musician, contemporary worship, faith, first draft, hymn, inspiration, learning, love, ministry, ministry life, Music, music life, music major, musician, organ, organist, poems, poets, reflection, sacred music, singing, song, theology, theology and the arts, traditional worship, truth, worship, writer, writing -
Reading Roundup – January 2023
Curious what I read this month? Check out my GoodReads! Although I read eleven books this month, not every one was a winner. However, I did read several that are now on my favorites list! Check them out below: 1. Marmee by Sarah Miller I read this right after rereading Little Women and LET ME… Continue reading
Recent Posts
- My Substack Anniversary: Why I Post There but Prefer to Post Here
- Running for My Life
- A Worship Leader’s Take on the Caleb Flynn Case
- Some Ideas Netflix Might Want to Consider
- Pastor Appreciation Month
Subscribe for Free
Support
If you enjoy my work and would like to keep the music and words flowing, consider buying me a coffee using the button below.
Social Media
