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Continue reading →: A Pastor appreciates the Hymns: Controversy!
By Joe LaGuardia A Pastor Appreciates the Hymns is a series on hymnody and worship in the church. By incorporating personal testimony and theological reflection, the series draws meaning and strength from sacred songs past and present. Hymns and hymnals have not been without controversy. At times, controversy erupts when publishers…
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Continue reading →: A Pastor Appreciates the Hymns: The Power of Poetry
By Jackson Thomas A Pastor Appreciates the Hymns is a series on hymnody and worship in the church. By incorporating personal testimony and theological reflection, the series draws meaning and strength from sacred songs past and present. This is an excerpt of a sermon by Jackson Thomas from 18 October 2017,…
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Continue reading →: A Pastor Appreciates the Hymns: Friendship with Jesus
By Joe LaGuardia A Pastor Appreciates the Hymns is a series on hymnody and worship in the church. By incorporating personal testimony and theological reflection, the series draws meaning and strength from sacred songs past and present. Barbara Brown Taylor once wrote that people who pray to see God and have…
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Continue reading →: A Pastor Appreciates the Hymns: The Shape of Liturgical Action
By Joe LaGuardia A Pastor Appreciates the Hymns is a series on hymnody and worship in the church. By incorporating personal testimony and theological reflection, the series draws meaning and strength from sacred songs past and present. I fear that some people see hymns only as a nostalgic remnants from the…
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Continue reading →: A Pastor appreciates the hymns: “Be Still, My Soul”
By Joe LaGuardia A Pastor Appreciates the Hymns is a series on hymnody and worship in the church. By incorporating personal testimony and theological reflection, the series draws meaning and strength from sacred songs past and present. When my father passed away tragically four years ago and we were planning his…
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Continue reading →: A Pastor appreciates the Hymns: “God of Grace…”
By Joe LaGuardia A Pastor Appreciates the Hymns is a series on hymnody and worship in the church. By incorporating personal testimony and theological reflection, the series draws meaning and strength from sacred songs past and present. Most ministers I know pray for courage on a daily basis. Ministry is a sacrificial act…
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Continue reading →: When silence is the only language you can speak
By Joe LaGuardia I did not preach much Sunday, September 3. I tried, but all I was able to do was give testimony. When we preachers have nothing to say about a biblical text, it is just best to testify. It does not have to be scholarly or well-organized,…
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Continue reading →: It takes a village to raise a minister
By Matt Sapp This reflection is in response to the Reverend Sapp’s move to a new pulpit at Central Baptist Church, Newnan, Georgia. It takes a village to raise a minister. Transitions are natural times for reflection, so as I’ve packed up books and files this week to get ready…
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Continue reading →: Conflict and a Parting of Ways in the Church
By Joe LaGuardia Being Christ’s Church is no easy task. As far back as the New Testament, churches have been dealing with weighty matters from Bible interpretation to theological wrangling so much that we should not be surprised when some churches fight and split. Scripture provides us with a blueprint…
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Continue reading →: Standing in God’s Greatest Commandment
By Joe LaGuardia This was presented at a Stand on the Side of Love gathering at the Vero Beach Courthouse on 16 August 2017 with neighbors, friends, and concerned citizens. Here I stand. I am the third-generation son of Italian refugees who escaped poverty, injustice, and fascism in Europe in…
Engaging Heart, Mind, and Soul
Rev. Dr. Joe LaGuardia
Rev. Dr. Joe LaGuardia is a pastor, writer, and chaplain residing in Florida. He is author of three books and regular contributor to Smyth & Helwys’ Formations Series. His articles have appeared in USA Today, Baptist News Global, Christian Ethics Today, TCPalm, and Rockdale Citizen.
Baptist Spirituality explores the intersection of faith and culture incorporating biblical scholarship, culture and the arts, politics, science, and theology.
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