https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Tue, 16 Apr 2024 08:39:31 +0000 Tue, 30 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/power-semicolon-living-depression English grammar and punctuation is intriguing as much as it is (very, very) annoying. A simple comma can alter the whole meaning of a sentence. With the placement of a comma, you turn calling Grandma to eat with you into cannibalism (“Let’s eat, Grandma” versus “Let’s eat Grandma”). Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/power-semicolon-living-depression Tue, 30 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/i-decided-i-was-going-die-heres-how-christians-responded There’s a happy looking picture on my phone, one taken three years ago. It’s a selfie. A picture of me and my daughter at a father/daughter event at her school sometime in February. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/lets-talk-about/i-decided-i-was-going-die-heres-how-christians-responded Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:13:18 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/stumbling-blocks-and-weaker-believers To start a post with absolutes is not the best idea. Still, there are two absolutes that need to be dealt with: no one wants to be called a stumbling block and no one wants to be called the weaker believer. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/stumbling-blocks-and-weaker-believers Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:10:17 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/hello-i-am-racist Me being a racist is a realization I came to a few years back. I am a racist. Now, I'm not a card-carrying, hood-wearing, out-right racist. Instead I'm your run of the mill unintentional racist. I do racist things without realizing them. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/hello-i-am-racist Tue, 10 Mar 2020 18:13:47 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/singing-broken-hallelujahs Leonard Cohen wrote the beautiful song “Hallelujah” that begins simply, “Now I heard there was a secret chord/That David played and it pleased the Lord.” Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/singing-broken-hallelujahs Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:36:24 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/evangelism/bridging-gap The other day I attended a memorial service for a former member of a congregation I served. She held a special place in my heart. She came to Christ one cold January Sunday morning sitting my office at church right before the service started. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/evangelism/bridging-gap Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:57:35 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/missional-pastoral-care It seems like today all you need to do is tack on the word “missional” to something to make it more appealing to churches. The word missional itself seems to have lost its influence on what makes a mission minded church a mission minded church. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/missional-pastoral-care Wed, 14 Mar 2018 13:14:29 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/impoverished-new-year It’s 2018. Yippee! (please read that “yippee” in a dead pan voice). Not being cynical, (though it is the nature of my generation) but we only went from December 31 to January 1. We do the same thing every 30 or so days. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/impoverished-new-year Tue, 02 Jan 2018 18:39:25 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/confessing-ambiguous-racism Confession is important. We read in 1 John that if we confess our sins, we will be forgiven. We read about repentance throughout the Bible. We read how we are to repent of our sins and God will forgive. But what about when the sin is ambiguous? Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/confessing-ambiguous-racism Thu, 10 Aug 2017 23:31:52 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/leadership-development/what-happens-pastor-after-church-closes There’s something I’ve kept hidden from many on social media over the last few months. Something that I’ve not wanted to share. The church where I served for three-and-a-half years closed. It no longer is. And that’s hard. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/leadership-development/what-happens-pastor-after-church-closes Mon, 31 Jul 2017 02:15:09 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/kinetic-church Last week I was having breakfast with a friend whom I greatly respect as wise and a deep thinker. Our conversation meandered around for a while until it got to the topic of the church. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/kinetic-church Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:50:08 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/prayer/being-poor-and-needy This morning as I was doing my devotions through the book of Psalms, I came across Psalm 86. The opening verse struck me. “Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” Psalm 86:1 Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/prayer/being-poor-and-needy Thu, 11 May 2017 18:15:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/sunday-justice Sundays are about justice, not just us. That's something hard to say and harder to swallow at times. Often times Christians look to Sundays as a day of rest. And that's good. It should be a day of rest. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/sunday-justice Thu, 26 Jan 2017 17:28:15 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/evangelism/breaking-disciple-making Dude. First of all, what in the world does that title mean? Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/evangelism/breaking-disciple-making Tue, 22 Nov 2016 13:27:28 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/entering-solitude Solitude is hard for me. I’m an extreme extrovert. I need to be around people. Like a lot. I recharge when I’m around people. And yet there is a need for solitude. I’ve tried solitude in the past. I really have. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/entering-solitude Thu, 06 Oct 2016 12:41:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/construction-season In Michigan you have two seasons: winter and road construction. But who am I kidding? This is true throughout the Midwest. I got caught in it this Sunday heading to the Chicago area to take my DMin class for the summer. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/construction-season Mon, 25 Jul 2016 12:53:24 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/writing-writing-writing What does it take to write? Lots of writing of course. I've been reading a number of books on how to conduct research as of late for a doctor of ministry course I'm taking. It's the pivotal class before I begin my dissertation/major project. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/writing-writing-writing Tue, 19 Jul 2016 14:06:47 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/ask-ancient-paths To be honest, there’s a lot of wondering and wandering going on right now. There’s the old adage that not all who wander are lost. That might be true. At the same time, there are many who wander that ARE lost. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/ask-ancient-paths Thu, 07 Jul 2016 13:08:41 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/evangelism/strumming-along-discipleship Over the last few years I’ve posted on and off again about my battle with learning guitar. I’ve struggled with the metronome, I’ve had issues with learning chords (the F chord is my nemesis), and I’ve also struggled with learning by myself. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/evangelism/strumming-along-discipleship Wed, 27 Apr 2016 20:25:22 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/vision-mission-living-god Sometimes I wonder how often we truly have a clear vision and mission in our own lives. How many times do we just go day to day lacking a mindfulness of why we're doing what we're doing? Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/vision-mission-living-god Mon, 18 Apr 2016 14:09:27 +0000