Cultural Studies… Creator Spirit 24 Mar 2021 By Justin Rossow As a nation of shepherds and farmers, the ancient Israelites preferred solid ground beneath their feet. The dark, churning waters of a storm-tossed sea took root in…
Cultural Studies… 10 *Good* Things about Daylight Savings 13 Mar 2021 By Katie Helmreich My Facebook memories lately have been full of my chronic complaints about Daylight Saving Time. Normally, I'm a fairly optimistic person so I challenged myself to find…
Cultural Studies… Loss of the Familiar 20 Feb 2021 By Jamie Wiechman Do you remember what it was like before life started throwing us so many curveballs? When work, school, sports, restaurants, churches, etc. were a standard part of…
Cultural Studies… To See Like Jesus 25 Jan 202125 Jan 2021 The disciples live by one set of metaphors. Jesus sees the world very differently… By Justin Rossow Jesus sits on the edge of a literal well, and is literally tired…
Cultural Studies… Hope-Filled Speech 14 Jan 202114 Jan 2021 By Sam Fink If you’ve known Jesus for more than about 15 minutes, you probably know, or have at least heard a sermon on 1 Peter 3:15. When I was…
Cultural Studies… 6 Ways to Shine on Social Media 13 Jan 2021 By Amy Larson from Mom Fuel Is it just me, or does it seem like each time social media calms down ... something else happens to stir the pot again?…
Cultural Studies… A Spiritual Body? 11 Jan 2021 By Conrad Gempf So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised…
Cultural Studies The Battle for the Soul of America: There is No Spoon 7 Jan 202121 Jan 2021 By Justin Rossow A battle is raging for the soul of America. And we are all losing. One of my favorite movie quotes comes as Neo waits to see the…
Cultural Studies… Far as the Curse is Found 26 Dec 202029 Dec 2020 By Justin Rossow When Isaac Watts published the text for the now-famous hymn Joy to the World in 1719, he was actually paraphrasing Psalm 98:4-9. (Read more.) Watts pushes poetic…
Cultural Studies… When Joy to the World Comes True 25 Dec 202026 Dec 2020 By Justin Rossow Joy to the World, one of the best-loved Christmas hymns, wasn't originally written for Christmas at all. At least, that's what I heard on a Christmas special…
Advent… Have A Very … Christmas 18 Dec 2020 By Justin Rossow I love Christmas time! Except when I don't. And a Covid Christmas brings up all kinds of mixed emotions (shaken, not stirred). My parents decided not to…
Cultural Studies… My Identity, On Deposit 4 Dec 2020 By Justin Rossow I’ve been struggling a lot lately with the question of identity. Well before COVID made working from home a common, cultural experience, I left a job and…
Cultural Studies… Expanding Your Sermon Into The Week 24 Nov 202025 Nov 2020 An interview with Rev. Sam Fink This special episode of the Next Step Podcast captures a conversation between Rev. Sam Fink, Associate Pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Orchard…
Cultural Studies… The Tightrope of Faithful Unity and Division 30 Oct 202030 Oct 2020 By Justin Rossow Reformation is a day Lutherans celebrate what makes Lutherans unique. Which is good, as far as it goes, unless the day becomes a pat on our denominational…
Cultural Studies… Be a Whole Person in an Age of Zoom Haircuts 16 Sep 202022 Oct 2020 By Justin Rossow I just got my first professional haircut in 38 weeks. I hadn't been counting, but the salon's computer was keeping track. As the stylist cut my hair,…
Cultural Studies… Delight! 2 Sep 20203 Sep 2020 Next Step Press is committed to helping you take a small next step following Jesus. Our mission is to cultivate individuals and communities that infuse collaboration, innovation, and delight into…
Cultural Studies… Faithful In Small Things 2 Aug 2020 By Kris Bruun Like many people, I’ve had somewhat more time on my hands during these Covid days, and I’ve soaked up some it in my favorite escape: reading. Many…
Cultural Studies… Imagining More than “Gospel Motivation” 2 Jul 20202 Jul 2020 By Justin Rossow After quite a while trying to follow Jesus and help others take a small next step following Jesus, I am beginning to think all motivation, including so-called…
