Faith Experiment… Adding Color 6 Apr 20236 Apr 2023 By Kristeen A. Bruun I have fallen victim to the adult coloring craze. I have heard that it was discovered to be a soothing activity for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients,…
For My Friends Bottled Up 20 Feb 202320 Feb 2023 From a Fellow Traveler For a spirit to be defined as bourbon, it must meet five very specific criteria: it must be made in the United States; aging has to…
For My Friends Top Blogs from 2022 30 Dec 202230 Dec 2022 2022 was another engaging year for the Next Step Community blog! Close to 12,000 visitors viewed our discipling content almost 19,000 times over the last 12 months. Here are some…
Cultural Studies… Why I Owe My Faith to the Jews 2 Dec 20223 Dec 2022 By Kristeen Bruun When I was in my twenties and very definitely searching in my faith life, I spent several years working in New York City. I loved my time…
Discipleship Tools… Overcoming Momentum 25 Jan 202225 Jan 2022 By Justin Rossow What do you need to follow Jesus? In a very real sense, the answer to that question is, quite simply, nothing. You don’t need anything more than…
For My Friends Top Blogs of 2021 31 Dec 202131 Dec 2021 2021 was quite a year for the Next Step Community! Over 13,000 visitors viewed our next step content over 22,000 times! We're thankful for the engagement and the opportunity to…
For My Friends For His Bed A Cattle Stall 21 Dec 202121 Dec 2021 By Justin Rossow "Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall..." I wonder why so many people go out of their way to get together over Christmas. I…
Discipleship Tools… Spilled Wine 2 Mar 202123 Apr 2021 By Justin Rossow You know what they say about spilled milk. But I’ve never heard anyone say that you shouldn’t cry over spilled wine. I mean, if you drop a…
For My Friends Let it Shine 11 Jul 202011 Jul 2020 By Katie Helmreich Our 4th of July was absolutely idyllic. We celebrated with family and friends out in our backyard, paddling around in the creek with the ducklings, playing games,…
Cultural Studies… Patterns of Belonging 25 Jun 202022 Aug 2023 By Justin Rossow In his book Organic Community, Joseph Myers describes four different “patterns of belonging” we all need in order to experience a sense of community. Myers doesn’t tell us…
For My Friends He Breathed On Them 26 May 2020 By Kristeen Bruun “He breathed on them...” (John 20:22) I don't think I’ve ever understood this passage as completely as I do now, when we’re doing our best not to…
For My Friends The Tide Has Turned 4 May 2020 By: Kristeen Bruun In these days of “shelter at home,” I’ve been re-reading (for the tenth or so time) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I thought now…
For My Friends A Gift of Community 24 Nov 2019 Three months ago--no kidding, just three months ago!--my daughter was facing a difficult decision brought on by circumstances out of her control. (Yes; it was mostly my fault, but that's…
