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Jen Bradbury
Jan 15 · 5 min read

Concerns about "Beautiful Day"

It's January. That means that once again, it's time for K-Love's 30-Day Challenge – something I have some concerns about. In response to my concerns, today I'm continuing to critically evaluate some of the songs that K-Love...

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#retreats #doubt #church #music #Missions #youth ministry #worship

Jen Bradbury
Jan 12 · 5 min read

For the love of liturgy

When I began my first job in youth ministry, the church I worked at was in the midst of worship wars: Fighting constantly about whether to have “traditional” or “contemporary” music.

Young, naive, and convinced we were right and traditional music...

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#Jesus gap #music #Jesus #worship

Jen Bradbury
Jan 09 · 5 min read

Concerns about “All You've Ever Wanted”

It's January. That means that once again, it's time for K-Love's 30-Day Challenge – something I have some concerns about.

One of my concerns about K-Love's 30-Day Challenge is that it seems to invite people to thoughtlessly consume Christian...

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#accountability #grace #Jesus gap #affirmation #music #Jesus

Jen Bradbury
Mar 13 · 5 min read

10 on the 12th

Several years ago, my Qualitative Analysis Professor, Dr. Terry Linhart, mentioned using photos in research. He said this as a comment made in passing, but I wrote it down, intrigued by the notion. 

His comment percolated for the next month...

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#youth ministry #retreats #books #marriage #Youth Sunday #music #research

Jen Bradbury
Feb 27 · 5 min read

Sacred vs. Secular

Recently, a freshman in my youth ministry asked me to accompany her for a solo and ensemble competition. Eager for some face time with this student, I agreed.

Later, this student agreed to play this piece in worship.

A few days after that, she...

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#research #music #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jun 25 · 5 min read

Chopin, Rubato, and a Sabbath

One of my favorite pieces to play on the piano is Nocturne in C-sharp Minor by Frederic Chopin. One of the things I love about this piece is it's use of rubato, a technique in which certain notes are arbitrarily lengthened while others are...

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#burnout #student leadership #Sabbath #Missions #miscarriage #research #Youth Sunday #music #travel

Jen Bradbury
May 07 · 5 min read

Why "watching your thoughts" isn't the point

I have a t-shirt from Youth Enterprise that has the word, “Whatever” written on the front with this passage written on the back:

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—...

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#identity #church #holiness #faith formation #postmodernism #youth ministry #music

Jen Bradbury
Feb 18 · 5 min read

13 Things I Hope for my Youth Group Kids

Last week's list of “33 Ways You Know You Were a Youth Group Kid” from Buzz Feed generated quite a response in my world.

As someone who was a youth group kid in the 90s, I absolutely relate to many – if not most - of the things on this list. As...

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#hope #music #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jan 28 · 5 min read

Concerns about K-Love's 30 Day Challenge

I confess I have a love / hate relationship with contemporary Christian music.

There have been times when Christian music has truly ministered to me. I remember being at the National Youth Worker's Convention in 2003, just a month after I left my...

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#music

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Latest Posts

  • Concerns about "Beautiful Day"
  • For the love of liturgy
  • Concerns about “All You've Ever Wanted”
  • 10 on the 12th
  • Sacred vs. Secular
  • Chopin, Rubato, and a Sabbath
  • Why "watching your thoughts" isn't the point
  • 13 Things I Hope for my Youth Group Kids
  • Concerns about K-Love's 30 Day Challenge

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