Posts
Pastors, Stop Being a Barrier to Jesus
When people find out you’re a pastor, they have one of two responses. They either purposefully or unintentionally distance themselves, feeling they need to conceal the rough edges of their lives.
Building a Better Bucket List
I’ve never made a bucket list. Up until now that has been the only thing on my bucket list. I know lots of people who have them and I marvel
Donald Trump is Not the Problem, America. We are.
This is on us, America. We’re gonna have to own it. Donald Trump is not the problem now. We can’t blame him anymore. This isn’t about him any longer. The truth,
Christian, Here’s Why Your Theology is Overrated
Christian, your theology is overrated. That’s not to say that it’s not important, it’s just not as important as you probably think it is or have grown up believing. It’s
You are Holy Ground
There’s a story in the Old Testament that you may or may not be familiar with. A man named Moses is out tending sheep and God speaks to him, after
Love is Offensive to Hateful People
In the film The Last Jedi, a young fighter in the Resistance named Rose, says to Finn, whom she’s just saved from sacrificing himself in battle: “We’re going to win
Confessions of a Recovering Christian Know-it-All
Hi, I’m a Christian—and I don’t know anything. Well, I know a whole heck of a lot less than I used to, and the simple fact that I’m okay admitting
Make American Christians Good Again
From the moment his campaign began, Donald Trump promised to “Make America Great Again”. White, American Evangelicals passionately embraced both him and that message—and they are largely responsible for the
If Life is Heavy Today
There are days when breathing comes easily, days when the rising and falling of your chest simply happens. Life is sweetly involuntary. It is an effortless thing just being. On those
Why I’ve Embraced the Politics of Fear
I woke up this morning well before the sun, thinking about my enemies. I’ve been watching them. I’ve been listening to them. And I’ve finally figured them out. “It’s all fear.” I think
Why We Should Stop Shaming Melania Trump
This weekend the New York Post published decades old nude photos of Melania Trump, and lots of folks have taken to social media to share the piece, along with similar memes
How Grief Can Make You Resent Strangers
Grief has a way of showing up when you least expect it and wreaking havoc. It stalks you and catches you without warning, reopening wounds that you thought were long
Guest Post: An Adoptive White Dad and a Black Officer/Minister Talk Race and Policing
Hey Friends, John here. So much being said about race and policing in America lately, but many voices aren’t being heard; voices like my friends Scott and J.T. Scott adopted five
Time To Use Your Outside Voices, America
Most children learn very early in life that they have two voices. One voice is meant for the inside. It is low and soft and measured. It is sweet and non-threatening. When
Why God May Want You to Leave Your Marriage
One of the true blessings of the work I do, is getting to help people carry the burdens of life with them for a little while; to hear their real, unvarnished stories
I’m Over Being Faith-Shamed By Conservative Christians
I am over being shamed by other professed Christians for my views on the things happening in the world, and for pushing hard against the bigotry and hatred I see
Guard Your Spark (Words to My Kids in a Scary World)
It’s really scary out there, little ones. I know you look around some days and you wonder what’s going on and you wonder where all the good people have gone.
How to Tell if God is on Your Side
We Christian folk love the idea of a side-choosing God, and assume quite miraculously (and not at all surprisingly) that God is somehow always on our side—whatever we determine that to be. Every single day
Reasonable, Decent GOP Christians, Please Stand Up
To Reasonable, Decent, Faithful Christian GOP Friends: Ever since the election I’ve noticed your quiet withdrawal, your slow disappearance, your gradually silence; all the while I watched the noise become louder, the
If You’re LGBTQ, Here’s What One Pastor Really Hopes You Know
Yesterday, I had coffee with a friend who identifies as Transgender. She and I were talking about the incredible damage done to so many people in the LGBTQ community at
25 Reasons Why This Christian is Still Proudly #NeverTrump
I’m a Christian and a pastor and I stand fully against Donald Trump. Here are 25 reasons why, in no particular order: 1. Because peace-loving Muslims should have as much religious freedom in America
The Day After Election Day
These are heavy days in America. The acrimony is escalating, moment by over scrutinized, incendiary moment and chances are it’s sucked you in too. You’ve no doubt succumbed to the surrounding
Dear Hatred, From Love
Dear Hatred, I trust this letter finds you well. Actually, from the look of things out there business is booming for you lately. I’ve got to hand it to you, you’ve managed
Be Careful: You Might Be Passionate, Committed, Earnest—and Wrong
A year or so ago I was sitting in a hotel coffee shop talking to a young lesbian woman about faith and love and compassion. Just outside the window, pacing
Pastors, Stop Being a Barrier to Jesus
When people find out you’re a pastor, they have one of two responses. They either purposefully or unintentionally distance themselves, feeling they need to conceal the rough edges of their lives.
Building a Better Bucket List
I’ve never made a bucket list. Up until now that has been the only thing on my bucket list. I know lots of people who have them and I marvel
Donald Trump is Not the Problem, America. We are.
This is on us, America. We’re gonna have to own it. Donald Trump is not the problem now. We can’t blame him anymore. This isn’t about him any longer. The truth,
Christian, Here’s Why Your Theology is Overrated
Christian, your theology is overrated. That’s not to say that it’s not important, it’s just not as important as you probably think it is or have grown up believing. It’s
You are Holy Ground
There’s a story in the Old Testament that you may or may not be familiar with. A man named Moses is out tending sheep and God speaks to him, after
Love is Offensive to Hateful People
In the film The Last Jedi, a young fighter in the Resistance named Rose, says to Finn, whom she’s just saved from sacrificing himself in battle: “We’re going to win
Confessions of a Recovering Christian Know-it-All
Hi, I’m a Christian—and I don’t know anything. Well, I know a whole heck of a lot less than I used to, and the simple fact that I’m okay admitting
Make American Christians Good Again
From the moment his campaign began, Donald Trump promised to “Make America Great Again”. White, American Evangelicals passionately embraced both him and that message—and they are largely responsible for the
If Life is Heavy Today
There are days when breathing comes easily, days when the rising and falling of your chest simply happens. Life is sweetly involuntary. It is an effortless thing just being. On those
Why I’ve Embraced the Politics of Fear
I woke up this morning well before the sun, thinking about my enemies. I’ve been watching them. I’ve been listening to them. And I’ve finally figured them out. “It’s all fear.” I think
Why We Should Stop Shaming Melania Trump
This weekend the New York Post published decades old nude photos of Melania Trump, and lots of folks have taken to social media to share the piece, along with similar memes
How Grief Can Make You Resent Strangers
Grief has a way of showing up when you least expect it and wreaking havoc. It stalks you and catches you without warning, reopening wounds that you thought were long
Guest Post: An Adoptive White Dad and a Black Officer/Minister Talk Race and Policing
Hey Friends, John here. So much being said about race and policing in America lately, but many voices aren’t being heard; voices like my friends Scott and J.T. Scott adopted five
Time To Use Your Outside Voices, America
Most children learn very early in life that they have two voices. One voice is meant for the inside. It is low and soft and measured. It is sweet and non-threatening. When
Why God May Want You to Leave Your Marriage
One of the true blessings of the work I do, is getting to help people carry the burdens of life with them for a little while; to hear their real, unvarnished stories
I’m Over Being Faith-Shamed By Conservative Christians
I am over being shamed by other professed Christians for my views on the things happening in the world, and for pushing hard against the bigotry and hatred I see
Guard Your Spark (Words to My Kids in a Scary World)
It’s really scary out there, little ones. I know you look around some days and you wonder what’s going on and you wonder where all the good people have gone.
How to Tell if God is on Your Side
We Christian folk love the idea of a side-choosing God, and assume quite miraculously (and not at all surprisingly) that God is somehow always on our side—whatever we determine that to be. Every single day
Reasonable, Decent GOP Christians, Please Stand Up
To Reasonable, Decent, Faithful Christian GOP Friends: Ever since the election I’ve noticed your quiet withdrawal, your slow disappearance, your gradually silence; all the while I watched the noise become louder, the
If You’re LGBTQ, Here’s What One Pastor Really Hopes You Know
Yesterday, I had coffee with a friend who identifies as Transgender. She and I were talking about the incredible damage done to so many people in the LGBTQ community at
25 Reasons Why This Christian is Still Proudly #NeverTrump
I’m a Christian and a pastor and I stand fully against Donald Trump. Here are 25 reasons why, in no particular order: 1. Because peace-loving Muslims should have as much religious freedom in America
The Day After Election Day
These are heavy days in America. The acrimony is escalating, moment by over scrutinized, incendiary moment and chances are it’s sucked you in too. You’ve no doubt succumbed to the surrounding
Dear Hatred, From Love
Dear Hatred, I trust this letter finds you well. Actually, from the look of things out there business is booming for you lately. I’ve got to hand it to you, you’ve managed
Be Careful: You Might Be Passionate, Committed, Earnest—and Wrong
A year or so ago I was sitting in a hotel coffee shop talking to a young lesbian woman about faith and love and compassion. Just outside the window, pacing