Posts
Parents, If You Think What Happened at The Cincinnati Zoo Can’t Happen to You—You’re Wrong
Until this week I never realized how many perfect parents we had in this country. It took a three-year old child falling into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo and
Dear Offended Christian, From a Very Tired Christian
Dear Offended Christian, I’m terribly sorry that your feelings are hurt again. I feel badly about that. None of us likes to be criticized, so I totally get it. I know
The Gospel of Chewbacca Mom and Why We Need it
I know you’ve seen the video. If you haven’t seen the video, you haven’t heard of the Internet—or more likely Candace Payne broke it earlier this week. Her ridiculously hilarious
If You Believe Donald Trump Deserves to Be President
These are the words of GOP Presidential candidate and impending nominee Donald Trump… On Mexicans: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re
Why This Christian Doesn’t Need a Perfect Bible
Either the Bible is true or it isn’t. Chances are if you’ve spent any time in church or engaged in religious debate with a Christian, you’ve encountered this sentence in
Recovering From Social Media Comparison Sickness
Most mornings I wake up and feel quite fine. I’m not at all dissatisfied with my success or my appearance or my marriage, not overly concerned about my career progress or my financial
The Evangelical Christian Myth of America’s Moral Decay
“This country is in moral decline. I just wish we would return to our Christian values and turn back to God.” I came across this comment on a social media
How to Trust the Church After You’ve Been Hurt by It
“How can I regain trust in the Church again?” – Lisa Every day I meet people like Lisa; people in various stages of the collateral damage of religion. Either the
Show Them the Ocean (A Challenge to Christians and to the Church)
Going to the beach is like meeting God. There’s that moment when you make your way down the path that cuts through the dunes. As you walk further, the quiet
Things I’m Doing Before Going to Hell
I’m going to Hell. I know this, because lots of religious people regularly make this quite clear to me. My beliefs about the Bible, my full affirmation of the LGBTQ community,
Sharks in the Bathroom (When Irrational Fear Takes Over)
I have a fear of sharks. Let me amend that for accuracy: I have a completely irrational fear of sharks. It’s all Steven Spielberg’s fault. After seeing Jaws as a child, I
Why Being LGBTQ IS “God’s Best” for LGBTQ People
I was already thirty minutes into an ever-intensifying conversation with my then Senior Pastor, about the many LGBTQ students in our student ministry who were clearly becoming a source of
For Those Who Hurt on Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day. For many people that means flowers and handmade cards and Sunday brunches and waves of laughter. It means celebration and gratitude and warm embraces and great rejoicing. It means
Bono Called Out Christian Musicians For a Lack of Honesty. He Didn’t Go Far Enough.
In a newly-released documentary, U2 singer Bono commented on the lack of honesty in the Christian music industry, saying: “I would love if this conversation would inspire people who are
I’m Boycotting Fear
You can boycott Target if you want to, friend. I’m not going to try and change your mind anymore. I’m not going to argue with you. As for me, I’m
American Christians Should Stop Hoarding Liberty
I still think back to an afternoon in downtown Raleigh, when I stood with strangers in protest of North Carolina House Bill Two and of the discrimination it manufactured and nurtured
The Grief Police
The police are everywhere. Music legend Prince passed away four days ago, as of this writing. As a longtime fan who found great inspiration in his life, the news wrecked
How Prince Gave All the Freaks a Dance Floor
“Look at these freaks”, I thought to myself. It was March 30th, 1985. I was standing a few blocks from Syracuse, New York’s Carrier Dome. My friend Ed and I had
Why I Give My Kids Cake for Breakfast
Sometimes my kids will ask to have cake for breakfast. Yesterday reminded me why I never say “no.” My 6-year old daughter Selah was sitting in the front yard with our dog,
Blasted are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. – Jesus The longer you live and communicate for a living on social media, the more you come
Why Keeping Bad Guys Out of Girl’s Bathrooms, isn’t What’s Going on Here
“How did I become the bad guy because I don’t want guys in the bathroom with my daughters and their friends. Just pee in the damn bathroom your supposed to!”
(All the Gay Things) A Letter From a Tired, Defiant LGBTQ Ally
All you post about is gay things… Is there something that we need to know about you? Damn, enough is enough. We get it!!! Not everyone hates gay people!!!
50 Relatively True Sentences
Ernest Hemingway once said of writing: You only need one true sentence. Here are fifty or so that are ringing true to me these days: Privilege is like a stain
The Most Neglected Tool for Spiritual Growth isn’t the Bible, it’s a Mirror
When people accept Jesus, I think we should make sure we give them a mirror. The same goes for baptisms, altar call prayers responses, seminary degrees, and church appointments. That’s because a
Parents, If You Think What Happened at The Cincinnati Zoo Can’t Happen to You—You’re Wrong
Until this week I never realized how many perfect parents we had in this country. It took a three-year old child falling into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo and
Dear Offended Christian, From a Very Tired Christian
Dear Offended Christian, I’m terribly sorry that your feelings are hurt again. I feel badly about that. None of us likes to be criticized, so I totally get it. I know
The Gospel of Chewbacca Mom and Why We Need it
I know you’ve seen the video. If you haven’t seen the video, you haven’t heard of the Internet—or more likely Candace Payne broke it earlier this week. Her ridiculously hilarious
If You Believe Donald Trump Deserves to Be President
These are the words of GOP Presidential candidate and impending nominee Donald Trump… On Mexicans: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re
Why This Christian Doesn’t Need a Perfect Bible
Either the Bible is true or it isn’t. Chances are if you’ve spent any time in church or engaged in religious debate with a Christian, you’ve encountered this sentence in
Recovering From Social Media Comparison Sickness
Most mornings I wake up and feel quite fine. I’m not at all dissatisfied with my success or my appearance or my marriage, not overly concerned about my career progress or my financial
The Evangelical Christian Myth of America’s Moral Decay
“This country is in moral decline. I just wish we would return to our Christian values and turn back to God.” I came across this comment on a social media
How to Trust the Church After You’ve Been Hurt by It
“How can I regain trust in the Church again?” – Lisa Every day I meet people like Lisa; people in various stages of the collateral damage of religion. Either the
Show Them the Ocean (A Challenge to Christians and to the Church)
Going to the beach is like meeting God. There’s that moment when you make your way down the path that cuts through the dunes. As you walk further, the quiet
Things I’m Doing Before Going to Hell
I’m going to Hell. I know this, because lots of religious people regularly make this quite clear to me. My beliefs about the Bible, my full affirmation of the LGBTQ community,
Sharks in the Bathroom (When Irrational Fear Takes Over)
I have a fear of sharks. Let me amend that for accuracy: I have a completely irrational fear of sharks. It’s all Steven Spielberg’s fault. After seeing Jaws as a child, I
Why Being LGBTQ IS “God’s Best” for LGBTQ People
I was already thirty minutes into an ever-intensifying conversation with my then Senior Pastor, about the many LGBTQ students in our student ministry who were clearly becoming a source of
For Those Who Hurt on Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day. For many people that means flowers and handmade cards and Sunday brunches and waves of laughter. It means celebration and gratitude and warm embraces and great rejoicing. It means
Bono Called Out Christian Musicians For a Lack of Honesty. He Didn’t Go Far Enough.
In a newly-released documentary, U2 singer Bono commented on the lack of honesty in the Christian music industry, saying: “I would love if this conversation would inspire people who are
I’m Boycotting Fear
You can boycott Target if you want to, friend. I’m not going to try and change your mind anymore. I’m not going to argue with you. As for me, I’m
American Christians Should Stop Hoarding Liberty
I still think back to an afternoon in downtown Raleigh, when I stood with strangers in protest of North Carolina House Bill Two and of the discrimination it manufactured and nurtured
The Grief Police
The police are everywhere. Music legend Prince passed away four days ago, as of this writing. As a longtime fan who found great inspiration in his life, the news wrecked
How Prince Gave All the Freaks a Dance Floor
“Look at these freaks”, I thought to myself. It was March 30th, 1985. I was standing a few blocks from Syracuse, New York’s Carrier Dome. My friend Ed and I had
Why I Give My Kids Cake for Breakfast
Sometimes my kids will ask to have cake for breakfast. Yesterday reminded me why I never say “no.” My 6-year old daughter Selah was sitting in the front yard with our dog,
Blasted are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. – Jesus The longer you live and communicate for a living on social media, the more you come
Why Keeping Bad Guys Out of Girl’s Bathrooms, isn’t What’s Going on Here
“How did I become the bad guy because I don’t want guys in the bathroom with my daughters and their friends. Just pee in the damn bathroom your supposed to!”
(All the Gay Things) A Letter From a Tired, Defiant LGBTQ Ally
All you post about is gay things… Is there something that we need to know about you? Damn, enough is enough. We get it!!! Not everyone hates gay people!!!
50 Relatively True Sentences
Ernest Hemingway once said of writing: You only need one true sentence. Here are fifty or so that are ringing true to me these days: Privilege is like a stain
The Most Neglected Tool for Spiritual Growth isn’t the Bible, it’s a Mirror
When people accept Jesus, I think we should make sure we give them a mirror. The same goes for baptisms, altar call prayers responses, seminary degrees, and church appointments. That’s because a