Posts
Breaking Bread With Heretics: The Table of God’s Hospitality
I live just down the street from a very conservative Southern Baptist seminary. I often sit at the nearby coffee shop and just observe people, listening as the conversations waft
Donald Trump is a Christian Leader. The GOP Says So.
Donald Trump is a Christian leader. America’s GOP voters are confirming this. Never mind that his life and campaign are devoid of anything remotely resembling the Jesus of Nazareth we find
The Arrogance of Evangelical Evangelism
This week a friend shared this video on her timeline. It features well-known pastor and author David Platt speaking about a recent preaching trip to India. Though not at all unique in
For Those of Us Needing a Detox From Religion
A few weeks ago I checked in on a friend from our church who I hadn’t seen in a while, asking how she was. Her response about her and her husband’s absence
The Gospel According to Ellen: Living a Practical Theology of Love
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Jesus As far as I know
A Letter From a Backsliding, Prodigal Heretic, To My Christian Friends Still on the Inside
To My Dear Christian Friends on the Inside*, I know that you love me. I know that because you love me you’re worried about me right now. I know that you
Your Discomfort is Not Cam Newton’s Problem
Cam Newton does the Superman. Cam Newton dabs. Cam Newton zooms around the field with arms outstretched and mile wide grin displayed. Cam Newton gives kids footballs and does commercials and dresses
Christian, the Reason So Many People are Losing Faith—May Be You
Thou shalt not steal. – God Millions of people have lost their religion but they haven’t all given it up willingly. I think we Christians have stolen it from many of them.
Learning to See People Deeply in the Shallows of Social Media
Social media can be a deceptive thing; beautiful but so very dangerous to navigate. Part of its great value is that it gives everyone an equal voice regardless of their status or
God is Not a Dude—But I Still Call God “He” Sometimes.
God is clearly not a man. God is GOD. God both contains and transcends the beautiful, broad spectrum of gender, wonderfully revealed and encountered in both masculine and feminine ways simultaneously—gloriously androgynous Divinity.
Why My Morality as a Christian Doesn’t Just Come From the Bible
My new friend sat across the coffee shop table from me and within a few minutes of our introduction, cut right to the chase: “So if you don’t believe the Bible can
Things Someone Who Loved You Should Have Told You
Words can do incredible damage, but sometimes they can’t hold a candle to silence. Often it is those words that have been withheld which leave the greatest scars upon us. It is in
Because You’re Tired Today…
Do you feel woozy? There’s a specific kind of motion sickness afflicting you and me, but it’s not the kind that happens when we’re jostled wildly on a theme park ride or
Christian Parents, If Your Child Comes Out to You Here Are 5 Ways to Blow it
Having lived in the trenches of family ministry for the past two decades, I’ve been blessed with the honor of having a front row seat to the private lives of parents
Remembering to Enjoy the View
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy. – Anne Frank This past week I was the guest of some good friends in Northern California for
Maybe I’m Actually Not a Christian After All
I’ve always thought that I was a Christian. I’ve simply assumed that since I believed myself to be and strived to be, that this was enough. Though I’ve devoted my
We’re All Trying Really Hard Here. Go Easy.
I am trying so hard! – Kat, a hurting hero A few years ago I led a group of students and adults on a spontaneous mission trip; a four-day destination-less, meandering
10 Things This Christian Doesn’t Believe About The Bible
Whenever Christians talk about their faith with other Christians or with non-Christians the Bible is there, either as an overt discussion topic or as part of the background noise in the room. Many followers
The One Thing Successful Parents Need to Give Their Children
This afternoon my twelve-year old, Noah walked into the bedroom where I was working. As is far too often the case, my head never raised up from my computer screen
Trying to Make Peace With a God of Cancer
As a person of faith, there are two core truths I’ve strained to hold onto even in the most difficult, painful, discouraging moments of my life: God is. God is good.
The Church Will Be Queer (My Weekend With LGBTQ Christians and Friends)
Queer /kwir/ adjective differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal strange, odd, peculiar This past weekend I traveled to the Gay Christian Network Conference in Houston. Attendees there
Hello From the Outside (How The Church Fails and Forgets Those Who Leave)
Many large churches have a door problem. The problem, is that they’re all about the front door; the curb appeal, the efficient parking attendants, the effervescent sidewalk greeting team, the beautifully manicured
David Bowie, and the Brilliance and Beauty We Miss Every Day
Brilliance and Beauty are seductive things. At first they come to us and they level us with such ferocity and intensity, their newness widely flooding our unprepared hearts. We notice them, we cherish
President Obama’s Tenure Was More “Christian” Than His Critics Will Ever Admit
Back in January of 2015, President Obama gave a passionate, vulnerable, teary eyed press conference to announce new guidelines for gun ownership. It provided some of the rawest, most authentic expressions of compassion and
Breaking Bread With Heretics: The Table of God’s Hospitality
I live just down the street from a very conservative Southern Baptist seminary. I often sit at the nearby coffee shop and just observe people, listening as the conversations waft
Donald Trump is a Christian Leader. The GOP Says So.
Donald Trump is a Christian leader. America’s GOP voters are confirming this. Never mind that his life and campaign are devoid of anything remotely resembling the Jesus of Nazareth we find
The Arrogance of Evangelical Evangelism
This week a friend shared this video on her timeline. It features well-known pastor and author David Platt speaking about a recent preaching trip to India. Though not at all unique in
For Those of Us Needing a Detox From Religion
A few weeks ago I checked in on a friend from our church who I hadn’t seen in a while, asking how she was. Her response about her and her husband’s absence
The Gospel According to Ellen: Living a Practical Theology of Love
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Jesus As far as I know
A Letter From a Backsliding, Prodigal Heretic, To My Christian Friends Still on the Inside
To My Dear Christian Friends on the Inside*, I know that you love me. I know that because you love me you’re worried about me right now. I know that you
Your Discomfort is Not Cam Newton’s Problem
Cam Newton does the Superman. Cam Newton dabs. Cam Newton zooms around the field with arms outstretched and mile wide grin displayed. Cam Newton gives kids footballs and does commercials and dresses
Christian, the Reason So Many People are Losing Faith—May Be You
Thou shalt not steal. – God Millions of people have lost their religion but they haven’t all given it up willingly. I think we Christians have stolen it from many of them.
Learning to See People Deeply in the Shallows of Social Media
Social media can be a deceptive thing; beautiful but so very dangerous to navigate. Part of its great value is that it gives everyone an equal voice regardless of their status or
God is Not a Dude—But I Still Call God “He” Sometimes.
God is clearly not a man. God is GOD. God both contains and transcends the beautiful, broad spectrum of gender, wonderfully revealed and encountered in both masculine and feminine ways simultaneously—gloriously androgynous Divinity.
Why My Morality as a Christian Doesn’t Just Come From the Bible
My new friend sat across the coffee shop table from me and within a few minutes of our introduction, cut right to the chase: “So if you don’t believe the Bible can
Things Someone Who Loved You Should Have Told You
Words can do incredible damage, but sometimes they can’t hold a candle to silence. Often it is those words that have been withheld which leave the greatest scars upon us. It is in
Because You’re Tired Today…
Do you feel woozy? There’s a specific kind of motion sickness afflicting you and me, but it’s not the kind that happens when we’re jostled wildly on a theme park ride or
Christian Parents, If Your Child Comes Out to You Here Are 5 Ways to Blow it
Having lived in the trenches of family ministry for the past two decades, I’ve been blessed with the honor of having a front row seat to the private lives of parents
Remembering to Enjoy the View
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy. – Anne Frank This past week I was the guest of some good friends in Northern California for
Maybe I’m Actually Not a Christian After All
I’ve always thought that I was a Christian. I’ve simply assumed that since I believed myself to be and strived to be, that this was enough. Though I’ve devoted my
We’re All Trying Really Hard Here. Go Easy.
I am trying so hard! – Kat, a hurting hero A few years ago I led a group of students and adults on a spontaneous mission trip; a four-day destination-less, meandering
10 Things This Christian Doesn’t Believe About The Bible
Whenever Christians talk about their faith with other Christians or with non-Christians the Bible is there, either as an overt discussion topic or as part of the background noise in the room. Many followers
The One Thing Successful Parents Need to Give Their Children
This afternoon my twelve-year old, Noah walked into the bedroom where I was working. As is far too often the case, my head never raised up from my computer screen
Trying to Make Peace With a God of Cancer
As a person of faith, there are two core truths I’ve strained to hold onto even in the most difficult, painful, discouraging moments of my life: God is. God is good.
The Church Will Be Queer (My Weekend With LGBTQ Christians and Friends)
Queer /kwir/ adjective differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal strange, odd, peculiar This past weekend I traveled to the Gay Christian Network Conference in Houston. Attendees there
Hello From the Outside (How The Church Fails and Forgets Those Who Leave)
Many large churches have a door problem. The problem, is that they’re all about the front door; the curb appeal, the efficient parking attendants, the effervescent sidewalk greeting team, the beautifully manicured
David Bowie, and the Brilliance and Beauty We Miss Every Day
Brilliance and Beauty are seductive things. At first they come to us and they level us with such ferocity and intensity, their newness widely flooding our unprepared hearts. We notice them, we cherish
President Obama’s Tenure Was More “Christian” Than His Critics Will Ever Admit
Back in January of 2015, President Obama gave a passionate, vulnerable, teary eyed press conference to announce new guidelines for gun ownership. It provided some of the rawest, most authentic expressions of compassion and