Posts
When Your Heart Gets Out Of Hell (Finding A Fear-Less Faith)
Hell is a pretty terrible thing to build a faith on. Living each difficult day here in a fire and brimstone spirituality rooted in your own moral filth is a
The Hidden, Chronic Pain of Grief
I have a couple of close friends who have struggled for years with undiagnosed chronic illnesses, and they’ve both shared with me on several occasions how isolating their conditions became because their pain
I Want To Do Love Right
The older I get, the less concerned I am with getting many things right. Maybe it’s the wisdom that comes with age or maybe it’s just battle fatigue from too
An Honest, Tired, Struggling Apostle's Creed
Since I was a small child I’ve recited The Apostles’ Creed in church. For those of you who may be unfamiliar, the Creed is essentially a synopsis of the essential tenets of the
Death Of A Household Name
My father died two years ago today. He was a legend, a historic figure, a household name— and it’s very likely you never heard of him or met him or would
Please Stop Telling Me I Can't Criticize The Church
To those who sold doves in the temple courts Jesus said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is
Dear World, I’m A Christian, But…
I am a Christian. I have a hard time saying that lately, because I know what you’re probably thinking about me the moment I do. You watch the news and you see
Church, Stop Hiring Preachers and Performers To Be Your Pastors
“John, it’s not an overstatement to say that I have zero interest in ministering to people.” “Wait, did he just say that?” I wondered to myself, trying to hold my poker
How To Navigate A Loved One's Changing Faith (Or Help Them Navigate Yours)
Faith moves. It is never static. Whether we are religious or not, even in the times we feel most settled in our beliefs, things are always shifting. As we head through
Jesus, Kim Davis, Some Queer Couples, And A Beautifully Redemptive Dinner Party
Jesus broke bread with people. For as often as we see him preaching on a hillside or through the city streets, we find him at the table; not just with those
Phobic Christian, While You’ve Been Busy Bothering LGBTQ People…
Christian, I see how angry you are, how consumed you are, how relentless you are, how myopic you’ve grown, how bitter you’ve become—and it saddens me. It grieves me deeply to see you
10 Ways American Christians Are Compromising Our Own Testimony In The World
If this were a prize fight, organized Christianity wouldn’t quite be knocked out yet, but it would certainly be on the ropes and we’d be way behind on points coming to
Our Gun Problem is a Heart Problem
“This isn’t about guns at all. People who want to be violent will always be violent. This isn’t a gun problem, it’s a heart problem.” Stop. You and I both
What To Do When You Think You’ve Lost Your Faith
“I just don’t know if I believe anymore—and I don’t know what to do about it.” I hear words like these every single day from people from every corner of the
We’re All Really Just Agnostics With Suspicions
Agnostic n. A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims
A Day You’ve Never Been To (For The First Day of School)
I’m not sure how you’re feeling today; probably that weird mix of great excitement bubbly energy and extreme nausea. You’ve probably got some new clothes, new school supplies, a new bestie,
Ashley Madison, Infidelity, And Why Your Spouse Probably Deserves Your Passwords
The hacking of AshleyMadison and the subsequent release of the personal information of many of its 37 million subscribers is causing violent ripples in homes throughout the world, even as we speak. The website, which
When Life Is Too Painful For Words
My dear, hurting friend, I want words right now. I want words that will fix this; ones that will repair all that is so terribly broken here. I want words that
The Sacred Act Of Not Being A Jerk
By this, they wilt knoweth that ye are my disciples; if ye throwest the greatest shade. -Jesus, The Wishful Thinking Translation Sometimes I can be a real jerk; selfish, petty, arrogant,
What Church People Need To Know About Those Who’ve Left
This message is for Church People. It’s for those of you who are part of a faith community every week; a physical place where you usually find yourself on Sundays.
3 Reasons “Love The Sinner, Hate The Sin” Is An Abomination
Love the sinner, hate the sin. Rarely in history has there been a greater mischaracterization of the heart of Jesus or a more egregious bastardization of the Bible than these six words. The damage
A Message To The Church of The Hurting
Everyone you meet is broken. Whether you realize it or not, every single day you rub shoulders with people in great pain. They are among the growing multitude of walking wounded in your
Stop Apologizing For Your Faith (Or Your Lack Of It)
For nearly two decades I’ve served as a pastor to both local and online faith communities, unpacking lots and lots of God stuff with folks from all over the world. Each day I spend
Dear Teenager,
Dear Teenager, I’m really hoping this reaches you. Maybe you’ll come across it in your social media travels or someone will tag you next week or send it to you
When Your Heart Gets Out Of Hell (Finding A Fear-Less Faith)
Hell is a pretty terrible thing to build a faith on. Living each difficult day here in a fire and brimstone spirituality rooted in your own moral filth is a
The Hidden, Chronic Pain of Grief
I have a couple of close friends who have struggled for years with undiagnosed chronic illnesses, and they’ve both shared with me on several occasions how isolating their conditions became because their pain
I Want To Do Love Right
The older I get, the less concerned I am with getting many things right. Maybe it’s the wisdom that comes with age or maybe it’s just battle fatigue from too
An Honest, Tired, Struggling Apostle's Creed
Since I was a small child I’ve recited The Apostles’ Creed in church. For those of you who may be unfamiliar, the Creed is essentially a synopsis of the essential tenets of the
Death Of A Household Name
My father died two years ago today. He was a legend, a historic figure, a household name— and it’s very likely you never heard of him or met him or would
Please Stop Telling Me I Can't Criticize The Church
To those who sold doves in the temple courts Jesus said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is
Dear World, I’m A Christian, But…
I am a Christian. I have a hard time saying that lately, because I know what you’re probably thinking about me the moment I do. You watch the news and you see
Church, Stop Hiring Preachers and Performers To Be Your Pastors
“John, it’s not an overstatement to say that I have zero interest in ministering to people.” “Wait, did he just say that?” I wondered to myself, trying to hold my poker
How To Navigate A Loved One's Changing Faith (Or Help Them Navigate Yours)
Faith moves. It is never static. Whether we are religious or not, even in the times we feel most settled in our beliefs, things are always shifting. As we head through
Jesus, Kim Davis, Some Queer Couples, And A Beautifully Redemptive Dinner Party
Jesus broke bread with people. For as often as we see him preaching on a hillside or through the city streets, we find him at the table; not just with those
Phobic Christian, While You’ve Been Busy Bothering LGBTQ People…
Christian, I see how angry you are, how consumed you are, how relentless you are, how myopic you’ve grown, how bitter you’ve become—and it saddens me. It grieves me deeply to see you
10 Ways American Christians Are Compromising Our Own Testimony In The World
If this were a prize fight, organized Christianity wouldn’t quite be knocked out yet, but it would certainly be on the ropes and we’d be way behind on points coming to
Our Gun Problem is a Heart Problem
“This isn’t about guns at all. People who want to be violent will always be violent. This isn’t a gun problem, it’s a heart problem.” Stop. You and I both
What To Do When You Think You’ve Lost Your Faith
“I just don’t know if I believe anymore—and I don’t know what to do about it.” I hear words like these every single day from people from every corner of the
We’re All Really Just Agnostics With Suspicions
Agnostic n. A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims
A Day You’ve Never Been To (For The First Day of School)
I’m not sure how you’re feeling today; probably that weird mix of great excitement bubbly energy and extreme nausea. You’ve probably got some new clothes, new school supplies, a new bestie,
Ashley Madison, Infidelity, And Why Your Spouse Probably Deserves Your Passwords
The hacking of AshleyMadison and the subsequent release of the personal information of many of its 37 million subscribers is causing violent ripples in homes throughout the world, even as we speak. The website, which
When Life Is Too Painful For Words
My dear, hurting friend, I want words right now. I want words that will fix this; ones that will repair all that is so terribly broken here. I want words that
The Sacred Act Of Not Being A Jerk
By this, they wilt knoweth that ye are my disciples; if ye throwest the greatest shade. -Jesus, The Wishful Thinking Translation Sometimes I can be a real jerk; selfish, petty, arrogant,
What Church People Need To Know About Those Who’ve Left
This message is for Church People. It’s for those of you who are part of a faith community every week; a physical place where you usually find yourself on Sundays.
3 Reasons “Love The Sinner, Hate The Sin” Is An Abomination
Love the sinner, hate the sin. Rarely in history has there been a greater mischaracterization of the heart of Jesus or a more egregious bastardization of the Bible than these six words. The damage
A Message To The Church of The Hurting
Everyone you meet is broken. Whether you realize it or not, every single day you rub shoulders with people in great pain. They are among the growing multitude of walking wounded in your
Stop Apologizing For Your Faith (Or Your Lack Of It)
For nearly two decades I’ve served as a pastor to both local and online faith communities, unpacking lots and lots of God stuff with folks from all over the world. Each day I spend
Dear Teenager,
Dear Teenager, I’m really hoping this reaches you. Maybe you’ll come across it in your social media travels or someone will tag you next week or send it to you