Posts
A Song That God Wrote: My Several Failed Attempts At Atheism
I confess that I’m a Christian who often envies Atheists. As the blog has reached a larger audience, I’ve been extremely grateful that so many of the people who connect
Gold And White Or Blue and Black: What #Dressgate Teaches Us About How We See God
“I just don’t see how anyone can’t see what I can see.” I heard that more than a few times this week, and wondered why it sounded so familiar. A few
Why The Bible Shouldn't Be Worshiped
The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it. You’ve heard that phrase before. You’ve read it on bumper stickers. You may have even said it a time
The Building With The Biggest Doors (A Parable For The Church)
One day, a boy was walking through the town with his father, just as they did every Sunday morning. He so enjoyed their walks. The boy held his father’s hand as they traveled from
Blood For Blood (Christians, Jesus, and Violence in the Face of the IS)
“I want blood.” “It’s time to nuke the whole damn area.” “We need to turn the Middle East into a parking lot.” “Burn every last one of ’em.” These aren’t
How You Die When Someone You Love Dies
At one time or another you’ve probably heard someone say that when a person you love dies, a part of you dies too. I used to think that was just
Shouting Into The Wind: Words From The Hearts Of Christian Moms With LGBTQ Children
A while ago I sat down on a quiet Wednesday morning to write this blog post, sharing how I would respond if I found out that my children were LGBTQ. My hope was to try
Shouting Into The Wind: Words From The Hearts Of Christian Moms With LGBT Children
Five months ago I sat down on a quiet Wednesday morning to write this blog post, sharing how I would respond if I found out that my children were gay. My hope was
What Many Christians Can’t See About The Culture War
Words are really funny things. If we misuse them long enough, our familiarity can begin to fool us and we gradually go a bit blind. Over time, we can come to
5 Ways To Avoid Your Own Valentine’s Day Massacre
Do you smell that? It’s that magical time of year again; when massive, heart-shaped boxes of overpriced chocolates line the entry way to every supermarket, drug store, and gas station; when renegade roadside
Secession From The Church (To Christians Who Stay Home On Sundays)
“Church isn’t for me anymore.” I know those words so well because I hear them every single day in some form or another; in emails, late night Skype sessions, and midday
The One Question Christians Need To Stop Asking People, When Their Loved One Dies
Two days after my father died, I was walking into my church and ran into a good friend. She hugged me and expressed how sorry she was for my loss.
Faitheism: The Shared Sacred Ground Of All Doubting Believers And Believing Doubters
There’s a dangerous and popular myth about religious faith, that says you either have it, or you don’t. Even if we don’t consciously choose to, most of us probably see spirituality this
Sorry To Rainbow On Your Parade (A Pastor Exposes The Gay Agenda)
Brace yourselves and gird your loins, true believers; I come with earth-shattering news. I’ve long heard rumors of the gay community’s insidious master plan to contaminate and corrupt our sweet cisgender-hetero setup here on
Stand Up, Straight Christians. It's Time For You To Come Out Of The Closet.
“I’ve been a Christian my entire life and I’ve never been able to ask these questions because I feared how I’d be treated in my church. Reading your writing today gave me permission
Questions Christians Can’t Ask, Vol.1: “Do We Worship A Grudge-Holding God?”
Some days faith is easy; days when everything seems to make sense, when what you believe feels natural and beautiful and life-giving. Then there are other days. On those days the whole system
10 Things Christian Parents Can Do When Their Kids Come Out
You have a gay child. I know that it may be nearly impossible to say or understand or even believe, but you do. Christian Mom and Dad, remember everything you
The Greatest Idol Of Evangelical Christianity
Idolatry is a horrible, dangerous thing. Sadly, far too many Christians are so very guilty of it. You can see it in the way they complain on social media, in
Singing Songs With Unicorns: My Weekend With LGBTQ Christians
There are moments when you’re absolutely sure that you’re standing on holy ground, times when you feel the awe of something so big and so real, that you’re driven to your knees
Some Hopefully Helpful Advice For Your Weird Marriage
Several times every day on my social media timelines, I see links shared featuring experts offering marriage advice. Some are better than others, and nearly all have some general wisdom that is helpful,
A 2015 Promise For Leelah Alcorn, And For All "Different" Young People Who Never Made It Here
Leelah Alcorn never got to see 2015. It was stolen from her. This fresh, pristine moment in time that you’re experiencing right now, with all of its newness and possibility and
The Year That Wasn’t (A Resolution For All Those Surprised by Life)
This wasn’t the year I planned. This wasn’t how things were supposed to unfold. This wasn’t in the script. 12 months ago as I prepared to change the calendar, it
“What Do I Have To Do To Get You Into A Relationship With Jesus?” (Selling Christ In The Evangelical Megachurch)
Regardless of your economic level, life stage, or personality type, buying a car is a fairly universally loathed experience. (My apologies to my beloved salesperson friends out there, but that’s
Heresies, Schmeresies, And Letters From Pharisees
It’s always fun to get mail, until it isn’t. On Wednesday I was heading out to prepare to lead music for our church’s Christmas Eve service, when my wife handed
A Song That God Wrote: My Several Failed Attempts At Atheism
I confess that I’m a Christian who often envies Atheists. As the blog has reached a larger audience, I’ve been extremely grateful that so many of the people who connect
Gold And White Or Blue and Black: What #Dressgate Teaches Us About How We See God
“I just don’t see how anyone can’t see what I can see.” I heard that more than a few times this week, and wondered why it sounded so familiar. A few
Why The Bible Shouldn't Be Worshiped
The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it. You’ve heard that phrase before. You’ve read it on bumper stickers. You may have even said it a time
The Building With The Biggest Doors (A Parable For The Church)
One day, a boy was walking through the town with his father, just as they did every Sunday morning. He so enjoyed their walks. The boy held his father’s hand as they traveled from
Blood For Blood (Christians, Jesus, and Violence in the Face of the IS)
“I want blood.” “It’s time to nuke the whole damn area.” “We need to turn the Middle East into a parking lot.” “Burn every last one of ’em.” These aren’t
How You Die When Someone You Love Dies
At one time or another you’ve probably heard someone say that when a person you love dies, a part of you dies too. I used to think that was just
Shouting Into The Wind: Words From The Hearts Of Christian Moms With LGBTQ Children
A while ago I sat down on a quiet Wednesday morning to write this blog post, sharing how I would respond if I found out that my children were LGBTQ. My hope was to try
Shouting Into The Wind: Words From The Hearts Of Christian Moms With LGBT Children
Five months ago I sat down on a quiet Wednesday morning to write this blog post, sharing how I would respond if I found out that my children were gay. My hope was
What Many Christians Can’t See About The Culture War
Words are really funny things. If we misuse them long enough, our familiarity can begin to fool us and we gradually go a bit blind. Over time, we can come to
5 Ways To Avoid Your Own Valentine’s Day Massacre
Do you smell that? It’s that magical time of year again; when massive, heart-shaped boxes of overpriced chocolates line the entry way to every supermarket, drug store, and gas station; when renegade roadside
Secession From The Church (To Christians Who Stay Home On Sundays)
“Church isn’t for me anymore.” I know those words so well because I hear them every single day in some form or another; in emails, late night Skype sessions, and midday
The One Question Christians Need To Stop Asking People, When Their Loved One Dies
Two days after my father died, I was walking into my church and ran into a good friend. She hugged me and expressed how sorry she was for my loss.
Faitheism: The Shared Sacred Ground Of All Doubting Believers And Believing Doubters
There’s a dangerous and popular myth about religious faith, that says you either have it, or you don’t. Even if we don’t consciously choose to, most of us probably see spirituality this
Sorry To Rainbow On Your Parade (A Pastor Exposes The Gay Agenda)
Brace yourselves and gird your loins, true believers; I come with earth-shattering news. I’ve long heard rumors of the gay community’s insidious master plan to contaminate and corrupt our sweet cisgender-hetero setup here on
Stand Up, Straight Christians. It's Time For You To Come Out Of The Closet.
“I’ve been a Christian my entire life and I’ve never been able to ask these questions because I feared how I’d be treated in my church. Reading your writing today gave me permission
Questions Christians Can’t Ask, Vol.1: “Do We Worship A Grudge-Holding God?”
Some days faith is easy; days when everything seems to make sense, when what you believe feels natural and beautiful and life-giving. Then there are other days. On those days the whole system
10 Things Christian Parents Can Do When Their Kids Come Out
You have a gay child. I know that it may be nearly impossible to say or understand or even believe, but you do. Christian Mom and Dad, remember everything you
The Greatest Idol Of Evangelical Christianity
Idolatry is a horrible, dangerous thing. Sadly, far too many Christians are so very guilty of it. You can see it in the way they complain on social media, in
Singing Songs With Unicorns: My Weekend With LGBTQ Christians
There are moments when you’re absolutely sure that you’re standing on holy ground, times when you feel the awe of something so big and so real, that you’re driven to your knees
Some Hopefully Helpful Advice For Your Weird Marriage
Several times every day on my social media timelines, I see links shared featuring experts offering marriage advice. Some are better than others, and nearly all have some general wisdom that is helpful,
A 2015 Promise For Leelah Alcorn, And For All "Different" Young People Who Never Made It Here
Leelah Alcorn never got to see 2015. It was stolen from her. This fresh, pristine moment in time that you’re experiencing right now, with all of its newness and possibility and
The Year That Wasn’t (A Resolution For All Those Surprised by Life)
This wasn’t the year I planned. This wasn’t how things were supposed to unfold. This wasn’t in the script. 12 months ago as I prepared to change the calendar, it
“What Do I Have To Do To Get You Into A Relationship With Jesus?” (Selling Christ In The Evangelical Megachurch)
Regardless of your economic level, life stage, or personality type, buying a car is a fairly universally loathed experience. (My apologies to my beloved salesperson friends out there, but that’s
Heresies, Schmeresies, And Letters From Pharisees
It’s always fun to get mail, until it isn’t. On Wednesday I was heading out to prepare to lead music for our church’s Christmas Eve service, when my wife handed