Posts
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
10 Cool Gifts Christians Can Give Baby Jesus For His Birthday
Well, Christian, it’s nearly Jesus’ birthday. Maybe you forgot or you got distracted with all the running around and shopping and whatnot, and it plain snuck up on you. Before
Plumber's Cracks In The Grief Valley
Grief is funny. It’s funny in the peculiar way that it sneaks up on you; the way it pops up in random, ridiculous, completely unrelated moments, to remind you of something beautiful
Oh, There’s No Place Like Homesick For The Holidays
Nostalgia comes too easy this time of year. There’s something about the holidays and the coming of winter and the flipping of the calendar that brings out the sentimentalist in all of
It's My 2014 Year In Review, Binge Reader's Mega Post!!!
Hello Friends. This has been a simply unbelievable year in Blogville. I cannot express how grateful I am for you and for every read, share, and comment that’s come in.
Singing Angry Songs to a God Who Seems to Hurt Us
Get up, God! Are you going to sleep all day? Wake up! Don’t you care what happens to us? Why do you bury your face in the pillow? Why pretend things are just
When Their Hands Were Small: A Message To All Parents Of Prodigals
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he
What the Continued Crucifying Of Rob Bell Says About Modern Christianity
It’s often been said that we Christians eat our own. This unsettling expression is all-too true, and apparently Rob Bell is on the menu yet again. For a people whose go-to ideas
Injustice, Poverty, Pain, And Our Proximity Prejudice
There’s a famous old adage: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. (Not all old sayings are created equal). The truth is, when it comes to the people we treasure and those
Weapon Of Choice: To Christians Who Believe That Sexuality Is A Decision
History is no guarantee of legitimacy. Thinking that is sustained over time doesn’t always equal Truth. Sometimes it just equals tradition. Just because many religious people get something wrong over and
Ferguson, Immigration, LGBT Rights, And The Destructive Myth Of ‘Them’
Thank God for Them. Whenever we’re in a fight, we need a clear enemy, and we need it fast. There’s something about human nature that craves separation in times of conflict. It’s a deep-rooted self-preservation that
Giving Thanks For Terrible Things: Losing My Father, My Job, My Plan—And My Fear
This is a time when even the most calloused and cranky of us steps back, takes stock of life, inventories the beautiful people and the sweet stuff we’re surrounded by,
Why We Kill Our Young Black Men Twice In White America
Certain days are so horrible, you never want to relive them. And then you’re forced to. I wrote this piece two years ago, in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death. I
This Whole Damn Country Needs A Hug—And Here It Is
My country is hurting. We the people, are hurting. The hurt shows up in so many ways, ways that surprise and distract and confuse us, ways that don’t always look like
Why Maybe Gay People Should Stop Coming Out
Last night, I attended a nonprofit event in Greensboro and had the chance to hear a message from Wade Davis, a former NFL player and an eloquent advocate for LGBT rights. Davis’
Because People Will Die Today
People die every day. I realize that this isn’t news to you. You’re probably not receiving it as a particularly profound idea. I know you know this reality intellectually, that your brain comprehends it—but
This Is What Modern Christians Really Fear Most
So many Christians are living scared. They spend their days hopelessly and totally petrified; hiding and running from the imminent threat that’s pursuing them, always seemingly just a fearful second from being overtaken
The Problem Of Sin (And It's Not The One You Think) Part 1: Definitions
I think we Christians definitely have a sin problem, but I’m not sure it’s the one so many of us believe we have, or have been taught we have. The problem for us
Kirk Cameron's Dreaming Of A White, (Male-Dominated) Christmas
Kirk Cameron seems like a perfectly nice guy. I believe he genuinely loves Jesus. As such, he and I are family. Sometimes brothers have to say honest, hard words to one
How We Built The Queerest Youth Ministry In Town
I’ve been a student pastor for most of the last 19 years. A few years ago, I remember sitting in a meeting with my then senior pastor talking about our
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
10 Cool Gifts Christians Can Give Baby Jesus For His Birthday
Well, Christian, it’s nearly Jesus’ birthday. Maybe you forgot or you got distracted with all the running around and shopping and whatnot, and it plain snuck up on you. Before
Plumber's Cracks In The Grief Valley
Grief is funny. It’s funny in the peculiar way that it sneaks up on you; the way it pops up in random, ridiculous, completely unrelated moments, to remind you of something beautiful
Oh, There’s No Place Like Homesick For The Holidays
Nostalgia comes too easy this time of year. There’s something about the holidays and the coming of winter and the flipping of the calendar that brings out the sentimentalist in all of
It's My 2014 Year In Review, Binge Reader's Mega Post!!!
Hello Friends. This has been a simply unbelievable year in Blogville. I cannot express how grateful I am for you and for every read, share, and comment that’s come in.
Singing Angry Songs to a God Who Seems to Hurt Us
Get up, God! Are you going to sleep all day? Wake up! Don’t you care what happens to us? Why do you bury your face in the pillow? Why pretend things are just
When Their Hands Were Small: A Message To All Parents Of Prodigals
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he
What the Continued Crucifying Of Rob Bell Says About Modern Christianity
It’s often been said that we Christians eat our own. This unsettling expression is all-too true, and apparently Rob Bell is on the menu yet again. For a people whose go-to ideas
Injustice, Poverty, Pain, And Our Proximity Prejudice
There’s a famous old adage: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. (Not all old sayings are created equal). The truth is, when it comes to the people we treasure and those
Weapon Of Choice: To Christians Who Believe That Sexuality Is A Decision
History is no guarantee of legitimacy. Thinking that is sustained over time doesn’t always equal Truth. Sometimes it just equals tradition. Just because many religious people get something wrong over and
Ferguson, Immigration, LGBT Rights, And The Destructive Myth Of ‘Them’
Thank God for Them. Whenever we’re in a fight, we need a clear enemy, and we need it fast. There’s something about human nature that craves separation in times of conflict. It’s a deep-rooted self-preservation that
Giving Thanks For Terrible Things: Losing My Father, My Job, My Plan—And My Fear
This is a time when even the most calloused and cranky of us steps back, takes stock of life, inventories the beautiful people and the sweet stuff we’re surrounded by,
Why We Kill Our Young Black Men Twice In White America
Certain days are so horrible, you never want to relive them. And then you’re forced to. I wrote this piece two years ago, in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death. I
This Whole Damn Country Needs A Hug—And Here It Is
My country is hurting. We the people, are hurting. The hurt shows up in so many ways, ways that surprise and distract and confuse us, ways that don’t always look like
Why Maybe Gay People Should Stop Coming Out
Last night, I attended a nonprofit event in Greensboro and had the chance to hear a message from Wade Davis, a former NFL player and an eloquent advocate for LGBT rights. Davis’
Because People Will Die Today
People die every day. I realize that this isn’t news to you. You’re probably not receiving it as a particularly profound idea. I know you know this reality intellectually, that your brain comprehends it—but
This Is What Modern Christians Really Fear Most
So many Christians are living scared. They spend their days hopelessly and totally petrified; hiding and running from the imminent threat that’s pursuing them, always seemingly just a fearful second from being overtaken
The Problem Of Sin (And It's Not The One You Think) Part 1: Definitions
I think we Christians definitely have a sin problem, but I’m not sure it’s the one so many of us believe we have, or have been taught we have. The problem for us
Kirk Cameron's Dreaming Of A White, (Male-Dominated) Christmas
Kirk Cameron seems like a perfectly nice guy. I believe he genuinely loves Jesus. As such, he and I are family. Sometimes brothers have to say honest, hard words to one
How We Built The Queerest Youth Ministry In Town
I’ve been a student pastor for most of the last 19 years. A few years ago, I remember sitting in a meeting with my then senior pastor talking about our