Posts

Have You Seen Me Lately? (A Message To The Always Becoming)
I’m fairly absent-minded these days. I wasn’t always this way, though, I swear. I can remember, in the very distant past, (like, the sepia-tinted photo, kinda past), when clarity was

Coming Out Of The Closet (Depression And The Christian)
There are millions of Christians who are in the closet right now. It’s not the one you’re thinking of. These clandestine believers also live half in darkness; always carefully crafting the

“Go, And Make Atheists Of All Nations…”
I confess that I sometimes wonder if I would have any interest at all in becoming a Christian if I weren’t already one. (Heck if I’m honest, many days I

If You Stick Around (A Letter To Bullied Teens)
Dear Hurting Teenager, I know you want to leave. I know the horrible, endless walks through the hallways that you endure every morning, near vomiting. I know the afternoon bus rides
All You Need Is "Like".
This just in: Love is dead. That’s not exactly true, Love, (or so I hear), is not exactly dead, but it is certainly slipping in the popularity polls lately. Oh,
The Geography Of Outrage
We Americans hate to see people suffer. Let me rephrase that: We Americans hate to see Americans suffer. Oh sure, we feel badly for people overseas and around the world
Praying To Be Radicalized (A Response To The Boston Marathon Bombings)
“We believe they’ve been radicalized.” These were the words used this week, to describe two men whose lives were seemingly quite normal, rather ordinary and relatively uneventful, until they say, something
The Non-Bullying of Louie Giglio and Christians
Louie Giglio is not being bullied. Pastor Giglio’s withdrawal from his role in the upcoming Presidential Inaugural Celebration, apparently due to backlash he received from gay lobbying organizations, has rightly

To The Families Of The Victims Of The Next Mass Shooting
Words. Words don’t do you any good now, I know. There’s nothing I can say to bring you any real comfort today; nothing to fill the gaping hole in your

Pornogamy: Being Hot For What Ya Got
I have some bad news, friends: Our dirty little secret is out. It’s not really surprising to most of you, when I say that pornography is ripping apart the marriages

Classroom Christianity
This is my textbook from my first year of Italian in high school. I’m of Italian descent, so back then, when I found out my school offered it, I jumped
The Most Important Mission Trip You'll Ever Take
We Christian just love mission trips. We love to jump into vans or buses or planes, packed to the gills with stuff to give out and tools to use, and
Grappling With Jesus: M.M.A., U.F.C. and G.O.D.
Ever suddenly feel like you’re an alien; as though you are on a strange planet, surrounded by life-forms to which you are completely foreign? I often feel that way around church

Arguing With Cartoon People (Why "RIGHT" is Wrong and "LEFT" Ain't Right).
A few years ago, when my son was around 3, the local shopping center was having a Fall Field Day, with games, food and all kinds of free entertainment for
A Non-Superhero's Resolutions
Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 This new year is only 12
How Heterosexual Christians Can Defend Marriage
No, this isn’t that blog. This is not another statement about the hot topic of endless radio talk show debates, picket sign duels and yes, even fast food standoffs; all of

Parents, Stop Teenage Privacy Now
Dear Parents of Teenagers, I love students. I have known tens of thousands of them, perhaps I know yours. I have worked with them for a decade and a half,
Rescuing The Inside-Out Children
I’ve been a Student Pastor for 15 years, and for a big portion of those years, I always thought I was pretty darn good at it. Then I discovered Facebook and
Post-It Notes and Duct Tape: The Word That Sticks
Last week was, well… crazy is about the only way to describe it. You see, I have a blog, which, I suppose you are reading at this moment if I
Merry ChristMESS.
So the day has come, and nearly gone, and though you had dreams of picture perfect scenes of warmth and gentleness, once again, things haven’t quite panned out that way.
Mary Christmas! (or, "We're All Pregnant!")
OK, so chances are you’ve heard this story before, but just in case here’s the Twitter-ized version in 140 characters: Engaged teenage virgin gets visit from angel, told she is

God Doesn’t Bless America
God doesn’t bless America. No, this isn’t the very kind of inflammatory, fear-fueled message that lots of pastors like to propagate. It’s not some doom and gloom, sky-is-falling, bullhorn warning that God

Newtown, Mike Huckabee, James Dobson, and A Pastor’s Apology
I am a Christian. I am a pastor. I am a father. As all three of these things, I apologize to the world (and to the victims of the Sandy
3 Questionable Christian Social Media Responses to Newtown
In the immediate wake of the Newtown tragedy; one that the mind cannot really grasp or understand, social media has of course, been the place for people to vent, process

Have You Seen Me Lately? (A Message To The Always Becoming)
I’m fairly absent-minded these days. I wasn’t always this way, though, I swear. I can remember, in the very distant past, (like, the sepia-tinted photo, kinda past), when clarity was

Coming Out Of The Closet (Depression And The Christian)
There are millions of Christians who are in the closet right now. It’s not the one you’re thinking of. These clandestine believers also live half in darkness; always carefully crafting the

“Go, And Make Atheists Of All Nations…”
I confess that I sometimes wonder if I would have any interest at all in becoming a Christian if I weren’t already one. (Heck if I’m honest, many days I

If You Stick Around (A Letter To Bullied Teens)
Dear Hurting Teenager, I know you want to leave. I know the horrible, endless walks through the hallways that you endure every morning, near vomiting. I know the afternoon bus rides
All You Need Is "Like".
This just in: Love is dead. That’s not exactly true, Love, (or so I hear), is not exactly dead, but it is certainly slipping in the popularity polls lately. Oh,
The Geography Of Outrage
We Americans hate to see people suffer. Let me rephrase that: We Americans hate to see Americans suffer. Oh sure, we feel badly for people overseas and around the world
Praying To Be Radicalized (A Response To The Boston Marathon Bombings)
“We believe they’ve been radicalized.” These were the words used this week, to describe two men whose lives were seemingly quite normal, rather ordinary and relatively uneventful, until they say, something
The Non-Bullying of Louie Giglio and Christians
Louie Giglio is not being bullied. Pastor Giglio’s withdrawal from his role in the upcoming Presidential Inaugural Celebration, apparently due to backlash he received from gay lobbying organizations, has rightly

To The Families Of The Victims Of The Next Mass Shooting
Words. Words don’t do you any good now, I know. There’s nothing I can say to bring you any real comfort today; nothing to fill the gaping hole in your

Pornogamy: Being Hot For What Ya Got
I have some bad news, friends: Our dirty little secret is out. It’s not really surprising to most of you, when I say that pornography is ripping apart the marriages

Classroom Christianity
This is my textbook from my first year of Italian in high school. I’m of Italian descent, so back then, when I found out my school offered it, I jumped
The Most Important Mission Trip You'll Ever Take
We Christian just love mission trips. We love to jump into vans or buses or planes, packed to the gills with stuff to give out and tools to use, and
Grappling With Jesus: M.M.A., U.F.C. and G.O.D.
Ever suddenly feel like you’re an alien; as though you are on a strange planet, surrounded by life-forms to which you are completely foreign? I often feel that way around church

Arguing With Cartoon People (Why "RIGHT" is Wrong and "LEFT" Ain't Right).
A few years ago, when my son was around 3, the local shopping center was having a Fall Field Day, with games, food and all kinds of free entertainment for
A Non-Superhero's Resolutions
Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 This new year is only 12
How Heterosexual Christians Can Defend Marriage
No, this isn’t that blog. This is not another statement about the hot topic of endless radio talk show debates, picket sign duels and yes, even fast food standoffs; all of

Parents, Stop Teenage Privacy Now
Dear Parents of Teenagers, I love students. I have known tens of thousands of them, perhaps I know yours. I have worked with them for a decade and a half,
Rescuing The Inside-Out Children
I’ve been a Student Pastor for 15 years, and for a big portion of those years, I always thought I was pretty darn good at it. Then I discovered Facebook and
Post-It Notes and Duct Tape: The Word That Sticks
Last week was, well… crazy is about the only way to describe it. You see, I have a blog, which, I suppose you are reading at this moment if I
Merry ChristMESS.
So the day has come, and nearly gone, and though you had dreams of picture perfect scenes of warmth and gentleness, once again, things haven’t quite panned out that way.
Mary Christmas! (or, "We're All Pregnant!")
OK, so chances are you’ve heard this story before, but just in case here’s the Twitter-ized version in 140 characters: Engaged teenage virgin gets visit from angel, told she is

God Doesn’t Bless America
God doesn’t bless America. No, this isn’t the very kind of inflammatory, fear-fueled message that lots of pastors like to propagate. It’s not some doom and gloom, sky-is-falling, bullhorn warning that God

Newtown, Mike Huckabee, James Dobson, and A Pastor’s Apology
I am a Christian. I am a pastor. I am a father. As all three of these things, I apologize to the world (and to the victims of the Sandy
3 Questionable Christian Social Media Responses to Newtown
In the immediate wake of the Newtown tragedy; one that the mind cannot really grasp or understand, social media has of course, been the place for people to vent, process