Once upon a time, in a fairy-tale forest, there was a community of owls. These owls had strict codes that dictated their lives.
All in Culture
A Crowded Sabbath
Sabbath is when our fists unclench and our shoulders soften. This renewed posture melts into place against all worldly resistance as we listen to souls breathe in stillness.
Attack the Hill!
Fred Craddock suggests that, rather than respond to the world’s bad news, we proclaim the good news.
Ministry with a Small Church of the Anawim
At a time when smaller churches struggle to stay alive, one has to wonder why. I believe the reasons are complex yet simple: far too many of us are trying to serve two masters.
From “Who Is My Neighbor?” to “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
What does an ordained minister with a bunch of puppets and low-production quality have to offer to a hurting world?
Eco-Justice and the Book of Psalms
Given that God reigns with justice, the implication here (and the direct command elsewhere) is that we would reign over creation as God would—justly.
Understanding Jesus, Understanding Ourselves
Until we understand who Jesus is, we cannot properly understand who we are. If our Christology is wrong, our anthropology will undoubtedly be flawed as well.
The Nations Are Coming Here
As churches become more missional, our churches will attract more ethnicities, and we will start to see the nations around us that God has brought to our doorstep.
Are You Still a Christian?
We like to create distance, even distance that is generated by falsity, to protect ourselves from being impacted by those we fear.
Why the Church Needs Feminism (Part 6)
There are three common mistakes that churches make that provide safe havens for abusers and re-victimize the vulnerable time and time again.
It's Time to Get out of the Car
I recently tried a sad kind of experiment. I tried to see if I can make it 24 hours without hearing a body shaming or food shaming comment.
Tension at the Threshold: Hospitality and Immigration (Part 3)
Every conversation about hospitality must include boundaries, and every conversation about boundaries must include hospitality.
A Missional Plea for Christian Pacifism
Historically speaking, pacifism appears the unquestioned stance of the New Testament and the early church.
Tension at the Threshold: Hospitality and Immigration (Part 2)
Fair concerns remain about risk and logistics when it comes to relearning the virtue of Christian hospitality toward immigrants and refugees.
Thinking Globally for Renewal!
This shift away from Europe and North America may not have an immediate impact on the church you attend, but I suspect that most of us can already see evidence of the decline.
Laws of the Land and Romans 13
Is it right to follow the current laws and policies of our country, or offer hope and hospitality to immigrants entering our country, whether documented or not?
Tension at the Threshold: Hospitality and Immigration (Part 1)
Some in our pews have political, theological, and experiential bricks stacked so high around the borders of their souls that they are unable to hear the cries of the immigrant.
Weary (A Poem for the Perplexed in this Political Age)
Mankind. An oxymoron? A question? One part man, less parts kind, One wonders what peace there we can find …
Making Disciples When Evangelism Is Not Your Gift
Let me suggest some ways that all of us—including preachers and church leaders—should be making disciples.
How the Church Can End Eating Disorder Stigma
The thing I am most haunted by are my clients who have been harmed by the church. The church should never be a stumbling block to recovery.