Christian Living

The Filth in Prison

My Joseph Journey – The Filth

When I was a child, my parents took me to a local race track with a communal urinal full of yellowed ice and the fetid bugs that had fallen from the fluorescent frivolity [...]

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Christianity and Anti-semitism

In recent years, I've come to see anti-semitism as what it is: a malignant undercurrent that occasionally manifests in horrible ways but never really goes away. [...]

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stormtroopers avoiding Darth Vader's offensiveness

Defense against Offense – Scripture on Offending Others

For years, I was taught offending other people is sinful, citing verses like Romans 14:21 and 2 Corinthians 6:3. I learned Christians are supposed to be each others' morality police; if the herd says we should or shouldn't do something because they like it or don't, we should obey so we do not sin by offending their sensibilities. [...]

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Challenging Our Own Bias

Challenging Our Own Bias

Last week, a reader sent a post from a Dallas-area mom and author who had a shift in perspective about her daughter wearing bikinis. You should go read it. Seriously, [...]

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The Isolation of Prison

My Joseph Journey – The Isolation

Was it lonely in prison? You're never alone, but being alone is not a prerequisite for being lonely. Thankfully God was with me. [...]

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Martha and Mary Magdalene by Caravaggio

Misogyny and Malarkey – Silence

“When you put on your Christian garb, you become an heir, on the same level as all the other heirs. Men and women are equal as children of God.” This is basically [...]

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four draft beers

To Drink or Not to Drink

We’ve covered all sorts of topics here, from the general site motif of sexuality to the entertainment value of foam weaponry. Christian life is far from boring, and [...]

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no cussing sign from Virginia Beach

The Bible on Cursing

Well, finding broad commands to not curse was surprisingly more difficult than finding the same for not swearing. Whereas swearing was forbidden directly and clearly, cursing seemed to be handled more circumspectly. [...]

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truthing in love - ἀληθεύοντες ἐν ἀγάπῃ

Truth in Love at a Candlelight Service

Like so many believers around the world, we have an annual Christmas tradition of attending a candlelight service. You know the scene: singing lots of Christmas music, [...]

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Being a Christian in Prison

My Joseph Journey – Introduction

A Christian in Prison It’s a new year, so let’s start things out with a bang. I’m a felon. Yeah, that’s right. I committed a crime. And got caught. I [...]

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The Prison Staff

My Joseph Journey – The Prison Staff

I use the term prison staff to keep the label deliberately ambiguous. Most outsiders would simply call them “guards” collectively. Most insiders call them [...]

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Building a Nation of Compromise

Building a Nation of Compromise

I’m talking about politics as much as religion in this series. At least on the surface. Feel free to move along to something more innocuous (like dwarf bunnies) if you [...]

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a gate in a wooden fence

Confronting Boundaries — Part 1

I recently wrote about my recognition that some boundaries aren’t as universally absolute as some Christians believe. Murder is wrong across the board, but can the same [...]

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pierced lip

Pierced for Our Fashions

Apart from keeping all those small kiosks in malls busy, are there serious consequences to wearing such jewelry? Don't some people say the Bible says we're not supposed to pierce our bodies? [...]

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