Family – the Need for Platonic Intimacy
Merriam-Webster lists eight distinct definitions for “family”, and five of the eight relate specifically to people. It’s not a simple concept in denotative [...]
Christian Living
Navigating a Nation with Abortion
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 [...]
Elegant Integrity – a Complex Cosmos and an Infinite God
Realizing I live in a big, complex universe (and I serve an infinite God) challenged my black-and-white, linear, Evangelical thinking. [...]
Confronting Boundaries — Part 2
I take a systematic, methodical approach when confronting boundaries (or assessing any potential truth) because it produces reliable results. I've adapted John Wesley's quadrilateral to this task, since my personal boundaries are essentially doctrine or truth applied to me personally. [...]
Under the Needle – Tattoos in the Bible
It wasn’t that long ago when a man with tattoos would be shunned by society at large and likely barred from most churches. Today, getting ink done is far more widely [...]
My Joseph Journey – The Brothers
Prior to my prison sentence, I was a part of a vibrant, healthy, biblical church. Vibrant leaders led our church who were well-trained in theology and focused on integrity [...]
Loving in a Nation of Presumers
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 [...]
Misogyny and Malarkey – Leadership
We’ve established that man and woman were created equal and that the “head of the household” label has more to do with responsibility and function than rank [...]
Questing with Integrity – Embracing Doubt, Curiosity, and Sometimes “Heresy”
There is such a thing as heresy, and the Bible is very clear about how we should handle it. But maybe we're too trigger-happy with that label. [...]
On the Shoulders
I believe this is one of the greatest times to be alive in the church. Yes, persecution exists in different forms in different places. Yes, there is a great resistance in [...]
Misogyny and Malarkey – Teachers
Why do we see Paul seem to go all macho in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 (NASB): "A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet." [...]
My Joseph Journey – The Inmates
I have always been a people watcher, but no mall, school, airport, or ComicCon could ever prepare me for the characters I'd get to watch in prison. [...]
Misogyny and Malarkey – Introduction
Millennia of being treated as second-class citizens (often legally designated as such), being forbidden certain rights and privileges afforded to men, and generally being taught that God has made them inferior to men... that's rough. [...]
On the Boundaries of Sin
The nonbeliever often perceives Christianity as being a set of arbitrary rules and regulations to follow in order to meet some equally arbitrary goal that permits some reward called "heaven" after one's death. The mature believer, apart from knowing no obedience to a set of rules (arbitrary or not) is sufficient for heavenly rewards, recognizes the Law of God to be not arbitrary at all. Rather, His rules are for our best interests. [...]
Driven by Vision – Lessons from Chick-fil-A Employee Training
I had the privilege of witnessing Chick-fil-A employee training while I mooched on their wifi and nursed their tea, and I found the process fascinating. [...]
Christian Self-Love
What does this much-vaunted idea of humility entail? Is there room for a Christian self-love or self-esteem? Or are we all depraved and worthless? [...]
Integral Faith – A Foundation of Sand
Years ago, I was fiery evangelical. Today, I'm very much not. Did I backslide? Or did I mature? I've been wrestling with this question a lot lately. [...]
The Bible on Unwholesome Talk
There's a third way explicit language comes under attack, empowered by Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth..." [...]
It’s What You Make of It – Christmas
Last time I complained about the hypocrisy of Christians rabidly condemning Halloween for its pagan origins while happily celebrating Easter despite its arguably pagan [...]
It’s What You Make of It – Easter
Some Christians even claim that 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 refers to an early Easter celebration, but serious scholars dismiss that out of hand. Still, the celebration of Easter is quite old. [...]