You’ve probably been in a situation before where you’ve been asked by a friend or coworker about your church. And more likely than not, one of the questions that might have accompanied such a conversation would have been one like this: “What sorts of things are you doing in the church?” Unless you’re brand new, [...]
When You Feel Like a Tourist
Ben Gibbard is a brilliant songwriter. He does just about everything in his craft well. But perhaps what he does best is this: taking that vague, undefined emotion you’ve never quite been able to describe, and then describing it for you in a way that leaves you saying, “Yes! That’s it!” Pull a random Death [...]
The Spiritual Discipline of Eating
After returning recently from a visit to some ministry partners in Italy, I’ve been asked multiple times about the highlights of my trip. And although there are plenty of great things I could share, what has consistently been my number one answer is this: the meals. If you’re a fan of Italian food, you might [...]
5 Questions about Patriotism
For the past couple weeks, I’ve had an article in the works about the great kneeling debate that has been swirling around the sports world. But then this weekend happened and everyone went bananas, so I scratched that article and decided to go in a different direction altogether. Yesterday as NFL players protested and the [...]
#MonthlyMusic: Ladies in the Lead (Folk Edition)
For the August installment of #MonthlyMusic (which I'm just barely sneaking in here before the month ends), I want to spotlight the contribution of women who lend their stellar songwriting and velvety vocals to the wonderful world of contemporary indie folk music. (In a future installment, we'll enjoy some songs featuring girl power from other [...]
Doing Church without God
What comes to your mind when you think of the church? Are there any images or analogies that you tend to gravitate toward? In his book A Light to the Nations, Michael Goheen suggests a few ways that the average Christian might think of the church in our current cultural climate. Perhaps you can relate to [...]
The Paradoxes of Church Membership
If you’re a church member, have you ever stopped to think about how weird you are? Because you are. Very, very weird. But don’t take it personally. It really has nothing to do with you. (You’re totally normal. I promise.) Instead, the weirdness has to do with the nature of church membership itself. Most of us [...]
#MonthlyMusic: New Jams for July
The stars have somehow aligned to make this summer the summer of incredible brand-spankin'-new music. Over the course of the next few months, an impressive roster of great artists will be releasing much-anticipated albums. And that means that right now we're in prime season to sample the singles that these artists are releasing in anticipation [...]
Mayweather, McGregor, and Our Modern Hypocrisy
[Note: The following article contains strong language some may find offensive.] The sports world is abuzz with hype surrounding the upcoming fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor. And the fact that the two fighters are in the middle of a “world tour” to promote their impending showdown certainly adds fuel to the fire. On [...]
Hypothetical Grace
Have you ever participated in one of those group ice-breaker activities where you’re asked questions about far-fetched scenarios? Something like, “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?” Or, “If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have one item with you, what would you choose?” Those questions can be [...]
