What do you do when you’re upset? When you find yourself in sharp disagreement with someone? When your voice doesn’t seem to be heard? Here’s one suggestion: stay in your seat. By now you’ve probably heard about the Notre Dame graduates who walked out on Vice President Mike Pence during his commencement address a few [...]
Interview on Pith and Piety
There's a cool new podcast here in Greater Lafayette, and I've really enjoyed listening to the first few episodes that have gone out. It's called Pith and Piety, and it explores Christian topics of interest to the community from an ecumenical point of view. Matt, Matt, and Ryan have a great chemistry, and it makes their banter [...]
Showers and Flowers
Here in Lafayette, the month of April has had a soggy start. In fact, as I write this, the rainfall over the last few days has resulted in a flood warning for our area. Personally, I’m kind of sick of the rain. It’s making me grumpy. But there’s an old adage that brings me hope. [...]
Reforming the Abortion Debate
We can’t escape it. Whether it’s sparked by a fierce presidential campaign, by a highly publicized women’s march, by some newly proposed piece of legislation, or simply by an incendiary meme on Facebook, the abortion debate won’t go away. As much as we seem to talk about abortion, though, it’s incredible how little progress we’ve [...]
#MusicMonday: Drive-By Truckers, “What It Means”
Music has an uncanny ability to provide an escape from the worries and woes of the world. A good song can transport you. It can momentarily free you from the tyranny of your immediate surroundings. But music also has the ability to do just the opposite. It can drive us deeper into the messiness of reality [...]
On Spiritual Heroes
This year marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door in Wittenberg. Back in 1517, that event may not have seemed all that significant. But in hindsight, it is that action which has come to be seen as the ceremonial beginning of the Protestant Reformation, arguably one of the most [...]
#MusicMonday: Jamestown Revival, “Poor Man’s Gold”
I've been on a serious Jamestown Revival kick today. I first encountered their music a couple years ago through their catchy song, "California (Cast Iron Soul)." Since then, they've released a new album, The Education of a Wandering Man, and on it is this soulful little stomp about a conversation between a rich man and a preacher. This stripped-down [...]
Shaking the Market Share Mindset
Suppose that you work as an executive for the Superior Widget Company. It’s a relatively small business with modest sales, but your goal is to lead the company to expand. So you beef up your marketing efforts and resource your sales team. You revisit your product design and give greater attention to quality control. You [...]
#MusicMonday: Dashboard Confessional, “A Plain Morning”
I look out my window, and I see snow. I look at the weather forecast, and I see temperatures in the teens. I look at my calendar, and I see "March." These things trouble my soul. "A Plain Morning" is one of Dashboard Confessional's earliest songs, and it's filled with all the sad guitars and [...]
Tattoos and the Paradox of Preaching
In recent years, I’ve come to develop an appreciation for the art of tattooing. The styles, the techniques, the history, the culture — it’s all fascinating to me. But perhaps what I find most intriguing about this oft-maligned (yet increasingly mainstream) art form is the profound paradox that exists at the heart of it. A [...]
