Part 1 – “who put YOU in charge?”

August 25, 2009 By

In light of the last few posts and the string of passionate comments in those posts, I want to talk about a question I get asked a lot: “Who put YOU in charge?” Sometimes I get that in a completely sarcastic tone, sometimes an angry tone, sometimes it’s just a genuine query. I’ve never really [...]

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My Strange Last 48 Hours

July 23, 2009 By

I had a bad interview. Then I had a good one. I got hated on by a gay organization. Then I got hated on by a Christian one. I received a couple offensive emails calling me names. Then I received a couple encouraging emails giving me hope. I had a moving Living in the Tension [...]

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What is History?

July 13, 2009 By

I was recently asked: How do you think modern views of historiography have affected our ability to think theologically and ethically about our past and present experiences? Here is my answer: Modern views of historiography, like most everything modern (or should I say postmodern?), are thoroughly rooted in a pluralistic secular movement of what it [...]

Filed Under: Culture

Empire Carpet Theology

July 13, 2009 By

Brenda and I are looking for new flooring (still deciding if we should put in hardwood or that cool shag-type carpet). Anyway, we called Empire Carpet and they had a super-sailor-foul-mouthed man come over. Among his ramblings of which I paid no attention, he saw that I had a lot of religious books on my [...]

Filed Under: Culture, Theology

The Culture War

May 27, 2009 By

Part of my job is to be aware of, and keep a close eye on everything that is going on around the country within GLBT circles as well as within conservative circles. Because of this I am signed up to a lot of listservs from very well known, very polarizing organizations on both ends of [...]

Filed Under: Bridging Opposing Worldviews, Culture

My New Painting

April 28, 2009 By

This is a painting that I commissioned Scott Erickson, an artist friend of mine, to paint. Scott has painted in some huge venues to some really big time people, so this is a big honor for me. This painting is a deconstructed cross with the following words overlaid: LoveBridge BuildingUnconditionalFaithSexualityCultureTensionImmersionGLBTListenJames 2:10Matthew 7:1-2Romans 5:3-4 This paining [...]

Filed Under: Culture, Theology

Day of Silence

April 17, 2009 By

Today is the National Day of Silence, where GLBT youth and their allies vow to not talk today at school to bring awareness to the name-calling, bullying and harassment of them in schools. In response to this day there are many Christians out there who decide to pull their kids out of school in protest.I [...]

Filed Under: Culture, LGBT, Youth and Campus Ministry Tagged With:

You Look Good (no homo)

February 19, 2009 By

(This is a picture of the beautiful city of Pittsburgh) One of the very interesting things that I realized while being in Pittsburgh last weekend is that there is a saying that runs rapid with straight males—it’s an addendum added onto the end of a complimentary sentence that says “no homo”. Let me explain. When [...]

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Toddlers and Tiaras: God is Lost in Sexuality

February 18, 2009 By

Due to the shear train-wreck that is the new TLC reality show, Toddlers and Tiaras, my wife loves to watch. I actually think it’s one of those “sad train wrecks” and not the “entertaining train wreck” that I usually enjoy watching; but since my wife and I only have one TV, what we decided to [...]

Filed Under: Culture, Sexuality, Youth and Campus Ministry

The Best Advice I Have Ever Been Given

January 27, 2009 By

I love reading interviews, especially when the person being interviewed is asked, “What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?” because I’m fascinated by the words that stick with a person for a lifetime. Unfortunately for me, I’ve never been able to answer that question because no clever words of wisdom have ever really [...]

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Public Opinion with Athletes Talking about God

January 14, 2009 By

**Disclaimer: This post is about sports—college football in particular. I’m sorry if you don’t follow sports or know any of the names I’m going to mention, but you’ll get the idea of the main point that I’m communicating. So … Yesterday I was watching ESPN (shocker….), and on the show Rome Is Burning hosted by [...]

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What are Dreams and Where do they Come From?

January 12, 2009 By

Those questions are something that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately because I have no idea what’s the right answer to either of them. The reason dreams have been on my mind is because I’ve been having some real funky ones as of late. And by funky I mean strange, not-so-nice or haunting. None [...]

Filed Under: Culture

Wise Words from a Unique Source

January 8, 2009 By

Here is the conclusion to a book I just finished. I thought it was relevant and profound. He said: ““Early in my career I went around telling everyone of my lofty goals—that I’d be the best ever in my field. People laughed at me. You’re crazy man.Can’t be done.Yeah right! No one in history has [...]

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Go Get It

December 29, 2008 By

This is a picture of the famous American author and philosopher Henry D. Thoreau. Ok, so he’s not a good looking dude … but none the less he had some really challenging and thought provoking things to say throughout his life. I have a magnet on my refrigerator with a quote of his: “Go confidently [...]

Filed Under: Culture, Theology