…put an album out a couple years ago. If you like some traditional hymns in spare arrangement with only a trumpet and a piano, then I encourage you to check it out. Read more

I received several emails after my last post about preaching for free. Since I’ve never really posted about it here, I thought I would now. I do write and I do work for Emergent, but I currently pay the bills by speaking — neither of the other two endeavors pays enough to live on. I have to speak 2-3 times a month usually to make ends meet. I do not use a speaking agent, although some people think I should.... Read more

I’ve posted my thoughts here. Read more

After watching the final gubenatorial debate on DVR last night, I will cast my vote today for Peter Hutchinson of the Independence Party. A wasted vote? Maybe, but I hope not. I will not vote for Democrat Mike Hatch for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the record indicates that he’s a horrible person to work with/for. A friend of mine who works in the state government calls him a sociopath, and his uncivil lash-out at reporters last week further confirms... Read more

This seems to be a week in need of some good news, as we grieve another fallen Christian leader and watch the incursion of negative campaign ads even into the usually civil political climate of Minnesota. On Saturday night in Anaheim, after a couple splendid days with my son at Disneyland, I hosted a late night theology discussion at the National Youth Workers Convention. Shockingly, there were well over 100 in attendance. The conversation was civil (which it hasn’t always... Read more

I’m currently working on a book about the emergent/ing church, and I’m trying to be true to what’s really going on. I also want to attempt to answer some of the questions that linger for people, both supporters and opponents. So, what are your questions about the emergent church? Read more

This week, my son, Tanner, will experience Halloween and Disneyland. I’m just glad that I get to experience vicariously with him! Read more

…for Olivet Nazarene University: Monday afternoon: Does Philosophy Really Matter to Youth Ministry?Text: John D. Caputo, Philosophy and Theology Tuesday morning: Postmodern Youth Ministry, Part IText: Tony Jones, Postmodern Youth Ministry Tuesday afternoon: Postmodern Youth Ministry, Part IIText: Tony Jones, Postmodern Youth Ministry Wednesday morning: What Is “Culture”?Text: Clifford Geertz, “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” Wednesday afternoon: What Is “Postmodern Culture”?Text: Blog Archaeology Assignment Thursday morning: The Emerging Church Response to Postmodern Culture, Part IText: Eddie Gibbs and... Read more

I’ll be teaching an intensive course, January 22-26, at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL. It’s in the Masters of Ministry degree program, and the credits are transferable to several other schools. The class is on Youth Ministry in the Postmodern World, and we’ll be attacking both the theoretical and practical implications of postmodernity. For more info, email Mark Holcomb: MHolcomb@olivet.edu Read more

A friend emailed me today, wondering about something I said at the late night theological discussion at the Austin National Youth Workers Convention. I said, “Human beings should not make meaningless statements like, ‘God cannot lie,’ or ask meaningless questions like, ‘Can God create a rock so big that even God cannot move it?'” Len wrote that he must have misheard me, because Numbers 23:19 states, “God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man... Read more