It’s easier to guide the vision and mission of a church you start. It’s another thing to help a 135-year-old congregation re-imagine what it means to be a downtown urban church in a world that has changed dramatically all around it. At Milagro, the church we founded in our living room some nine years ago, we set the course for what we wanted that community to look like: a refuge for the spiritual walking wounded, safe haven for questions, doubt,... Read more
A pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel in his pants. The bartender asks him, “Hey, what’s the steering wheel for?” and the pirate says, “Arrgh, I don’t know, but it’s drivin’ me nuts!” Church Sign Epic Fails, “God Likes Weed” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, “Crush China for Jesus” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails: “Satan’s Graffiti” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, “Beer in Hell” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, “Soul Harvest” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Advent... Read more
(I was asked to read and reflect on Gary Thomas’ new book, “The Sacred Search: What if it’s not about who you marry but why?” Following are my thoughts.) My parents got divorced when I was in high school. There are lots of things I could point to that lead to the end of their 22-year relationship: financial stressors; evolving but divergent life goals; simply growing apart amid time’s persistent march. But I’ve always felt like the elephant in the... Read more
This week, I ruminate on the Almighty’s relationship with the Good Herb, and Amy makes me pee in a cup. All class! VIDEO Church Sign Epic Fails, “Big Ass” Edition “Satan’s Graffiti” VIDEO Edition of Church Sign Epic Fails “Beer in Hell” VIDEO Edition of Church Sign Epic Fails “Advent Onslaught” VIDEO Edition of Church Sign Epic Fails “Faith vs. Reason Throwdown” VIDEO Edition of Church Sign Epic Fails “Chocolate Chip Christ” VIDEO Edition of Church Sign Epic Fails Church... Read more
I was a nervous kid. Once, I got so freaked out by the prospect of a speaking part in my first-grade school play that my folks thought I had come down with appendicitis. But there were two times in particular that I remember descending into unmitigated panic. Both involved discussions with my dad about my career. The first time, my dad was telling me about his year-by-year earning trends as an insurance salesman. He went from being one of several... Read more
No guest this week! It’s just Christian and Jordan and their wits against SILENCE. This week is all about end-of-the-year lists. Jordan runs down his ten favorite songs from 2012, and gets over his embarrassment at including OneRepublic’s “Feel Again”. Christian then breaks down the top quotes of the year, most of which include Mitt Romney’s verbal miscues. Then they run through their favorite films, television shows, and books, and there are plenty of controversial picks and bickering and, if... Read more
It’s true that Portlanders pride themselves on being a different strain of weird. But for the most part, it’s a creative, whimsical sort of weirdness. It’s also pretty funny a lot of the time. Such was the case, at least in my view, when this story aired on the local news last night about vandals altering local Stop signs. I can’t decide whether I like the stunt itself more or the fact that the reporter tries to do the whole... Read more
WARNING: there are some off-color references and descriptions in this blog post. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Having lived in Colorado for many years, I’ve heard the story of how Trey Parker and Matt Stone went from being the clowns of their high school to being some of the most prolific and important humorists on the planet today. It all started, as I’ve heard the story spun, when they created an animated short that got circulated via video tape... Read more
The ever-reliable and scrupulous news outlet TMZ recently publicized a photo featuring Justin Bieber with what could or could not be something resembling a hand-rolled cigarette or miniature cigar in his hand. The photo is far from conclusive in what it reveals, but this did not stop TMZ from reporting that Bieber appeared to be holding a “smoldering blunt,” which is slang for those unfamiliar for a cigar hollowed out and filled with marijuana. Was the teen pop star smoking... Read more
When God gets the munchies, does he order take out, or does he just, like, *POOF* and there’s some pizza there? Church Sign Epic Fails, “Crush China for Jesus” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails: “Satan’s Graffiti” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, “Beer in Hell” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, “Soul Harvest” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Advent Onslaught Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, “Big Ass” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, “Force-Fed Faith” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Hangover Edition... Read more
Christian Piatt
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