Identity Theft: When Politicians Hijack Jesus’ Name

Last updated on: September 8, 2012 at 12:44 am By Christian Piatt

Gotta say I’m a big fan of this church sign at my father-in-law’s church: It’s time to STOP: Using faith, Jesus and the Bible as a political platform; Cherry-picking from the Gospel based on what polls well; Claiming Jesus would be so myopic to identify with either of our major political parties; Calling yourself a Christian politician while also allowing denigrating, dirty political campaigning to continue unchecked; Suggesting either Romney or Obama isn’t Christian. Who are you to decide who’s... Read more

Bromosapien: Evolution of the Postmodern Male (Part 2)

Last updated on: September 5, 2012 at 4:11 pm By Christian Piatt

This is kind of a three-part blog post series. I wrote about part of the discussion I was a part of at Wild Goose Festival on Masculinity and male identity two days ago, and yesterday, I shared the first half of the story I told during that workshop. Below is the second and last part of that story. *** A few examples of how clueless I am about male identity, and how mixed-up the gender roles are becoming, just in my... Read more

Bromosapien: Evolution of the Postmodern Male (part 1)

Last updated on: September 4, 2012 at 3:16 pm By Christian Piatt

Yesterday I wrote about part of the discussion that took place around our Wild Goose Festival panel on masculinity and male identity. A few folks asked about the story I told during the panel, so I thought I’d share it here. It’s a bit long, so I’ll offer it in two parts, with part two coming tomorrow. *** Every guy has that one car they either always wanted or got and will always have an irrational love for. Mine was... Read more

White Man: “We Built This Country.” Really?

Last updated on: September 4, 2012 at 6:39 pm By Christian Piatt

The Wild Goose Festival was awesome as expected this weekend in Corvalis, Oregon. About a thousand folks gathered for the first-ever west coast version of the event started in North Carolina. There were artists, theologians, pastors, hippies, activists, poets and any number of other curious observers, navigating the landscape to better understand where this movement might be headed. I offered a workshop on Saturday with Brian Ammons and Bruce Reyes Chow on masculinity and male identity. Folks gathered in the... Read more

Church Sign Epic Location Fails (Vol. 29)

Last updated on: September 2, 2012 at 5:43 am By Christian Piatt

This week we’re featuring a handful of victims of geographic circumstance. Some churches are established in towns whose names should never appear on a church sign, and yet here they are… Church Sign Epic Fails, WTF Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume 27 Church Sign Epic Fails: Faith vs Reason Throwdown Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume 25 Church Sign Epic Fails, Vol XXIV Church Sign Epic Fails, Christian T-Shirt Edition Church Sign Epic Fails: “Festival of Tolerance” Edition Church Sign... Read more

Meet the Superhumans: An Ad for the Paralympics

Last updated on: August 27, 2012 at 5:52 pm By Christian Piatt

I LOVE this commercial for the coming Paralympic games in London. I like how it doesn’t shy away from the physical differences, but rather shows them as a symbol of empowerment. And I guess it’s working; I heard today that the games are completely sold out. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that the soundtrack is by Public Enemy. Read more

Church Sign Epic Fails, WTF Edition

Last updated on: August 26, 2012 at 3:45 pm By Christian Piatt

This week, we’re featuring church sings that make you go “What the…” Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume 27 Church Sign Epic Fails: Faith vs Reason Throwdown Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume 25 Church Sign Epic Fails, Vol XXIV Church Sign Epic Fails, Christian T-Shirt Edition Church Sign Epic Fails: “Festival of Tolerance” Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume XXI Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume Twenty Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume Nineteen Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume Eighteen Church Sign Epic... Read more

Theology of Sports, Travel Hacking, Blue Like Jazz & Olympics

Last updated on: August 25, 2012 at 7:13 pm By Christian Piatt

Christian Piatt and Jordan Green have cranked out another edition of the HomebrewedCulture podcast, this time with special guest Chad Gibbs, author of the book, God & Football, and the soon-to-be-released Love Thy Rival. Both books explore the culture of sports, fanaticism and faith, and Chad also drops a few gems about “Travel Hacking,” a strategy he and his wife use to travel the world for nearly nothing. Green and Piatt also look back on the Summer Olympics, deliver the smack down to children’s television in... Read more

Lance Armstrong and the Way of Fallen Idols

Last updated on: August 24, 2012 at 5:53 pm By Christian Piatt

I, like many people, was shocked when I heard today that cyclist Lance Armstrong gave up his fight against doping allegations, effectively forfeiting his seven Tour De France titles, his prize money, medals and perhaps his honor as the greatest cyclist ever to ride. Beyond his personal collateral damage, his Livestrong nonprofit stands to take a massive hit as its namesake, figurehead and primary spokesman goes the way of so many remarkable athletes before him. Granted, Armstrong does not admit... Read more

SNAP / Food Stamp Challenge, Day 4: Piatt FAIL

Last updated on: August 23, 2012 at 7:02 pm By Christian Piatt

I don’t mind failing as much as I do admitting I’ve failed. And technically, we haven’t blown the SNAP Challenge just yet, but I know for a fact we will by the end of the week. I went to the store last night for another loaf of bread and a frozen pizza for dinner, which I had promised my kids if they’d make it to mid-week without freaking out. This brought us down to eighteen bucks and change left in the... Read more