I may have popularized the term, “formerly fundie”, but Frank Schaeffer was living it out waaaay before I got here. I had been a fan of Frank long before I ever started writing, and never imagined that Frank himself would become the one of the central people who would encourage me to have a seat at the table– but that’s what happened. If you know who I am today, it’s in large part because Frank Schaeffer was kind enough to... Read more
Please consider that the cultural obsession with homosexuality within the American Church is detracting from the things Jesus asked us to do. Read more
Like it or not, gay Christians exist-- and this "discussion" on the entire issue isn't going away anytime soon. Unfortunately, most of the time, the discussion doesn't result in that many net positives. Simply throwing Bible verses back and forth without recognizing the real, actual people involved-- people we're commanded above all else to love-- doesn't move the conversation further. Instead, real people just become an "issue" or a "discussion" that many have at a comfortable distance- safely away from the messiness and uncomfortableness of real relationships and acknowledging real people. Read more
In another installment of parenting according to Kirk Cameron, we find a tragic view of violence and destruction– something that certainly seems appropriate to discuss on this Memorial Day, as we remember those who have died in the service of their country. While Kirk’s post was from last month, it’s a glaring example of the kind of old, broken thinking that as Jesus followers, I hope we will run from: Yes, you read that right. It says: “This is a... Read more
I appreciate the heart and intent of the pro-Israel movement; they're simply trying to be faithful to the scriptures as they understand them. However, when our understanding of the scriptures causes us to reject the central mandates of peacemaking and enemy love taught by Jesus, I think it's safe to say that we've misunderstood the scriptures. Read more
"In fairness, I think people in general have a propensity to be mean to each other. But Christians? We're the ones who are supposed to be known by our love. Yet, visit the comment section of almost any Christian blog post- mine or otherwise- and it is quick to see that we often become people not known by love, but by our ability to eat our own young." {Excerpt from Article} Read more
Instead of a constant cultural debate over "under God," I think a better question is: "Should a Christian recite the pledge of allegiance at all?" Read more
"With every mile that went by, my sense of panic only increased. It was so dark that I couldn't see anything around us, and we didn't seem to be driving in any direction that I'd want to be going. With robbery and murder being so common (while I was there they killed 20 people after losing a soccer match, which locals shrugged off as typical), I began to accept that I was being robbed (something I can deal with) and that there was a good chance I was also about to be killed (not how I preferred to start my trip)." -- Here's how I survived an abduction and robbery in the Congo. Read more
We often talk about the “fatherless” in reference to orphans, but why not the “motherless”? Moms are the bedrock of life– and on Mother’s Day my prayer is that we’ll remember that the “fatherless” are also the “motherless”. Today I had the chance to go worship with African Anabaptists, and I was drooling at the thought of it. Yet, in the end, I decided to forgo that opportunity so I could spend Mother’s Day playing “mom” to the motherless. It... Read more
On Monday, I set off on a one man “missions” trip of sorts to the heart of Africa. After spending a good 48 hours on planes and in airports, I’ve finally settled in to the tasks at hand. Just as with the work I’ve done in India as part of my dissertation research on human trafficking aftercare practices, it has not taken long for Africa to begin to change and shape me. If you’ve ever truly traveled or been... Read more
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