We all know people who never learn from experience, but let’s be honest, we seldom do either. We wander through life oblivious to the ways that we contribute to—or are completely responsible for—our suffering. We sit through sermons, read Scripture, and take part in conversations wishing so-and-so were there to be confronted with the truth they need to hear—often missing out on the truth for ourselves. An important part of being transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom. 12:2)... Read more
There’s a Guitar Center coming to my town. As a musician, I should be pretty excited. Who wouldn’t want a wide selection of amps, wall-to-wall guitars, and competitive prices? I should be excited—I’m not. I’ve lived in this town most of my life. I bought my first guitar (a black Les Paul) with my tip money (I paid $250 of that in one-dollar bills) in 1987. I bought it at a local shop called Brown’s Music. I went back and... Read more
I love my country. I really do. This needs to be established at the top because there’s a likelihood that this post will be misunderstood or misconstrued. There’s no anti-American sentiment leading me to write this, only a desire to communicate an important change that has happened to me in the last few years. Here are the 3 reasons I have decided that I will no longer say the pledge: 1. I will render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to... Read more
Harry Potter: Satanic! Chick-fil-A: unloving bigots! Lowes: modern jihadists! Starbucks: overpriced bathwater used for gay wedding toasts! Stay the heck away from these guys and think of the children! These statements can rack up retweets and “amens” online, but do they—can they—work, really? And if not, why are they so popular? I think the urge to boycott is hard-wired into some of us. If you don’t believe me, try this next time you get the chance to watch kids playing... Read more
Sometimes I cringe when I listen to Christians talk (myself included). Here are a couple of phrases it wouldn’t hurt to hear less. 1. “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” When someone’s going through a rough time, it’s a struggle to say the right thing. But it is always appropriate to say nothing. In fact, Scripture encourages people to “mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) You cannot rub the salve of magic words on someone’s hurts... Read more
I don’t want to be called a Christian anymore. Don’t misunderstand me; I want everything to do with Jesus. But when I see a so-called fellow Christian holding a sign that says, “God hates fags,” and someone asks me, “Are you a Christian too?” I want to say, “hell no.” When I hear Christian groups claiming God’s “justice” has been done in Newton CT, and New Orleans, or I listen to Mike Huckabee and Bryan Fischer blaming gays, contraception,... Read more
“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the LORD your God.”—Leviticus 23:22 Growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo has taught me things about life that, lately, I’ve forgotten. Time moves slowly in the Congolese villages, and the hands of the clock are more suggestion... Read more
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ome Christians can’t seem to stop being obstructionists. They think they’re stopping the world from treading on the Gospel, when in truth, they’re making the Gospel ineffective. And nothing demonstrates this truth more than the imaginary Christmas wars. I remember standing in line at a packed Target a couple of years ago, and there was this guy in a Jesus t-shirt behind me talking to his young daughter about Santa. A woman in an adjacent lane yelled for all to... Read more
There’s a Scripture that has sunk deep into my heart this week, filtering through my thoughts by the minute, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.” This comes to mind naturally, because I’ve had much trouble this week. I don’t need to go into the details, but it’s been tremendously difficult. I’ve prayed for my son who is sick, and for God to take away his pain. I do believe that God... Read more
[dropcap]I[/dropcap] was always sure that if a princess needed rescuing, an oppressor needed thwarting, or a ring needed to be carried to Mordor, I was your guy. Adulthood and experience has forced on me a certain amount of self-awareness—not to mention some reevaluating. Maybe I am not that superhero I always imagined. I have spent a lot of time thinking about Christ (my true model of heroism) and Calvary (the world’s most heroic act). Jesus’ whole life demonstrates and calls me... Read more
Honest to God
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