When I was sitting at my mom’s house in Pennsylvania, and some big shot theologian dude named Benjamin Corey hit me up on Facebook with a friend request, my first thought was He must think I’m someone else.  Then I thought, Oh, he’s probably just friending all the Progressive Christian bloggers.”    But the next day, he send me a private message that essentially said, “Hey, wanna go to Jordan?”   And strangely enough, I said Yes.   The fear was almost... Read more

I grew up in a small town that had exactly two black kids in my graduating class — one girl, one boy. My racism for the most part was one of ignorance and fear, more than malice. That’s not to say racism isn’t malicious; it is. But my intent was not. I never wanted to do anyone harm, and I would like to think that I would have stepped in if I’d ever seen actual harassment of a black person... Read more

I think oxymorons are technically supposed to be two words, but put the words Good, Christian, and Sex together, and people might think they’re being Punk’d. Yet that’s the title Bromleigh McCleneghan chose for a refreshing book that challenges the purity status quo. Whatever your opinion about Christians and their ability to have sex (good, bad or meh), McCleneghan takes a direct and often funny approach to talking about the big, purple elephant in pew.   See, here’s the thing about sex... Read more

I have a confession to make:  Sometimes, I am a spoiled brat.   Sometimes, I forget the promises that God has made. In fact, I forget that God is God. Sometimes I slip into a place of unbelief the way you can slip into a puddle of mud and suddenly lose your boot. I ease into it like you might slip into comfortable old shoes, not remembering that there are holes in the bottom that let in the rain.  ... Read more

One of the most challenging things about being a Jesus Freak is all the people.   I don’t really like people all that much. I love people, but I don’t really like them. Mostly.   There are a number of reasons for this. First, as I discovered when I got my tattoo, I learned a fascinating little tidbit about myself: I’m pretty much always afraid. I have this weird belief that operates somewhere in my brain, probably toward the back... Read more

I was talking to a friend who is a high-powered, C-level executive in a large organization of which you have most definitely heard. She speaks all over the country, has a couple of side gigs, and is incredibly well-respected in her industry. Yesterday she said, “I don’t think people realize I’m scared almost all of the time.”   All I could do was laugh as her words resonated deep in my bones. Fear is a longtime friend of mine.   Last... Read more

I remember the first time it happened. It was probably about about 14 or 15 years ago, now, and it was early spring — one of those beautiful days when every cell in your body feels alive with the newly warmed air, when the winter chill is finally beginning to melt away and for the first time in months, you can expose a little more skin. Maybe your toes, or your shoulders, can be warmed by the sun.   I... Read more

I am loathe to do this, really. I don’t like talking about politics because no matter how informed I am, I never really feel informed enough to have a thoroughly intelligent conversation. That’s not to say I don’t have opinions (anyone who knows me would laugh at the thought of me not having an opinion) but rather that I’m alarmingly aware of how my opinion might be very wrong.   Except in this case.   And it’s not just about... Read more