I should let you know up front that this post has no surprise Rob Bell-esque twist at the end where I come out of nowhere with a deep theological insight. This is just a story about me chasing a moose through Yellowstone National Park that I wanted to share A) for your amusement and B) because after years lost in the wilderness, my friend Ryan just uncovered pictures of the momentous occasion. Unfortunately, the entire story is too long and... Read more

Have you ever been to an Oh By The Way church? Chances are good that if you live in America you probably have. Or at least you’ve driven by one because we LOVE Oh By The churches in the good ole USA and just can’t seem to stop building them. And why not? They’re awesome. They’ve got an endless array of facilitates, opportunities, and activities to keep you busy, fed, and entertained till you’re heart’s content. Still not sure what... Read more

(Photo by Dwight Stone, Creative Commons) Biblical principles seem to be all the rage today. By which I mean people seem to be raging about them all the time. From the Hobby Lobby case to same-sex marriage to the wave of child immigrants to the age old debate over the role of women in the church, Christians everywhere are fighting for the biblical principles they believe we should all be living our lives by. It’s simple we say. The Bible... Read more

A while back I shared the most awkward Jesus paintings I’ve ever seen. That post happened because one painting that took me down a rabbit hole of awkwardness no human should ever have to experience. Well, like before, I once again stumbled upon one picture and this time inadvertently opened up a pandora’s box of creepy Jesus that I didn’t want to know existed. But since I know now it does indeed exist- and can’t get some of these images... Read more

(H/T) There’s an interesting encounter Jesus has in the eighth chapter of Matthew with somebody he should have nothing to do with. Ok, there’s nothing particularly unusual about that. Jesus met and ate and associated with all sorts of people he wasn’t supposed to talk to or hang out with. But this particular miraculous meeting seems good to remember as we get ready to celebrate that most patriotic of holidays, the 4th of July. Personally, I love the 4th of... Read more

(image via Yahoo) Elton John is one of the most iconic musicians of the past half century. The awards and accolades he’s received are too numerous to recount here. But it seems we can now add to his long list of accomplishments the title of preacher. Speaking recently to Britain’s Sky News, Elton John spoke of his fondness for Pope Francis before dropping this mini-sermon…. “If Jesus Christ was alive today, I cannot see him … saying this could not happen,”... Read more

I normally do my summary of all things Jesus at the beginning of the week, but this week I’m going with the wrap-up approach. That way if something weighs heavy or hilariously on your heart, it’ll be fresh on your mind to discuss with your pastor on Sunday. First up, be careful what you eat this weekend. You might just find yourself biting into Jesus. Or, you know, a smudge that looks nothing whatsoever like a person. But don’t tell... Read more

(Vinoth Chandar – Creative Commons) It’s no secret that there are deep divisions in the church today. The war over homosexuality gets a lot of attention, but battles rage over a whole host of other issues from abortion and healthcare to evolution and women in ministry. While there are certainly a plethora of factors at play in our skirmishes, I wonder if one of the root causes of our divisiveness is the myth of a simple faith. I say “myth”... Read more

(H/T) The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates is famous for saying, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Those words have become something of a Philosophy 101 cliché since Socrates first uttered them centuries ago, but cliché or not they’re as true today as they were in ancient Greece. And should be just as convicting. Particularly for those of us who call ourselves Christians. I worry that far too many of us attach the name “Christian” to ourselves without ever really... Read more