I’ve come to believe the church in America is starving. Not for bread. Not for money. We have wafers for the first and checkbooks for the second, though I’m sure we could use more. Not for the Word of God. There’s a Bible on every shelf. No, we’re starving for a simpler thing that eludes us — […]
What No One’s Saying About a Fall From Church Leadership
I’ve taken a chance to sit back, pray, and think about this. I’ve scoured many commentaries of what others have to say. And I’ve decided there’s more. More to say. Recently, a prominent pastor of a large church confessed to a “moral failure” and resigned his position. There has been, understandably, a ground swell of hurt congregants, shocked Christians, […]
Are Men Slipping Through the Pastor Gap in Your Church?
There is an overlooked issue in the Christian church causing massive, wide-spread problems. And it’s simple, really. Men don’t belong in church. — As I sit staring ahead, listening to the sermon, pondering the back of the person’s head in front of me, while he is pondering the back of the person’s head in front […]
When the World’s Vision Turns to Us
At 9:30 Saturday morning, I’ll lace up my shoes and walk. I probably won’t say a word. I’ll gaze up a bridge at gorgeous surroundings — sun, clouds, and shimmering water — at the breathtaking horizon that greets me, I’ll place a tread-worn Adidas running shoe on a strip of pavement, and I’ll walk. It’s […]
The Forbidden Fruit: An Apple…or Welch’s Grape Juice?
Today, I’m going to blow your mind. Actually, I’m going to take on one of the most deeply rooted, commonly accepted social standards in the Christian faith. My goal is to blow your mind. I will probably succeed in sincerely offending you. I am not trying to offend. I don’t want to. But it’s likely unavoidable […]
What Your Kid Thinks of Church
The lights lower. The video screen darkens and people hurry to their seats. It’s time for church. A man steps to the podium and begins. Man: Blah, blah, blah — blah, blah, blah — of the blah, and the blah, and the blah. Aa-blah. What?? You’ve come to church for years. But you’ve probably never imagined […]
If I Talked to My Wife Like the Church Liturgy Talks to God
Me: Enter the family room with excitement and the living room with thanks! Wife: Ok… Me: Most beautiful and ever loving wife, we are gathered here today to have a conversation. In this conversation our hearts will be opened and all our communications known, and from each other no secrets hid. Hear the thoughts of […]
10 Ways to Make the World Love You
This world is a tough place to be a Christian. We’re criticized and looked down on. We’re criticized for criticizing and looking down on. We’re too stupid to be considered human, yet barely non-vegetative enough to still be bigots. And if you’ve followed my ten ways to make Christians love you (and a few people still do), there’s a good chance non-Christians […]
A Crisis of Hero and Villain Within
You shouted, “Yes!” and fist pumped. Peyton Manning threw his second interception. Your heart leapt for joy. Richard Sherman lay writhing in a heap. You alternately rejoiced or mourned as superhumans on display rose or toppled in glorious, otherworldly fashion. In the Colliseum of our day. The altar of pop culture achievement. The Super Bowl. […]
10 Ways to Make Christians Love You
(Some of the following are great choices if God leads you to make them on a personal level. The problem comes in when we believe they are automatically better for everyone and the standard for maturity in Christ. Confession: I listen to Christian music and hate gory movies. -JP) Everyone knows Christians are supposed to love […]