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Why You Should Go to an Open Mic Night
Read more: Why You Should Go to an Open Mic NightLast night at our church, we hosted a spoken word open mic night with Micah Bournes, a phenomenal spoken word poet who is well worth your time. You can check him out here. For the event, we planned to have 45 minutes of open mic time where 15 people could share a poem and then…
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The Kingdom is Today
Read more: The Kingdom is TodayThis year, with our students at church, we’ve decided to journey with Jesus through the Gospel according to Mark. We’ve only traveled through the first 15 verses, but I’m already excited about some of the conversations that are being sparked thus far. I especially love Jesus’ first sermon in Mark 1:14-15. Here’s my paraphrase (not…
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Movies: Why it’s not Just About Content
Read more: Movies: Why it’s not Just About ContentLast weekend, my wife and I went to see Boyhood, a phenomenal film by Richard Linklater about a boy, Mason, growing up. The beauty and magic of the film is that it was shot over the course of 12 years, with the actors aging as the story progresses. No aging make up necessary. No change of actors for…
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Ferguson, Racism, and White Evangelicals
Read more: Ferguson, Racism, and White EvangelicalsI am a product of my culture – born and raised in a predominantly white suburban town, went to a predominantly white evangelical church, attended a predominantly white evangelical Christian college, and served at a predominantly white suburban church for 5 years. I could be a poster boy for white evangelicalism, if they had posters and needed…
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Aspergian Christianity
Read more: Aspergian Christianity“Do you want to come sit down with the rest of us?” “NO!” “Well you have to because this is what we’re all doing right now.” “Ugg…Why did you even ask me the question in the first place?” This was a conversation I regularly had with a camper a few years back while counseling a…
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An Exciting Christianity
Read more: An Exciting ChristianityAs one who works with youth, I often feel the pressure or need to spice up the Christian story and make it more engaging, relevant, or fun. In much of the literature that is deemed “Youth Ministry” or in some of the examples set forth as “successful youth ministries,” what works is when the Christian…
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The End of Friendship
Read more: The End of FriendshipThe other day I stumbled across Aristotle’s types of friendship. Aristotle noted that there are three forms of friendship: utility, pleasure, and virtue. A friendship based on utility is one in which both parties benefit or gain something from the relationship, like business partners. A friendship based on pleasure is one in which both parties…
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How Not to Evangelize
Read more: How Not to EvangelizeA few weeks ago my wife and I sat through a 2 hour Timeshare presentation in the hopes of getting a free trip to Hawaii. We went in determined not to sign up for for anything and to get as much free stuff as possible. I personally went in skeptical, feeling sensitive to the different…
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Do you Read the Bible literally?
Read more: Do you Read the Bible literally?A few days ago I was asked a straightforward and seemingly simple question. “Do you read the Bible literally?” I honestly wasn’t sure how to respond. I stammered my way through an answer that I wouldn’t be able to repeat. I wish I had said, “Yes, the Bible is a book that I, literally, read.” Unfortunately,…
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Down Syndrome Christianity
Read more: Down Syndrome ChristianityMichael Gungor, the lead singer for the Christian band Gungor posted a blog two days ago about the birth of their daughter, Lucette, who they discovered was born with Down Syndrome. It is painfully beautiful. Having a brother born with Down Syndrome, I resonated with much of what he wrote. Michael writes of the shock…