Category: Practical Theology
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Responding to “50 Reasons Why I Don’t Drink”
Read more: Responding to “50 Reasons Why I Don’t Drink”Did you all see the article, “50 Reasons Why I Don’t Drink,” make its way around Facebook? Typically when I see stuff like this I just roll my eyes and carry on with my business. But for some unknown reason I decided to give this article a quick glance. Most of the points were predictable….
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One Body, One Suffering: Stop Telling Members They Don’t Hurt
Read more: One Body, One Suffering: Stop Telling Members They Don’t HurtIf one member suffers, all suffer together; – 1 Corinthians 12:26 I’m going to be addressing an issue that I couldn’t possibly hope to fully articulate nor cover in a single post, so I’d like to ask for grace in that from all parties reading before I get started. What I do hope to address…
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Breaking “Good”
Read more: Breaking “Good”It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). This past weekend, I went on a church retreat with Bethel English Church at Oak Glen Christian Conference Center. While I really enjoyed being away from the…
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The Emerging LGBT Initiative Against Christian Colleges
Read more: The Emerging LGBT Initiative Against Christian Colleges**UPDATE, June 9, 2016. The California Senate Appropriations Committee struck down SB-1888 (proposed by Assemblyman Evan Low), which was the primary legislative bill focused in the article below. However, SB-1146 has been approved by the Appropriations Committee and is moving forward for a vote in the California Senate. SB-1146 was authored by Assemblyman Ricardo Lara (D-Bell…
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Sweaty Prayer
Read more: Sweaty PrayerSometimes, I really think I have narcolepsy. Sure, sometimes we joke that we must be the helpless victim to this disorder after our friends elbow you for hanging your head for a few minutes during the Sunday Message, or for closing your eyes during a lecture or a movie. But, when rolled down windows, loud…
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Anxiety and the Exodus
Read more: Anxiety and the ExodusPeople who know me or are even acquainted with me know that I worry—a lot—about almost everything. I become anxious over minor, insignificant matters. I overthink things. I often feel like things “just won’t work out” the way I hoped. Lots of people might be able to relate to this as they struggle with anxiety…
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What’s the Fuss about Gravitational Waves?
Read more: What’s the Fuss about Gravitational Waves?Computer generated illustration of two orbiting black holes emanating gravitational waves. (Image: Henze/NASA) Have you ever came across a news feed or article about something phenomenal and didn’t have a clue about it? You might begin to wonder whether or not you live under a rock or something… For me, one of the things that…
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Family dinner: 6 paradigms for corporate worship
Read more: Family dinner: 6 paradigms for corporate worshipWhatever sung worship is, it is not just a matter of taste. I’ve heard a lot of metaphors for what worship may be. Here are five major paradigms: 1. Family dinner. Why do we do things a certain way? Because always have and always will. Traditions remind us that we’re not alone, but part of great family spanning…
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Hospitality in Redemptive History
Read more: Hospitality in Redemptive History“I don’t know,” said Gavin, feet on the dash, brow furrowed in thought, “college students just aren’t that hospitable.” Driving away from a youth theater performance of Singin’ in the Rain, we exchanged reflections on home-finding, transience, and living on a micro-budget. While hospitality may slip by the wayside, students do a lot of other…
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On Truly Personal Gifts
Read more: On Truly Personal GiftsReceiving Personal Gifts What does it mean to give a personal gift? Well, we know what it means to give an impersonal gift. It’s the annual iTunes gift card from the step-uncle you only see on Christmas Eve. Or, it’s the “Jack likes books, let’s get him a book” that started in junior high and…