Latest Posts
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Certainties of Celebration
Read more: Certainties of CelebrationTwo weeks ago, I joined the many thousands across the globe who, in these six weeks through May and June, will likewise reach the terminus of their pursuit of an educational degree. For me, it was four years of work, involving full-time work in the financial services industry, while moonlighting as a student (most of…
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Released and Awaiting Release: Tim Lambesis
Read more: Released and Awaiting Release: Tim LambesisI’m still stunned. . . Tim Lambesis, the frontman for one of my favorite metal bands, As I Lay Dying, was arrested on May 7th for soliciting a hitman to kill his wife, though the hitman was actually an undercover detective. Last week Lambesis was released (May 30th) on $2 Million bail. He has another hearing on…
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Cheerios and the Case for a More Constructive Rhetoric
Read more: Cheerios and the Case for a More Constructive RhetoricLet me begin with a bit of full disclosure. I’m black. My wife is white. And we’re going to have our first child this summer. This commercial obviously hits close to home. That being said, the following post about the Cheerios commercial is, surprisingly, not going to be about race or the ensuing “shitstorm” it’s…
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What is Forgiveness?
Read more: What is Forgiveness?In a couple of weeks I will be giving a short sermon on the subject of forgiveness. I knew from the outset that this was not a “safe” topic for me. Forgiveness does not come easy for me, especially in the places that it really matters, that is, in the places where the perceived wrongs…
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Ecclesia and Ethics: Day One
Read more: Ecclesia and Ethics: Day OneThis past Saturday was Day One of the online conference that I had been co-organizing with some of my officemates from St Andrews. It was both exhausting and exhilarating. Because it was designed to be an international conference, my day began at 6am local time in California and ended at 4pm local time. During this…
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Jesus, Come Back! (Or Not)
Read more: Jesus, Come Back! (Or Not)“GET ME OUT OF HERE! Seriously, it’s time for the Second Coming. Lord, I want you back. Like, ASAP.” That’s a glimpse into my prayer life over the past few months. Maybe that’s been your prayer, too. I think we’ve all felt the weight of recent events and wondered when Christ will come again. Remember…
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Conscientious Consumption: There’s an App for That
Read more: Conscientious Consumption: There’s an App for ThatBeing socially conscious is hip. In the past few years social media has made advocating a particular cause convenient and, dare I say, prestigious. Need proof? Scroll through your Facebook friends and see how many of their profile pictures include the pink equals sign on a red background for marriage equality, an image with a red “X”…
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Is there such a thing as “the wrong side of history”?
Read more: Is there such a thing as “the wrong side of history”?This week as I was perusing my Facebook news-feed the following quote surfaced: “Humans motivated by lofty ideals are capable of inflicting great suffering with a clear conscience.” – Paul Hollander The concept intrigued me, but I was immediately curious about the original object of Hollander’s critique. Is he interested in the effects of “lofty ideals” as…
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Small Acts of Faithfulness
Read more: Small Acts of FaithfulnessA friend of mine recently found out that her husband has been doing drugs behind her back for four years. The drugs have opened the door to all kinds of betrayal and hurt: lying, adultery, personality change, and absence. As she and I talked together on the beach in the perfect California sunlight, and she…
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Obstinacy and Discourse: Meditations On Being a Charitable Dogmatist
Read more: Obstinacy and Discourse: Meditations On Being a Charitable DogmatistAristotle wrote, “it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” When I think about this quote I imagine a soldier in war, walking through enemy territory naively smelling the flowers. Ideas are dangerous things and to entertain and constantly be around precarious things will ultimately…