Not long ago, the president announced an initiative to relieve some of the pressure of escalating student loan costs and predatory practices with a small loan forgiveness program. The response among many Christians has been deeply fascinating. Social media posts on the subject have mile-long threads of replies. Strident articles are being published. People have […]
Church, Stop Acting Like a Hot Topic. (TAW049)
Episode 049 – Church, Stop Acting Like a Hot Topic—or, Building a Church People Actually Want To Go To (With Kevin Makins) Why would anyone bother to go to church? I don’t mean why would Christians bother. I mean, if someone outside of the church was thinking about getting involved, why would they? What might […]
Time to Listen to Survivors of Sexual Trauma (TAW023)
Episode 023 – It’s Time to Listen to the Survivors of Sexual Abuse One of the easiest ways to fail to love well is to assume that YOUR experience is canonical and that others have had the same experience you’ve had. We often do this with survivors of trauma. In this episode Mary DeMuth, author […]
I’m sorry for how the church has sidelined women.
I am really enjoying writing for the Oregonian website OregonLive. It’s giving me a space to think and wrestle with issues that are not the main topic around here. I just posted my 7th post over there, the 6th in a series. This series, I’m calling it my Apology Series, is addressing ways that the […]
Weekend Wisdom / Part of a Resurrection Community
It’s Easter! Because of what happened 200 generations ago, everything has changed. Frequently in church world, we talk about what Easter means for you as an individual. A second chance, forgiveness, reconciliation with God, the promise of life after death. But there’s another aspect that matters. Easter isn’t just about you! The resurrection created a resurrection […]
Why Church? Because of This Picture.
Why church? It’s a question I’m hearing more and more. Honestly, even as a pastor, it’s one I’ve asked myself a number of times. Church is such a hassle, isn’t it? First it’s too ragged and sloppy where anyone’s aunt Bertha can sing a wobbly-voiced solo that tests the boundaries of everyone’s brotherly love. Then […]