In her 2010 book, Almost Christian, Kenda Creasy Dean coined a phrase to describe what she and her colleagues were seeing in their research in American youth groups at the time. The phrase, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, pointed to the fact that teens they observed were practicing a form of “Christianity” being modeled for them that…
Tag: power
still a ways to go
I’ve come to realize that today, the day that we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in the United States, is a day about power. This has not been an easy realization to come to, but it has been solidified this year. In the past, I often idealized everything about this day. And why…
she preaches
I often wonder why I engage on social media at all. At one time I remember it being about sharing pictures of your family or telling funny stories about your day or simply a way to reconnect with folks you don’t get to see all too often. But it seems like more and more that…
with great power
Yesterday the world lost an icon. Stan Lee was the founder of Marvel comics and the creator or co-creator of some of the best loved Superheroes of all time. These characters and their worlds of imagination have become household names: Daredevil, The Incredible Hulk, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, The X-Men, The Avengers…
extracurricular
Growing up in a relatively small town meant that life always seemed to have a rhythm. Your school year would flow in it’s given way. And then school would let out and that meant it was time for little league baseball. Of course, the only thing outstanding about my short-lived baseball career was my incredible…
but that’s not what I meant
One of the most important things I’ve come to learn over the last couple of years from being a senior pastor is the ability to be vulnerable. And it really began with a realization of how little control I have over what people hear me say. You see, I say…well and I even write a…
power and politics
I’ve never really been too into politics. I can remember my first introduction as an elementary student and all of us 4th graders trying to figure out if Dukakis or Bush was the better candidate (The eyebrows made it obvious). And throughout the years I was always curious and would usually form an opinion, but…
safe
In his now classic allegory The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis begins the process of introducing the Christ-figure character of Aslan to the children in the following fashion. “Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe….
off kilter
I am admittedly a creature of habit. I know that for many of you who have known me over the years this may come as a bit of a surprise. But, ask my wife and she will definitely confirm this fact. I love my routines. That doesn’t mean that I can’t break away from the…
arpology 
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