Goodbye Charlotte
“We’re living a good story.” That’s what I told Sarah in August a year ago, as we threw things into a suitcase for a reckless overnight road trip to Charlotte. And in a sense, that was true. Good stories and good memories are made from the brave, impulsive moments that we still laugh about a…
Why I Held This Sign at Gay Pride
I ran into a street preacher at Charlotte Pride this year. I was carrying a sign that say “God Loves Gays”; he was carrying a big Bible and wearing a t-shirt that said “Jesus is the Standard”. He handed me a tract and asked if I had received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I assured him…
When I Was Ashamed of the Gospel
Every time I read something Ed Cyzewski has written, I feel he wrote it just for me. Ed puts words to so many of my questions, doubts, and struggles of faith – and always offers a way forward. Today he’s sharing a bit from his brand new book: A Christian Survival Guide. I think you’ll resonate with his story. When…
I Don't Have My Shit Together + Free Wallpaper
“I don’t want to be a Christian writer, if it means writing from the heart and then hitting backspace until it feels safe again. I don’t want to be a Christian writer if it means I need to act like I have my shit together. Because the truth is, I don’t.” I think there’s a real…
Love, Hate, and Dead-End Theology
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into…
How To Not Be Matt Walsh
This isn’t about Matt Walsh. Not really. We could just as easily talk about any number of blustering voices on talk radio or cable news or behind the pulpits of many churches. But right now the conversation is about Matt Walsh and the latest profoundly ignorant thing he wrote. So let’s talk about Matt Walsh.…
It's Not Your Fault
You see this, all this shit? It’s not your fault. I know… No you don’t. It’s not your fault. I know. No. Listen to me son. It’s not your fault. I know that. It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault. Don’t fuck with me, alright? Don’t fuck with me, Sean. Not you. It’s not your…
When We Are Healing
When I read these words by Sarah Ann Roginsky, I feel like she is speaking the heart of so many. She says things here that I have felt myself, many times. Maybe you’ve felt this too: Healing. It is not the romantic struggle we often find in movies. It is not often accompanied by rainfall,…
8 Myths Christians Believe About God's Will
If you’re like me, “God’s will” has been the focus of much prayer, angst, hope, and confusion. I’ve often wondered if I had found it, missed it, or generally screwed it up. So I’m very grateful for these words from Mandy Meisenheimer, challenging myths that I’ve often believed about God’s will: Seeking God’s will used to…
3 Lies That Kept Me Trapped By Porn
I’ve read a lot of stuff about pornography, lust, and accountability. When I first glanced at My Chains Are Gone, I thought it was going to be more of the same. It wasn’t. David shares his journey to freedom with candor and clarity that is often missing from this conversation, especially in the church. While pornography and…
To the One Losing Her Faith
You tell me you don’t believe anymore. Your faith is slipping away, like sand through your open fingers. You say it as if it’s a simple thing, but between the words I can hear all you’re not saying: The sleepless nights spent staring at the ceiling. The hopeless prayers you’re sure no one hears. The doubt.…
Why I Stopped Playing Violent Video Games
I didn’t get my first video-game console until after I was married. It was an old black Xbox, the kind my friends had owned years earlier. But video games had not been a part of my life in high school, and I was eager to make up for lost time. There’s an ongoing debate about…
The Benham Brothers, Evangelicals, and Bill Gothard
Earlier this month, I wrote about the deep connections between ousted cult leader Bill Gothard and high-profile Christians such as the Duggars and the family behind Hobby Lobby. Some people have asked why I continue to write about Gothard’s web, considering as he has resigned and those who had supported him previously probably didn’t know about…
The Holy Bible?
Today Brandon Chase is sharing a few thoughts on what the Bible means, and what we mean when we talk about it. These are eye-opening, provocative, and absolutely necessary questions. I’m grateful for his words. “HOLY BIBLE” It’s imprinted on the genuine leather cover and spine of most Bibles you’ve ever picked up. It’s so ingrained that…
The Guest
It was after closing time when the guest walked in. I was cleaning up the dining room, resetting the tables, wiping down the line, emptying the trash cans. The kitchen was already cleaned, the grill turned off for the night. We were all about to head home. “Can I help you?” I asked, though I…
