In the last few weeks, I have become acutely aware of the fact that we evangelicals are horrible participants in discussions, particularly on social media. I am fortunate to have friends from a wide variety of faiths and religious backgrounds, and recently I've seen several of them publicly wrestling with tough, real-life questions. Through the […]
For the past week or so, I've had a serious case of writer’s block. Well, not writer’s block exactly. I've been able to put pen-to-paper, but the things that I've been writing haven’t had the voice that I'm used to writing with. They've had a harsh, judgmental, preachy tone that I despise, and when I've gone […]
Personal Note: This post was written by an old friend of mine. He shared it with me in private, and though he wishes to remain anonymous, he gave me permission to publish the account here. His willingness to open himself up in this way is, for me, a much-needed affirmation: this is exactly the kind […]
Last updated: July 20, 2015, 10:18 pm MidAmerica Nazarene University recently relieved Randy Beckum of his role as Vice President, although he retains his position as the school's chaplain. The reasons for this move by the school are somewhat unclear. The official announcement from the school suggests that they wanted to allow him to focus […]
Sometimes stories, whether they are "factually accurate" or not, carry more truth in their bones than a journalistic account ever could. It's like Santa Claus.
What if the accusations against us are right? What if we're the monsters they say we are? We don't think they are, but could that be part of the problem?
This may shock some of you, but I love coffee. Hot, iced, espresso, dark roast, light roast - it doesn't matter. It’s delicious. In case you don't believe me, here are just a few of the brewers that I have in my kitchen: Black & Decker Drip Pot Moka Pot Melitta Pourover Kalita Wave Pourover Aeropress French Press […]
If I asked three different men to describe the perfect woman, I would get three completely different responses. The first man might describe a tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed bombshell. The second man might describe a woman of remarkable intellect and drive. And the third man might describe a woman who was 100% devoted to her family. […]
Even the best of us often see what we want to see... and miss what we don't want to see. What do you notice as you read this story? What do you skim over? Where in your life do you miss opportunities to make a difference?
I love art. Every once-in-a-while, I get this crazy notion that I can be an artist. When this whim hits, I usually go to Hobby Lobby, buy a boatload of paints and a couple of canvases (I already have brushes at home) and prepare to let my creativity wash over me. Before I even begin painting, […]
I met my wife when I was 12 years old, and I started dating her when I was 17 years old. Yes, we were high school sweethearts. Shannon is the only girl that I've ever dated (unless you count that one awkward time when I went to a dance with a fan of my comedy... but that's […]
If you know me, you know that I'm not a super masculine guy. Let me give you some examples: I would rather watch basketball than play it. I don't lift weights (or even work out, really). I am not the "boss" of my wife. I don't have "my" football team that I cheer for. I […]
Last week's post ("It's My Right, Part 1") discussed the rights that we have as Americans. If you haven't read it yet, you'll probably want to do that before you continue with this week's post. As Americans, we've begun treating our "rights" as basic essentials of being human, but to millions of people all over […]
I Know My Rights. It is my right as an American to say whatever I want to say. I have freedom of speech, and I have the right to exercise it. I have the right to buy what I want to buy. I have the right to be happy when society tells me I should […]
I am the best web developer in Oklahoma. I am an amazing writer, and someday the world will know it. If I'd wanted to, I could've been a rock star - my music is JUST. THAT. GOOD. It's really easy for me to lie to myself, especially when the lie is something that I really […]
There's a garden in Kansas City that is a special place for my wife and me, a haven that became a sort of sacred ground for us. This story is a quick, bright sketch of our time there and the reason it brought us so much joy.
Christianity, in a nutshell: God made me, but I screwed up the relationship that we had. God is so passionate about pursuing me, that he gave up his only son to restore our relationship. Because of his love for me, I am passionate about pursuing him, and I want others to discover his love, as […]
Why do I always expect God to give me things? Why do I think that God must reward my faithfulness – even though my faithfulness is often lacking? I expect that he will bless me richly, that he will cause my business to prosper and my life to flourish. I expect that he will give […]
I've got crap in my life. I'm a screw-up. I hold grudges. I bend the truth. I'm opinionated and rub it in people's faces. I break things and try to hide them so no one finds out. I take so much pride in my work that I unfairly criticize the honest work of others. I […]
