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Why Wouldn’t I? (an Advent reflection)

 Download Free eBook Here and share it with your friends. A haunting question that burns bright at Advent. Ring. My friend Mark says, “There are some people who just get the call. That is just the way it is.” Ring. I picked it up. It was Peter. “Hey Tony, do you still have people stay […]

Church, Give Back Tax Exemption: Missing the Point

Over the weekend the Oregonian published an article in which I suggest that the American Christian Church should consider giving back her tax exemption to heal one of society’s great wounds, like child hunger or health care. As of this morning, oregonlive.com has received over 500 comments on the article and over 1800 shares on […]

Spiritual Friendship: Magi-Style

Download Free eBook Here and share it with your friends. Christ’s visitors from the East show us the importance of spiritual “foreigners.” In the twelfth century, the English abbot Aelred of Rievaulx wrote the foundational treatise On Spiritual Friendship. Aelred made the case that one of the great practices of the Christian life is being […]

Do Advent Right This Year

Hey all.  Sunday is the start of Advent (I know, “Already?”) The mothers and fathers of our faith were kind and intentional in giving us this month-long slowing-practice of reflection.  When I say “slowing-practice”, what I mean is, these godly women and men looked into the future and knew the tendencies of humankind… our tendency […]

Does it Bother You that Religious Groups Need to “Brand” Their Service?

On today’s episode of #OffTheHighway, I interview Brandon Rhodes of Springwater Community and The Parish Collective.  One of the topics we wander into is the concept of Church branding.  Brandon tells lovely stories about acts of goodness and beauty happening all around his neighborhood and how he and his community of faith are seeking to […]

Graham, Campolo: Gay Marriage and Christian Volatility

Yesterday, Franklin Graham called all Christians to ban pro-LGBT friendly companies…  And Christians are rising up to protest. Today, Tony Campolo makes a public call for Christians to support Gay Marriage…  And Christians are rising up in protest. Graham.  Campolo.  Are there two names more associated with Evangelicalism in America over the last 50 years? […]

My Writing Checklist

My Writing Checklist How have I made myself the hero of my writings? How have I made myself smarter, cooler or more “righteous” than I actually am? Have I thrown anyone under the bus? Have I been vindictive in any story, paragraph or phrase? In what ways have I taken a cheap shot? Have I […]