Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
Reflecting on the nature of religious belief.
I met Jesus as a teenager growing up on a farm near Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The preacher at the 1st Methodist Church pointed me in his direction. I walked and talked with Christ by the lakeside, through the woodlands, and in the pastures. It was a me-and-Jesus type of thing, and I value that to …
The more I live, the more I’m convinced that we should know when to shift our critical thinking machine into neutral and simply enjoy life like we used to when we were kids. That’s difficult to write because I firmly believe that critical thinking is key to helping chart the course for our individual and …
In my first assignment as an associate pastor fresh out of seminary, I made a few mistakes (perhaps that’s an understatement). One was preaching social justice sermons to an affluent congregation that boasted some prominent executives of large corporations. While I felt what I preached was true to the gospel, it’s always helpful to remember …
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6 I used to think this verse from Jesus’ farewell speech was pretty straightforward. Jesus being “the way” means he is the one-way ticket to the Father. Evangelism is giving people this secret wisdom so …
Growing up in southern Missouri, my evangelical roots ran deep. I planned on majoring in religion, studying in seminary, and then help save the world. Two pieces of advice came my way the summer before I left on that adventure. One came from a farmer: “Remember, the devil is alive and well in college and …
It feels as if we’re living in the shadow of a bad-news tsunami, doesn’t it? The poster boy for these times is Putin, with his blatant disregard for life while spewing nuclear threats. But throw in a populist movement fueled by an ex-President living in his own reality; a racial tension provoking violent school board …
Intending to look mortality squarely in the eye, I recently attended the 50th reunion of my high school class in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. It turned out to be a lot of fun. Something strange happened, though. Someone brought up the name of Sam Giambelluca. He had been a leader in local sports when I was …
The biblical writers believed in a flat earth. It was the stationary foundation of their world view. Under the flat earth was Sheol, the place of the dead. The sky was the domed firmament that held back water. Above it all was heaven. This sounds so, well, ancient. Good science at the time, but bad …
As I was doing research for Addressing Atheism, I connected with Hemant Mehta. He runs the Friendly Atheist blogsite. He’s also the author of several books, one of which is the delightful I Sold My Soul on Ebay. Hemant reviewed a rough draft of my book from the atheistic perspective. He was generous with his …
Old-fashionedly, I have an aversion to foul language. Maybe I’m too sensitive, but it seems like there’s been an exponential increase in the use of it over the last few years. Every popular show or movie seems to have a script calling for interesting variations of the f-word. Maybe my language-prudishness comes not just from …