Someone asked, on Quora, “What are the most difficult things people have to learn in their twenties”? Normally, I wouldn’t answer a question like this: I’m not sure the lessons I learned in my twenties are of much use to anybody else, anywhere in the world. But I had spent…
So, it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here. I’m not dead, though you would be forgiven for believing that my blog is dead. It is, really, in a way. Or perhaps comatose. I had to upgrade WordPress to the latest version today and while doing so I realized,…
Wherein Facebook, family, friends, and providence pave the way… On October 2, 2010, after 87 years of a sometimes difficult and often blessed life my father passed away. During the months before his death, and after, I was in frequent contact with my mom and we were trying to figure…
Wherein I get to announce news that hasn’t officially been announced only because somebody else beat me to it and, well, it’s no longer news, now tell you what I’ve been itching to say for the past [undisclosed amount of time] because the news has been embargoed till now. Whew!…
Wherein I lament the failure to practice what good theology and biblical interpretation ought to have taught us: tongues-for-show only shows one thing: lunacy. Surely, by now, everybody’s seen or at least heard of the WashingtonPost.com political cartoon by equal-opportunity skewer-artist Pat Oliphant that was automatically posted to the WP’s…
Wherein I lament the passing of one of the Christian Web’s greatest and most popular Websites. One year ago I interviewed for a job at Gospel Communications. There was an opening for a training specialist and I happily made it through the various rounds of interviews and reference checks. In…
Wherein I break my silence to introduce my latest freelance writing project for ChristianityToday.com (a small article) and attempt to exlain in a thousand words or less what the entire media elite have yet to figure out despite the powers of Lexis-Nexis. So last monday Ted Olsen at Christianity Today…
Wherein I reflect on gay marriage and just a wee little bit upon marriage itself. Please note, I really have no business writing this stuff. But I just don’t have the sense… Okay, so during my one-hour drive home from work a couple days ago, I was listening to public…
Christianity Today released an article this month titled, Willow Creek’s ‘Huge Shift’. Since a friend asked what I thought about this, I thought I’d share it with you, my faithful readers and random visitors with hope that you will further sharpen my thinking. Or (gasp!) correct me. This is my…
A few days ago, a friend from an Assemblies of God-oriented discussion group raised an interesting topic. Since I haven’t posted much here for a while, I thought I’d share my thoughts and joyfully invite your comments. The Good Pagan Carissa wrote: « I think, and this is a lay…
Wherein I describe my first day on the job after a harrowing 14-month unemployment ordeal. So, there hasn’t been much news on this blog lately, mostly because I’ve been busy, I’ve been distracted, and I’ve been unemployed. Somehow, not having a job makes me less productive in my blogging alter-life.…
So, it’s been a wee little while since I last posted. Some of you have contacted me via email to find out what’s happening and to be sure everything’s okay. I appreciate that — I really do. So I was sitting here tonight with pretty much nothing to do except…
I couldn’t let the day end without wishing all of you a happy new year! Welcome to 2008! I am safely tucked away in Michigan right now. My family secure and housing provided. Work has already begun to find work. It’s going to be a good year. I’ll keep you…
Hi, all. First off, I apologize for not spending much time in this space over the past couple of months. If you’ve followed my blog activities (and inactivity!), you know that on October 22, I accepted a position as marketing and media director at one of the Assemblies of God’s…
Wherein my wife and I describe a day without meds, without sleep, and concluding with a horse tranquilizer. For AJ, that is., Intro So my son has a pretty severe case of ADHD. And lest you nay-sayers pooh-pooh that notion, let me say that even when merely undermedicated both his…
This is my pre-published version of an article I wrote for Christianity Today International’s Resources department. It is part of a larger downloadable study exploring Church rental issues. Here, with the help of a few friends, I consider the advantages and disadvantages of renting worship space. The urban landscape is…
Wherein I opine on the culture war between Christianity and those of homosexual persuasion, and their supporters. So, breaking news, San Fransisco is a gay-friendly town. Oh, more breaking news: Chrisitanity is anathema to a sinful lifestyle. And it’s an easy target for sinners. So the 24th annual hedonistic fetish…
As previously noted, this is my week for presenting at GospelCom’s meetup: “The Internet Ministry Conference.” I successfully captured audio for today’s presentation: “Relationship Blogging.” So as soon as I can get my audio editor software working, I’ll upload it as an mp3 file, and I will also upload a…
The question … I recently received an email note from a friend. She wrote: "I am curious if anyone knows of some Christian articles dealing with internet flirting or cyber sex … I just can’t seem to find anything that I can relate to or identify with, and I know that there…
George O. Wood has been elected to the office of the General Superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God George Wood is a prince of a man who is not only well-educated, but sensible. In my experience in interacting with him not only in meetings but when…
Sometimes business meetings can be funny in their own little way. Especially when politicking gets heated. Oh, the hi-jinx of business meetings. I actually laughed out loud at one minor General Council tempest that could have had massive implications for the vote for the general superintendent on Thursday. During the…
Tomorrow, the 52nd biennial business-meeting for the General Council of the Assemblies of God begins. On Thursday, our next General Superintendent will be selected. Here are my thoughts on matters over which I have no input or influence, and which are probably inappropriate for me to publicly opine over. Unfortunately,…
On the resignation of the Assemblies of God’s current superintendent, Rev. Thomas Trask, and the chaos that is in its wake. Wherein I opine on matters explicitly not my business. I’d like to make it perfectly clear at the outset: I am not a credentialed Assemblies of God minister. I’m…
photo: RichTatum Hey, I thought I’d give you, my faithful readers, a chance to let your voice be heard. Give me a call at my voicemail number: (630) 524-2255(You get three minutes, unless you call back for more.) Leave me a message on, say … anything! I’ll review the messages,…
photo: ukdenners Overheard recently: “I’m wondering what’s the difference between church and the bar?” In church you pray for the Spirit. In a bar you pay for the spirits? (Sorry, couldn’t resist!) Anyways… Everybody knows your name… When Jennifer and I lived in Springfield, MO, and worked at the Assemblies…