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Announcing My New Book! growth personal reading theology

I've been waiting to share this news for a long time now.

After I stepped away from my role as a Lead Pastor in 2020, I began a brutal unmaking of so many things I believed about myself, the church, and God. I expected to retire in my role and never gave much thought to any other future. The New Te...

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When Christianity Looks Like Scrooge christianity culture reading

My favorite Christmas story is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I read the book every December, and we watch The Muppet Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve (which is obviously the best film depiction by far).

It's easy to think that A Christmas Carol is a story about greed and about how rich p...

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What Jesus Meant by “Fish for People” bible christianity reading

I've been reading an advanced copy of Diana Butler Bass' upcoming book, A Beautiful Year (accompanying podcast episode coming soon!). In it, she offers an insight into first-century fishing that I hadn't heard before.

In ancient Rome, you didn’t work for yourself. You didn’t scroll through LinkedIn...

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I Hope You Get What You Deserve bible christianity reading theology

Somewhere along the way, Christians started singing, preaching, and declaring a mantra that sounds pious on the surface but is actually deeply destructive: “We don’t deserve God’s love.” I hear it regularly in worship services. But let’s pause and ask the obvious question:

Why don't we deserve God’...

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Faith After Doubt christianity reading

Let’s talk about doubt.

Not the kind you whisper in the back row of a church service or scribble in a journal you hope no one ever reads. I’m talking about the big, lingering, soul-level questions. 

If that’s you, or if it used to be, or if you’re worried it might be someday, then I want to invite...

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Theology with Imagination christianity reading theology

If you’ve ever wanted to sit across the table from Brian Zahnd, pour a glass of wine, and talk about Jesus, you’re in luck—because that’s exactly what we did in the latest episode of Cabernet and Pray. And yes, it was as good as it sounds.

Brian is one of those voices in the modern church that m...

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A Farewell to Mars reading

Over the years, I’ve wrestled with what it means to follow the nonviolent Jesus when so much of the Christian culture around me seems committed to the opposite. One of the books that helped me see things differently was A Farewell to Mars by Brian Zahnd (see: Amazon link). And now, I want to invite ...

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Let's Talk About What Makes You Odd bible reading

One of the stories we're exploring in our online book study this week (you can join us here) is about an assassin who ends eighteen years of oppression for the ancient Israelites under a tyrant king.

Who said the Bible was boring?

The assassin's name is Ehud, and he's one of only three people in t...

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Want to Do a Book Study with Me? bible reading

Curious about the Bible but tired of the same old answers? 

Consider this your official invite to join me for my first-ever online book study. Beginning on March 1st, we'll unpack Rob Bell's book What is the Bible? The subtitle shows what you'll experience if you join us in this challenge: "How an ...

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How We Learn to be Brave christianity reading

You may have seen the clip of a Bishop giving what appears to be a very tense sermon in front of the President and Vice President. That clip went viral and made Mariann Edgar Budde a hero in the eyes of many. I was in awe of what she said and how she said it and when I found out she wrote a book cal...

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