Notes From Jubilee 2017

February 23, 2017Christianity, Church, Reflections

I took a truckload of notes at  The Jubilee Conference. Instead of dump them all out, here are a few highlights and the thoughts these highlights stir in me: – “In chaos, tyranny thrives.” -Jon Tyson I realized that I am often drawn to gatherings like Jubilee (and Jubilee specially) not so much by a … Read More

Baseball, Prayer, Lent and Practice

February 22, 2017Church, Lent, Prayer

Practice might not make perfect… but it certainly can shape a soul. A few years ago, author/journalist David Brooks wrote a short piece about the way baseball has “hacked the human brain.” Showing up early for a baseball game, he saw a 38-year-old major league player running drills at first base; the same drills 6-10 year old kids … Read More

Don’t Quit.

February 7, 2017Christianity, Church, Creativity, Discipleship, Doubt, Politics, Prayer, Sermons

My religious tradition uses the word “evil” or “darkness.” Steven Pressfield calls it “Resistance.” And while there are volumes written about it, the one thing I’ve come to know/believe about evil/darkness/Resistance is that it plays the long game. More than anything else, darkness or evil counts on you and I quitting at some point. So don’t. Getting … Read More

The Pulse Shooting: I Am Implicated

June 15, 2016Christianity, Church, Leadership, Reconciliation

It’s about guns. It’s about militant Islam. It’s about mental health. I think I find it conveniently comforting to pin violence and tragedy on one issue or another because it means I am not implicated. If it’s about guns, I don’t own one and can blame gun-owners or politicians. If it’s about militant Islam, I’m … Read More

Is Christian Music Dishonest?

April 30, 2016Christianity, Church, Creativity, Discipleship, Worship

Is music in the “Christian marketplace” markedly dishonest? Specifically in the way its writers address the darker aspects of life? More so than music made in the broader, “General market” is? In his a Fuller-curated conversation between Bono  and Eugene Peterson, Bono suggests as much. I’m not so sure. Let’s see what Drake has to say about the deeper … Read More