Show Your Scars, Not Your Sores
We live in a culture that festishizes our wounds. You’ve been hurt? Tell the world. Someone betrayed you? Brandish your victimization. But we forget that wounds are ugly. We forget…
Cynicism and Naivety
When I speak of virtue or happiness or God’s plan to heal the world, there are always those who mistakenly believe I have never seriously considered the flaws of the…
Burning Passion
Every fire needs two kinds of fuel: kindling and firewood. Kindling burns easily, but is quickly consumed. Our passions have kindling—ideas, insights, role models, or materials that cause our imaginations…
Vagrants, Vagabonds, Tourists, and Resident-Aliens
Zygmunt Bauman was one of the greatest sociologists of the 20th century. One of his favorite means of talking about the ways we interact was to distinguish between “tourists” and…
A Church of Misfits
There are two signs outside of our church. The north entrance says “Welcome Rabble Rousers and Rebels” while the east entrance proclaims “Welcome Misfits and Miscreants.” When we first made…
The Noble Competition of Love
The world has become very good at caring. Consider, for example, the featured section in Architectural Record’s June 2015 issue, “Design for Social Engagement.” This section highlights pro bono work…
Be Your Authentic Self
If we want to be our authentic selves, we need to focus on the people God is calling us to become. This is what Tom Wright refers to as “eschatological…
For a Time Such As This
Esther is a great example of why identity and vocation are entwined. No one but Esther could have accomplished what she did, because no one else was in her place….
Recent Comments