Between the Trees

Today I was in a gas station and heard a bunch of guys with an East Coast accent passing through the state. One of them pointed out that they should buy a lottery card or something. “After all, it’s not like we’re ever coming back here again.”
Nebraska, I’m writing to bid you goodbye. You’ve been [...]

The first time I met Bart Moseman, I probably freaked him out. I was a wide-eyed freshman who wanted to change the university over-night and I was trying to enlist his help to do it. And given Bart’s aversion to method and event-driven ministry, I’m guessing I probably scared him. But he was nice about [...]

Not sure if I’ve posted on the situation in Zimbabwe before, but it’s a mess. Basically, the west spent 100 years gorging themselves on the wealth of the country while destroying any hope for her future. Then Zimbabwe became independent in 1980 and elected this guy. And he turned out to be just as bad [...]

Today I found this Chick tract in a bathroom at a gas station. All my other issues with tract evangelism aside, if you’re going to leave evangelistic literature in lavatory stalls, please don’t pay Jack Chick to do it. The organization is crazy - they publish tracts on the perfection of the KJV, the Satanic [...]

Okay, I’m uploading the sermon I preached last Sunday here. Jake posted a link to the Grace Chapel podcast from second service, but something is funky with the recording (I think our assistant pastor might have left his wireless mike on. Glad he didn’t go on any restroom visits while I was preaching.) Here’s a [...]

There’s a unique title for ‘ya. It’s actually from Tony Campolo, who says that mixing religion and politics is like mixing manure and ice cream - it doesn’t hurt the manure none, but it sure messes with the ice cream.
I thought of that quote when I saw this story. It’s a powerful reminder that, though [...]

It’s fashionable for Christians to talk about the idea of a “Culture War” going on in our world today. Seizing on this term from broader political currents, they see themselves as an embattled group under assault from “Secular Humanists”, or whatever label happens to fit the bill. They consider it their Christian duty to enact [...]

Quick recap of the weekend: an amazing bachelor party (where I learned from Eric that, when smoking a cigar, I look like a capitalist), an enjoyable rehearsal dinner, an amazing wedding where we saw two of our best friends get married, hearing one good friend teach on perseverance of the saints (and seeing the beauty [...]

Life is hectic right now, for a lot of reasons. My wife and I are in two weddings this weekend, I preach on Sunday and next week we’re moving to St. Louis. Not to mention the fact that this weekend is also Elizabeth and my first wedding anniversary. Marriage is a beautiful gift, and I’ve [...]

Jesus for President is the first book in a long time that made me hear voices in my head as I was reading. You know how in cartoons you have the two shoulder angels debating with each other, both trying to get the protagonist to do what they want him to do? That’s how I [...]