Every time we turn on the news it seems like there is a new report of gun violence. Whether it's our schools, churches or grocery stores, it seems inescapable. Everyone can agree...
Jesus and American Idol
We all love being recognized for our contributions and achievements. Whether you are called out by someone who is winning an academy award or by the bride giving a speech at her...
Be Afraid, But Don’t Be Afraid
Whether it’s at home, work, or at school, most of our environments have one foundational rule that is communicated more than any other. Don't wear shoes in the house. Don't touch...
A New Way of Winning
What does it look like for followers of Jesus to win? Jesus told the disciples they would face opposition. If there are people opposing us, someone has to come out on top. What...
What’s the Deal With Sodom and Gomorrah?
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the most horrific in the Bible, and it has been used to illustrate God's judgment of homosexuality. But is that what it's really about?...
Contaminated
Religion has always been concerned with keeping people pure, causing us to avoid the things and people that could contaminate our spiritual purity. We even use Jesus' own figure...
First Time Drivers
The first time a person ever drives a car is scary. The controls are confusing, it's hard to stay in the lines, and even something as simple as turning seems so complicated. We...
Picking Teams
The world we live in has never been more polarized. People self-select into ideological groups more quickly and intensely than ever before. The differences in values, politics...
Lost Sheep and Stray Dogs
Understanding why a person does the things they do can change everything. It can change how we perceive their actions and even their character. It allows us to understand their...
First Impressions
It takes an average of seven seconds to make a first impression. Seven seconds to decide if someone is intelligent, trustworthy, and a good person. And once we make that first...
Qualifications
Have you ever felt unqualified for something? Like you didn't measure up? Life is full of things that require qualifications - jobs, schools, sports, even government welfare...
Spirals
There are shapes and patterns repeated all throughout nature. Spirals, for example, are found in the smallest seashells and in the largest galaxies. There are also patterns found...