Church & Culture
If there was an image to describe me 15 years ago, just replace Jedi with evangelicalism…. If you’ve been here long enough then you know I used to write a lot on the whole missional church movement / church planting ‘industry’. It was my...Race & Reconciliation
Growing up I recall only one Asian personality represented anywhere across traditional media (this was before the internet). David Suzuki hosted a weekly TV show called, “The Nature of Things” (yay science!) shown on the public broadcaster here in Canada. (The show is...On Faith
There’s a notable theme when I hear stories from folks who find themselves on the outside of community looking in. (This was originally posted in the newsletter and reposted on the blog for public readership.) It wasn’t that long ago when I came to the...Justice
** I’ve decided to post this newsletter entry publicly. Audio version is now on my podcast as a bonus episode. Also, this is a good article to situate yourself from a more ‘inside the house’ perspective by Rabbi Dayna Rattenberg. ** As I pen this...Church & Culture
In my book When We Belong, I told the story of how my second church plant Cypher Church started. It was on the heels of closing my first church plant called (at the time) Converge. I saw the proverbial writing on the wall when only 5 people showed up to a Sunday...Church & Culture
*The following paragraph contains minor spoilers for the series finale of Ted Lasso. The season finale (series?) of Ted Lasso included the redemption arc of Nate, and the semi-redemption of Roy. Both are re-introduced to Ted Lasso’s “Diamond...On Faith
You’ve heard it said…when Jesus was riding into the city on the colt (remembered on Palm Sunday) he not only fulfilled a prophecy from Zechariah, but it was a subversive act that folks seeking liberation would have not expected. Jesus opted for a colt over...Church & Culture
Reposted from February 20th, 2018. It’s been noted on social media: When children in Sandy Hook were massacred by semi-automatic fire, America had a choice to do something. And they did. They did nothing. The implications are grave. To do nothing after school...On Faith
Birthday month over here. My 4th COVID birthday and a bit of a milestone. Celebrate with me by finding one of my books if you haven’t already. You can visit my shop or ask your local book retailer to get one. Four decades as taught me a few things (not many),...Church & Culture
When you hear folks that hate Christianity, is that because they hate the teachings of Jesus? Or because they hate the way the church (the people that is) are self-serving antagonists? A curious feature in religious conservatism is the need for control. Controlling...On Faith
Here is my annual list of the top books I read in 2022. Most of them came out in 2022 except for one. In no particular order: My book, “When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins.” by me. Thank you to everyone who bought a copy, left a review,...Church & Culture
Stats Canada data on religious affiliation is out with the 2021 census data and the numbers are confirming some trends regarding Christian affiliations. Here are the highlights as I see them, comparing some key denominations. This builds off of my my book Thrive....Books
Posted in 2019 and reposted. Writers will tell you they just have to write. That’s why we do it. My mind, body, and soul compel me to write. It’s not only a cathartic release and a form of therapy, but it’s a craft I’ve committed to. Some days...Leadership, On Faith
Originally posted in April 2017 and reposted. The Billy Graham rule is sexist. Full stop. And reveals deeply seated problems in evangelical formation surrounding patriarchy and the devaluing of women. The United States Vice-President Mike Pence, is in the middle of a...Race & Reconciliation
Download My Free E-BookThis blog post is part of a series that has been updated and made available as a free E-book download when signing up for my monthly newsletter. This introductory resource is an excellent starting point for those embarking on the journey to...