On Israel and Palestine

    On Israel and Palestine

    ** 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...
    It’s not hard to say goodbye

    It’s not hard to say goodbye

    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...

    On Toxic Masculinity, Ted Lasso, and QueerEye

    *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...
    The Way of Jesus is Subversion

    The Way of Jesus is Subversion

    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...
    40 Going on 50

    40 Going on 50

    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),...
    Why Do Some Christians Hate the World?

    Why Do Some Christians Hate the World?

    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...
    My Top Books of 2022

    My Top Books of 2022

    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,...
    Helpful Tips to Publish and Write Your Book

    Helpful Tips to Publish and Write Your Book

    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...
    When churches try to be too cool

    When churches try to be too cool

    One day, I was walking in a cool and artsy inner-city neighborhood and was handed a little flyer card not once, not twice, but thrice, in a span of a block by dudes from a church promoting their monthly ‘parachute into the neighborhood’ service. I knew who...

    What the ‘Billy Graham Rule’ Says About Leaders

    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...

    Uncovering Racism and Pathways to Action

    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...

    More On the Model Minority Myth

    As we wind down Asian Heritage Month (AAPI History Month in the USA), I am republishing a short thread on the model minority myth that I recently posted on Twitter. I have written on this subject before, noting the “terms and conditions” Asian folks need...

    White replacement theory is not fringe

    Ok, here goes. A post from a thread I recently wrote in light of recent violence (yet again) out in Buffalo. It pertains to replacement theory, or as I describe it here, white replacement theory. This idea is not fringe. It is an embedded cultural understanding most...