This summer, Americans are going all out to celebrate freedom. There's the Freedom250 Betsy Ross Beer Glass, the proposed gilded 250-foot Independence Arch in Washington, DC, and everyone's favorite—the Freedom250 cage match on the White House lawn. Don’t get me wrong. I believe it’s important to treasure our freedoms as Americans, and to honor the sacrifice of those who defended them. But as Christians, we also have real freedom, and it’s important not to lose sight of th

One Monday evening this spring, I was walking around our house feeling like I had forgotten something important. Our anniversary? No, that isn’t until June. A big game on TV? No, March Madness ended in, well, April. “Still reading” an overdue library book? Ah, maybe. Then it hit me: this was the first time in six years that I wasn’t in a Vestry meeting on the second Monday of the month. You see, from 2020 through 2026 I was Rector’s Warden at Church of the Good Samaritan in

Here’s a radical idea: What if every church in America showed the movie Jurassic Park in place of the sermon on a given Sunday? You remember the plot, right? Scientists discover dinosaur DNA in ancient mosquitoes fossilized in amber. They find a way to re-create the powerful beasts believing they can harness them for their own purposes. But in the end, the dinosaurs get loose, causing massive destruction on the island, and in sequels, we learn the devastation spreads far b

Forbearance is one of my strengths. Except when people get on my nerves. That’s a different story. Let me give you an example. Some time ago I went to the store to pick up a few small items. At the checkout, the total came to $4.23. I handed the cashier a ten-dollar bill and reached into my pocket for change. All I had was two dimes, two pennies, and some lint—twenty-two cents. I held it out, thinking the cashier might have a spare penny somewhere. In my experience, most do

I’m thinking of changing my resume. Why? Because all my career I haven’t really been telling the truth. Don’t worry, all the positions and dates are accurate. But I haven’t told the whole truth—that in addition to the good things I’ve done, there have been a few stumbles along the way. I’ve been pleased not to announce that. Bullet Point History But recently I did a “bullet point history” of my career. I listed all the positions I’ve held and the dates for each. Next, I a

“Why should I bother dragging myself to church? And don’t tell me it’s because I’m obligated —says who?” Ever felt that way? You’re in good company, because more people than ever are asking the same thing. The truth is, church attendance has been declining across America for decades. Research from the Pew Foundation shows that the fastest-growing faith category today is “the nones”—people who claim no religious affiliation at all. They now make up about 30% of Americans.

How do you know the Bible is true? Sure, you do your best to read it and live it every day but there’s still a nagging problem. Some of your friends say the Bible isn’t true, and you’re not always sure how to respond, right? So to help, I've created a list of the best arguments I can find for the credibility of the Bible. Interested? Okay, here are my Top 10 Reasons the Bible is True. Manuscript Evidence . There are way more copies of the biblical manuscripts, with remarka

You’ve heard of carpe diem , right? Latin for “seize the day.” People quote it like it’s a verse from the Bible. But guess what—it’s not in there. Go ahead—try to find it! But there’s a bigger problem with it: seize the day assumes this world is all there is. So, grab what you can, while you can. Really? If this world is all there is, why bother seizing anything? So I want to propose something better—just as memorable, but with a different starting point. Carpe diem sa

“Today we know the Bible isn’t true because…” How many times have you heard someone say that? The problem is, most of what they offer as evidence is usually urban myths , that is, "a story of obscure origin that has little or no supporting evidence, and yet spreads spontaneously." And what's most frustrating is you don't know how to respond. So, here's what I’d like to do: respectfully challenge some popular misimpressions about the Bible. But first, let me be upfront about