I am a woman
Like many of you, I am a broken woman. The Church that I thought I loved clipped my wings, and told me with its actions, that I was not worthy to lead or sit at “important decision” making tables. I...
View Article5 reasons you might want to stop judging others
Standing in judgement over other people is one of the most simultaneously natural and unnatural things we do in life. It is natural– or perhaps I should say, instinctive– because the desire to judge...
View ArticleWhat every church needs
Discipleship is the great calling of the Church, and the only soil that grows disciples is a local church culture of spiritual formation. Every other ministry of the church can, and should, grow from...
View ArticleThe dangers of supposing and assuming ahead of time
Assumptions, pre-suppositions, and avoidance of discussing them can lead to numerous undesirable outcomes, in our own thinking, our Christian journey, and within our fellowships. This note, partly...
View ArticleThe Gospel as soul aid
My wife and I have a plaque above our bed that displays the well-known words of Matthew 11:28. When making our bed every morning, I try to stop and take the 30 seconds required to read and absorb the...
View ArticleSeeking unity in a dysfunctional Church
I get a twinge of pain, (I’m not entirely sure if it is just emotional or if it actually physical), each time I see brothers and sisters in Christ arguing online. We agree to be family because we all...
View ArticleWe’re never going to survive unless we get a lot more Jesus-centered
Back when I was a neo-Calvinist, there was a lot of talk about a “Christological” hermeneutic – or, in laymen’s terms, a Christ-centered interpretation of the Bible. The big idea was that we needed to...
View Article5 things I wish atheists understood about Christians
It never fails. If a feminist tweets a news story that reinforces her views about the patriarchy, some guy is going to respond with a #notallmen hashtag. And in that one tweet, her point is dismissed....
View ArticleStop planting churches – plant movements instead
Metaphors and symbols are not just used to illustrate an idea; they actually contain the very idea they are meant to convey. They are a much more effective means of communication than the more...
View Article5 reasons why we can’t fight spiritual wars and earthly wars at the same time
The Bible teaches Christians that we are engaged in a spiritual war against a spiritual enemy. The implication seems to be that we ought not get involved in physical, earthly wars, but focus on the...
View ArticleA meditation on God’s wrath from Psalm 17
“God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” - Psalm 7:11-12 In the aftermath of God's self-revelation in Jesus Christ, Christians concluded that God is Love in God's very...
View ArticleA living lesson in loving our enemies
Jesus said this: “You have heard that it was said: love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44) Well now. No one can...
View ArticleRethinking Romans 8:28 (It doesn’t mean what you were taught it means)
Many of us who grew up in Christianity were taught that life and human history is unfolding according to a master blueprint written by God. Every action that happens, every event, is carefully...
View ArticleThe imperfect Jesus
Yeah, I know, some of you might think I’m a heretic just for that title. Or maybe you think I’m just being provocative or going for clickbait. Bear with me. Many of us Christians have been conditioned...
View Article4 practices that turn loving your neighbour into a spiritual discipline
Practicing daily, cruciform, embodied love in our neighborhoods keeps us accountable to faithfully and quietly living out what we loudly preach on our platforms and in the spotlight of a world enamored...
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Discipling the next generation
I grew up going to church every single Sunday, as did many of my friends. What’s wild is that now at 31-years-old, many of my peers who were with me at church and youth group are no longer attending...
View ArticleWhen the Bible is bad for you
I love the Bible. I read the Bible. I read the Bible every day. I’ve been a serious student of the Bible for over forty years. I don’t know how many Bibles I’ve owned — I would guess close to a...
View Article5 things that can help a church to become a welcoming and safe place for...
In Canada today the disability community makes up 15.4 per cent of our population. (Statistics Canada 2012). That means that if you have a congregation of one hundred people, assuming you represent the...
View ArticleWhy we have to walk through grief – not around it
One of my favourite children’s books is the classic Going on a Bear Hunt. You may have read it, but if not, let me give you a summary. The book reads like a poem, or a song, with a rhythm and meter as...
View ArticleWhy everything does not happen for a reason
That phrase. We’ve all received it personally gift-wrapped by well-meaning friends, caring loved ones, and kind strangers. It usually comes delivered with the most beautiful of intentions; a buffer of...
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