A Prologue: This isn’t a statement about homosexuality and whether or not it is a sin. This isn’t a statement about gay marriage and what should be done about it’s legislation. This is a story. It is a story about a boy. A boy I loved and how I lost him, and how sad that makes me feel.

When I was in college at SPU I had this friend, Robert. In the course of four years he went from being a the vice president of the Young Republican club to the most liberal writer on the school paper – reknown for tequila, cigars, and leftist tendencies. He was my most soul-attached guy friend and we were deeply rooted in some way … {read more…}

Brian McClaren told this great story at Mayhem. (This is, of course, a paraphrase.) Brian said that he had dinner once with Os Guinness. Guinness said to him, “You know Brian, most Evangelicals haven’t got the foggiest idea what the gospel is about.” Brian waited, hoping Guinness would tell him what he thought the gospel was about. Unfortunately, Guinness just said, “What do you think the gospel is about, Brian?” Brian gave some long answer about the redeeming actions of the cross and the resurrection. Then Guinness said, in his clipped British accent, “Yes. That’s just what most Evangelicals would say.” (damn.) Then Guinness went on to say, “You know Brian, what Jesus preached was ‘the kingdom of God is … {read more…}

Organic churches are shaped by the people who are there.

The other day I was meeting with some other pastors and one of them was saying that most of the folks in his congregation had a task to do. They were ushers. They set up the food. They gave the announcements. They were the church. If they weren’t there, church wouldn’t happen. Which meant everyone had to attend because they knew whether they were there or not mattered.

Most of us are used to going to a church where you mattered, at least in part, because you had a role to play, a job to do. Now this isn’t evil or anything. But it is different from life at ThPM. At ThPM, … {read more…}