Christianity Is Not a Plastic Smile

Today Lookout Magazine published my latest piece on Christians and a theology of suffering: There is a country song I like to play around the house that always irks my wife. Josh Turner croons, “Everything is fine, fine, fine.” Angela detests it because she says that this is my go-to answer whenever there is a problem at home. […]

The Church on the Ground Versus the Church In Your Head

I’m over at Southern Seminary Equip today talking about the reality of shepherding. Here is an excerpt: You envisioned, in your first ministry, leading with the help of a robust elder board, made up of guys who read Calvin, together, on the weekends. You were going to launch a human trafficking ministry in your first […]

On My Nightstand

Books, for me, are therapy, a way of relaxing from the pressures of the world. My habit, lately, has been to physically read books on theology and the Christian life and to listen, via audiobook, history and biography. I’m almost always in the middle of reading a book and listening to a book. George Will […]

The Way Home: Dean Inserra On Evangelizing the Bible Belt

He planted a church, ten years ago, with a handful of people in his parent’s living room. Today, Dean Inserra is pastor of City Church the biggest church in Tallahassee. But his method is not what you’d think: City attracts people, not with killer coffee and cutting edge music, but by building relationships in the […]

The Way Home: Art Rainer on Ways We Can Handle Our Money Biblically

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who enjoy doing their finances and those who don’t. For those who don’t, like, me, we need help. Art Rainer, VP of Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, has written a helpful book, The Money Challenge. Art joins me to talk about ways we can […]

The Way Home: Brett McCracken On the Blessed Awkwardness of Church Life

Most of us look for churches that make us feel comfortable, but perhaps the awkwardness of living in community with people different from us is part of God’s plan for our sanctification. Brett McCracken, journalist and author, joins the podcast to talk about his new book, Uncomfortable: The Awkard and Essential Challenge of Christian Community.  Brett is a senior editor for […]