Muslims in the Military – A Case of Envy
I envy the distrust that Muslims in America face. There are loud voices claiming that they can't be counted on to be totally dependable citizens. In particular, we are being told that Muslims can't...
God's Middle Finger – When the Divine Says "Up Yours"
When we cling to the sword, we flip the cross upside down to use it as our tool of death instead of God’s tool for bringing life.
And so the story goes…
I can remember a scene in the movie Independence Day....
How 9/11 has Shaped our Collective Struggle
The events of 9/11 retain a powerful grip on our collective consciousness. Nearly every American adult can answer “what were you doing during the attacks?” Personally and collectively, we’ve been profoundly...
The New “War” on Terror: 9/11 and Jesus’ Approach to Enemies of the State
This past week I was invited to speak at a youth event, which had servanthood and commissioning as its focus. It was organized by three youth pastors that are all close friends of mine. When they asked me ...
What's Wrong With America?
In the last few weeks we have witnessed for the first time in our history the down grading of America’s credit rating. Because of partisan feuding, and an effort by Republicans to undermine President Obama’s c...
Ending Poverty with Global Christianity's Phantom Trillion
In the '90s, Keith Olbermann was part of a flawless thing called SportsCenter. Even though the political commentary and overall style he's developed since then isn't everyone's cup of tea, this Special Comm...
Do Christians Believe in Democracy?
Do Christians believe in democracy? It’s a question we don’t often ask. We often think the answer is an obvious yes. For many people, believing in things like Christianity, democracy, freedom, and capita...
The Next American Revival
When the gospel connects with a person’s deep need, conversion happens. Every evangelical knows this. When the gospel connects with society’s deep need, revival happens. Sometimes we forget this.
But the H...
Changing America and the World for the Common Good
There was a time when I thought that a handful of committed persons, wholly dedicated to their cause, could change the world. After all, Margaret Mead had said we could. It was really the fantasy of someon...
America's Greatest Deficit is Spiritual, Not Merely Financial
With all the angst about the economy, the deficit, and a looming government shut-down, I’m still concerned that we’re treating symptoms rather than diagnosing the underlying disease.
I know some...