Faith & Culture
How I Kissed Evangelism Goodbye
I went to the mecca of Evangelicalism for college. A beautiful campus in the suburbs of Chicago where I received a scholarship from none other than the Pope of Evangelicalism, Billy Graham, for my work in street evangelism. As in, speaking to random strangers on the street in order to convert them to Christianity. Post…
Read MoreIrreverence is the New Reverent
Faith: the dealing with the meaning of life, the matter of eternal salvation, the bedrock upon which we build our families and society, this is serious stuff. Irreverence, by definition, is a lack of respect for that which is serious. It would seem that finding faith in the irreverent is impossible, like searching for the…
Read MoreOur Complicity in the Scandal of Somaly Mam
Last month a piece broke from Newsweek, launching a richly reported accusation against an activist superstar in the development field of human trafficking, Somaly Mam. According to Newsweek, there is significant evidence pointing to falsehoods in the back story of Mam. The details regarding how she was sold into a brothel and the amount of…
Read MoreThese are a Few of my Favorite Things
One thing about that song – why would door bells be one of fraulein Maria’s favorite things? I mean, ding, ding, ding, not that exciting, am I right? Anyway, raise your hand if you can believe it’s June already? Almost halfway through 2014, I fear if I blink again the year will be over. Every…
Read MoreYou Will See Greater Things
Every time I go to restock my face cream at the cosmetics vendor, inevitably the sales ladies point out the fact my skin is particularly dry. Oh wait, not just dry, they say, they are also seeing signs of crow’s feet and gasp! some dark circles under my eyes. They masquerade as skincare health professionals…
Read MoreIt’s not All or Nothing (re: Social Media)
One day, my daughter left her homework at school. After some cross-examination gentle probing, we figured she left it in the library. I suggested perhaps it is because she was having so much fun hanging out with her friends she neglected her responsibility of bringing home her homework. The next day, she climbs into my…
Read MoreBending the Rules
I was 19 weeks pregnant with my second child, holding my husband’s hand and trying to decipher the elusive ultrasound image in the OB/GYN’s office in Beijing, China. Plastered on the wall of the exam room is a poster of the hospital’s official policy, stating compliance with the Chinese government to refrain from unveiling the…
Read MoreI am an Angry Christian
**Thank you to everyone for the overwhelming support and response to the Terrible Christian Series. I have been thrilled to share the stories of my friends on here, but I’m also excited to be back for the final post in the series.** Anger has a bad rap. Anger is in bed with violence, destruction, vitriol. Unchecked anger…
Read MoreI am a Lazy Christian
**This is post number two, of the I am a Terrible Christian Series. My friend Courtney wrestles with how the Protestant work ethic infused into the Church’s teachings threatens her family life with guilt.** “Mommy, are we poor?” My seven-year old had spent the afternoon at a friend’s three-story suburban home, running in and out of…
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