It is often said that it is counter-cultural to be a follower of Christ. No believer who hears that statement disagrees with it, but few of us take it completely to heart. And that is a deceptively dangerous thing. Before I explain, let’s first clarify what it means to say that to be a Christian is to be counter-cultural. I […]
Christian
Catholic Quote of the Day — from Pope Francis
“We are not isolated and we are not Christians on an individual basis, each one on his or her own, no, our Christian identity is to belong! We are Christians because we belong to the Church. It is like a last name: if the first name is ‘I am Christian,’ the last name is ‘I belong to the Church.’” (Pope […]
Twelve Surprises About Catholicism and Evangelicalism
Over the past dozen years I’ve had the amazing and accidental opportunity to do something few Christians get to do: dive deeply into both the Catholic and Evangelical worlds. That experience has been enlightening, confusing, encouraging, frustrating and inspiring all at once. As a result, I’ve arrived at 12 realizations that surprised me about each side of Christianity, and the […]
When the Game Stands Tall
It’s not about winning or losing but about how you play the game. Those words are usually reserved for losing teams, but legendary football coach, Bob Ladouceur, who shattered the record for all American sports, taught his team to live them; win or lose. He took the Spartans of De La Salle High School in California from obscurity to winning […]
“Grace Unplugged” — Fame, Family and God
When talent goes from obscurity to stardom, a collective cheer goes up. It is the stuff of Hollywood movies and the basis of the wildly popular TV shows such as America’s Got Talent, and American Idol. And it is also the scenario in the movie Grace Unplugged, in theaters October 4. Except in this case, the success story is just […]
“Grace Unplugged” — A Prodigal Daughter
Imagine that the father of the “Prodigal Son” from Scripture once partied like a rock star before converting to the goodness of a Godly life. He taught his sons well, sharing the emptiness of his past as a place never to wander. But one son, thinking his Father to be boringly conservative, leaves for the bright lights and all that […]
The Joy Amidst the Disappointment
What follows is a note I sent to a group of friends who I suspect felt a profound sense of sadness after the presidential election. I share it with you to offer a perspective that will help you see the very real blessing that God has given us, how He has answered our deepest prayers in permitting our disappointment. I […]
You Don’t Own It
“Own Your Faith.” You’ve probably heard that before. Or, if you’re like me, you’ve given out the command. Now, I’m seriously questioning it. The problem with using the verb “own” is that it means having it all, possessing it, and if possessing it, then exercising dominion over it. We know this from daily life. I own my car. It is […]
The Extraordinary Challenge of Being Counter-Cultural
It is often said that it is counter-cultural to be a follower of Christ. No believer who hears that statement disagrees with it, but few of us take it completely to heart. And that is a deceptively dangerous thing. Before I explain, let’s first clarify what it means to say that to be a Christian is to be counter-cultural. I […]
The Importance of Christian Names
On January 9, after baptizing 21 infants in the Sistine Chapel on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Pope Benedict captured international headlines for reminding Catholic parents throughout the world that they should be choosing Christian names for their children. The choice of a name, he emphasized, shouldn’t be done “by chance” or whim, but should reinforce and […]