Community Care Pastor. Pop culture was my first religion. World-class hugger. Retired sports blogger.
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Oct 27, 2022 • 19 tweets • 3 min read
I think church leaders have been getting the concept of the tithe wrong for a very long time. And I believe it’s why many believe in a cruel God who wants you to sacrifice “because I said so.” 🧵
I never really considered what would happen to animals, olive oil and grain given to the Lord as a tithe. I guess I assumed it just went bad or something. But Deuteronomy woke me up this morning.
Aug 29, 2022 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
For everyone who has said “you can’t just assume based on the article, you gotta watch the video”… the video is 10000x worse than the article.
I’ve been a part of dealing with decisions like this. I’ve gotten it right and wrong. Our church would say the same. I’ve helped plan these announcements before.
If you like #TheMandalorian and what @dave_filoni and @Jon_Favreau did... check out the #CloneWars animated series. The whole series is good, but the FINAL season is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😭😭😭😭😭😭
My favorite part of the series was the Anakin development. The animated series shows why everyone revered him but slowly amplified his dark side tendencies.
Nov 20, 2020 • 19 tweets • 3 min read
The magnitude of suffering MANY MANY families are experiencing right now is just overwhelming.
Buffering = when videos pause because they haven’t fully loaded yet. My grief is buffering right now.
The burden of pain, for myself, for my people and for everyone really, is so substantial that it’s stuck. It can’t process.
Nov 5, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Idolatry isn’t just about what you love, it’s about what you hate. When you organize your life around something you despise, you elevate that idol to a level of counter-worship. Instead of trying to please the idol, you make offerings to harm it.
In a Christian context, idolatry is about elevating anything or anyone beyond their actual value. When you care too much, give too much, obsess too much or fear too much, that’s an object of worship. Or in this case, counter-worship.
Sep 23, 2020 • 15 tweets • 2 min read
Oppression ALWAYS has a beneficiary.
There is no such thing as accidental oppression. It doesn’t just materialize out of thin air. Oppression is zero-sum. Some are made to lose so others are able to gain.
Sep 13, 2020 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
PSA: You can love Jesus, be an incredibly devoted follower and see a counselor or therapist (in fact, you should).
You can bear the fruit of the Spirit in your life and take meds for mental health issues like anxiety and depression. #MentalHealthMatters
One of the most damaging lies perpetuated by the Church is that mental health issues, diagnosed or undiagnosed, come from a lack of faith.
Sep 11, 2020 • 12 tweets • 2 min read
I call this “The Explosive Expert Principle”.
And I’ve seen this principle play out over and over and over again among followers of Jesus.
The name comes from a war story my Dad told me. He was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam as an Explosives Expert. He has some absolutely horrifying stories, but this one is actually a great illustration.
Sep 5, 2020 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
I used to read the Prophets & the Old Testament narratives slightly confused about how faithful people could so quickly and deeply turn to idols.
Watching the American church in 2020... Now I get it.
People that have seen God’s power first-hand, witnessed and experienced His faithful love, can still turn to idols on a dime. Why? I think it’s because idols are easier.
Aug 29, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
Watching the Harrison Ford classic #AirForceOne tonight. It’s been a long week. Counting down the moments until I hear a line that’s been seared in my brain since the Summer of ‘97: “GET OFF MY PLANE!!!!!!!!!!!”
If y’all are too young to remember, when Air Force One was being released, they played the trailer roughly every 15 minutes on every network for 6 weeks. And the line “GET OFF MY PLANE!!!!” became immortal.
Aug 27, 2020 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
We are conditioned as evangelical/mega church pastors that we “can’t be political”. Or that when we support anything controversial that we’re compromising our ability to reach people for Jesus.
That’s flat out wrong.
The only thing we’re protecting by “not being political” are the oppressive systems. (Systems that we largely benefit from by the way.) Political isn’t bad, it’s necessary, because politics are about people. Jesus was political.
Aug 25, 2020 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
“Micro-churches” are not a trend. They are the primary avenue of spiritual growth for all followers of Jesus since Peter preached at Pentecost.
Andy Stanley nails it (paraphrased): people grow most in circles, not rows.
Every believer I’ve ever talked to experienced their most significant spiritual growth in the context of intimate community and close relationships. Often facilitated by a mentor/guide.
Jul 18, 2020 • 28 tweets • 6 min read
Just watched #CivilWar. This is a linchpin story in the #MCU. So many good things that payoff later. But, what I saw with absolute clarity was the arc of #BlackPanther and Justice.
In Civil War, T'Challa is driven by vengeance masquerading as justice. He wants to get justice for his father and he thinks killing the culprit (Bucky) would be just. However...
Jul 18, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
You know that moment in epic stories where the Elder/Guide dies and their death propels the movement forward because it’s like their courage and wisdom are absorbed into the righteous cause? RIP @repjohnlewis#RIPJohnLewis
John Lewis’ death got to me this morning. Partially because he was an absolute inspiration and partially because I was largely ignorant of the the details of his life. A wonderful example.
Jul 14, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Every time I hear the #UnsolvedMysteries theme, I get goosebumps. Not just like “ooohhhh this is scary” but the hair on my arms and legs literally stands on end.
Must be some deep childhood trauma or something. This is atypical. I’m pretty comfortable watching scary or spooky stuff. But this show gets me every time, old or new.
Jul 13, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
One of the best pieces of pop culture about conspiracy theories is “The Voyager Conspiracy” from #StarTrekVoyager. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Voyag…
This episode really captures a lot of what I’m seeing now. Seven of Nine starts seeing conspiracies everywhere as she processes insane amounts of data and information. One of them is right, but the rest get more absurd with time.
Jul 5, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Peter, Paul and many heroes of the New Testament were arrested for being "outside agitators" and stirring up trouble.
And don't get confused: they did not actually get arrested for their words and sermons, even if that's what the authorities may have said. The Apostles got arrested once they started messing with people's money and challenging the systems of oppression.
Jun 28, 2020 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
While I’m on my #Enneagram... #WallE is a perfect representation of a 2’s redemptive journey.
He starts as a helper. That’s just how he’s wired. But he always seeks relationships and connection. He fantasizes about love. Loving others and being loved.
Jun 25, 2020 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Watched the end of Indiana Jones & #TheLastCrusade last night. It explains A LOT of what I'm seeing among church folks and what they think drinking from Jesus' cup looks like.
If you haven't seen the movie, the bad guy grabs an ostentatious and beautiful chalice, believing that it is the Holy Grail. He wanted to drink from Jesus' cup of glory, not His cup of suffering. And because "he chose poorly", he shrivels up and withers away in puff of smoke.
Jun 20, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
If you’re new to anti-racism, please notice how difficult it is to get people just to say that our lives matter without qualification. Affirm our humanity with equivocation. #BlackLivesMatter
“Matters” is the least you can do and still consider someone a human of equal value. It’s the floor.
