By John Chandler You have to love the evolution of the online dating scene. We’ve quickly evolved from a generic Match.com or e-Harmony into a world where customization rules. (Farmers Only, anyone?) My favorites are those that promise you will…
Brain trends, part 1: Enhancement
By John Chandler If you’ve ever heard a motivational speaker — or, heck, had a coach — you’ve been told that we only employ a tiny fraction of our vast mental capacity, and that we can tap into so much…
No one knows how to argue anymore
By John Chandler One of my favorite childhood Monty Python skits was the “Argument Clinic.” A man goes in to purchase a proper vigorous debate, and is merely told by the attendant the opposite of whatever he says. “That’s not…
The rise of shadow work
By John Chandler Other than sleep, humans spend more time on work than any other activity. In the United States, a Protestant work ethic land where work is something akin to religion, we are even willing to get less sleep…
All politics is local? Forget it.
By John Chandler During Singapore’s recent World Cities Summit, National Geographic’s Jeremy Bentham opined on some of the megatrends of ascending urban migration. Noting that the United Nations projects that the world’s population will grow from roughly seven billion today…
The dark intersection of technology and sexuality
By John Chandler This fall, the Pew Research Center projected that we will see robotic prostitutes by 2025. In the words of University of Tennessee law professor and author Glenn Harlan Reynolds, “Terminator robots won’t stalk the earth massacring humans;…
For what we are about to smoke …
By John Chandler In July, the New York Times posted one of the most noted editorials in its history, calling for the national legalization of marijuana. Using the tired argument of anti-pot laws as akin to Prohibition, it made legitimate…
Humblebragging — a double technical foul
By John Chandler False modesty is as old as humanity itself — see the fate of Haman in the biblical story of Esther. But give credit to comedian Harris Wittels, writer for the NBC series Parks and Recreation, whose Twitter…
What our languages are telling us, part 2
By John Chandler Last column, I wrote about global trends in spoken languages. I’d like to follow up with observations from writer David Pegg about which of these languages are waxing and waning in global influence. Ranking by impact rather…
The new apostasy: Staying put
By John Chandler My colleague and friend J.R. Woodward, author of Creating a Missional Culture and leader of the V3 church planting movement, was recently leading a “Community of Practice” — a collection of church pastors and leaders working over…
The end of church membership?
By John Chandler While visiting friends last spring, Mary and I were invited to worship at a Presbyterian church. Our friends were active and enthusiastic members, and their invitation reminded me of an old truth — that far and away…
The changing shape of denominational tribes
By John Chandler Seven years ago, I was asked about the future of local Baptist associations. My response was to say that while I felt the future of Baptists associating was still very strong, the future of local Baptist associations…