Donald J. Trump has been president or running for president my entire voting life. 2016 was the first presidential election I could vote in. I remember waking up that November and feeling, like many Americans, wholly shocked by the election…
If 2023 was the Year of the Doll, so far 2024 is the year of trying to rip off the doll’s head
Toward the end of last year the phrase “Year of the Doll” became popular officially through a New Yorker podcast and unofficially on many social media platforms as people noticed the massive cultural effect from the Barbie movie and Taylor…
More thoughts on Mary breastfeeding, hierarchy and ‘kin-dom’ versus ‘kingdom’
Peel back the layers of our modern-day debate over the role of women in the church and you’ll find the underlying stumbling block has to do with hierarchy and bodies. BNG ran an Advent series written by Julia Goldie Day…
For the love of literature: How book bans are whitewashing America
It’s back to school time and, in the latest effort of book banning, new state legislation will restrict literature allowed in Texas schools based on a vague rating system about sexual content. House Bill 900, which goes into effect Sept….
It’s time to ditch the drive-by Communion and linger a while
Churches should win awards for their innovation during COVID, as they created new ways to be church together while apart. Pastors responded to the needs of the community in a time when caring for community meant being separated from one…
Christian nationalism runs rampant as Christians and cult leaders alike believe Trump was chosen by God
The road to the Waco, Texas, airport was littered with tents called patriot stores selling MAGA merchandise last Saturday. They had been out since Wednesday in preparation for Donald Trump’s rally. Trump 2024 flags flew next to Confederate flags, “F***…
TikTok trends and three questions you and your church should ask this year about rest
We’re a month into 2023, and you know what that means. People are starting to abandon their new year’s resolutions. Of course, not everyone sets aside their personal goals so quickly, but it’s likely most gyms have a large spike…
This Christmas season, let’s not kill Jesus before he’s even born
As Christmas nears, one of my favorite things to do is look at Christmas lights. Nothing feels more festive than driving around that one neighborhood in town with the large historic homes decorated immaculately with twinkling lights and Christmas cheer….
Moderates are an endangered species in the pews, but they aren’t completely extinct at the ballot box
Moderates are such an endangered species that even when you see one in the wild, they’re easy to miss. Pick your favorite hot button topic of the day and you can likely summarize what the left and what the right…