Formats Archives: Aside

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Missions, Evangelism, and the “Other”

I’m a big fan of missions. I spent a good chunk of my childhood in Liberia, West Africa, as a missionary kid. I went on several short-term missions trips as a teen, and see no need to apologize for the “wasted resources” such life-changing experiences are sometimes accused of squandering. I still see refrigerator magnets […]

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When Sex Ruins a Perfectly Good Read

Maybe it’s the domestic violence trainings I’ve been going through, making me realize how many romantic “heroes” fit the classic profile of abusers. Maybe it’s the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon, and the conversations it’s been sparking about sex, literature and pornography. Or maybe it’s just the fact that I’ve been reading a lot of […]

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The Dichotomy of Discipleship

I’m sharing My Hazardous Faith Story as part of a synchroblog connected with the release of Ed Cyzewski and Derek Cooper’s new book Hazardous: Committing to the Cost of Following Jesus. I’m a big fan of books about radical discipleship. “The Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne had me sobbing, and “Radical” by David Platt had […]

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Fifty Shades of F*cked Up, Part 2: A Sex Industry Veteran’s Take on Fifty Shades

I’m so excited to have my friend Meg guest posting here! Meg is a thoughtful, compassionate, and gutsy woman with incredible insights. I hope you get as much out of them as I do! Bio: Meg lives in Orange County, California with her one husband and four children. She worked for more than 6 years […]

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Fifty Shades of F*cked Up: A Sex Industry Veteran’s Take on Fifty Shades

I’m so excited to have my friend Meg guest posting here today and tomorrow! Meg is a thoughtful, compassionate, and gutsy woman with incredible insights. I hope you get as much out of them as I do! Bio: Meg lives in Orange County, California with her one husband and four children. She worked for more […]

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Babies in Bikinis: Why Are We Dressing Our Daughters for Display?

What is with girls’ swimming suits? I’ll admit at the outset that I am a boy mom–daughters are uncharted territory for me. Also, I live in a cold part of the country where people tend to keep themselves covered up year round. Modestly is all relative, and my midwestern sensibilities are set to a different […]

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Wicked Witches, Soul-less Slaves, and Lazy Leeches: Why Do We Villainize the Vulnerable?

Yesterday I wasn’t feeling well, so I crawled into bed and indulged in one of my favorite geeky pleasures–a documentary marathon featuring social histories and folklore, mostly pre-1492. First came a couple King Arthur documentaries–the history of the myth and, possibly, the men. Even though my fuzzy thoughts were in a tired tangle, I had […]

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Running With Castles and Bishops: Would You Sacrifice Your Standards for Worldly Gain?

Today’s guest post is from Tim Fall. Enjoy! Like a good chess player he [Satan] is always trying to maneuver you into a position where you can save your castle only by losing your bishop. (C.S. Lewis) ​I’ve been watching the Olympics and that means watching track and field. Olympic runners need no explanation of […]

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Acid Attacks on a Woman’s Soul

Yesterday, a friend forwarded me a link about the rise of acid attacks in Colombia. I was appalled. I had heard of acid attacks in places like India and Afghanistan, but South America? It got me thinking once again about the horror of these sorts of attacks, the hatefulness. While acid is sometimes used against […]

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“She Opens Her Mouth With Wisdom”–Or Not. Lessons for the Church From the Proverbs 31 Woman

When I was a baby, my Auntie Lynn gave me a beautiful plaque inscribed with my name, its meaning, and a Bible verse, plucked from Proverbs 31: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.” It was the first Bible verse I memorized, the words sinking deep into […]

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Friday Favorites: Chik-fil-A Edition

All week I’ve been thanking my lucky stars (and, erm, God) that I don’t live within 150 miles of the now-infamous poultry sandwich establishment, and that most of my far-North friends have no innate loyalty to the Southern chicken chain. For me, the ugly, aggravating, and to my mind incredibly stupid debate has played out […]

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Chicken Sandwiches, Christian Conquistadors, and Other Internet E.coli

After the flooding that hit my hometown, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued warnings to avoid several beaches. The sewer systems had been compromised, and high levels of E.coli bacteria were found in the water. In other words: Stay out of the water, or you’ll find yourself swimming in–well–you get the idea. That’s kind of […]

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Memo to the King of the Universe

This article was originally published in the July/August 2009 issue of Plain Truth. Enjoy! To: kingoftheuniverse@heaven.org From: teachers­_of_the_law@jerusalem.com Subj: An urgent message requiring your attention. PLEASE RE. IMMEDIATELY!!! It has come to our attention that you have been sending questionable and downright dangerous messages to our people. We have tried to give you the benefit […]

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When Children Are Treated Like Obstacles to “Real” Ministry

Well, my family survived Disneyland! I’m still vacationing in California, and still featuring some great guest posts. Today’s post is by my friend and fellow Redbud Michelle Van Loon, originally published on her blog in 2009. What does it say about our ministries when children are treated as an obstacle to be “dealt with,” when […]

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Look But Don’t Touch? Adultery Starts Small, and it Starts in the Heart.

Hi all! I’m vacationing in California right now, and am thrilled to be featuring some great guest posts this week. Today’s post is from my friend Connie Jakab, writer, speaker, and hip-hop dancer extraordinaire. Enjoy! In today’s society it’s socially acceptable to have a “look but don’t touch” mentality when it comes to our marriages. […]

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