My friends Zac and Sally Crippen recently started an excellent human interest story podcast called Vernacular.  Now in their second season, and in keeping with their vision to highlight ordinary people who do extraordinary things, they feature interesting men and women from all walks of life. Conversing about everything from making pizza to space travel to Supreme Court jurisprudence, their guests are the kind of people who do not regularly show up in the news, but just might one day. The latest episode featured yours... Read more

Meet me at the pub, Mark Sandlin! This next round is on me. In response to your article on responding to Christians who quote ‘I am THE Way’, perhaps I can offer an explanation as to why some might bristle at the idea of a believer in Jesus seeking to “legitimize” other religions and why a “One God, many rooms, many paths” approach to faith in Christ falls short. Although I am one who might cite John 14:6 when speaking of the lordship of... Read more

Let me tell you a little bit about my friend Will Youngblood. And after that I have few things to say about the porn industry and sex.I bet you’re still reading now, aren’t you?First, my friend Will.If you’re from New York or Los Angeles you might be impressed with Will’s resume, as he has worked for some very famous people as a celebrity assistant. But, there’s a whole lot more to this guy than his entertainment industry credentials.Will is one... Read more

In the 17th century there was a man who spent thousands of hours washing dishes and performing other menial chores, living a life many today might consider dull and meaningless. How do you do such mundane tasks year after year, decade after decade, and not die of boredom? You do this by learning how to encounter God’s presence every day.  You learn how to live from love. Brother Lawrence impacted countless lives with his dish-washing, floor-sweeping life. His short little book, The Practice of the... Read more

This is too good not to pass along. Such great wisdom here on how to demolish a cynical attitude from one of my spiritual fathers, the inestimable Kris Vallotton, who never fails to inspire me. Especially loved this bit: [S]ome people always prepare for the worst so that they won’t be disappointed. They reason that if something then goes better than expected, they will be encouraged. The challenge is that expectation is actually the manifestation of FAITH and you tend to receive what... Read more