The Threads Blog

Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. But according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. Using descriptions like “hypocritical,” “insensitive,” and “judgmental,” young Americans share an impression of Christians that’s nothing short of… unChristian.

Well, it’s that time of year again. Time to graze with the herds moving from shop to shop and deal to deal. The endless pursuit of material accumulation completely consuming our thoughts. The media tells us which days to shop and even how we should order, (Black Friday, Cyber Monday) and the stores collaborate to offer “deals” on those days. Christmas has become overrun by retail America. I am sure if you ask your class, someone braved the dark and ventured out for midnight openings or waited in line at 4 a.m. to fight a crowd and spend their money. While none of this is necessarily bad - crazy maybe, but not bad - for those that follow Christ, Christmas should be about a whole lot more.

On Monday, November the 19th, I began a new job here at LifeWay. In my post-college career, this is actually just my third job. I’ve been with LifeWay for five years now, and can honestly say that I’m hoping to spend many more with this ministry. Changing jobs is always an interesting time because you are changing tasks, changing daily routines, and changing the everyday people you see. Amongst all those changes inevitably come reflections and new hopes and dreams for the future.

Lately I have been wrecked over the thought and feeling that church is a place where I don’t belong despite my multiple baptisms and my “Jesus is my homeboy” T-shirt.These days it feels like belief in Christ is not what it takes to be a part of the church—but rather a subscription to a certain path in life. You have to fill a spot already defined by your age, gender, marital status, or the number of children you have.

What happens when people come along and they don’t fit into those spots?

Not long ago, I met an engaging young lady at a conference I was attending. In the course of our conversation, she told me she was the mother of a new baby, which prompted me to ask about her family and then about her husband’s career. She politely corrected me and told me where her partner worked.

This immediately got me to thinking and praying about how a Christ-follower and churches should engage people who embrace a homosexual lifestyle.

Should I treat her any differently than any other person who needs to know the love of Christ and the freedom His sacrifice for us brings? If this couple came to my church hand-in-hand and wanted to check their baby into the preschool, how would they be treated? If they walked into our worship service, would they be welcomed?

Would they belong?

Coming soon next to the Coke and Pepsi in a store near you: ham-and latke-flavored soda to make your holiday feast complete. Jones Soda Co., the Seattle-based purveyor of offbeat fizzy water, is selling holiday-themed limited-edition packs of flavored sodas. The Christmas pack will feature such flavors as Sugar Plum, Christmas Tree, Egg Nog and Christmas Ham. The Hanukkah pack will have Jelly Doughnut, Apple Sauce, Chocolate Coins and Latkes sodas. Here’s a list of my suggestions for other holiday sodas.

This past week and weekend, Nashville hosted the Americana Music Festival. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights were filled with singers and bands playing 45 minute sets back-to-back in different clubs throughout the city. The friends I’d invited to go with me bailed on me (with legitimate excuses, but still) so I made my pilgrimage alone. Here are my reflections after crashing many tables around town.