You know you're a Church of Christ kid if you've been on the wrong end of a disfellowshipping joke. I like to consider myself well versed in the doctrinal heritage of the Church of Christ, but this practice is quite foreign to me. Growing up, I knew only two things about disfellowshipping: it wasn't something you wanted to happen to you, and you ... [Read More…]

I am the poster child for suburbia. I am a white, middle-class college student with two parents, a sister and a dog. The only thing in my favor when it came to filling college quotas was the fact I'm a woman. My life has been smooth sailing to this point. And it hasn't helped me a bit. A life without hardship is a precursor to a life without ... [Read More…]

"Sure!" Translation: "No problem!" Or, "Of course!" "Sure-" Translation: "I'll do it, but I'm not looking forward to it." Or, "Yeah, right, I know that's not what you really mean." "Sure." Translation: "Yes, I'll do it - but I don't want to." Or, "Yes, it's OK, but really I'm angry and upset." Admit it. You're familiar with texting lingo. Almost ... [Read More…]

Stories beginning with, "In my day - " or "When I was just a little twerp - " are always good for a chuckle; but often, I give them the poorer half of my divided attention. When I turned on the TV Sunday afternoon, I choked at the sight of Brett Favre throwing against the Green Bay Packers. In my day, my younger brother threw on his new No. 4 ... [Read More…]

The cities of Europe are littered with cathedrals. They are impressive, imposing, centuries old and most days, close to empty. These stone-carved buildings, with their ornately carved gargoyles and striking stone towers and buttresses, are a monument to Europe's deeply religious history. It is a history filled with inquisitions, reformations, ... [Read More…]