Essay

Yesterday was graduation at Dordt College. Over 300 students sat up on the stage, waiting for their diploma, so they could leave. Graduation day has a strange aura about it. Professors are still grading, but most are glad the end has come. Parents and family…

As I was driving with my daughter the other day the chit chat gave way to a more serious topic. "In school next we're going to talk about sex," she told me. "We're going to talk about girl parts and boy parts." I didn't know…

This semester I'm teaching a course on the topic of Christianity and popular culture. We started the semester reading selections from Niebuhr's Christ and Culture and Andy Crouch's  Culture Making, trying hard to make the case for a Kuyperian transformational approach to how we should…

Does the precise locus of this Saturday, at the interface between cross an resurrection, its very uniqueness as the one moment in history which is both after Good Friday and before Easter, invest it with special meaning, a distinct identity, and the most revealing light?...The…

Twice, yesterday, I got teary eyed. I don't cry easily; I guess it's a character flaw. But yesterday - twice - I ended up wiping tears from my eyes. What's strange, maybe even embarrassing, is what caused this moist, salty, discharge. Two separate movie scenes:…

As a theology professor at a protestant institution I've learned the art of self-depreciation. The heritage of the reformation is always suspect of the "priesthood"- questioning anyone who might claim to have the theological corner on matters of God, salvation, or the bible. Especially the…

I'm a sucker for award shows. Last weekend it was the Grammys; this week it's the Oscars. I can honestly say I watched most of it - from Taylor Swift's over the top opening, to the return of Justin "Suit and Tie" Timberlake, to Jack…

My TV girlfriend, as my wife refers to her, has left me. Elizabeth Lemon has moved on, leaving me with nothing but syndication. 30 Rock just wrapped up it's seventh season, ending a run of critical success and low ratings. Interestingly, much of the discussion…

We were sitting at the table the other night eating supper when my son blurts out, "My friends and I were talking about sex today." He's eight...third grade. I looked at my wife, then looked at him, and said, "What do you know about sex."…

I had a great idea for a blog post. I had it written up... I spent time on it...but something went wrong when I pressed the save button. Lost. Gone. The anger welled up inside of me like Bruce or David Banner... take your pick.…