July (Web-only) 2013

Community Is In the Details
Justin McRoberts's latest project is a lovingly crafted set of letters.

What God May Be Up to In the Land of the Bible
Why and how to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

'Don't Give Up on Japan'
Post-disaster, Tokyo pastor Jonathan Wilson urges ‘outward-looking’ missions in reaching Japanese for Christ.

The Invisible Generation
Youth-focused Christianity may be sidelining the gifts of older women.

Bobby McFerrin Gets Spirit-You-All
Releasing his first gospel album, the acclaimed singer talks about church, his father's legacy, and covering Bob Dylan.
The Quick Take for July 26, 2013
Our new weekly cheat sheet with streaming picks, movie news, and a roundup of critics' responses to recent releases.

I’m Childless, Not Child-Incompetent
Healing the rift between parents and non-parents.

Blue Jasmine
Woody Allen's latest: same lyrics, different melody, this time a variation on Tennessee Williams.

A Dad's Perspective: Why I Tell My Daughters to Dress Modestly
Replacing the restrictions of modesty with the appropriate attire of Christian love.

Who Would Buy a One-Way Ticket to Mars?
Out-of-this world commitment from people who seem less committed than ever.

Will We Ever Get Beyond Race?
After Trayvon Martin, we need only look to churches to see a glimmer of potential.

Saving Chimps, Serving God
Is animal welfare (finally) returning to the Christian conscience?

Women of the Web
Finding solidarity, inspiration, and conversation between Jewish and evangelical bloggers.

Girl Most Likely
What the latest Kristen Wiig vehicle has to say to Christians who have embraced a culturally-engaged, intellectually serious faith.
Streaming This Weekend - July 19, 2013
Here's some picks for those looking to stay in this weekend.

The Joy of Instagram
Pausing our Internet cynicism to celebrate the little moments.

The Age of Abstinence-Only Sex Ed is Over
With high rates of teen sexual activity, Christian parents must talk safe sex, too.

Why Do We Keep Saying Boys Are Easier?
The unfair, unbiblical double standard that’s hurting our daughters.

A Real Happily-Ever-After for Babies With Down Syndrome
Abortion, adoption, and yet again, ignorance over special needs.

Gender and the Trinity: An Interview with Psychologist Larry Crabb
The author of 'Inside Out' makes a new elevator pitch for male and female.

Responding to Trayvon Martin: Our Renewed Call to Suffer Together
Racial reconciliation isn’t about being politically correct; it’s about being biblically correct.

Is Family Decline Behind Religious Decline?
It's an important factor, but it's not the whole story.
The Latest in Movie News, July 15, 2013
A timely little film hits it big at the box office. Also, Robert McKee, blockbusters, and Sharknado.

What Does Preaching Do to Your Brain?
Richard Cox explores the findings of neuroscience on how we hear sermons.
Streaming This Weekend, July 12, 2013
Staying in this weekend? There's some great new releases on Amazon and Netflix.

Are Birth Defects Really Part of God's Plan?
After the death of my twins, I had to rethink what it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made.

Proposed Food Aid Reforms Put International Programs at Risk
In this tight-budget era, what works in theory likely won't result in legislative success.

How the Obama Administration Is Right on Food Aid Reform
New local purchasing efforts could be far more effective than current ones.

A Christian Case Against Early Marriage
Sometimes you need to break up to grow up.

They Got High on Jesus Instead
Larry Eskridge remembers the hippies, druggies, and assorted countercultural freaks who embraced Christianity in the late 1960s.

On Faith and Finance: In God We Trust
A Christian perspective in a spending, swiping economy

The Blurred Lines of Cultural Consumption
Transformation, redemption, and a certain raunchy Robin Thicke video.

Solving Poverty Is Rocket Science
Christians are among America’s most compassionate people. But we can do a better job responding to the complexity of poverty.

What Post-Racial America?
Our country’s racial realities require us to turn to God… together.

Preaching Liberty to the Colonists
The American revolutionaries justified their cause with ample appeals to Scripture. But what should Christians think of the conclusions they drew?

Youth Ministry's Family Blind Spot
Churches might be spending too much time preparing us for missions and not enough for motherhood.

Not-So-Pretty Little Liars
James Clapper, Big Brother, and our demand for truth in politics.

Why We Need Breaking Bad
Watching Walt's slow slide off the moral cliff might just inoculate us against what TV usually teaches.
The Latest in Movie News, July 1, 2013
Fewer sequels from Pixar, new members at the Academy, box office returns, and a documentary about the March on Washington.

The Lone Ranger
Even if you agree with what this remake attempts to do, this was the wrong way to do it.

Same-Sex Marriage and the Single Christian
How marriage-happy churches are unwittingly fueling same-sex coupling—and leaving singles like me in the dust.

On Gettysburg's 150th, New Museum Examines Faith's Role
$15 million Seminary Ridge Museum opens with focus on "duty and devotion."

There's No Such Thing as a 'Boy Color' or 'Girl Color'
The short history of our blue-pink designations.