Tag Archives: Culture
what are the margins of culture and why do they matter?
Those who inhabit the cultural margins typically do so because they either do not have the social or economic capacity to remain in or penetrate mainstream society, or they choose to remain beyond the grasp of full engagement. There are also degrees … Continue reading
Five Ways to Learn the Culture of Your Neighborhood
Outreach without a foundation of relationships invariably leads to misunderstanding. Unfortunately, this is too often the norm for churches attempting to impact the neighborhoods in which their campuses are located. Good intentions are derailed by a failure to become a contributing part of … Continue reading
God Bless America
Tomorrow is the 4th of July. For those who love liberty, who appreciate the sacrifices of our American founders and our contemporary patriots, who believe in the ideals for which America stands, it is a day of celebration. It is … Continue reading
Filed under Culture
catching neighbor teens on the church roof
They scrambled across the roofline of the church annex building; two male teens, likely 13 to 15 years old, dressed in typical urban youth fashion with just enough cheap bling adorning their necks to call attention to the cultural preferences which influence them. It … Continue reading
Filed under Outreach
concerning holy grails and church marketing
In the church world, there are trend setters and trend watchers, opinion leaders and early (and late) adapters, marketing gurus and viral media mavens. Love em or hate em, they are out there. From every denominational stripe or the lack thereof, … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
a moment with false dichotomies
Some of my readers likely have noticed my annoyance with false dichotomies. Those that have disagreed with my annoyance surely must love false dichotomies. Oh. Wait. THAT is a false dichotomy! So sorry…. I suppose what annoys me most is … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
of opportunities lost and regained
An abandoned stained wicker love seat rests near an oak tree on an urban corner in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District. Across the street, the paint continues to peel on a milk manufacturer’s towers, with its complex network of ladders, pipes, and support buildings. To … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
what is this liberty we speak of?
We hear the word liberty tossed about in American culture. But what is this liberty of which we speak? Liberty from what? Or for what? Or whom? Some in the culture speak of liberty as a byzantine tyranny against the masses, the haves … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
stuff I’m thinking about children’s ministry
Expectations are changing, becoming more demanding with less tolerance for a lack of excellence, effort, and relevance. This is true in churches of any size, and is proven in part by an exodus of younger generations from the church traditions … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
