photo by @johnramirez417

I probably should have some sort of about me page on this website but I don’t. I should have a really nice logistical page clarifying what my hate for church really is, but I don’t. I should layout a 10 point post stating why I love the church and why I use the word hate in its place, but I don’t. Look people! I know I should, I don’t but maybe you will actually read some of these posts and figure it all out?

This past weekend some friend and I embarked on a local project which has been a dream of mine for a bit of time. We grouped up, picked up a few cases of bottled water, ice and coolers and distributed to bar hoppers in our town (Tinley Park, IL.) Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: durbins, jw hollstein saloon, old tinley park, servolution, tinley bars, tinley community, tinley park, tinley park bars —

I can’t say I have polled an official amount of people concerning this ideology of people who Fear Church. What I can say is there are a whole slew of men and women around the world who are absolutely petrified to let their clean, crisp converse enter the doors of a church. Many won’t admit it up front but if you sit down with them for a bit of time you will be able to complete an inception extraction. Hate, fear and prejudices pour out of em like an episode of Jerry Springer meets Cops meets Celebrity Rehab. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ecclesiophobia, fear church, fear of the church, phobia —

photo by JL Nights

It’s funny how the stories that matter most to you are your own. Your most significant life moments are cherished most by you. When someone mentions they fractured a bone in their body your mind conjures  the details of when you did something similar. A friend tells you about their holiday in Hawaii and you blurt out your favorite restaurant and beach. You hear someone say, “I hate church” and you respond, “ditto” and proceed with a tragic church memory. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: friendships, future, lifestyle design —

Photo by KidCudi.com

My legs and arms were in full swole effect at the gym the other day while I was bangin Cudi in my brain. I don’t usually get loose with Cudi or hip hop for that matter but I’ll be honest, I was goin hard at the gym. This particular level of fitness needed some flavor. I needed more than a four chord Hillsong beat with soothing heavenly melodies. A quick scroll down on my iPod gave me Cudi. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: destiny, kid cudi, lifestyle design, pursuit of happiness, pursuit of happyness —

A few quotes have jumped around in my brain like a crackhead in a rubber room. I have heard worthless  words of religion constructed and displaced into everything around us. They continually explode in my brain and echo more reasons why Christianity is mediocre. Christianity is replicating mediocrity and indecisiveness. Maybe a better phrase is, Christianity is gettin Ho’d out!

Ho’d out in the sense that Christians only take the parts of the Bible they like and quickly move on. Ho’d out in the sense a young man or woman hangs out with another man or woman who they “just like to have fun with.” You know the Sex and the City mandate; “friends with all the benefits”. You get all the fun with minimal responsibilities. You have tons of friends with zero depth. You have a belief in the Bible because you think it gets you into heaven, but don’t know what it says. Am I getting warm yet? Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: barack obama, Psalm 119, religious dialogue, wear on your sleeve —

Photo by Norman Jean Roy for Details Magazine September 2010

Can’t say I would ever imagine one of my favorite men’s magazines picking up a story concerning church. I was nervous at first to open up the front cover. I obviously looked around to see if anyone was watching. I mean, it is Zac Efron on the cover. He is not exactly one of those guys you look at and say, “Ya, Zac seems like a fly dude.”  You don’t just pick up the magazine when someone that – good – looking is on it as a male reader. Rule #1 to being a closet homosexual. Buying and reading anything containing Zac Efron. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: anna david, details magazine september 2010, los angeles churches, reality la, tim chaddick, zac efron —

photo by Salomon Ligthelm

A film is – or should be – more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.”

Stanley Kubrick quotes (American Film Director and Writer, 1928-1999) Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: artist, cinematography, dubai, film, salomon ligthelm —

photo by Willow Creek Media

Last night my brain got the better of me. I completely confess to my utter foolishness concerning Bill Hybels. As many of you may know, my mouth and brain  run (bolt) fast. Not only do these gifts work fast but are equally blunt. While these characteristics can be extremely advantageous (which they are), they can also be disastrous (which they also are). Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: apology, bill hybels, online apology, repent, twitter apology, willow creek organization —

photo by @LifeRefresh

A few weeks back I noticed an announcement at church about baptism. Let’s be honest, 90% of the  church announcements displayed I am on my phone either checking twitter or my Espn app. Don’t ask why, you do the same thing.

We all know church news and announcements are  transitional fillers. No one could possibly remember a church news announcements when they only watch it 1x every 7 days. Why do we remember Budweiser ads? Simple, they are replayed religiously every single day, during every single show men watch. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: baptism, baptize, baptized —

I was riding in an elevator yesterday with my wife and little man Roscoe when at the last minute a young asian girl jumped in. The past few days I have been picking up bits of the Japanese language as we have been on holiday in Hawaii. So, when this 9 year old girl stepped into the elevator, I thought it must be my moment to practice this new language. Read the rest of this entry »