truth to tell
Truth to Tell is the title of my new blog. Previously, I blogged here, here, and here. This new blog is not entirely different from my older blogs but sometimes it is necessary to let soil lie fallow in order for new things to grow and mature. This new blog is the fruit of one of those short periods of mental fallowness.I hope that this site will be a space of open conversation and genuine creativity oriented towards dealing with the issues which Christian individuals and communities face in the 21st century. In other words, I want your input, your criticism, and your thoughtful, friendly engagement with the questions raised here. This is an open space.
Why “Truth to tell? The phrase, “Truth to tell” comes from the title of a book by one of my favorite thinkers, Lesslie Newbigin: Truth to Tell: The Gospel as Public Truth. My choosing of “Truth to tell” as a title for this blog is based on Newbigin’s conviction (which I share) that the Church of Jesus Christ (in all its various expressions) must be about the business of speaking the Truth to the world. This truth, however, is not some cold, arrogant, unchanging truth but, rather, a truth that must “wrap the whole world in the Father’s love.” I want to use this blog to facilitate discussion that will allow us to explore this Truth together.
About the author: I am a seminary student who has been living in exile in the great state of North Carolina for roughly 23 years. I’m living in exile because, at birth, I was taken by my parents from my true earthly home of Kentucky to North Carolina. While I love my current dwelling, I will always be “from” Kentucky.
On December 29th, 2007 I was married to Lydia Pratt. Lydia is a youth minister and fellow seminary student. We met in Koine Greek class as undergraduates at Campbell University. We began studying together shortly thereafter (actually, she studied and I just watched her). We’ve been “studying together” ever since.
What makes you tick? Well, I do greatly enjoy a good read. I actually prefer reading that isn’t compulsory (i.e. assigned for a course) but, alas, I take what I can get. Some of the things about which I am passionate are theology, evangelism & missions, community building, sustainable development, ecology (I’m a novice), pop culture, and postmodern thought. I’m also beginning to enjoy what I’m learning about educational theory (systems theory, to be exact) and Christian spiritual direction.
Besides reading, I’ve been known to play a little guitar from time to time. My musical inspiration comes from a variety of sources (oddly enough, a lot of them are not even guitar players). Some of the musicians/artists who have influenced me musically are Don Byron (phenomenal saxophone and clarinet player and an astute cultural critic), Buddy Miller (the dirtiest dang guitar player around), Wilco, Derek Webb, Cat Stevens and Steve Earle (among many, many others). Being in school means that I have much less time to play music than I would like but, hey, there’s a season for everything.
Tell the Truth: Finally, If there’s anything on this site that interests you, please talk about it - either on here or to your friends. Ultimately, I think that friendship is the end (telos) of the Christian life. Christians are called in various ways to learn the meaning of friendship - with God and with one another. The things I write about in this space are meant to encourage such friendship. If anything you read here is disingenuous, mean-spirited, or generally harmful to the cultivation of Holy Friendships, please feel free to call me out on it. After all, friends tell each other the truth - and that’s what this blog is all about.
