Social Justice Reconsidered: Report from the Philadelphia Society
I recently sat in on the Philadelphia Society’s annual meeting, an extended examination of the term “social justice.” In some ways, I like the term, given the way it is often used to remind us that every aspect of life...
Affirmative Action: Too Little, Too Much, and on the Wrong Track
The recent debate in the Supreme Court is reinvigorating analysis of affirmative action; Justices Sotomayor and Thomas have both weighed in on the extent to which they felt their achievements were invalidated by others’ assumptions of unfair advantage. What remains,...
Athanasius Trash-Talking the Greek Philosophers
Athanasius takes a swipe at the limited popular influence of the Greek philosophers: As to Greek wisdom, however, and the philosophers’ noisy talk, I really think no one requires argument from us; for the amazing fact is patent to all that,...
“He Desires a Noble Task” The Erosion of the Evangelical Pastorate
The evangelical church has a problem. We’re going to run out of good pastors. For a variety of reasons, we are failing to sufficiently prepare the next generation of church leadership. I doubt this particular problem will ever feel like...
Advice for Undergraduates Planning on Seminary
In April Fred Sanders asked me to write to some THI students who are anticipating seminary in their future. Today I officially started an M.Div. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, so it feels fitting to review the tips I wrote and share them...
Matt and Lauren’s Wedding Sermon
My wife’s wonderful sister married a great guy this weekend; they asked me to give the homily at the wedding. I was stunned by the invitation, but also very blessed to do it. I’m hoping to preach 100 sermons by the...
On the Height of the Buildings in Heaven
Ever wonder about the buildings in heaven? And the block sizes? Two articles sparked similar thinking the other day. The first is in the most recent Atlantic, from Harvard economist and polymath Edward Glaeser. It’s about how skyscrapers promote human...
TFA 20: Gladwell, Steinam, and Lewis
My first breakout session had Malcolm Gladwell facilitating a discussion between civil rights advocate and US Representative John Lewis, feminist Gloria Steinam, and a director of La Raza (didn’t catch the name, seemed like a big deal). I have fundamental...
TFA 20: What Christians can remind public educators
If you were a baker, and the flour was brought to you full of maggots and worms, you could not be expected to produce good bread.” This statement was made in the Colorado House of Representatives by Max Tyler (D-Lakewood),...
Live Blogging TFA 20: Welcome Session
I’m writing this from the opening ceremonies of Teach For America’s 20th Anniversary Summit in Washington D.C. More than 11,000 alumni, corps members, staff, partners, and donors have gathered to celebrate Teach For America’s role in education reform and the...