Somewhere in the clouds over Colorado, the natives were getting restless. The 5-hour flight from New York City to Park City, Utah required musical chairs. It was Pierce’s turn to sit with me, so we decided it was time for “The Life of the Lyons’ Kids” slide show on my laptop. Hundreds of images began to roll across the screen in poetic fashion. In and out, one after another...

In Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers (2005), researchers Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton argue that for many young adults in America, the spiritual life is understood in moralistic terms. But where orthodox (and Orthodox) Christianity focus on the necessity of "repentance from sin, of keeping the Sabbath, of living as a servant of a sovereign divine, of steadfastly saying one's prayers …" -- many teenagers don’t see it that way...

I’ve counted 24 bosses over the course of my career. The longest I ever worked for one boss was four years. The shortest was for a few months. I’ve had good bosses and bad. I’ve had capable, competent bosses, and bosses who weren’t. I’ve had bosses I liked, and ones I didn’t. I’ve had bosses who were scrupulously fair, and ones who played favorites. Of all the varieties of bosses and boss experiences, there were two – fortunately, only two – that I would call toxic...

Many people today see their job as nothing more than a paycheck. But is one’s calling more than that? Steven Garber says yes. He says there is an intimate connection between one’s faith, vocation, and culture. “Vocation is integral,” he says, “not incidental to the missio Dei.” Steven explains how most of what God is doing in the world happens in and through the vocations of his people.

In celebration of Mother's Day, here is a roundup of the discussions on motherhood.

After a generation’s worth of conversation about cultural engagement, little is being said about fashion and its role in the pursuit of the common good. This silence is a mistake. Fashion trends shape and define what society in general, and youth culture in particular, regard as attractive, socially acceptable, and worthy of emulation.  If the fashion industry is a potent cultural force, and fashion trends speak to our national character, how should those seeking to more thoughtfully engage our culture respond?

Approximately 1 in every 6  babies in the U.S. are born with harmful mercury levels in their blood. Many Christians are unaware of this important threat to the unborn child that must be addressed: mercury pollution and poisoning. Just as we successfully dealt with lead and other toxins in gasoline as a society, so must we now deal with mercury. Gabe Lyons sits down with Mitch Hescox, President/CEO of The Evangelical Environmental Network, to discuss this life-threatening yet unknown poison.

Most Christians at least give lip service to the idea that human life is sacred. Indeed, after a generation of fighting over issues such as abortion, stem cells, and euthanasia, the sanctity of life has become a slogan wielded by many Christians as justification for their positions. Yet, the concept is much more complex in its origins and its implications than is commonly understood. And it won’t be sufficient for Christians to continue mouthing a slogan without thinking through what it means and how it really affects our worldview...

How far would you go to tell the world the truth? That was the question Euna Lee had to ask herself when she and a fellow journalist, Laura Ling, were detained in North Korea after they crossed the border without a visa while researching a controversial story. They remained in captivity until August of 2009 when they received a pardon from the North Korean government. Hear the story of her incredible journey as she reflects on what it means to be a truth-teller in a broken world.

There’s a lot of talk about the Church’s role in advancing the common good, but it often remains theoretical. In Portland, this isn’t just an idea; it’s a case study. Kevin Palau sits down with Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Commissioner Diane McKeel, and Imago Dei Community Pastor Ken Weigal to discuss their partnership. Witness the impact of a church committed to the common good of its city.

The cross is one of our most robust, timeless, cultural symbols. No matter how dark our culture may grow, it just won’t go away. Artists mock the cross, Christians boast in it, others ignore it. But after 2000 years, it continues to define our faith. Is it a sign of offense, grace, or a window into a whole new order of things? Jon Tyson, author of Rumors of God and Pastor of Trinity Grace Church NYC, helps us see the counter-cultural message of the cross in a new way.