“Jonathan Acuff betrays America with Anti-Christian article.”

That was the title of a post that was written in response to a CNN article I wrote. In the post the author ripped me apart, questioning my love of democracy, apple pie and freedom.

But I think it was a joke. It has to be, it was so over the top and hateful that I have to assume they were just joshing. (I’m bringing the words, “joshing” and “no doy,” back by the way.)

My biggest clue that it was a joke was that they didn’t use the preferred way to express Christian angst … the open letter.

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I was a big fan of Anne Jackson’s first book, Mad Church Disease. It was a gift to anyone who works in the ministry. That’s why I’m excited about her second book, Permission to Speak Freely – Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace which releases today.

Where her first book was for pastors, this book is for everyone. Anne was kind enough to share one of the essays from the book. Anne decided to share seven essays on seven different blogs, this being the second. To read the rest of the essays, check out the links at the end. Anne is also giving away a copy of her book to two commenters, chosen at random, on Friday. So check out the question at the end and leave a comment to be entered to win.

You can pick up a copy of the book here.

The free essay is after the jump.

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The other day, pop princess Katy Perry said something interesting:

“I think when you put sex and spirituality in the same bottle and shake it up, bad things happen.”

I disagree.

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Chad Gibbs is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. A die hard college football fan, he recently decided to combine football, God and funny.

The result is his book, “God and Football: Faith and Fanaticism in the SEC.”

Zondervan has been kind enough to donate 5 copies to readers of Stuff Christians Like.

To enter, simply comment with an answer to this question by Tuesday, August 24.

“What’s your favorite sports team?”

(My family is hoping to go on a mission trip next year. When we do, I’ll make sure I reference this funny guest post. Enjoy.)

Facebooking your mission trip

So you’ve carefully chosen your mission trip location. You may still be in the Latin America game and are thinking of trying to upgrade to something in the Africa ball park. Asian trips are also very in, especially when smuggling Bibles is involved. No matter where you go, mission trips are transforming experiences. Outlooks on wealth are transformed. Views on how God works are transformed. Prayer requests are transformed. Profiles are transformed. Of course by profiles, I am referring to social networking sites.

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I grew up reading Thrasher magazine, watching the movie “Rad” as many times possible and listening to the rap group, “Public Enemy.”

Why Thrasher? Cause I was a skateboarder.

Why Rad? Because the title says it all, it was rad.

Why Public Enemy? Because growing up on the mean streets of suburban Massachusetts really prepared me for hard laced, urban rap. Clearly.

Given my love for the hip hop, I’m lacking the musical background to truly appreciate something I’ve started to notice lately at church though.

The power ballad worship song.

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I realized the other day, that at least six of my friends have had affairs.

And they’ve all told me the same thing:

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When I was growing up, people asked me two questions because I am a pastor’s kid:

1. Is the song “Son of a Preacher Man,” true? Do pastor’s kids have some sort of otherworldly powers of woo?

2. What does your dad do on the other six days of the week when it’s not Sunday?

The answer to the first question is easy.

Yes. Yes we do.

The second question was a little harder.

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The next time I put TOMS shoes on my 4-year-old, we’re going to have to cut them off her with some sort of surgical equipment. Or maybe she can have an Incredible Hulk moment of rage and bust her feet right out. Either way, they’re just not fitting anymore.

And that’s a sad day for a hip little Christian like McRae. It takes an eternity and the dexterity of a Japanese poison blowfish chef to slide them on right now. But regardless, she and most of Christianity are in love with TOMS. And for good reason, every time you buy a pair, TOMS donates another pair to someone in need.

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I have long claimed that one of my few goals in life is to own a home that has a library with rolling ladder I can sing songs from.

Newsies songs, of course.

I’m a long way from there but until it happens, I continue to work my way through books. Here’s what I’m reading right now:

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