A Graduation Speech: “A Dangerous Thought Experiment and the Goodness of God”

Sexuality and Mature Stuff, Uncategorized

First, congratulations! You made it! And you’re starting something fresh. This is “commencement” because you’re commencing something. It’s a new phase with new opportunity and new freedom. And freedom is a very good thing. It must be because God clearly regards it so...

Dear Words People: Don’t You Dare Discount What You are Doing

Lessons Hard Won, Stuff I'm Writing to Myself I Think, Uncategorized

(I adapted this from what I wrote for a radio industry site.wrote this for a radio industry site. Originally, I called it Dear Radio People: Don’t You Dare Discount What You are Doing but thought this could apply to you, if you’re a follower of Jesus in any role...

Episode 1195 Dear Tony Danza: Haven’t We Suffered Enough?

Oddcast, Podcast, Uncategorized

Shock Jock, Carry Me, What You Look Forward Too, Deeper Faith, Hope, BONUS CONTENT: John Crist Follow-Up; https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/branthansen/08_07_20_podcast2.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS Quotes: “If...

Blessed are the Skeptics, and Those Who Don’t Know Where Else to Go

Uncategorized

This is a sample chapter from Blessed are the Misfits. You can get it here or possibly at your local library Chapter 19: Blessed are the Skeptics, and Those Who Don’t Know Where Else to Go Once, Jesus was saying things to a crowd of his followers that were...

Podcast Special Edition: On Race and Jesus

Podcast, Uncategorized

In this podcast, Producer Sherri and I talk in the wake of the Ferguson decision about what it means to be followers of Jesus in a culture – both America and large and church culture – that is riven by race. I think what Sherri has to say is riveting. As...

Why People Don’t Read “Garfield Minus Garfield” Is Straight-Up Beyond Me

Uncategorized

Maybe it’s because they’re idiots. That’s my working theory. I’ve thought about “softening” that statement, and allowing for nuance, but then I realized no nuance is warranted. Garfield Minus Garfield remains brilliant. The heroes...