@jrforasteros.com
Author, pastor and podcaster in Dallas, TX. Games master for Game Nights with JR. Find me at the Haven Collective. Contributing editor at Sojourners. Bylines: Tor.com and Think Christian. Listen at #Fascinating podcast and Don't Split Up!
I look forward to representing the Haven Collective as we engage in a sacred conversation about where we find agreement as those who share in the long legacy of faith that originated in modern-day Iraq.
#Dallas friends, I'm thrilled to join my friends at the Sachse Muslim Society to discuss the legacy of Abraham. I hope you can make a plan to join us in a couple of weeks on July 29. PLEASE RSVP so the SMS can be sure they have adequate room.
A reminder that @sojo.net is funded by zero oligarchs and welcomes new readers, subscribers, and donors who support nonprofit journalism focused on faith and social justice.
For example, when ICE tries to use the Bible to support its agenda, we publish stuff like; sojo.net/articles/opi...
Still can't believe that ICE really made this video; grateful to @jrforasteros.com for breaking down the levels of twisted scripture here. sojo.net/articles/opi...
A screenshot from ChatGPT that says: “ghghgh akf a sum boya soya” = “AI is the devil’s handiwork” So based on that, here's a breakdown guess (if there's a pattern): ghghgh → “AI” akf → “is” a → (possibly just “the”) sum → “devil’s” boya → “handi-” soya → “work”
Recently learned that AI can translate prayer languages or "speaking in tongues" and as a curious Christian I thought I would test it out. (Thanks @jrforasteros.com for the heads up.)
The first tool fascism employs to create and consolidate its powerbase is the Mythic Past. In this essay, I explore why it works and why it's so dangerous.
Plus: the biblical authors were also myth-makers, and why what they did is essentially different.
open.substack.com/pub/jrforast...
PLUS 2 of the most-misused verses in the book (a competitive list). Ever been warned to be "hot or cold, not lukewarm" or that Jesus is "at the door knocking"?
Yeah they were probably used badly.
All this and more!
Today's 15-min Revelation brief explored a church who used their privilege to opt out of resisting authoritarian politics. Sound familiar?
open.substack.com/pub/jrforast...
Did I write way too much about how Remmick embodies the dangers of whiteness? Yes I did. Did I put a KILLER joke in the footnotes? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!
(happy to discuss but you have to read and engage the article!)
open.substack.com/pub/jrforast...
After far too long, I have finished my series on churches and our transgender siblings. This final post has a lot of practical ideas for how churches can center our trans siblings. Would love to hear more ideas!
open.substack.com/pub/jrforast...
Join a book club with some rad new friends. May-July picks are here. Women turning into dragons, a dissection of fascism and a satire on rape culture. What's not to love? Sign up: bit.ly/DOFBookClub
OH SNAP
Channeling my inner @abbyolcese.bsky.social to poke at what bugs me about Robert Eggers' take on women's liberation. My latest for @sojo.net
sojo.net/articles/cul...
What's the greatest music video of all time?
I'll submit Turn Down for What:
youtu.be/HMUDVMiITOU?...
It’s not exactly ashes to ashes in MICKEY 17, but Bong Joon-Ho’s madcap sci-fi satire still registers as an unlikely Lenten movie. I got to dig into this and more with @dodgyboffin.bsky.social and @jrforasteros.com on the latest Think Christian podcast. youtu.be/dCC1wAVTy5o
More Peru pictures! Have you heard of the floating islands of Lake Titicaca? They’re home to the Uru people. Their story is one of ingenuity, persistence and beauty. Read about my experience with them in my newsletter:
open.substack.com/pub/jrforast...
Last week: SpaceX ship explodes, shutting down a huge chunk of Florida airspace.
Today: X completely down.
The last month: Tesla stock price down by a third.
Gotta hand it to Musk: He really is running the government like he runs his businesses.
Can’t believe Twitter keeps crashing despite Elon hiring the best 19-year-old interns that racism has to offer
INFLUX FROM TWITTER EVERYONE CALL THEM SKEETS
It kept me dry!! And not too hot!!
Wanna see my vacation slideshow? This article is about the engineering marvel that is Machu Picchu, one of the Wonders of the World!
open.substack.com/pub/jrforast...
The latest season of #LoveIsBlind featured a convo about racism btw two white contestants that illustrated our a desire to not be PERCEIVED as racist that's much stronger than our desire to do the WORK to be anti-racist.
I'd love your thoughts:
jrforasteros.substack.com/p/love-isnt-...
**DO** buy from local shops today. They can’t afford, nor do they deserve, to lose your business.
no way thank YOU. I've seen it twice and the full-theater experience is so fun.
I loved @joshruben.bsky.social incredible new Slasher/Rom-Com HEART EYES. I wrote about why it's such a delightful mashup: it combines the superficially opposite genres to reveal a deeper similarity (that he then goes on to critique). My take here:
jrforasteros.substack.com/p/heart-eyes...
THE MONKEY
A-
Don't call it a toy.
No cobras in Maine?
Forget it; let's dance!
#ReviewHaiku #ReviewGram
Until we recognize that God is Trans, we cannot know Jesus. My latest essay draws on James Cone’s Black Liberation theology and monster theory to explore what is required of us in this moment:
open.substack.com/pub/jrforast...
PARTHENOPE
C+
"You young people all want answers. But none of you have learned how to ask questions." -- Marotta