Blog
Radio Riffs
Tue, Feb 2nd
For the next three months, the nationally syndicated radio program Prime Time America has hired me to do weekly commentaries at the end of the first hour of their Wednesday afternoon shows. I get to riff on whatever topic I so choose -- culture, politics, religion, hotdogs. These will air on Wednesdays at around 4:45pm central time, starting tomorrow, Feb. 3, and running through April.
If you want to listen, you can catch the online broadcast here. If you miss it, the recorded audio is typically posted by the next day here.
New Video: Sunday gatherings at The Painted Door
Sat, Jan 30th
This video is intended to give folks a good idea of what to expect at a typical Sunday gathering of The Painted Door. Enjoy!
The Painted Door: What to Expect from Parable Media on Vimeo.
sermon audio: missional compassion
Mon, Jan 18th
Audio from our Jan. 17 service is up over at thepainteddoor.org. The service was our most encouraging yet -- big turnout, lots of new faces, much grace. Click on over and check out the bottom left corner of the home page to give a listen.
Mercy poker and UFC 109 “Relentless”
Sat, Jan 9th
Saturday, Feb. 6, 8pm, click here for details
Come play poker for your favorite local charity and watch UFC Hall of Famers Randy “the Natural” Couture and Mark “the Hammer” Coleman square off in a cage fight for the ages.
Pick a charity
Choose a local charity that you’d like to play for. Pick an organization that does good work and could really use the money. Everyone will announce who they’re playing for at the start of the game.
Buy in
The minimum buy-in to play is $20 cash with all the money going to the winner’s charity of choice. If you get bumped out early enough, you can buy back in for another minimum buy-in of $20.
Game play
The game is tournament style no-limit Texas Hold’em. Don’t worry if you don’t know the rules. We’ll have a lesson beforehand, and it’s super easy to learn.
UFC 109 “Relentless”
While the poker is going on, we’ll project the UFC fights onto a massive screen so everyone can watch throughout the room. We’ll take a short break from poker when Hall of Famers Randy Couture and Mark Coleman square off in a fight many fans have waited a decade to see.
R.S.V.P.
Feel free to invite anyone. Just click here to let us know you’re coming, and sign up to bring snacks, drinks or extra sets of poker chips.
swimming in Lake Michigan
Mon, Dec 21st
Just as Jesus took the plunge into the mess of humanity to relate to us, he now calls us to plunge into the messiest social corners of our city. To illustrate how uncomfortable that can be, I went for a winter swim in Lake Michigan. Click the image to check out the video.
sermon audio: missional beauty
Mon, Dec 14th
Sermon audio from last night's message is up over at the main website. Click the image to navigate over and look for it in the bottom left corner of the home page.
new website is up
Fri, Dec 4th
The Painted Door is growing up and shedding this prepubescent blog for a new website. Launch team member Greg Connour did a great job getting the new site up in time to coincide with the Tribune article that dropped today. We'll still keep the blog rolling, too, but check out the new digs.
Chicago Tribune covers The Painted Door
Fri, Dec 4th
Click on over to the Chicago Tribune to read a story on The Painted Door. Religion reporter Kate Shellnutt followed us around for about six weeks leading up to our first service and wrote a nice piece. We're grateful.
Video: Collision panel discussion
Thu, Dec 3rd
On Nov. 19, The Painted Door and Chicago's own Hemant Mehta (the "Friendly Atheist") teamed up to co-host the official Chicago screening of Collision, a documentary film pitting atheist Christopher Hitchens against evangelical Doug Wilson in a debate over whether Christianity is good for the world. After the film, I moderated a panel discussion with Mehta and Christian philosopher Dr. Chad Meister.
For your viewing pleasure, here is video of that panel discussion, complete with an invitation from one atheist audience member for the Christians in attendance to kill him. We politely declined. Enjoy!
The Painted Door's Discussion on Atheism from Parable Media on Vimeo.
Upcoming Sunday service dates
Mon, Nov 23rd
At present, The Painted Door gathers monthly for Sunday services. Join us for teaching, singing, prayer and feasting -- and invite your friends.
Feb. 14 ? March 21 5pm - 6:30pm Merit School of Music - 38 S Peoria St. (map it)