The contemplative Mr. Greene. Washed Out Within and Without (Sub Pop) This whole chillwave thing emerged a few years ago. Bedroom-pop. Glo-fi. Whatever you call it, Sub Pop is now cashing in with this new Washed Out album. It’s gorgeous stuff. Despite the deep beats, Ernest Greene’s music...

Spain's Delorean Sometimes, you just miss out and it’s not that big of a deal because you’ll have another chance to make up for it. But if you missed Delorean at Lincoln Hall, you really missed out. This is one of those shows to stay up late for, even if it’s a weeknight. Big...

November is a melancholy month. The brown leaves barely clinging to the branches are scarce, and those that have fallen to the ground are all shriveled. The wind is quicker and chillier, yellow sunshine has turned to gray, and Schubas is the most comfortable place in the world. This November, Portland’s...

*Originally published on Total Darkness vs. Blinding Light One of the highlights at the most recent Festival of Faith and Music was the lecture by David Dark. David is the author of The Sacredness of Questioning Everything, which takes a sideways look at postmodern Evangelicalism.1 His thoughts really...

We’ve all cringed upon hearing an undergrad bro playing a Bob Dylan song on his acoustic guitar. He’s closing his eyes, doing his best impression of 60s’ Dylan with a fake nasally voice, and sometimes he even tries to play the harmonica. There are literally millions of these guys,...

Every other year, Calvin College hosts a Festival of Faith & Writing that brings together some of the brightest writers of our generation whose works Diane shared her homemade hummus illuminate “spiritual understanding, grace, or transcendence.”  In addition to speakers like...

Successful comedians are always smarter than their audiences. They make the people in the crowd think that they’re clever for getting the jokes. Comedians purposefully do this. Well, okay, Dane Cook is up for debate. But David Cross is one smart comedian. He knows exactly what will make his niche audience...

I received a lousy education when it came to science. I don’t remember anything my high school teachers taught me, and for college I went to the Moody Bible Institute (where science isn’t much of a priority). So to catch up, I am constantly talking to my wife about evolution, biology...

Chicago is my favorite place in the world. I feel so lucky to be able to wake up in this city every day. Of course, I don’t mean to discriminate against the Northwest, because I’ve only heard the kindest words about Seattle and Portland. It’s just that I’ve never been there before...

America is a Christian nation. I’m finally coming to grips with that fact. For a while, I wanted to believe this country was built on democracy, not faith, but I just can’t deny it anymore. Christians keep these 50 states running. I’m convinced. Let’s start by looking at the driving...