Here at Conversant, we explore how faith connects to everyday life.  But what happens when our personal beliefs crossover to the public square? Jesus warned us not to display our faith for others’ affirmation or praise. So should faith remain a private matter? Jesus also took his teachings into the public arena, from the Sermon on the Mount to the marketplaces of his ancient Judea.  We must examine our motives, examining why we air our faith.

Perhaps the question should be, “Can we discuss our values with those we disagree with in a civil way?”  At Conversant, we hold a public conversation about our personal beliefs.  We must be free to our convictions without fear. Yet, we must do so in a humble and respectful manner—as active listeners.

On a recent tour of Australia, my friend, Geoff Broughton, introduced me to the Center for Public Christianity. We crossed over the dramatic bridge to north Sydney for an afternoon of conversation at the nexus of faith and culture. I was pleased to meet like-minded colleagues Greg Clarke, Simon Smart, and Hugh Clark. They interviewed me during a memorable afternoon. They’ve produced a podcast and a videoblog from our conversations that you can find on Vimeo here.

While the brave team from the "GIVE A DAMN" movie were surviving a plane crash, I was vacationing with my family in Australia.  We went to see (and snorkle) the Great Barrier Reef (while it is still around!).  So instead of posting at Conversant, I'd basically "gone fishin'" for the summer.

I had no idea how substantial a catch awaited us. This photo of me snorkeling with a Hump Head Maori Wrasse hasn’t been altered in any way. Yes, the fish really do grow that big on the Great Barrier Reef. Yes, their colors really are that vibrant. While I look like a stuffed sausage in my swimshirt, the wrasse lopes along with such presence.

According to the marine biologist on board our boat, this gentle wrasse is about 40 or 50 years old and STILL GROWING. When my kids spotted it, they choose to swim the other way! This is just one of the amazing sights we encountered Down Under.