Joey Cochran

But I thought all Costco customers knew about this! It’s like our main fringe benefit.

The pump behind me was wide open at Costco the entire time I filled my tank. There were literally 6-10 cars in immediate proximity that were just doom scrolling missing this opportunity to fill up.

Don’t waste your life on a screen.

All Americans should be embarrassed by this juvenile response from a government account to peaceful protest by faith leaders and other responsible citizens.

My son just baked at home the same cookies you can buy at Target and they taste even better.

It was a beautiful day to get outside Christmas decorations done and put up the tree. May this upcoming season of Advent fill you with anticipation and joy!

Happy first snow of 2025! I’m currently enjoying coffee and Christmas music in my kitchen while I watch the snow fall. Yay for remote learning days!

Trondenes Kirke: The Northernmost Medieval Church It’s a stunning stone church, painted white and towering over the surrounding landscape, with the sparkling waters of the fjord and snow-covered peaks of

Today at the Anxious Bench, Lynneth Miller Renberg helps us enter into the sacred space of Trondenes Kirke, the northernmost surviving medieval church.
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

Thrilled and honored that my book Religion for Realists was given the 2025 Distinguished Book Award by @sssreligion.bsky.social last night.

It’s vital that we understand religion and religious people. The social sciences are remiss to ignore either.

Hire more religion specialists.

“They kettle protesters, mark citizens with paint, launch bean bags, pepper balls and tear gas, so that when it is time to use lethal force, they will already have built the muscle memory to look upon their neighbors as targets, . . . And think nothing else as they fire live ammunition into crowds.”

Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable.

I recently gave my own account of what it’s been like living through Operation Midway Blitz and the terror us Chicagoans have experienced.

www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

On Halloween, ‘state-sponsored terror’ in Chicago and the north suburbs Despite pleas from Gov. JB Pritzker to pause federal immigration enforcement operations while children celebrate Halloween, Border Patrol agents tore through Chicago and the suburbs.

On Halloween, ‘state-sponsored terror’ in Chicago and the north suburbs

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/c...

In position. Maybe the first time to be tasked to be the candy man in years. I’ve missed this role. Halloween is one of my favorite nights of the year because it’s one of those times where all of us neighbors get to be neighborly with little effort.

Happy Halloween to all who celebrate from our little witch to you!

My latest at the Anxious Bench!

OAKLAND. come see me

Over 71 million Americans are paid less than a living wage, and are forced into social safety nets like SNAP.

If you think too many people are receiving SNAP benefits, don’t shame them.

Shame their employers paying them poverty wages and forcing taxpayers to subsidize the rest.

Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable.

“I dreamt that camouflage, unidentified, armed and masked men had forced their way into our home and were trying to drag me out of bed. The dream felt so vivid that I bodily responded…Recent geopolitical events had come to dominate and haunt our lives.”

www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

The U.S. used to be an intl humanitarian leader.

Now we won’t even feed our own hungry.

Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable.

“This overly detailed eye-witness account of one historian’s experiences in Chicago has been for my neighbors nationwide who are frozen and uncertain about what if anything they can do. It’s also for those who would rather look away…”

www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable.

“Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable. I cannot avoid what is happening to my neighbors.”

www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

Much of the essay wrestles with everyday resistance to the terror that’s been thrust upon Chicagoans and some ways we can all help our neighbors.

Major parts include visiting Broadview Ice facility and documenting a press conference with @duckworth.senate.gov and @durbin.senate.gov, attending the No Kings Protest in Grant Park, and seeing @waltermasterson.bsky.social live and interviewing @ramirez.house.gov. 

This article is both long-form and a photo essay. Some sections conclude with a series of photos documenting events.

Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors “And who are my neighbors?” (Luke 10:29b)

My column today at the Anxious Bench:

“Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors”

www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

My Anxious Bench column drops tomorrow. It’s a long form essay w/2 substantial photo galleries documenting the past month of Operation Midway Blitz.

A teaser of the title:
“Everyday Evangelical Resistance for My Chicago Neighbors”

Find it here tomorrow:
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

Had a great night with my wife seeing @waltermasterson.bsky.social at The Den Theatre #Chicago. Fantastic show!

#A_NewHope ✊

We march for peace. We march for freedom. We march for our city and our people. We the People say no to phony-dictators and wannabe kings.

#NoKings #Chicago

No Kings! Hands Off Chicago! Faith Over Fear! Love Our Country! Preserve Our Democracy! Protect Our Citizens!

These are the messages I’ve heard so far in Grant Park from Mayor Johnson and others who love our city and our people.

She urged those who are privileged not to feel targeted by federal immigration officers to show up in support of the city’s immigrant and other vulnerable communities.

chicago.suntimes.com/2025/10/16/p...