Here’s my July 9 newsletter. To receive my latest articles, favorite religion reads and other updates in your inbox every Saturday, sign-up here. 

I was at a religious freedom conference for half of this week, rubbing elbows with people who are very fired up about the future of our country. One of the themes of the conference was helping people determine how to get involved in religious liberty legislation, and I’m hoping to pursue an article on that topic in the near future.

The conference was also the site of one of the silliest reporting blunders I’ve ever made. I had an interview scheduled for a Q&A, which means I was going to type out the transcript of the conversation and share it online. I couldn’t find a good, empty space at the conference center, so I went to my car for some privacy.

It turns out that sitting in a car without the air conditioning on doesn’t make for very good interview conditions. Twenty minutes in, I was coated in sweat, my computer was overheating and my interview recording software had a glitch. I nearly had a heart attack or cried or both, but, thanks to a gracious interviewee, I was still able to file the article. My advice: Never question the blessing of air conditioning.

FRESH OFF THE PRESS FROM ME

Christian Mingle and other religious dating sites must now serve LGBT singles

Pope Francis meets with family of college student killed in Rome

Study reveals another unexpected health benefit of attending church

TOP RELIGION READS

The conservative, Christian case for working women, The Atlantic

Muslim camps are spreading in the U.S. to help kids be proud of who they are, The Washington Post

A tender hand in the presence of death, The New Yorker

JUST FOR FUN

One of my fellow conference participants found the event a little less than stimulating…