Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christians have to be church members. Hebrews 10:24-25, verses that are often quoted in discussions of church attendance, does specifically tell us not to “[give] up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” (NIV). That is a clear direction to gather regularly with other […]
FROM THE CHURCH OF THE PAINFULLY IMPERFECT
The word community was never disputed. When the church I was a part of was undergoing the process of changing their name, nearly every potential word or phrase was scrutinized and debated. There was even disagreement over whether the word church should be included in the new title. Yet, nobody ever questioned the inclusion of […]
THE BEAUTY OF COMMUNITY & THE BEAST OF ISOLATION
Have you ever felt like you wanted so much more than your provincial life has to offer? We are all searching for happiness and for significance in life. The feeling of happiness alone is not ultimately satisfying, as we know that it will fade or flee amidst our ever-changing circumstances. And why would we spend […]
THE LOST VIRTUE OF BEING THANKFUL
While I was in seminary, I lived with a very nice family in a very nice house rent free. Not only will I always be thankful for their kindness, generosity, and hospitality, I also learned a profound lesson about gratitude through my experience. On the face of it, the idea of gratitude seems a simple […]
The Vide Noir of Death or The Gratitude of Life?
Thoughts on Lord Huron's latest album Vide Noir and contrasting life and death
Everybody dies. We can try to delay it, but in a world of anxiety about the future, a world of uncertainty about what may or may not come to pass, our own death is one thing that is absolutely coming for us. But what comes next? If you think about it, your answer to that […]
MORE THAN POTS
Being God's Image Bearers
I’ve been living on my own for almost two years now, and one of the hardest yet rewarding things I’ve learned how to do is cook. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, I’ve evolved from cereal artistry to legitimate home cooked meals. Honestly, the hardest thing to learn was understanding when to use certain herbs and […]
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HUMAN?
Discussing Blade Runner 2049
The Blade Runner films are a fascinating philosophical journey into a world where humans coexist with “replicants”: androids so realistically designed that it is hard to tell whether or not they are actually human. And each of the protagonists ends up reflecting on this question: What does it mean to be human? In 2049, we […]
HIKING WITH THOMAS OF AQUINAS
On Appreciating Nature & The Beauty of God's Creation
On the 26th of April 1336, Italian poet Francesco Petrarca decided to climb Mont Ventoux simply because he wanted to see the view. It might come as a surprise, but this is widely considered the first time anyone ever climbed a mountain for the sake of simply enjoying nature. Prior to this point in history, […]
THIS IS US
What Does it Mean to be Made in God’s Image?
“Mysterious Being Creates the World in 7 Days, You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!” That’s what I imagine the headline for Genesis, the first book of the Bible, would be if it was written in the digital age. In the Beginning God Created All good stories have a great hook, which sets the tone or […]
IN THE BEGINNING…
A look at the magnitude of Genesis 1:1
Reading prologues was never a habit of mine. I always figured that whatever the author really wanted to say would come out in the following chapters. When I got to college, I soon realized that these sections are crucial for understanding the rest of the story. They introduce the reader to key themes and characters […]
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