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 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, […]
SAVORING SUMMER WITH STORIES
Summer is here and I cannot wait to partake in one of my favorite personal traditions. For the past six years, on the first day of summer after I get out of classes, I go to a quiet park and read The Great Gatsby. I know, what kind of person rewards himself for finishing a […]
DOES GOD HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES?
A long the busy streets of Burbank, comedian and talk show host Jay Leno, once approached random people on the sidewalk with a biblical question. People were asked to name one of the Ten Commandments. With no close second, the number one response was “God helps those who help themselves.” This is a strange response, […]
7 MEANINGFUL WAYS TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR
Most Americans will spend the last night of the year attending a party dressed in head-to-toe sequins, watching the ball drop in Times Square, or hoping to get a kiss from a crush or even a stranger. Compared to the meaning, story, and ritual attached to Christmas, do these traditions not strike you as bizarre? […]
A LIFE OF LESS. A HEART FOR MORE.
“What do you really want?” my mentor asked the first time we met. The question felt huge, and the answer almost too big for words. But it came as I listened to my heart bumping around my chest. It felt heavy and wrung out from old hurts and fears stashed in my emotional basement. “I […]
5 FILMS YOU DIDN’T KNOW HAD CHRISTIAN THEMES
Netflix binging will no doubt accompany many summer vacations, but who says that much couch time can’t have a little substance? From lesser known Indie flicks to Hollywood’s most successful Blockbusters, many movies unexpectedly point to God’s grace and redemption. Check out these five films, available on Netflix, Amazon, or your local video store, that […]
CAN HOBBIES BE A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE?
I used to work for a guy known for saying, “I’ll rest when I’m dead!” He ran a ministry and believed there were too many people who needed to hear about Jesus to take much time for himself. I thought this was admirable. But I noticed he also got sick a lot. For awhile, I […]
AFFECTION IS A LOVE THAT IS NOT FOR SHOW
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the most well known theologians in the last 100 years. A literature professor by trade, he was the author of over 70 books ranging from the fantasy fiction of the Chronicles of Narnia series to the allegorical fiction of The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce. He also wrote […]
CREATE
We all do it. We can’t help ourselves. We must create. Whether we did it as homework in high school, or we do it because it’s our passion; we’re all creative beings and we must be creative. Unfortunately, many people don’t think of themselves as creative at all. When was the last time you sat down […]