I caught myself examining the theology of Ed Sheeran songs the other day. Granted, I’m pretty sure he’s not writing songs with God in mind; he seems to say as much. Even so, some of his lyrics reflect imagery and ideas found in Christianity, and I like trying to figure out what he might believe based on what he sings (for instance, I’m pretty sure he’s not a Gnostic based on “Shape of You”). Continue reading
Maybe Valentine’s Day is your least favorite day of the year. Maybe you dread walking alone amidst the teeming mass of smiling couples at your favorite restaurant. Maybe you feel sick as you see others enjoying what you so long to possess, or as you remember what you’ve lost. Maybe you see your present state of singleness as a curse.
If that’s you, take heart: God has not forgotten you.
I don’t typically rush to theaters to watch horror movies, but when I have gone to see the latest in scary cinema, I’ve found the times to be memorable. Continue reading
Jim Elliot has done it again. Continue reading
I begin to miss Chicago style deep dish pizza if I go more than a week without it. The same could be said of good hot wings: they call to me from afar. I once wrote a poem about how bacon enhances any meal. Needless to say, I deeply enjoy food. Sadly, I often gravitate toward unhealthy foods rather than toward healthier options. Continue reading
I spent my fourth through twelfth grade years participating in Bible Drill. Bible Drill is a program teaches kids to know the Bible in a competitive format. We memorized numerous verses, both individually and as tied to key themes in Scripture, and we practiced looking up the passages in under ten seconds (or eight seconds in high school). The program was great, and not just because it got us familiar with Shakespearean-era English before we took college literature classes. Continue reading
In a strange way, I feel like profundity is equivalent with difficulty. If a piece of art confuses me, or if a poem baffles me, or if a movie leaves me scratching my head, I assume that what I’m observing is quite deep. I believe there to be a meaning hidden below the surface of the medium, and the entire piece becomes a puzzle to figure out. I consider the small details, I hypothesize about possible hints, and I attempt to read between the lines to unravel the mystery hidden in the uncertainty. I noticed this recently when I read T. S. Eliot, or when I listened to Coldplay, or when I watched Eraserhead. I found myself incredibly intrigued (and, at the same time, incredibly confused) by the hiddenness and seeming vagueness of the art. I also found myself inspired by these stories and lyrics, wishing I could write something so deep. Continue reading
“The third wheel is what makes it a tricycle.” – Michael Scott (“The Office”)
As the fellowship makes its way across the pass of Caradhras, their course set for Mordor to destroy the ring of power, Frodo, the ring bearer, loses his footing and rolls backward down the mountain before being caught by another in the party. In the fall, the ring slips out onto the snow where it is picked up by Boromir. As Boromir holds the ring up before his eyes, he wonders, almost to himself, that a tiny ring is the cause of such turmoil among the free peoples of Middle Earth. Boromir, who desires to defend his people against evil, wonders why the ring cannot be used for good, why it must be destroyed if it possesses such power. Continue reading
as i learn to walk 