Heretics in the Wild
…My friend was upset because my stance had opened the fence of a well-manicured lawn of cultural comfort. A culture with clear parameters of what is acceptable and what is not. I was allowing the wild to enter a domesticated region of belief.
The Blood of Vikings
You, my friend, are the legacy of survivors. The eyes that read these words contain DNA autographed by generations of survivors from all over the Earth. Your bloodline contains strength.
Why California Burns
When tragedy strikes, it’s like looking at a table full of broken puzzle pieces. We feel compelled to put these pieces together in order to explain an overwhelming crisis. We want to know why it’s happening and who to hold accountable. More often than not, we deceive ourselves into thinking we’ve connected the pieces perfectly.
Jordan Travels New York
I love to travel and tell stories about what I’ve experienced. My dream job would involve both. With that said, I believe it’s always important to not wait for your job to provide an outlet to do the things you love. So, I do make travel content.
Christmas Clinometer
Christmas is the time to stop and train our eyes to see hope again. It's also an invitation for all of us to work towards a world where peace is the norm.
God and Paint Brushes
There is something so special and powerful about a child creating art. He painted a bright yellow sunshine, green grass, and a tree. In my eyes, my son painted the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen.
Church of Glass Houses
Idols are insidious because they sneak in the back door of places of worship, take a seat in the pew, and sit there for years with no one asking them why they're there.
Prayer for the Unremarkable
I work hard every day and try not to get in other people's way or stir up trouble. I don't even ask for much attention, but it'd be nice to have a bit. This world I live in has very little room for the unremarkable.
Give Me A Break
It's easy for me to lobby for a day off for myself, but it's equally important that I live my life in a way that makes it possible for others to rest.
Picard And Pentecost
You cannot truly understand someone if you don't know their story. Language is often a carrier of culture and meaning. You have to listen to catch it.
Travel Like Matt
If your personal, professional, and spiritual journey is helping you become a more humble person, you’re traveling well. If you find yourself building your own brand by endlessly critiquing and “yelping” against your own culture, you might be impeding your own progress. The best way to critique is to build something new and beautiful while maintaining a foundation of love.
Heretics Can’t Go Home
…But as much as I’ve loved the journey, there are times when I look back over my shoulder, and feelings of nostalgia catch up to me and tap me on the shoulder. In those moments, I find myself wondering if I’d be happier if I could go back to the start and enjoy the comforts of the familiar.
Eclipse and the End
“It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.” -J.R.R Tolkien “The Fellowship of the Ring”
What if…Easter?
I’m now speaking for myself, but the story of Jesus’ resurrection requires me to ask this question. “What if you truly believe in the power of Easter? How does your story play out?”
Shepherds and Short Ribs
I wonder if the fear the shepherds experienced in the Christmas story was not just because they were seeing a supernatural event in the sky but because it was an army. Powerful armies have always been used to push aside and kill their nomadic people.
Instant Faith
We're all smart here. Despite what we're being sold, we all know deep down inside that any worthwhile transformation requires a crucial ingredient—hard work. There is no way around it. I can't change myself for the better unless I do the work. Though TikTok and Instagram advertise otherwise, sustainable success is a long game.
World’s Greatest Street Preacher
I've written about the worst street preacher ever, but would you like to know about the best?
Back to the 80s
Hollywood has a target audience to capture at the box office. The target, for now, seems to be kids from the 1980s. The bait for this particular audience is nostalgia.
Jesus Freak
This is the struggle of the ages for anyone religious. Do you allow your faith to evolve when presented with new information? I would say yes.
The Pentecostal Diet
This kind of faith pushes Christians beyond the boundaries of comfort and into a world where they could one day sit at a restaurant and enjoy Filipino Sisig or an Argentine Choripan. Not just to enjoy the food but to love the people who serve it. A faith where Christians would learn to speak new languages not just to become comfortable in the world but to better understand and appreciate it.