Healing costs you nothing: My journey through life – Epilogue, Part I

A couple thoughts occurred to me that are important to share after I wrapped up this autobiographical mini-series on how Christianity healed me. The first thought is that I didn’t emphasize that Jesus’ heart to heal you and me either emotionally, physically, or spiritually is not dependent on anything from you in return. For real. […]

Out from the ashes of myself: My journey through life – Part VI

One of the many things they don’t prepare you for as a kid is the applause and affirmation to stop. You don’t win many awards or get recognition or compliments or words of encouragement when you’re an adult. And if you’ve started to rely on those things as a child without realizing it, their absence […]

Jesus of Nazareth as a guy

I had a crisis of faith in my mid-20s. My background was Christian, and my trouble centered on whether there was any point in me continuing with the faith. I wanted a deeper connection to God than what is stereotypically understood to be on offer in most American churches. It seems to me Jesus is […]

Overcoming my demon: fear

There isn’t much I’ve been unwilling to lay bare about myself in the hopes of helping others who may be experiencing similar situations or issues. One such issue I’ve written a good deal about is my lifelong struggle with panic and depression. It’s not a topic I enjoy writing or talking about because of how […]

The Christian’s relationship with politics

Christianity is both intensely political and apolitical. The Gospels and early Christians loudly proclaimed the very political opinion that “Jesus is Lord,” a direct contradiction and parody of the Roman slogan “Caesar is Lord.” Yet when several people tried to corner Jesus into making an overtly political statement regarding paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus demurred […]

For those who call themselves Christian

For those who call themselves Christian, your God demands you love everyone radically. It isn’t a suggestion, and it isn’t compartmental: it is a command, and it is all-encompassing. It is how you are to order your life: your personal life, your work life, your political life. “But I tell you who hear me: Love […]

Christianity in brief, Part III

How does the cross make one a Christian? Just as the Jewish priests had to use the blood of sacrificed animals in order to be ritually pure, one has to use the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Submitting to Christ means following His teaching and His commands, and that requires the participation of an […]