Christian life

  • Be Strong and Courageous: The Scary Call to Walk By Faith, Not By Sight

    “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, CSB) ~ It’s a misconception that Christians are supposed to be perfectly “good” or “fixed” once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Of course, we are…

  • Episode 9 | Is Putin a Christian? : The Russian Orthodox Church and a Christian response to the war in Ukraine

    Is Putin really a Christian? Why is he so buddy-buddy with the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church? Is the Russian Orthodox Church a legitimate Christian church? These are just a few of the questions I and other teachers have been asked in my English school here in Japan. And boy, are they doozies. I…

  • Episode 4 | Wordle and the Importance of Community

    So what is all the hype about the game, Wordle? Why is it so popular among English speakers? What about The New York Times‘ acquisition of the game? And how has the COVID-19 pandemic affected people’s sense of community and loneliness? I decided to do a little research on my own regarding Wordle and its…

  • Love, Not Hate: Reflections On Election Week 2020

    It’s November 8th, 2020, and there’s a new President and Vice President-Elect: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. It is no secret that I do not support Trump or the behavior that his leadership has encouraged among his followers. His presidency has stirred up the racism, fear, and hatred that has existed in the U.S. for…

  • Reading the Bible is Hard: How to read the Bible every day

    You’ve heard it before. We’ve all heard it before. Reading the Bible is important. It’s the Word of God—the only reliable way to hear God speak and to know God. How can we know God’s truth if we don’t read it? It makes sense, right? But it’s easier said than done. The Bible isn’t exactly…

  • Biblical Justice: Where is the mishpat for the black community?

    This past week has been filled with all sorts of feelings regarding George Floyd, protests, police violence, and the strength of the community in Minneapolis. This death has felt especially close to me. I used to live just north of that Target and Cub Foods, and I often went to the stores along Lake Street…

  • Lent: What is it, and should you practice it?

    Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent: a day where you receive ashes in the form of a cross on your forehead, as a reminder of one’s mortality. “From dust you were created, and to dust you shall return,” is spoken to you when you receive the ashes. The Lenten season then continues for 40…