I like theology.

Okay, you got me. I kind of love it. When I'm supposed to be doing school work I'm probably instead looking up articles, perusing books in our home office, or browsing blogs. If I'm working by myself during the day, I'll more than likely be reading papers and write-ups from my iPhone during breaks. I've been known to accumulate thoughts on a notepad, electronic or otherwise, of matters I'd like to further research. While I don't necessarily retain everything I come across, I enjoy the endeavour regardless - and I'm certain that in spite of how much I remember, I'm still learning something. I enjoy the pursuit of theological knowledge - it's a deeply satisfying passed time and diversion - and serves to bolster up my faith and help me along life's journey as a Jesus-follower.  ...  →

Four years ago, I sat trapped at home with a torn ligament and a cat as my constant companions. While it was a humbling experience, it was also a very strange time in my life - in fact, I went so far as to name it the strangest.

I'm going to correct and re-position myself on that claim. Granted, I did qualify the declaration as arbitrary, backing up a little to say it was only one of the strangest times, and I'll readily admit that I'll probably never stop thinking my life is getting more odd as it progresses. Yet, this place in life wherein I find myself has surpassed those three months of crippled, feline-filled confinement in leaps and bounds - these circumstances are in fact so bewildering, I'm not even sure I've fully accepted or grasped the magnitude  ...  →

The new year is a time people look forward to. It is a time where we convince ourselves we have a second chance to improve our actions, attitudes and general circumstances - a time to reflect, look back at our accomplishments and failures alike to see what we did well and what went wrong. The new year is our chance to start over.

Birthdays are very much the same thing - a time of self-examination - and my birthday is in fact within the month of January thereby making such meditative introspections a double-dosed ingestion at this time of year.

And so, as part of this retrospect and prospect - and in the air of accountability - I am going to review the resolutions I made last January and essentially recommit to them.

Last year I said I wanted to begin memorising Scripture as a spiritual discipline, starting with the Psalms. Well, I pretty much  ...  →

We are impatient.

December officially marks the beginning to one of the most popular and overwhelming seasons of our Western world's calendar. It is a time when the atmosphere of our society changes dramatically, manifested visually by the varying degrees of seasonal displays - from lights to trees and ornaments to a yard full of robotic and inflatable monuments. People start dressing in manners more attuned to the so-called colours of the season; baked goods change their tastes and shapes; the music played is not at all what you hear at any other time of year; and the rhythms of life take on a jovial, mirthful beat.

Generally speaking, the secular world recognises the fact that Christmas has traditionally been held to commemorate the birth of Jesus, whether that means anything spiritual to them or not. Typically, sentiments of joy, peace, and love are thrown around as the reasons for the season - and smiles are easier to have returned as a result. For the average Christian, hope is added to the list because of the God-man's entrance into space and time. All these things are ubiquitous throughout December in jolly overtones as  ...  →

The story of how the young shepherd boy defeated the warrior beast of a man is perhaps the most famous underdog tale of all time. It has become a timeless tale - a story translatable into any culture, era or challenging situation. The story is a narrative of which we're becoming increasingly aware as the marginalised groups of society slowly but indistinguishably fight their way into the main body of acceptance.

The story of David and Goliath has become, in our culture, synonomous with overcoming the odds. But it has also, like all popularised stories, become diluted.

The other week as I came across this particular passage, I noticed a nuance completely left out of modern retellings.

David is described as the youngest brother of eight who either stays at home to tend to sheep while his  ...  →