Warning: Massive Spoilers for the Netflix Series Arcane In our current media saturated, entertainment driven culture, it is not always easy to find something that not only goes against the trope saturated grain of mediocrity, but that does so with dynamic visual story telling, diverse and unique characters types, rich moral complexity, and an array... Continue Reading →
Should Christians “Just Preach the Gospel”?
In certain circles, the phrase “Just preach the Gospel,” functions more as a conversation stopper rather than any kind of genuine appeal. “We need to talk about racial justice.” Just preach the Gospel. “Have we considered if our message and evangelism is contextualized to our culture while remaining faithful?” Just preach the Gospel. “I’m concerned... Continue Reading →
“Scars That Remain”: A Poem on Structural Racism and Christian Responsibility
A people taken from their home in the not so distant past. Millions die as they are shipped in chains to a foreign land. Once on the soil they are exploited daily, no end to the demands. Their efforts and labor bear only fruit for their oppressors, day after day distancing the chasm of prosperity... Continue Reading →
Harry Potter and the Hope of Resurrection
*Spoiler Alert! Major spoiler for the last Harry Potter novel ahead. The theme of resurrection is dominant in the last of the seven original Harry Potter books. One of the three great “hallows” is literally called the resurrection stone. Harry himself undergoes a physical resurrection of sorts after sacrificing himself for those he loves. The... Continue Reading →
The Masks We Wear: Paul Laurence Dunbar and the Human Condition
Recently, I posted a blog with one of my favorite quotes about literature which states that, “Literature [is] the laboratory of the human condition.”1 How often I’m reminded of just how true that is! Last night I was reading some selected poems from three late American poets who each reflected various "experiments" into what it... Continue Reading →
C.S. Lewis and Jedi Knights
There is just something about Star Wars. From the simple, yet iconic, lightsaber, all the way to the stark contrast of a clearly defined external good and evil, juxtaposed against a seemingly never-ending war between the Light and the Dark within each character’s own heart. Following the absolute cinematic perfection of the most recent Clone... Continue Reading →