As soon as the snow falls, I’m ready for Christmas. October 31st, 2019, it was snowing in Kalamazoo, and I was singing along to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You” at full blast on the way to a Halloween party. It was a good time. Today, I’m sitting in a Starbucks, sipping […]
Category Archives: thoughts
Am I entitled to the Presence of God?
In July of 2018, I penned a blog post describing my experience of the Presence of God. It was a moment of centering for me—amid so much anxiety and turmoil, it brought me peace to recall the details of God’s warm embrace and the gentle breeze of God’s Spirit. As my belief in God has […]
How to be friends with a gay person if you don’t think queerness is the bee’s knees
We were standing outside the church doors, a calm summer evening just beginning as the sun descended and the wind rested. The past few weeks, I’d slowly felt more and more unwelcome in groups of people I counted as my closest friends. And I knew I needed to ask him. “I want to know. Are […]
Queer Faith: a Collection of Resources
It’s been two months since I came out. Those 59 days have been full of texts, emails, Facebook messages, Instagram DMs, and conversations. This is to be expected. While the vast majority of my close friends were well aware of my orientation, many followers and Facebook friends were surprised. Not as much by the fact […]
My Story of Growing Up, Coming Out, and Being Embraced by God
Chapter One In bite-sized installments, I shared my testimony: who I was, who I am today—through the unconditional love and unraveling grace of Christ. I told my story this way because to do otherwise, I felt, would ignore the core of who I am. Because I am, first and foremost, a child of God, and […]
Good
The last season of my life has been one of absolute gratefulness upon gratefulness. In the midst of dark times, I can say that the joy of Yahweh has truly been my strength, and Jesus’ people have been my abounding encouragement. I am ever more aware and in awe of the never-ending goodness and startling […]
thursday
“Hey, could I drop in with one of the counselors just to ‘declare’ my program of study?” “Um, drop-in hours are Tuesday and Wednesday—” “Sooo… Can I drop in?” What’s the magic word? What am I missing? “It’s Thursday.” Life has been so lovely lately. God is working (as always, of course), God loves me, and […]
The Internet
We’ve all heard the fear-mongering about the internet. “This is destroying our attention spans, our thoughts, our brains!” “Social media is a comparison trap, a breeding ground for depression!” “Hyper-connectivity has brought an end to true connection!” Some of this is a bit over-the-top, but I must admit that the internet, on the whole, does […]
Anchors: an exploration of self-love, toxic people, and Jesus
If the entirety of your life is to give happiness to yourself, then it’s a pretty meaningless life. Isn’t it? Some people seem to have another view. You, it appears, should be placed at the center of the Universe. Love who you are, embrace who you are. Love yourself. When you love yourself, people can […]
Frozen: Not Another Disney Love Story
Do you want to build a snowman? If you haven’t been hiding under a troll for the last few years, you’ve heard this line from a song in the popular children’s movie Frozen. People of all ages have fallen in love with the music and the story. Despite its often lighthearted tone, it teaches valuable […]
