Why are we here? Does my life have a purpose? Is my existence an accident? These questions have haunted the human consciousness since there was such a thing as the human consciousness. The desire to make, find, or otherwise access meaning in our existence is in many ways innate to human psychology. Whether or not […]
Unconditional Grace: How Humanly Forgiveness Reveals God’s Grace
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you -Ephesians 4:32 Forgiveness is difficult for everyone involved. Anger, disappointment, hurt and resentment strain the forgiver’s ability to move past committed wrongs. Those forgiven, knowing they caused the forgiver anger and hurt, feel guilty and undeserving. Furthermore, when […]
Hope in the Midst of Hurt: A Critique of Between the World and Me
“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” -Psalm 103:6 As a preface to this article, I would like to comment on the topic of racial justice generally. I am a White man. More, I am a White man writing about a Black man’s experience with racism in America. I fully understand […]
Between the Lines of Your Chemistry Text
I have heard almost nothing but complaints about Chemistry classes at Vanderbilt. Gen Chem is just a stupid weed out class, Orgo is impossible, Physical Chemistry is otherworldly challenging… there has not been too much love for this discipline here and even less appreciation for its meaning to us. Your chemistry teacher may posit a […]
Behind the Fogged Door: On Mental Illness vs. Sin
Imagine that you arrive at a friend’s house. The two of you are about to leave for dinner. He or she is running late but opens the door and invites you inside. You walk around and make yourself at home. You have been here many times before and casually observe the professionally taken family photos, […]
John Calvin and the Case for Refugees
The term refugee, especially Syrian refugee, has evolved to become a societal buzzword beyond the point of being easily defined by those who use it. The West’s fascination with the concept spans politics, religion, economics, and culture. In Britain, many observers claim the desire to control the flow of people to and from the island […]