Author: Van Barrett
FAITH. By the grace of God, I am a Christian. I don't mean the superficial, thanking-God-after-winning-an-award-type Christian either. This is real to me. I was a mess of an individual (by God's standards) whose only hope was redemption through Jesus Christ. Currently, I am a faithful member in good standing at a local church.
FAMILY. I'm a husband and father by God's grace. I have the greatest wife on the planet and a daughter whom I adore. This doesn't mean we always get along, but I know I've been given far more than I deserve as it relates to them.
EDUCATION. I have an undergraduate degree in business management and a graduate degree in theological studies. Jesus, theology, evangelism, ministry, and apologetics are passions of mine, so the blog generally centers around those topics. Writing is a way for me to formulate my thoughts as not to drive my family insane since I probably border somewhere between an over-thinker and contemplative.
So, there's a little bit about me, a little background that I hope will provide insight into blog posts. Just another flawed individual seeking to be used by God.
-Van Barrett (pseudonym)
About That Time “They” Dropped off a Magazine…
If, as a Christian, you’ve ever encountered Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), you know they can be somewhat challenging to reach. The good news is that we never have to worry about the results of such an encounter (rf. 1 Cor. 3:6-7); we just have to be faithful. Yet, if we’re concerned with their salvation and the truth, then we do want to understand their position. What better...
Commonly Misused Bible Verses – Jeremiah 29:11
The other day, it dawned on me that there are several Scriptures that Christians use in their daily lives which are misused, misapplied, and stripped of their context, and I figured this would be a good topic to address in a series on About This Life Blog. Please note, I have no intention of addressing these in a condescending or snarky way, which is often the lofty position of those who seek to...
Monday Morning Apologist: Karma and Energy-balancing?
—OBJECTION: Life's not about right or wrong; it's more about cause and effect. In fact, it's really about balancing energy and maintaining one's karma.
About That Trinity…
A conversation with a friend, one I believe to be a brother in the Lord, caused me to further consider an element of God’s nature. It was regarding a concept that I’d accepted and taught as biblical truth: God being Triune (or God in Trinity). Triune is a combination of two words or two ideas: three-ness and oneness (etymology: from Latin tri- and unus, one). Of course, it would be a...
Monday Morning Apologist: Christians, Know-it-all Bigots?
—OBJECTION: You Christians think you know it all. You’re just a bunch of arrogant bigots.
Being Uniquely Biblical
I am often astounded by those who profess Christianity but don’t seem to fully subscribe to Christianity according to the Bible. I don’t begrudge these individuals. I realize it may be a simple case of needing God’s grace and more growth in sanctification. In fact, the same could probably be said of me at some point and to some degree (assuming and accepting the idea I may have spiritual...
Monday Morning Apologist: Christians are Just Like Everyone Else?
—OBJECTION: Why should I become a Christian? They do the same and talk the same way I do.
Monday Morning Apologist: Science Over God/Religion?
—OBJECTION: I believe in science, not religion.