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)
A couple years ago, I started sharing the "Monday Morning Apologist" posts to my social media account. After some thought the other day, it seemed wise to add it to my blog (though the blog is private at the time of this entry). An apology (or apologist), in this context, is a defense of something communicated through speech or writing. So, this is not an "apology" in the sense of reflecting...
The Color of Compromise. By Jemar Tisby. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. 215 pp. $21.99. Hardcover. **WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS** Effort has been made to minimize spoilers, but a critical analysis and review requires at least some interaction with the content of the book. America's history, though less than 300 years old, is a rather complex and polarizing subject. There are moments of...
O Lord, Creator of all things, we need You desperately.
You are most excellent in all Your ways.
You knew us before the foundation of the world and saw our paths from a distance.
My God, there is no god but You.
We can do nothing apart from You.
We trust in You. Our community, our region, our nation, and our world needs You.
All the seeds of sinful destruction we planted are coming back to devour...