Published in Backyard Church·PinnedIgnorance is a ChoiceUsing my platform to advocate for LGTBQ+ rights within the religious community — My friend, author, and activist Jamie Arpin-Ricci has a habit of challenging his readers to think through everything they do. He recently wrote: “If you are an LGBTQ+ affirming cishet Christian who remains in a non-affirming church in order [to] be a change from within, make sure your queer friends…LGBTQ4 min readLGBTQ4 min read
Published in Backyard Church·PinnedMember-onlyA Text Message Prevented Me From Dying By SuicideAnd a perfect example of breaking the law to save a life. — (Trigger warning: suicidal ideation) Seventh-day Adventists believe the fourth commandment, the one about the Sabbath, still applies nowadays universally, not just to Jews. Nine years ago, a friend broke the law to save my life. Let me tell you the story. The Plan The plan was straightforward. I had just dropped my…Religion4 min readReligion4 min read
Published in Backyard Church·PinnedMember-onlyThe Pastor With a Semicolon TattooMy story isn’t over yet — (Trigger warning: suicidal ideation) My colleague and I were walking alongside the train tracks in beautiful Vancouver. We were so excited! There was a bright future ahead of us. The church that we pastored sent us there to attend a personalized workshop, just for us! Then the railroad shook. …Semi Colon Project3 min readSemi Colon Project3 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·10 hours agoMember-onlyWhat Happened At The Cross?Is it really important to know? — The cross and I have an interesting relationship. Maybe “interesting” is not the correct term here, but I don’t know how else to describe it. As I rebuild my faith from scratch, the cross theme keeps appearing on my social media feed due to Easter approaching. I may have known…Faith2 min readFaith2 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·1 day agoMember-onlyWhat if Jesus Had Been a Woman?Does God have a gender? — We know the historical Jesus was a man; I’m not disputing that. But what if he hadn’t? Would Christians treat women differently? (I’m thinking about my denomination, which doesn’t “officially” ordain female ministers) What about God? How are we supposed to assign God a gender when They said humans were…Faith2 min readFaith2 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·1 day agoMember-onlyNo, I Don’t Pretend To Be an AngelNor do I claim to be flawless. — However, what I can claim is God’s forgiveness. And who knows, I may look like this in God’s eyes every time They clean me, even if it is temporary. I’m not trying to make fun of angels but rather share a thought-provoking image: what does it mean that our sins…Faith1 min readFaith1 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·1 day agoMember-onlyLove Away, FolksWhat a difference we can make by loving… — Mental Health1 min readMental Health1 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·3 days agoMember-onlyCoping With Doubts And Uncertainty in our Spiritual JourneyDoubt is a natural part of the spiritual journey — I’m open about my doubts and uncertainty in my spiritual journey at Empathy Café. This is how I cope with it: Firstly, it is spiritual, hence subjective. …Faith2 min readFaith2 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·6 days agoMember-onlyWhat Would Jesus Wear in His Selfies?What sash would he fancy? — Faith1 min readFaith1 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·Mar 19Member-onlyDon’t Be Just a ChristianBe Christlike — Faith1 min readFaith1 min read
