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. A…Semi Colon Project3 min readSemi Colon Project3 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·2 days agoMember-onlyWhat Would Jesus Wear in His Selfies?What sash would he fancy? — What would he post on social media? Which hashtags would he use? What type of music would he choose as background for his reels? As I navigate life, I ponder all those questions while using social media to journal my path. So here is a drawing of the Jesus(es) I…Faith1 min readFaith1 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·4 days agoMember-onlyDon’t Be Just a ChristianBe Christlike — Christianity is more of a state of being rather than a status. Christians shouldn’t ask themselves whether they’re a Christian or not, but whether they’re actually being Christlike or not.— Stephen Mattson. We can be religious and discriminate against others, Christian and violent, followers of Christ and bullies. But we…Faith1 min readFaith1 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·4 days agoMember-onlyGod and I Have Made PeaceYes, you read it well — peace — What changed? I’ve concluded that I can have a healthy relationship with God AND still have questions. One thing doesn’t exclude the other. What about prayer? What about it? Nothing. I still think he has a deaf ear sometimes, but he’s ok with my opinion. I heard him chuckle —…Faith1 min readFaith1 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·6 days agoMember-onlyDon’t Eat The Soup as Hot as They Cook ItThe best advice someone has ever given me. — Cameron Johnston, a fellow pastor passionate about helping clergy who were going through burnout shared that advice. I had two part-time jobs demanding a lot of energy. It was challenging to manage all the tasks and impossible to have balance. Also, at that time, I received the worst advice from…Advice1 min readAdvice1 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·6 days agoMember-onlyGod Loved Us Way Before Sending JesusJesus is not the cause of God’s love for us — One of my favourite authors, Karen R. Keen, wrote today on Social Media: Jesus is the RESULT of God’s love for you, not the CAUSE of God’s love for you. The first is the gospel, the second [is] a destructive lie. And, just like that, my appreciation of God increased…Faith1 min readFaith1 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·6 days agoMember-onlyThe Question Isn’t, ‘Is It Biblical?’The real question may surprise you — Meghan Tschanz quotes Brian Zahnd as tweeting: The question isn’t, ‘Is it biblical?’ Wars of conquest, the institution of slavery, death sentence for adultery, and women as property are all biblical. The question is, ‘Is it Christlike?’ Something can be biblical, yet not Christlike. That’s why I no longer take…Faith1 min readFaith1 min read
Published in Empathy Cafe·6 days agoMember-onlySalvation is Very Difficult… TO SKIPAnd why God is pissed with Christians — According to legalistic Christians, the Bible appears to show that it is difficult to be saved and skip hell — you ought to do good and behave at all times. Be triple extra nice, just in case, because God watches your every move. And if you make mistakes, well, you…Faith3 min readFaith3 min read
