Introduction

Recently I had the good fortune of having a friend of mine who I was to vacation with break down on interstate five, somewhere around lost hills. I was in Fresno at the time preparing to work the night shift when he called me. I had just enough time to go get him and get to work on time and leave after work for our trip to the mountains. It was a long day. After the vacation, because his car was headed for scrap yard I had to deliver him back to his hometown. The circumstances resulted in us having several very long and very productive conversations about a variety of topics. On the way back after a particularly long discussion we had he encouraged me to put my thoughts down in some sort of recorded public form so that others might test my mind. It’s entirely possible that he was tired of hearing my voice. However, I do believe that he was being sincere.

So here I am. This website will be updated once weekly with a new article of varying topics. I might also have guest posts from other people whose opinions I respect and admire.

There are several goals for what I will be writing here. First of all I want to sharpen my writing skills. I want to learn how to communicate effectively and efficiently through the written word. If any value comes from what I have to say, I want to be able to say it in a way that can be understood better.

Secondly I want to challenge some of the standard prevalent views of common Christian culture. Often times the views that Christians have, especially those of the college or twenty something variety are constructed simply by the churches that they are in or the homes that they are raised in. If our ideas are not tested, our thoughts will always be vulnerable. Reconsideration of a certain belief often leads to a better understanding of it. Sometimes it leads to a changed mind. Considering our own ideas in new light forces us to see the weak spots and the faulty logic and correct them. Doing this not only do our ideas become stronger but our ability to think critically grows also. If we fail to sharpen our minds then the first truly withering attack upon our minds and hearts will either lead us into willful ignorance or in a state of complete chaos and utter confusion as the very foundations of our beliefs crumble. This goes for my beliefs and my mind just as much as anyone else’s.

Most importantly, however, I hope that what I write will encourage people who drift along on the outer edges of society, people who are alone in thoughts that they should not speak in good Christian society, people with questions, people who don’t fit the mold of a seminary student, biblical counselor, pastor’s wife, Sunday school teacher, or youth leader. All of you artists, musicians, nerds, writers, philosophers and the slightly eccentric, come on in. To all my fellow wanderers out on the fringe, this is for you.