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@humorwithatwist
A Cure for What Ails Us?
I have been reflecting lately on the peculiar sickness of modern life, and I have a theory which, stated somewhat like a math problem, is this: modern society (entailing economic, social, and labor practices) plus postmodern media (including communication technology, news consumption, and competing truth claims) leads to a kind of sickness. And the treatment for that sickness may be followingâŠ
On Minimalism
Minimalism is one of those words that can mean several different things. For some, it is an aesthetic: white walls, open spaces, and carefully chosen furniture. For others, it is a method of organization or a philosophy of life. As Iâm defining it, minimalism is simply the choice of intentionality and less rather than easy and more. It asks us to consider what we own, what we purchase, and whatâŠ
We Are Made for Restorative Rest
We live in a world that is deeply tired. Our exhaustion is not limited to the body (although many of us are physically worn down), but we are also mentally crowded, emotionally depleted, and spiritually restless. We move quickly from one responsibility to another, carrying unfinished tasks, unanswered messages, family concerns, financial pressures, and the steady awareness that there is alwaysâŠ
Great Stories
In some strange ways, early 2026 has felt like a season of endings. Really, over the past year or so, Iâve had several stories that have reached their conclusions. Shows that ran for years. Franchises that shaped us. Cultural touchstones that once omnipresent finished. And endings are hard. Not just because we hate to say goodbye, but also because we love stories. And as Iâve written before, IâŠ
Why Gathering Matters More Than You Think
Every week, something sacred happens when the church gathers. It may not look dramatic from the outside. At our church, people walk in with coffee cups. Kids wiggle. Someone is running late. Someone else is wondering if they even belong. But beneath the ordinary surface, God is at work. Faith is strengthened. Hope is rekindled. Hearts are reoriented toward Jesus. Scripture reminds us that ourâŠ
Why Read?
Iâve been thinking a lot lately about the simple act of reading. Not studying. Not skimming headlines. Not scrolling. But sitting down with a bookâpages in handâand choosing to pay attention. In a world shaped by images and algorithms, reading is almost a countercultural act. It asks something of us. It requires time, patience, and a willingness to be shaped by another voice. As Byrd pointsâŠ
The Centrality of Family Discipleship
Most of us who care about faith spend a lot of energy thinking about churchâsermons, ministries, small groups, youth programs, worship services. And all of those things matter. They really do. But the most important place where faith is formed isnât the sanctuary. Itâs the living room. The minivan. The dinner table. The bedtime routine. Faith Begins at Home Thereâs an old line that rings true:âŠ
Learning the Language of the Psalms
One of the first surprises in the Psalms is just how emotional they are. These prayers shout, weep, question, remember, rejoice, and sometimes accuse. They sound less like polished church language and more like real people trying to hold onto faith. Thatâs the gift of the Psalmsâthey teach us how to be honest with God without losing reverence for God. Remember: emotion has a place in faith. TheâŠ
How to Read the Psalms Without Getting Lost
The book of Psalms is one of the most belovedâand most confusingâparts of the Bible. One moment youâre soaring with praise: âThe Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.â The next moment youâre reading a prayer that asks God to break the teeth of enemies. What do we do with a book that moves from tenderness to rage, from quiet trust to desperate crying? The Psalms are not a neat devotional quoteâŠ
The Kind of Guidance You Can't Google
The word mentor actually has an old and beautiful story behind it. In Homerâs Odyssey, Mentor was the trusted friend of Odysseus, the one charged with guiding his son while Odysseus was away at war. He wasnât just a babysitterâhe was a steady voice, a wise presence, someone who helped shape a young man into the person he was meant to become. That ancient picture still captures what mentoring isâŠ
Who (or What) Were the Nephilim?
Few biblical footnotes have generated as much fascination (or as much confident speculation) as the Nephilim. They appear briefly, cryptically, and at strategically unsettling moments in the biblical story. And then they vanish. No clarity. No genealogy. No real explanation. Just enough detail to raise questions and not nearly enough to settle them. Which, of course, is why we keep talking aboutâŠ
What I Read in 2025
Every year, I commit to reading as much and as widely as possible. And as a means of attempting to remember everything Iâve read and holding myself accountable to my reading goals, I track the books Iâve read each year. (Click here to see what I read in 2024.) A couple of notes on this list. First, this is not a âwhat you should readâ list like some of the others that you might see floatingâŠ
Christmas Letter 2025
This Christmas our house is louder, itâs true,Because September arrived⊠with baby Ivy too!She smiles at her siblings, coos sweet little tunes,And just decided that nights are for snoozing (thank you!). Bree turned nineâquite the year itâs been,A dragon-loving reader with a book in her den.Third grade adventures, homeschool in full gear,Latinâs her favoriteâVeni, vidi⊠cheer!Sheâs helpful andâŠ
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Some Proposals for Baseball
The Major League Baseball offseason is here, the hot stove is (allegedly) heating up, and labor unrest is already crackling in the distance, with people are whispering about a potential work stoppage in 2027. So, in the spirit of hope, frustration, and maybe a little foolish optimism, here are a few of my proposals for a better way forward for baseball. My goal here? Simply what I think willâŠ
The Rumor Mill
One of the more insidious features of American Christianity has reared its head in our church of late: the rumor mill. Let me explain. I serve as a pastor at a St. Louis area church that was planted in 2020 as an independent, non-denominational church that embraces mere Christianity. This means that, unlike many church plants, we do not have denominational or network supportâonly the people whoâŠ
Heresy Begets Insight: Bibliography
Ayoub, Mahmoud. 2007. A Muslim View of Christianity: Essays on Dialogue. Edited by Irfan A. Omar. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books. Beaumont, Mark Ivor. 2005. âEarly Christian Interpretation of the Qurâan.â Transformation 22, 4: 195-203. Begzos, Marios P. 2010. âInter-Religious Dialogue in Byzantine Thought: The Philosophical and Theological Contribution of John of Damascus.â Greek OrthodoxâŠ
Heresy Begets Insight: Conclusions
John of Damascusâ writings on Islam provide a foundational perspective for understanding early Christian views of Islam as a heresy. His commitment to accurate representation, deep engagement with Islamic texts, fair argumentation, and theological framing offers valuable insights for contemporary Christian-Muslim dialogue. While his approach requires adaptation to address the complexities ofâŠ