Today we are going to unpack one of the most raw cries in the Bible. A verse like Psalm 88 isn’t something you hang on a sunny coffee mug. We think it’s our home, the howl that echoes from the bottom of a pit at midnight. Immediately upon opening the book, you can hear the […]
Psalm 88 and the Theology of Abandonment Read More »
“The Final Candle: Perseverance Until the End Thunder Over Calvary: Nature’s Response to the Crucifixion” captures two powerful ideas related to the cross. In a darkening world, the “final candle” symbolizes the perseverance Jesus showed right up to his death, as well as the call for believers to hold on faithfully until the end. “Thunder
Hey everyone, let’s dive into one of the oldest stories in the Bible that still packs a punch today, Cain’s curse. You know the tale from Genesis, right? Cain and Abel are the first brothers, sons of Adam and Eve, and things go south fast. Cain’s a farmer, Abel’s a shepherd, and when they both
Cain’s Curse: The First Mark of Rebellion Read More »
It’s dark, intense, and wildly imaginative, the kind of stuff that feels right at home in a Gothic setting. There’s towering visions of cosmic chaos, monstrous beasts with horns and heads rising from the sea, dragons spewing fire, skies rolling up like a scroll, stars falling like figs in a storm, and blood-red moons. There’s
The Gothic Appeal of Revelation’s Apocalyptic Visions Read More »
It was common for the Desert Fathers, those early Christian hermits who went into the Egyptian desert starting in the third century, to pray in places that screamed death, like graveyards or old tombs. For a while, Anthony the Great lived in a rock tomb, blocking himself in to pray, fast, and deal with distractions.
Graveyard Contemplation: Praying Among Tombs Like the Desert Fathers Read More »
There are many ways for Christian groups to gather in a cemetery setting, focusing on reflection, prayer, community, and honoring the hope of resurrection. Graveyards are peaceful, meaningful backdrops that remind us of life’s brevity and eternity. During graveyard fellowships, everyone walks through the rows, stops at graves, reads the inscriptions, and prays for the
Graveyard Fellowship Ideas Read More »
Despite being portrayed as simple, heartwarming stories meant to comfort and guide, the parables of Jesus hold heavy shadows, sharp warnings, and unflinching judgments. There’s something different about these darker parables because they don’t soften spiritual reality, instead they go straight into themes like rejection, violence, exclusion, final separation, and the weight of our choices
Dark Parables of Jesus Read More »
In many parts of the world, black is the color of grief, especially in Western cultures influenced by Christianity. In ancient Rome, people wore dark togas at funerals to show they were sad. It stuck around through the Middle Ages and really took hold in Europe, becoming the standard for mourning clothes. Because of its
Black is the color of mourning, and resurrection hope. Read More »
The idea of mourning with those who mourn comes straight from Romans 12:15 in the Bible, where it says to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn. There’s something simple about this: sitting in someone’s pain rather than trying to fix it or brush it off. It’s about sharing the
Mourning with Those Who Mourn: Goth Empathy and Biblical Grief Read More »
A Leviathan, a Behemoth, and a Ziz are these epic, massive creatures from Jewish mythology that represent the wild forces of the sea, land, and sky. They’re often described as primordial beasts created by God at the beginning, each ruling its own domain and displaying divine power. The Leviathan is the unstoppable sea serpent, a
Chaos Tamed: Leviathan, Behemoth, and Ziz Await the Final Feast Read More »
