Friday, November 30, 2018

Christmas Carol Contemplation: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

TL;DR

For the month of December, this series of articles will dive into the meaning behind a number of cherished Christmas carols. We start with “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” to learn about seven names of the promised Messiah, the prophecies surrounding them, and the works that they describe Him fulfilling. I think it enhances the enjoyment of the holiday to be reminded of its reason, the arrival of “God with us.”

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Do I Have to Read the Bible?

TL;DR

Some people feel forced to attend church even though they do not believe what is being taught. This article looks at one possible situation where that happens to see if it is right or wrong to keep going. It usually is not as simple as a question of the truth, important as that is. Instead, it has to do with relationships. If you are being made to take part in worship, ask yourself why. Even if you do not agree with the reasons, it is good to see how the other person might mean well. Gaining that perspective can be helpful in determining whether to stay for someone else's sake, or to request the freedom to stop.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Giving Thanks When It Isn't Easy

TL;DR

My support for Thanksgiving has been a longstanding element of my online work. This year, I am focusing on what that means when times are tough. Drawing on an example from Calvin Coolidge, we can learn that thanks is something we owe even when life is difficult. We are never without blessing, especially in the form of hope. God's promises for the future are the reason to praise Him even when the present is not what we would wish it to be.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Grand Reopening!

 Hello Everyone! It’s been a while, I know. Consider this post an announcement and an explanation. The announcement is that Quest Forums is back. After some valuable advice and some careful consideration, I have decided to “return to my first love,” as it were. No meetings are in view. Instead, I will be solely focusing on writing for the website. The goal is still the same, however. I will talk about what interests me, and the thing that would interest me the most is answering questions. If you have them, please send them my way! The social media buttons in the sidebar are still in working order, and I would love to hear from you.