The Hidden Stories of the Movies I Never Saw
Looking back at the movies that defined the year I was born, I realized how many of them I never really knew at all. What began as a simple trip through film history became a deeper reflection on growing up in a conservative Christian culture where entertainment was expected to reinforce a carefully curated moral world—and how the stories we avoid can shape us just as much as the stories we embrace.
When Violence Pretends to Save Us
When violence begins to feel righteous, democracy is already in danger.
A new post at Randomly Rudimentary Life Stuff explores assassination fantasies, patriotism, and why cultures are not healed by bullets.
Why I’m Calling It ‘Life’ Now
Fourteen years ago, I named this blog Randomly Rudimentary Faith Stuff.
The writing—and the writer—have changed.
I’m calling it Life now, not because faith matters less, but because I’ve come to see faith and life as inseparable.
When Grace Has to Carry More Than We Thought
Christians love to talk about ‘grace’. But do they mean by that? What if grace isn’t abstract, or dependent on getting everything right? As I re-examine what I was taught about hell and salvation, I’m beginning to see that real grace has to carry more than just our mistakes—it has to carry our misunderstandings too.
When the Prosecutors Need Prosecuting
When a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney texted a reporter to declare their conversation “off the record” after the fact, it was part sitcom, part civic horror story. We laugh—but we shouldn’t have to.
Grace, Grit, and 37 Years of Us
If I’ve developed a moral compass at all, it’s because of her. Not from sermons or verses, but from watching how she treats people — with patience, grace, and a kind of decency that makes you want to be better too.
When Idiocy Becomes Evil: Why Bonhoeffer Was Right About Stupidity
We have to stop pretending that ignorance is harmless. And we have to stop excusing people who “didn’t know what they were getting into” after the damage is already done.
Time May Heal, But It Also Scars
Time may heal—but it doesn’t always erase. Some wounds become scars. In this quiet reflection, I explore the space between grief and growth, and how music speaks when time won’t.
The Two Types of Legitimate Meetings (And Why I Put My Faith in Them)
Not all meetings are created equal. In fact, I’ve come to believe there are really only two types of legitimate ones: Group-to-Leader reporting and Leader-to-Group reporting. Everything else? It’s not just unnecessary—it’s harmful. Here’s why I put my faith in this simple framework, and why even “ordinary” convictions belong in Randomly Rudimentary Faith Stuff.
Randomly Rudimentary Life Stuff 
Two Songs at the Ballpark
A seventh inning stretch at an Astros game sparked a reflection on patriotism, belonging, and why baseball’s organic rituals may unite us better than nationalistic ones.