How Ought I Respond to a Christian-Turned-Atheist?

On Friday night, Justin Vollmar, a self-proclaimed preacher of the “Virtual Deaf Church” Facebook group, released a sub-titled video blog (“vlog”) declaring his departure from Christianity to Atheism. As he explained in the vlog, it marked the “culmination of four long years struggling with contradictions in the Bible and with Christianity.” He blatantly rejected the cardinal doctrines of Christianity (i.e., the Trinity, Jesus as the Son of God, the authority and veracity of the Scriptures, &c.). Near the end, he has declared his intent to create additional videos to attack Christian doctrines so that people can be freed from “the shackles of religion,” as some Atheists might describe it. He also joined the Clergy Project, a support group for 556-plus active and former professional clergy/religious leaders who have renounced Christianity.

The Perfect (Snow) Storm: Birmingham Gridlock Explained

I was stuck at Beeson Divinity School Tuesday night because a rare snowstorm passed through the Birmingham region and shut down a significant portion of Alabama and Georgia. Now dubbed by some as the “Birmingham Gridlock” and (somewhat humorously) “snow apocalypse,” it was a relatively minor system that only served to reinforce the stereotypical view that Northerners had about the Southerners. As someone who has lived in the North for most of his life (Maryland, to be specific), I decided to chronicle exactly what transpired and why the entire city was paralyzed by it. Why? So that you not only understand exactly what happened but also to shine light on the plight some people have experienced since Tuesday night.

Also, I have prepared a five-minute video clip at the bottom of this post, and I hope you will enjoy it!

Beeson "Lock-In" and Birmingham Gridlock

Traffic jam on I-65

About 50 students, faculty, and staff members are stranded in Beeson Divinity School since last night, in addition to countless people from Samford University. We were ordered to stay where we are and we have no idea when we can go home, but I am fine and everyone on campus is fine. However, it's a nightmare throughout Birmingham right now...

10 Best Places in Alabama

Alabama's State Flag

I am a Yankee boy, and I have a confession: I still love the North and nothing will change it! Since that was the case, my perception on the South – especially the Deep South – consisted of fried chicken, grits loaded with butter and cheese, Confederate flags flying everywhere, and hoards of rednecks driving beat-up pick-up trucks covered with Confederate flags and hunting stickers. Oh, you can't forget its state sport too: college football!

Kyrie Eleison!

© Windstar Embroidery Designs

“The mercy of God is ultimately seen in Jesus Christ!”

(Bruce L. Persons)

Deaf Fellowship at Frederick Church of the Brethren invited me to fill the pulpit for Rev. Peter Myers, and I preached a message this past Sunday on Luke 18:9-14. It is my prayer that this message will bless and challenge you, and also enrich your personal walk with our Lord the Savior! If you ever want me to preach at your church or an event, please click here to contact me.

A special thanks is in order for Deaf Fellowship at Frederick Church of the Brethren for recording this sermon as a part of their ongoing "virtual" ministry. However, due to unforeseeable technical difficulties, the beginning of my sermon was not recorded. For that reason, I decided to write up a rough transcript of what I said at the beginning:

Five Tips on Air Travel

I am at an airport once again, and I only have an hour to spare, so I decided to share five things I have learned over the past three years flying all over America. Here are a few things you might want to heed the next time you travel:

An Encounter at Diplomat Deli

This past Saturday, I was blessed to have a friend come to Birmingham and spend his day with me. Seminarians do not get out too often those days, and any change to my daily route, albeit slight, is always a welcoming one!

After spending an entire afternoon shopping at 2nd & Charles (it is an awesome and mind-blowing but dangerous store to go for those who love books!), we decided to eat dinner at Diplomat Deli, a mom-and-pop joint in Vestavia Hills. It did not only have good selection of food but also a mean Reuben sandwich that leaves me wanting for more! I highly recommend this place to any of you who want some good local fare, but don't go if you are a recovering alcoholic: this store prominently sells and displays liquor on its walls. But I digress...

As we entered the restaurant, three people at a table caught our attention when a college-aged girl signaled and signed to us in a rather halting manner a question I rarely hear in Alabama:

“Are you Deaf?”