LGBTQ Rights versus Religious Freedom?

Last updated on: June 20, 2020 at 9:22 pm By René Albert

During my junior high school years, I was often the target of excessive bullying and harassment. As someone born in the 80’s, it wasn’t uncommon to hear homophobic slurs tossed around among my peers at school. Whether or not they were done jokingly, I’ll admit I have been guilty of partaking in the abhorrent language myself. But there was something utterly humiliating about being called these names, as though to imply my worthlessness as a human being. Some days, the constant teasing and name-calling... Read more

The Year I Became a Part-Time Bible School Student

Last updated on: October 16, 2019 at 10:11 pm By René Albert

My wife and I are both Bible school alumni. She attended a larger, conservative, accredited institute whereas I attended a much smaller, independent college. She attended three years of biblical studies and I was under a part-time, one-year discipleship program. Although both of us have had very different experiences, neither of us regret making the decision to take time out of our lives to pursue a relationship with God by studying Scripture and serving the church in an academic setting. Although I cannot... Read more

My Thoughts on Assisted Dying and Abortion

Last updated on: August 29, 2016 at 2:40 pm By René Albert

Image credit: Flickr Last year I lost my father-in-law to terminal esophageal cancer. He had been having difficulties swallowing food in the fall of 2014. As ingesting food gradually became more and more difficult, he was admitted into the hospital in February 2015 and promptly received the endoscopy he had been scheduled for on a later date. At first glance, the doctors immediately determined the tumour in his throat was cancerous. Long story short, after several complications with in-hospital treatment, he passed... Read more

My Critique of the Christian Music Industry

Last updated on: September 17, 2019 at 9:27 am By René Albert

When I was 17, I attended a youth bible retreat in the first weekend of my grade 12 year. A charismatic guest preacher and I found ourselves discussing hard rock and heavy metal music in the dining hall. After explaining to him that I was an avid fan of KoRn and Slipknot he exclaimed to me, “If you’re looking for an awesome Christian alternative to those bands, you need to check out Toby Mac! He’s pretty heavy and he’s totally comparable! I... Read more

Are All Sins Equal?

Last updated on: September 17, 2019 at 8:59 am By René Albert

I have friends who have told me stories about some dangerous encounters they’ve had with strangers. Many women I know have been approached in public by intimidating men who would give them unwanted attention, even to go as far as trying to manipulate them into doing what they want against their will. In many of these instances, ignoring them is not always an effective tactic in drawing these bozos away. So another option would be to lie to them that they have a... Read more

My Struggle with Baptism

Last updated on: February 5, 2020 at 11:51 am By René Albert

When I was a newly converted Christian at seventeen years old, I was told by many of my friends from youth group the next step was to be baptized. As someone who had already been baptized as an infant in the Catholic faith, I was utterly confused as to why I would need a second baptism. “Being baptized as an infant doesn’t count!” one friend of mine told me. “It is a public declaration and a personal choice to ‘seal the... Read more

Stand For Something

Last updated on: May 6, 2016 at 4:23 am By René Albert

Image credit: Flickr I’ve been to my share of rock and metal shows. My buddy and I would often try to weasel our way between the crammed bodies to be at the very front of the stage. Oftentimes when the crowd is feeling the music just right, things can get pretty crazy. People begin to bounce off each other and the crowd intensity matches the performance of the band on stage. (more…) Read more

A Reflection On Giving Up Coffee For Lent 2016

Last updated on: February 18, 2021 at 10:17 am By René Albert

Image credit: PxHere.com I have always been a bit of a coffee fiend. Okay, maybe more than a bit. I’ve had my first cup when I was only 8 years old. I remember seeing my grandpa having his afternoon coffee and then asking my grandma if I could have one too, just to be like him. Without hesitation, grandma would give me a tall glass mug with a dab of honey in it and send me back home to my parents afterwards. That might explain why I was such... Read more

Why I Despise Contemporary Christian Worship

Last updated on: March 12, 2020 at 1:54 pm By René Albert

I was a guitarist for several worship bands at a conservative Evangelical congregation in the past. My frustrations with cliques within the congregation or seemingly half-hearted involvement by fellow bandmates provoked me to try and create my own spin on the songs. Oftentimes I would add some light distortion or come up with some kind of melodic lead riff to create a different feel for the songs. But sometimes my idea of what would sound good did not always align with what the band leaders had in mind,... Read more

Does The ‘Bible Alone’ Put God In A Box?

Last updated on: February 25, 2016 at 7:10 pm By René Albert

Photo credit: freeimages.com “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 RSV When I was in my last year of high school, I abandoned the Catholic faith to convert to Protestant Evangelicalism. Despite knowing how heartbroken my parents were, one of the Bible verses I used to justify rebelling against my parents was, “Think... Read more