Curated Curiosity

   I’ve always believed in Christ. For years, I called myself a Christian, but looking back, I realized that I don't think I was truly saved. I didn’t understand what it really meant to walk with Him in a deep, personal relationship. It was more head knowledge than heart surrender. At the time I didn't feel that way, but looking back you get to see some things more clearly.  My testimony..     It starts here... I met my wife.  From the very beginning, something was different between us. It wasn’t just attraction or shared interests it was an instant, genuine connection, like two pieces finally fitting together. I knew right away I had found my other half. As our relationship grew, we built a life together. We started a family, faced joys and struggles side by side, and grew even closer. She became my safe place, my partner in every sense of the word.      At some point, she felt a strong pull toward church. She started going regularly, a...

Salvation by Grace Alone Through Faith Alone: A Theological Critique of Roman Catholic Soteriology   In the clear light of Holy Scripture, the gospel stands as the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). This gospel is not a system of mediated rituals or hierarchical necessities but the free declaration that sinners are justified, declared righteous before a holy God, by grace alone, received through faith alone, in Christ alone. To this biblical truth the Reformation returned with unyielding clarity, exposing every human addition as a distortion of the sufficiency of Christ's finished work.      Roman Catholicism, by contrast, has constructed a theology in which the sinner cannot approach God directly in saving faith but must instead pass through the mediation of men and the machinery of sacramental rituals. This is not a minor emphasis or pastoral application, it is woven into the very fabric of its official doctrine. The Catechism of t...

April Fools’ Day was coming, I was curious about its origin, I looked into it, and the curiosity led me to curate this blog, per usual for Curated Curiosity... The Primary Stories     What started as a quick “why do we do this silly thing?” spiral turned into a surprisingly deep dive into one of history’s most delightfully murky traditions. Turns out, the real joke is on anyone who claims to know exactly where April Fools’ Day began. Historians, folklorists, and calendar nerds have been chasing this one for centuries, and the trail keeps looping back on itself, kind of like the ultimate prank. But that’s what makes it fun. Here’s the smartest, most evidence-based story I could piece together, without pretending I’ve cracked some ancient code.     Let’s start with the ancient vibes, because April 1 sits right in that giddy zone where winter finally loosens its grip and spring starts playing tricks on us. One recurring thread points to the Roman festival of Hilari...

Out of curiosity I thought I'd take a dive into the history and origins of a real American Icon and game day staple, the hamburger. So I curated this blog to summarize my research and come to the definitive conclusion of the birthplace of the hamburger.     If you're a foodie you might like this citizen journalism I put together. And if your just curious, looking for a fun read, well I have you covered too.  First; our candidates and their case.        A Texas historian credits Fletcher Davis with the first version of the hamburger in Austin Texas in the 1880's. However, He didn't serve his creation to a larger audience untill the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair.        Charlie Nagreen is recognized by the Seymour Community Historical society for the first hamburger at the 1885 Seymour Fair in Wisconsin. At 15 years old he decided to flatten meatballs to make it easier for people to eat while walking.  They called him Hamb...

How it started...     I was scrolling through some Christian content one quiet evening, just letting a few teaching clips and discussions wash over me, when something unexpected cut through the noise. Someone casually mentioned a “secret message” buried deep in the Old Testament, not in a dramatic prophecy or a vivid parable, but in the most overlooked place imaginable: a genealogy. One of those long lists of names that most of us speed-read past, treating them like ancient footnotes rather than anything meaningful. The claim was bold. These names, when you dig into their original Hebrew meanings and line them up, supposedly form a complete sentence. Not just any sentence, but one that captures the heart of the entire biblical story in a handful of words. I froze the video right there. Was this real? Was it clever coincidence? Or was it something more? Curiosity took over completely. So of course I couldn't just leave it alone, anything Biblical that seems to request a little ...

Daily Bread for a Daily Walk: A Devotional Dive into Luke 11:3          I'm writing a daily devotional utilizing the month and the day to set my search for scriptures. Meaning for example, if the date is 10/13 I look for scriptures that are chapter 10 verse 13. Then I study, pray, create a short piece of content, then write the devotional. Well today I came across a particularly deep verse, one that you probably know very well, I'm sure most Christians have said it many times. But in researching further I came across some deep biblical connections and felt so moved I couldn't stop making notes and reading more. So of course, this blog had to happen.    I started with the verse itself (Luke 11:3 in the ESV) and jotted a quick devotional draft in the margin. Something simple and restrained, as I tend to go on and on.... and on. But as I read, the verse and worked on my content the phrase that made me choose this chapter 11 verse 3 over the others “daily ...

Mormonism and Christianity: A Thoughtful Biblical Perspective    The question of whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), often referred to as Mormonism, aligns with biblical Christianity is a meaningful one for those seeking to understand the truth of God’s Word. Members of the LDS Church express a deep commitment to Jesus Christ as their Savior, and their dedication to faith and community is admirable. However, when we examine Mormon teachings in light of the Bible, God’s inspired and sufficient revelation, significant differences emerge that set Mormonism apart from the faith described in Scripture.      This blog explores these differences with humility, clarity, and respect, aiming to honor the sincerity of all who seek truth while remaining anchored in the Bible’s teachings. By considering Mormonism’s additional scriptures, its views on God, Jesus, salvation, and temple practices, we seek to offer a thoughtful perspective that invites...

Reflecting on "Pushing Faith" Week 3 of the Reply Series      As I sat down to read my co-leader’s notes for Week 3 of our student ministry’s “Reply” series, titled “Pushing Faith,” I was excited to dive into his thoughts.  The previous week in the session I led on hypocrisy, how the world calls Christians hypocrites and how we can live authentically for Christ. I poured my extended thoughts into a blog post to capture what didn’t fit in the lesson time. This week, my co-leader took the stage to tackle another common objection: “Christians shouldn’t push their faith on others.” I was there Wednesday night, sitting with the students (partly to keep some of our lively boys in check, they’re great kids, but you know how it goes), and his message was thought provoking. Reading his notes now, I’m stirred again, reflecting on the scriptures and ideas he shared. It’s like I’m back in the room, hearing the flow of his words, pausing to process, and connecting them to my own ...

People, we made it, the day is here.     When the first day of football season breaks, the world tilts on its axis. The air doesn’t just feel crisp, it hums with purpose, carrying the scent of freshly mown grass that’s no longer just a lawn but a whisper of every gridiron from peewee fields to the roaring coliseums of the NFL. There’s a bite to the breeze, a hint of autumn, laced with the smoky perfume of tailgates firing up, charcoal and sizzling wings blending with the faint sweetness of spilled beer. Your morning coffee, steaming in its mug, smells sharper, as if it knows it’s fueling you for something sacred, a ritual that transcends the ordinary.          Listen, and the sounds tell the story. The faint drone of a pregame show from a neighbor’s TV isn’t just background noise, it’s a hymn, a prelude to the symphony of kickoff. Bottles clink in coolers, kids shout as they toss a football in the street, and somewhere, a subwoofer pulses with Swe...