Author: Brandon Hurlbert

  • Life is not a Competition

    Life is not a Competition

    It has been said that we must perform at a certain velocity to achieve worth, success, and security. Many things have been promised to our generation, but it seems that only a select few have achieved them. We hold these success stories up as a championing call to work harder, be better, and to not…

    Read more: Life is not a Competition
  • Can You Critique The Church?

    Can You Critique The Church?

    I was reading Josh Carroll’s post about the disease called “Critiqueomania” and I found that I myself have had rather severe bouts of this plague. Some of these outbreaks have been part of my former angst, but others seemed very well meant. Some were definitely “Critiqueomania,” but there were other times where my criticism was well…

    Read more: Can You Critique The Church?
  • My Experience at Mars Hill

    My Experience at Mars Hill

    Mark Driscoll is trending again. This past week I read an interview transcript by John Piper on the subject of Mars Hill and Driscoll. I also read that Driscoll is beginning a new bible study series on Ecclesiastes that will be hosted on his website. I have often wanted to share my own experience at Mars Hill,…

    Read more: My Experience at Mars Hill
  • Why Theological Convictions Complicate Your Ministry But Not Your Mission

    Why Theological Convictions Complicate Your Ministry But Not Your Mission

    It’s 12 am and you are preparing a sermon for tomorrow. It’s 4pm and you are preparing for community group that will take place in your living room in a few hours. You have reached an impasse. You could take the easy route and give that nicely packaged sermon or group discussion that you have…

    Read more: Why Theological Convictions Complicate Your Ministry But Not Your Mission
  • What really happens at Hume Lake

    What really happens at Hume Lake

    [vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=”” animation=”” animation_delay=”” fullwidth=”no” bg_type=”solid_color” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” video_texture=”” fw_columns=”” fw_same_height=”” border=”” waved_border_top=”” waved_border_bottom=”” top_margin=”0″ bottom_margin=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″ animation=”” animation_delay=””][vc_column_text]This past week I had the opportunity to experience Hume Lake as a counselor. With nervous excitement, I made the almost 5 hour trip on a bus full of ecstatic kids aging from 4th grade to…

    Read more: What really happens at Hume Lake
  • The Age of Angst and the Death of Calvinism

    The Age of Angst and the Death of Calvinism

    [vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=”” animation=”” animation_delay=”” fullwidth=”no” bg_type=”solid_color” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” video_texture=”” fw_columns=”” fw_same_height=”” border=”” waved_border_top=”” waved_border_bottom=”” top_margin=”0″ bottom_margin=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″ animation=”” animation_delay=””][vc_column_text]I became what some might call a Calvinist my junior year in High school. Going to a Dutch Reformed private school where I took a “Reformed Perspectives” class certainly aided this process. I had resisted of…

    Read more: The Age of Angst and the Death of Calvinism
  • Reading Other Peoples’ Mail

    Reading Other Peoples’ Mail

    Returning from the mailbox, you flip through the stack that is your recent prize. You begin the important task of separating the pertinent letters from the ones that will be quickly discarded without even being read. Postcards and invitations in one stack, ads in another; bills, the things you wish you could throw away, on…

    Read more: Reading Other Peoples’ Mail
  • Jesus the Bartender

    Jesus the Bartender

    Fullerton, CA   The downtown area of this small Los Angeles suburb is home to over a dozen bars ranging from Mexican cantinas, Irish pubs and average American bars. Every Friday and Saturday evening, the streets swell with college students, business executives, the poor, the rich, and everyone in between. These bars are filled with these…

    Read more: Jesus the Bartender
  • Transience.

    Transience.

    Here is no water but only rock Rock and no water and the sandy road The road winding above among the mountains Which are mountains of rock without water If there were water we should stop and drink Amongst the rock one cannot stop or think Sweat is dry and feet are in the sand…

    Read more: Transience.