New Identity Magazine

IN THE BEGINNING…

Brandon Hurlbert — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 00:21:47 +0000

Reading prologues was never a habit of mine. I always figured that whatever the author really wanted to say would come out in the following chapters. When I got to college, I soon realized that these sections are crucial for understanding the rest of the story. They introduce the reader to key themes and characters and also lay out a framework for how to move forward in the story.

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SAVORING SUMMER WITH STORIES

Brandon Hurlbert — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:46:25 +0000

Summer is here and I cannot wait to partake in one of my favorite personal traditions. For the past six years, on the first day of summer after I get out of classes, I go to a quiet park and read The Great Gatsby. I know, what kind of person rewards himself for finishing a rough semester by reading a book? Well, the kind of person that finds joy in stories. Albert Camus…

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BRIMSTONE AND BEDTIME STORIES

Brandon Hurlbert — Mon, 22 May 2017 18:41:07 +0000

Photo Credit: lauren rushing | Flickr (Creative Commons) Imagine a children’s storybook filled with images of chaotic carnage, of bodies strewn across the damp hills and burning cities crumbling under the weight of molten brimstone. Imagine tucking a child into bed after recounting these gruesome stories and then simply telling them that God loves them. With no further explanation than moral…

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THE IMPERFECT PASTOR

Brandon Hurlbert — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:00:40 +0000

Photo Credit: Steven Leonti | Flickr (Creative Commons) A few years ago, I was apart of a large multi-campus church that was very well connected and whose pastor was often in the public spotlight. When rumors began surfacing about potential scandals, almost every Christian news outlet and magazine went hunting for skeletons. They unearthed a number of things that were seen as unethical, unwise…

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TO MAKE HIM KNOWN

Brandon Hurlbert — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 16:38:17 +0000

What is your view of the Law of the Old Testament? Do’s and Don’ts? Strict adherence to the Ten Commandments? An overbearing family member? If it is, then you might find the notion of Christian obligation to be a burden. This Law is crushing down upon you, and you might feel the need to work very hard to keep all of its demands. You may also think that in the Old Testament, the Law which is better…

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REPAIRING BROKEN BRIDGES

Brandon Hurlbert — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 18:14:05 +0000

Photo by Enoch Shih My college roommate just got engaged, and I was genuinely excited for him. This is quite a normal response for such a situation, but it has been a crazy two year journey to this point. His fiancé is also my ex-girlfriend. To complicate things further, they started dating right after my friends and I had gotten an apartment together. Making matters worse, they didn’t even…

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THE LIGHT OF GOD’S LOVE

Brandon Hurlbert — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 17:18:29 +0000

Photo Credit: Nick Perrone | Flickr (Creative Commons) The Christian life of faith is very comparable to a new relationship. This new life in Christ is exciting and freeing. It is different than anything you have ever experienced. There is so much to learn about God, his word, and even this new quirky family we call the Church. However, much like natural relationships, there is a spiritual…

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THE BEAUTY OF THE BRIDE

Brandon Hurlbert — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 16:40:15 +0000

Photo Credit: Nicola @ Flickr (CC) It’s not uncommon to have an unpleasant church going experience or be turned off by the words, behaviors or attitudes of other Christians in your community. Flawed people often produce flawed results. The discomfort caused by such experiences can often lead us to ask the very simple question: “Do I really have to go to a church?” Visiting with friends over…

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DOUBT OF THE MIND AND DOUBT OF THE HEART

Brandon Hurlbert — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 22:06:44 +0000

Photos by: Derriel Street Photography @ Flickr (Creative Commons) [dropcap]I[/dropcap]n Scripture, it appears that there are two levels of doubt: doubt of the mind and doubt of the heart. Doubt of the Mind manifests as a simple question, “Why?,” and this is a good thing, even encouraged by Scripture. When Paul spoke in the city of Berea, the people “received the word with all eagerness…

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