Sermon – April 27 , 2025 This Sunday, we reflected on Thomas’s encounter with the risen Lord. We explored the reasons behind his doubts and how he moved from uncertainty to a personal faith in the risen Christ. Through this powerful moment, we considered the lessons it offers for our own Christian journey.…

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For this Easter, we reflect on the passage of Revelation 5:9-10. In this song, God’s creation and people worship the Lamb of God, Jesus, for his willingness to give up his life in order to ransom a people for God. We see how the passage invites us today to place God at the center of our lives, to see Jesus as the Lamb of God who redeems us, to live…

For this Easter, we reflect on the passage of Revelation 5:9-10. In this song, God’s creation and people worship the Lamb of God, Jesus, for his willingness to give up his life in order to ransom a people for God. We see how the passage invites us today to place God at the center of our lives, to see Jesus as the Lamb of God who redeems us, to live…

Are we seeking Jesus among the dead or among the living?If we truly look for Him among the living, we must believe in the resurrected Christ and embrace the hope His resurrection brings. His victory over death is not merely a historical event—it is a present and living reality. Through His resurrection, we are invited into new life; we become a new…

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In this final message of our series on Ruth, we turn to the last chapter—but to fully grasp it, we first revisit the beginning. Naomi’s journey begins in deep emptiness: socially, naturally, and personally. Yet through the steadfast love of God, that emptiness is transformed into fullness. This story ultimately points us to Jesus—the one who meets …

In this week's sermon, we continue our series through the book of Ruth. In this last chapter, we take a closer look at how Boaz is living out lovingkindness. What does he do in this passage, and why? And how could we apply this truth as as we navigate everyday circumstances? Finally, the sermon points to Christ, the greater Redeemer, who impersonat…

The other day I watched The Predator—not the classic one with Schwarzenegger, but the confusing 2018 sequel that somehow ended up in my Netflix queue. The film tries to tackle neurodiversity, with a young autistic boy at the heart of the story. Tries... and mostly fails. The kid is smart, often overwhelmed, and largely misunderstood by the adults a…

Mary’s anointing of Jesus was a beautiful, voluntary act of love and devotion, done in recognition of who He was and the preciousness of the moment. While others focused on practical concerns, Mary gave her best to Jesus, filling the house—and His heart—with the fragrance of her love. Her example reminds us that true service flows from sincere love…

Life can leave us longing for rest—physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. In Ruth 3, Naomi seeks rest for Ruth by guiding her toward Boaz, their kinsman-redeemer. Ruth takes a bold step, asking Boaz to "spread his wings" over her, symbolizing protection and provision. Boaz, a man of integrity, responds with kindness and a promise to act…

The Bible is full of stories about God seeking the lost. When Adam and Eve hid in fear after committing sin, God came searching for them. Since then, God has continued to seek out His lost children. “Lost and Found” is an important theme in the Gospel of Luke. Early in the gospel, Mary and Joseph thought they had lost Jesus during their pilgrimage …

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First Revival: A Call to Personal Renewal Revival isn’t just a moment in history—it starts with you. In our First Revival series, we’re diving into the book of Acts to see how the Holy Spirit empowered ordinary people to share the extraordinary message of Jesus. Just as Pentecost ignited the early church, personal revival begins when we allow the H…

At the end of the first quarter of 2025, I'm ready to take the next step in my creative journey. For the past three months, I’ve been working hard on writing a fantasy novel – a project I’ve dreamed about for years but never dared to start. It’s been tough, but also incredibly rewarding. The truth is, writing can be a lonely process. I spend hours …

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Have you ever wondered why some of your favorite movies feel so authentic, even when you know it’s all make-believe? Take Titanic, for example. Part of what made the acting feel so real was the genuine fear of the actors and extras filming scenes in massive water tanks, with entire sections of the ship tilting and throwing them into the water. Talk…

Here on the Story Secrets podcast, I’ve reviewed movies, TV shows, books, and even video games. But this time, I’m diving into something I’ve never talked about before: a theatre play. And not just any play, but Shadowlands by William Nicholson. You might know this story from the movie adaptation starring Anthony Hopkins, but I haven’t seen the mov…

What if you could actually talk to ghosts? Not just in some spooky, fake haunted house on a Halloween night, but for real—crossing over into the world of spirits, building friendships with the dead? That’s the brilliant premise of City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab. And it’s more than just a cool ghost story; it’s a story about identity, friendship,…

Yesterday, I experienced something truly amazing. I played the first stage of a VR game on my Quest 3, based on the legendary gaming franchise Assassin’s Creed. Now, I’ve played parts of previous games, but this was something else entirely. This was the first VR version of the game, called Assassin’s Creed Nexus, and it completely blew my mind. The…

Do you want to grow deeper in knowing, loving and following the Lord? Do you want to become more like Him? Join us for a sermon by Sarah Varley, shared at the Liberty Women’s Event 2025. In this powerful message, she reveals ways to strengthen your walk with God and become more like Him.

Many claim Christianity but lack a transformed heart. James 2:19 warns that even demons believe in God—but they aren’t saved. The Kingdom of God is growing, but like wheat and weeds or a fishing net, true believers and false ones will be revealed in time. In this sermon, we tackle three statements for those claiming to be Christians: “I’m a good pe…

Sermon – March 23 , 2025 When we face difficulties, we question God. Whenever disaster strikes the world, many ask, “Where is God?” The question people seek answers to is: “Where is God when it hurts?” Such a question carries many assumptions, two of which are particularly common: 1. Is God failing in His duty to protect His people? Despite our dis…

Wow. The Season 2 finale of Severance was nothing short of brilliant. Apple TV+ has done it again, delivering a masterpiece that feels like the best thing since Lost. But unlike many mystery-box shows, Severance gives you answers while keeping you hooked with even more questions. At the heart of this show is the creepy and mysterious Lumon corporat…

If you were addicted to ER back in the day like I was, you might want to check out The Pit. It’s a new medical drama starring Noah Wyle (Dr. Carter from ER), and it has that same chaotic, high-intensity energy—but with a much darker, grittier edge. Set in the emergency room of a major city hospital—nicknamed The Pit because it feels like a war zone…

Have you seen the first episode of Wheel of Time Season 3? Amazon dropped three episodes at once, and I’ve watched the first one—and wow, they have seriously stepped up their game. For those unfamiliar, Wheel of Time is one of the most famous fantasy book series out there. Robert Jordan started it, crafting an epic world where history repeats itsel…

There’s a new series on Netflix that’s suddenly blowing up, even though it wasn’t really advertised. No big promotional campaign, no flashy trailers—just word of mouth making it explode in popularity. And after watching the first episode, I totally get why. It’s called Adolescence, and at first glance, it sounds like a typical crime drama. A 15-yea…

In this message, we have a conversation between Naomi and Ruth seeing how Naomi is impacted by the lovingkindness displayed by Boaz towards Ruth. In the process of this conversation, we learn two things: Naomi’s life is being transformed from bitterness to pleasantness, and Boaz is revealed to be one of their kinsmen redeemers, i.e. someone able to…

Most of what people think they know about St. Patrick isn’t actually true. He wasn’t Irish. He probably didn’t chase snakes out of Ireland. And he definitely didn’t invent green beer (sorry, folks). But here’s something even more surprising: we have a firsthand account of his life, written by St. Patrick himself. It's called The Confessio, and it’s…

Sermon – March 16 , 2025 One of the challenges we face in our Christian journey is maintaining consistency in our walk with the Lord. For some, following Jesus is difficult, and for others, it is intensely challenging, especially when living in a hostile environment. However, this does not mean that following Jesus is easy for those who do not face…

Okay, confession time. I did not expect to get emotionally invested in a book about warrior cats. But Into the Wild pulled me in fast. At first, I thought, "Oh, this will be a fun, light read." And then suddenly, I was knee-deep in clan politics, betrayals, and existential questions about loyalty. This book is way smarter than it looks. And today, …

I was a library kid. My happy place was a quiet corner, surrounded by books, far from the constant noise of home—my dad’s bagpipes, my brother’s piano practice, and the general chaos of family life. Yet despite my love for books, there was a long period when I barely read at all. What happened? School. In the Netherlands, we were forced to read “re…

I can’t stop talking about Severance. It’s rare for a show to capture my imagination the way this one does. Every episode is like a puzzle piece, and the internet is buzzing with speculation, theories, and analysis. It reminds me of the Lost era when fans would dissect every frame for hidden clues. What makes Severance so special? A Thriving Fan Co…

If you grew up with Star Wars, you probably had that one toy that defined your childhood. Maybe it was a lightsaber, an action figure, or a model of the Millennium Falcon. For me, those early Star Wars toys were more than just collectibles—they were how we kept the magic alive between movies. Back then, you couldn’t just rewatch Star Wars whenever …

Over the weekend, I dived into a fascinating series of lectures on The Hobbit by Joseph Pearce. If you're not familiar with his work, he's written extensively about the deeper layers of Tolkien's stories, especially their Catholic themes. But this lecture series really opened my eyes to something I hadn’t fully appreciated before: the role of grace…

We explore Ruth 2:14-17 which reminds us that God’s lovingkindness reaches those on the margins. Just as Jesus stepped into our messy world, the story of Boaz and Ruth teaches us that kindness, justice, and hospitality transform lives. When we intentionally create margins in our busy lives, we open ourselves to see and serve the poor, oppressed, an…

Did you know that an Irish saint from the early Middle Ages helped inspire both J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis? His name was St. Brendan the Navigator, and his legendary voyage to a mysterious land echoes through some of the greatest fantasy stories ever written. I’ve been diving deep into early medieval Irish history while writing my own fantasy no…

The idea of making a deal with the devil has been explored in countless stories, but The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria Schwab does something truly unique with it. This book surprised me—in the best way possible. The story follows Addie, a young woman in 1714 France who, in a desperate moment, makes a bargain with a mysterious figure nam…

What if there was a global reset button for time? A way to roll back history whenever humanity faced disaster—whether it be a world war, a pandemic, or some other catastrophe? That’s the premise of The Lazarus Project, a sci-fi series I recently started watching, and let me tell you—it’s fascinating. The story follows George, an ordinary guy who su…

I finally read Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb—the book that everyone on BookTok and BookTube seems to love. And I went in with high expectations. A fantasy classic? Deep characters? A compelling story? Count me in. And then… well, let’s just say my experience was very different from the glowing reviews I had read. Here’s the gist: The story fo…

The trailer for Andor Season 2 just dropped, and wow—it reminded me why this series is one of the best things to come out of Star Wars in years. And no, it’s not just because of the gritty storytelling or the fantastic cinematography. It’s because Andor is about something bigger than a galaxy far, far away. At its core, Star Wars has always been ab…

We explore Ruth 2:1-13, highlighting God's lovingkindness (hesed) through Ruth’s encounter with Boaz. Ruth, in a vulnerable position, finds herself in Boaz's field by God's providence. Boaz shows extraordinary kindness, going beyond what’s expected to protect and provide for her. His actions reflect the love and compassion Jesus shows to all of us.…

Should Elimelech and Naomi have left Bethlehem, the House of Provision? Though they ventured to Moab, the Lord brought them back. Ruth—whose name means “Friend”—accompanied Naomi on their journey back to Bethlehem, arriving at the beginning of the barley harvest during the feast of Passover. They returned to the House of Provision, where Boaz, a ri…

Sermon – March 2 , 2025 Listening is essential, especially in our Christian journey. When someone does not listen, it can feel as though you do not exist or are not part of the relationship. Without listening, there won’t be a connection. The first step in building a relationship is being heard and understood. The Israelites held Moses and Elijah i…

Sermon – February 16 , 2025 (Luke 6:20-26). Jesus teaches his disciples about the four blessings and their corresponding woes, preparing them for a blessed life that will keep them closer to God while warning them of the woes that could lead them away from Him.By Harrison Chinnakumar

Sermon – February 23 , 2025 Christian life is hard. It often seems as though we expect life to be a smooth highway without bumps or curves. However, the truth is that life is filled with loss, failure, illness, difficult decisions, and heartache. At times, our life on earth can become so hard that even putting one foot in front of the other feels l…

What if the color of your eyes determined your entire life? That’s the premise behind Gaby Raaijmakers’ fantasy trilogy, where eye color dictates everything—your job, your social class, even your future. Born with blue eyes? You’re a servant. Golden eyes? You’re royalty. Black eyes? A thief. And what happens if you refuse to accept the role society…

We’re in a new golden age of Middle-earth. With The Rings of Power greenlit for Season 3, Peter Jackson’s next Lord of the Rings films in development, and The War of the Rohirrim bringing anime-style Tolkien to the screen, it’s an exciting time to be a fan. I know The Rings of Power has sparked endless debate, but I have to say—I love what they’ve …

Editing my footage from the Elfia fantasy fair feels like stepping into a time machine. It’s freezing outside, but watching those warm, sunny September days again? Pure joy. Events like these are more than just fun—they create lasting memories. One of my favorite encounters was with a German cosplayer dressed as Senshi, the mustachioed dwarven cook…