Category: Reflections
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Life Lately: When Everything Happens at Once
It’s been a disorienting, full, and strangely beautiful month—job transitions, cross-country road trips, 11 puppies, a new church launch, and now a new role serving my local community. I finally took time to reflect and write it all down.
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Beyond Hype: What College Students are Looking for from the Church
This generation has grown up watching institutions—churches, governments, even educational systems—lose credibility through scandals, hypocrisy, and empty promises. They’ve seen leaders say one thing and do another. They’ve watched movements prioritize influence over integrity. So when they hear the church talk about beliefs without action, commitment without care, or growth without depth, they check out.
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When Labels Lie: Seeing Beyond the Surface
INot everything is what its label implies. We live in a world filled with titles, names, and symbols that don’t always reflect the reality they claim to represent. Labels can be helpful. They offer quick identification and help us categorize things in a complex world. But they can also deceive, giving the illusion of truth…
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Podcast Recommendation: Seeing White
At the beginning of Black History Month, I want to share a resource that remains as relevant today as it was when it first aired in 2017. If you haven’t yet listened to Scene on Radio’s series Seeing White, now is the perfect time to start. This 14-episode series, beginning with Episode 1: Turning the…
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The Wisdom of Solomon:
If we’re willing to destroy the thing we claim to love in order to “win” than we actually love winning more than whatever we are claiming to love.
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Bridging Gaps with ONUplus
From the beginning of ONUplus, there was a clear goal: reach young adults who aren’t necessarily planning on a college campus experience, or who maybe haven’t been preparing for it. We’re navigating a new and, admittedly, challenging space. But, if anything, these challenges underscore just how essential ONUplus is. We’re stepping into the gap; not…
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The New Religion: How Politics Became Our Faith
Look around. Our society is filled with rallies that are less like policy presentations and more like tent revivals. Campaign slogans and political anthems are chanted with fervor, almost as hymns in a new kind of worship. Party affiliation increasingly mirrors denominational allegiance, where membership goes beyond belief and enters the realm of identity and…
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By the Hand
By The Hand Club For Kids is transforming lives in Chicago, walking with children from kindergarten through college by nurturing their minds, bodies, and souls. Their work in neighborhoods like Cabrini Green is a testament to the power of love and long-term commitment. Learn more about their mission and how you can support their life-changing…
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Book Recommendation: The First 100 Days: A Pastor’s Guide
“The First 100 Days” isn’t just a guidebook; it’s like having a mentor who understands the unique challenges of ministry. It’s been a steady companion for me, offering wisdom and encouragement when I needed it most.
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ONU “Plus”
At first glance, the ONUplus initiative might seem like a big shift away from what Olivet has done well for so long. But having been a part of this program for nearly a year now, I am convinced more know than ever, that ONUplus is a continuation of the mission and motivation that has been…
Tanner H Griffin 