Welcome to the Yet We Live blog!

The first thing I want to say is thank you so much for taking the time to check this out. I never thought that I would be someone who starts a blog, but some things that I have gone through in the past 2 years, and continue to go through now, have led me here. I’m going to expand on all of that in an ongoing way as this blog continues. So, stay tuned as I use this blog to explain why I am who I am today. In a very tangible way I’m inviting you in to my story as it unfolds. I promise this will make more and more sense as I continue to post.

There are 4 things that I see as this blog’s purpose:

1. I want to use this blog as a platform to connect with people…at least as much as possible via social media. Having deep and genuine connections with others is very life giving for me. So, I plan on being very open here. Whether you are a Christian, Skeptic, Atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, no religious affiliation, or anything else I haven’t mentioned, I hope that this can become a place for you to connect. Yet We Live doesn’t have to remain Ryan’s blog. Yet We Live can become a collective. Maybe this thing will one day take on a life of its own. “About Me” can become “About Us”.

2. I want to use this blog to share my story and experiences. In the about me section of this blog (here) I mentioned that I am a skeptic Christian who doubts. A lot. I doubt God’s existence maybe once a day. In fact, a year ago I found myself abandoning Christianity and becoming an atheist, convinced that Christianity was a lie and the resurrection was a hoax. This is where things got really interesting for me…but, we’ll get there soon. Job 23:8-10 says, “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” This will be a big part of what Yet We Live is about. My hope and prayer is that my story is used by God to bless whoever will read this.

3. I want this blog to be a resource to individuals and to my church. In January, I began a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics. Before you check out now because of the word “apologetics”, let me just quickly explain what apologetics is and isn’t. It is NOT apologizing for being a Christian. It IS, simply stated, defending the truth of Christianity, the same way one would defend someone in court. So, it’s basically a law degree. Ha! Needless to say, I am learning a lot. I want to be at your disposal. I have almost no answers, but I know a lot of resources now for answering some of the questions we all might have.

4. I’m hoping that doing all of this will help me and others connect, engage, and glorify God. Yet We Live becomes meaningless if this isn’t the focus.

As I share parts of my story, apologetics will naturally come to the surface. And as I share Christian Apologetics, you will hear how it has become intertwined with my story. I cannot describe my current spiritual state as a “peak” or a “valley”; it is an absolute battlefield. And it has been, and will continue to be, worth all the blood, sweat, and tears.

Finally, let me explain where “Yet We Live” comes from. In 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, Paul says, “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” I will refer to this passage in future posts, I’m sure. But for now, let me just say that whatever Yet We Live becomes, however long it’s around, and whoever is involved, with God’s help, these verses will always be at the heart of it.

So, my appeal to you, whoever is reading this, is that you interact with me somehow. Ask questions. Share your story. Challenge and encourage me to grow and learn and dig and wrestle. And I will do the same with you. It will be worth it. Follow on Facebook or Twitter so that we can interact there too.

And thank you all again,

Ryan

Yet We Live On