Project Arctos
Project Arctos
Commune. Create. Connect.

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The Lord God, Our Song
The Lord God, Our Song

We in the Church often think in this way— our focus is being in tune. How do I get my biblical doctrine right? How do I ensure I’m doing what’s right? But did you ever wonder if being in tune was the purpose of music? This perspective of being in tune, connected to God first, is important, even necessary, but at the same time, using the same analogy, being in tune is not sufficient for good music.

Understanding the Israel-Hamas War
Understanding the Israel-Hamas War

How can Christians better understand and better respond to the tragic events surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza? Here's a look at the three central views shaping today's conversations around war in the Middle East...

Issue 76 - From the Editor
Issue 76 - From the Editor

Dear Reader, have you ever been in a situation where you had no power? I remember being in a foreign country among refugees, learning that some of them had no documented status; they had entered the country years ago to avoid being killed in their home country, and now had no hope of education and no visible hope of what we would consider a viable future..

Religion & Morality
Religion & Morality

It is a mistake to think that being a Christian be­liever, church, or nation means that we will have a stronger moral character or a clearer conscience. It is even more of a mistake to think that one’s be­liefs are right because they are “Christian?"

The Sins of White Supremacy Culture
The Sins of White Supremacy Culture

I had growing concerns about my church. At one time, it had been the organizing center around which my entire life had revolved: spiritual, social, and even professional... But that was before the new “vision” the head pastor had sprung on all of us...

FATHERS, MOTHERS, SISTERS, BROTHERS - Part II : How We Reach a Better Path
FATHERS, MOTHERS, SISTERS, BROTHERS - Part II : How We Reach a Better Path

A look at how the paradigm shift shared in 1st Timothy is needed to build better relationships with the opposite sex, a further step towards healthier Christian relationships.

Issue 75 - From the Editor
Issue 75 - From the Editor

As we navigate 2024, we see additional uncertainty with a looming U.S. presidential election, ongoing larger wars in places such as Myanmar, Israel/Palestine, North Africa, Sudan, and Russia/ Ukraine, and a time roughly four years into a post-Covid world.

It’s with all of this in mind that we are reminded of Moses’s prayer, asking God to “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Legacies, the Past and Looking Forward
Legacies, the Past and Looking Forward

Looking back, I can clearly see it as one larger theme gifted to my Big Grand Uncle, my family line, and to me by our Creator God. It is larger because God in His grace pointed us to His majestic attributes and design—the invisible beyond the visible of the world. God revealed Himself not only in my youth through creation but to my family in a hunger for the truth of His character.

God’s Surprising Intimacy
God’s Surprising Intimacy

There are a handful of times in my life where God has surprised and ‘spoken’ to me even more overtly than I’d ever expected. At a time when I was feeling particularly discouraged with the re­turn on my efforts in life, I was grumbling internally (partly to God, but mostly to myself) as I walked the short distance down the street…

“…and to this day I weep at the remembrance of being and feeling seen by God that day."

It’s a Relationship, Not a Religion
It’s a Relationship, Not a Religion

An encouragement to those Christians trying to build a close relationship with God, from one who has been practicing and refining his relationship with God for many years.

“In my heart, I was craving for a true relationship in which I could see God as a Father and a Friend… With this kind of spiritual pursuit, I have been blessed to be on a pathway to continue developing a really close and intimate relationship with God.”

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Life without communion is lost.

Workshops and opportunities to commune with God, create TOGETHER, and connect with one another

Project Arctos_Writers_Banner_White_small.png

Communion is “the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings”. In a sense, it’s being truly known. Without communion with God and others we lose a link with what it means to truly live.

Prevailing cultures, those with authority, often overlook or dismiss those who don’t meet the expectations set in place, creating barriers to true communion. The overlooked often are given little opportunity to be heard and to shape the larger culture.

As members of the body of Christ, we’ve seen firsthand how youth groups, college ministries, and church life (and really, any group of people) often work. In these settings, we have seen and lived in the shadows cast by prevailing cultures. We know what it feels like to be left out, forgotten, and dismissed and to give into feelings of bitterness, anger, and self-imposed isolation. But there is hope.

Andy Crouch, former editor of Christianity Today, says the basic law of cultural change is this: “to make more of it.”

Life’s too short to sit on the sidelines. Join us and develop your gifts to create something more. Join us in communing with God, creating together, and connecting with one another.

It’s too easy to go it alone.

We were meant to flourish AND CULTIVATE THE WORLD TOGETHER.

Previous Editions

74th Edition - Many parts, one body

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Issue 74 - From the Editor
Brandon Morgan
Issue 74 - From the Editor
Brandon Morgan

In this edition, we examine what a love for God and a love for one’s neighbor looks like. With the advancement of the Church, we can take a look at what Paul says when he mentioned many members yet one body. Each member of the body is going to give and receive love differently, and when we’re able to examine what each member of the Body is able to contribute with humility, our “hearts can be enlarged” to receive new perspectives and practices.

Brandon Morgan
How to Bridge Mental Health and Christianity Together to Make a Difference
Amy Chow
How to Bridge Mental Health and Christianity Together to Make a Difference
Amy Chow

Christianity and mental health care can co-exist beautifully and wonderfully to make a difference and save lives. Oftentimes, they are seen as two different entities working in opposite directions resulting in Christians feeling ostracized and ashamed for having mental health challenges…

Amy Chow
Fathers, Brothers, Mothers, Sisters
Rev. Jonathan David Faulkner
Fathers, Brothers, Mothers, Sisters
Rev. Jonathan David Faulkner

One of the laments I hear from my sisters in Christ all the time is that they would like to be discipled by wiser men in their congregations. But in some cases because they are seen as mere helpers of men by those men or they have to be afraid they might assault or harm them, they have to settle for whom­ever will teach them.

Rev. Jonathan David Faulkner
Dad Ministry or Church Ministry?
Jonathan Ho
Dad Ministry or Church Ministry?
Jonathan Ho

My daughter Hanna was born in June 2023, and for the first time in my life, I became responsible for the life of another person. With this change came questions around my calling in Christ. What should come first, ministry or family life? Is my number one priority in life to raise my children or to go where God is calling me? How do we de­cide what comes first?

Jonathan Ho
On Prayer
Brandon Morgan
On Prayer
Brandon Morgan

Com­muning with God face to face isn’t reserved for the “greats” in times past, but that access, that face-to-face friendship is something we all have access to in the present.

Prayer is the one activity that ties to­gether the faculties of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Brandon Morgan
Grieving, Struggling, and Healing
George Kuo
Grieving, Struggling, and Healing
George Kuo

How does one process the immense loss of their life-partner? George, a recent widower after 52 years of marriage, shares his candid experience of his first few months without his wife. Together they wrote books and led workshops of healthy intimacy in Christian relationships.

George Kuo

73rd Edition - Expectations, Revisited

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Issue 73 - From the Editor
Issue 73 - From the Editor

In this edition, Expectations Revisited, our writers take a closer look at how we go about Church and the Christian life, in ways that are historically reflective, introspective, constructive, sometimes critical, and sometimes whimsical.

What Does Your 'Dream Church' Look Like?
What Does Your 'Dream Church' Look Like?

What does your dream church look like? Surely no church is fully perfect, but whether you’re reflecting on what church was like for you growing up or what your current church is like, there are likely some aspects which you wish were a little different.

Jesus Revolution Pt. II: As Modern Commentary
Jesus Revolution Pt. II: As Modern Commentary

Praying for revolution is risky and it comes with consequences we are not always ready for. When the Spirit moves, it shakes up everything.

Are we listening to those who offer the philosophy of the age or are we listening to people who are teaching us the truth?

72nd Edition - The Struggle

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Issue 72 - From the Editor
Project Arctos
Issue 72 - From the Editor
Project Arctos

Life is full of blessing, but also struggle. Our prayer is that God would use these struggles described within these pages to shine forth His truth and light.

Project Arctos
Jesus Revolution: The Message
Rev. Jonathan David Faulkner
Jesus Revolution: The Message
Rev. Jonathan David Faulkner

A look at the recent Jesus Revolution movie and what the historical movement can teach us today. The message of Jesus Revolution is for today, as much as it was to show us the message from 50 years ago.

Rev. Jonathan David Faulkner
What Am I Going to Do About Gay Christians?
Scott Yi
What Am I Going to Do About Gay Christians?
Scott Yi

Building relationships with the LGBTQ community is not so much about changing doctrine, but reapplying the actions of Jesus more authentically.

Scott Yi
Navigating Cultural Differences in the Body of Christ: Reflections on a Church Retreat
Anonymous
Navigating Cultural Differences in the Body of Christ: Reflections on a Church Retreat
Anonymous

Have you ever come across a clash of cultures in your church group? Are there ways we can better navigate how and why culture influences our Christianity?

Anonymous
Love Does Not Compel
Anonymous
Love Does Not Compel
Anonymous

Recently, I found out a friend of mine who I admired very much had been abusing a secret lover of theirs. This was a shock to me, naturally. It was also shocking to me how hard it was to decide to “do the right thing,” whatever that means.

Anonymous
The Four Days in the Grave
Anonymous
The Four Days in the Grave
Anonymous

Death’s properties are viral. It has the power to break the invulnerable. One who is alive can never relate to one dead regardless of how hard they try. How long would I stay in the grave?

Anonymous

71st Edition - A new World

Print Articles
Issue 71 - From the Editor
Issue 71, Jonathan Ho
Issue 71 - From the Editor
Issue 71, Jonathan Ho

In this edition, we reflect back on 2022 and look forward to 2023. We begin with an overview of trends from 2022, from technological to social, and follow with a framework on what we believe the Church needs to be aware of moving into 2023. We end with an important reminder by Scott to remember to die to self daily, focused on faithfulness in our local tasks at hand, and not on what we want others to think of us.

Issue 71, Jonathan Ho
Looking Back - 2022
Issue 71
Looking Back - 2022
Issue 71

5 shocking trends from the past year every Christian should be aware of and thinking about:

Sharp rise in Teen Internet Use, Surge in Drug Overdose Deaths for Black Men, Rapidly Shrinking Middle Class, divergent View of Slavery Reparations, philosophical clashes on balanced Journalism and Equal Reporting.

Issue 71
Looking Forward - 2023
Issue 71
Looking Forward - 2023
Issue 71

How will advances in technology, like chatgpt3, the continuing after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pervasiveness of divisive American politics impact the Church and your Christian witness in 2023..?

Issue 71
A Resolution for Self-Extinction
Issue 71, Scott Yi
A Resolution for Self-Extinction
Issue 71, Scott Yi

In 1 Corinthians 15:31, Paul writes, "I die every day!" That's the spiritual advice I'm trying to take into the new year.

There would be a quiet revival, a silent revolution. A movement of humans who have voluntarily decided to die to themselves every day. A movement of nobody in particular, of nobody important, of no one you've ever heard of. A movement exactly as God intended.

Issue 71, Scott Yi

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