A Nerd For Jesus

  Darth Maul and his  impressive fighting skills have fascinated fans since he first appeared in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). With his own Disney+ show, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord , on the way, excitement is building. Now is a great time to look back at his story. As we wait for the premiere, many wonder if Maul will finally find the answers he’s been searching for in Shadow Lord. Be sure to check back after the show to see how his journey unfolds. For this cheat sheet , I consulted Wookieepedia, the Star Wars Wiki, and a range of Star Wars films, animated series, comics, and novels from both canon and non-canon sources. AI tools also supported the editing process. Darth Maul was a Force-sensitive Dathomirian Zabrak who became a Dark Lord of the Sith during the final years of the Galactic Republic and the early period of the Empire. Originally a Dathomiri Nightbrother born on Dathomir, he was named Maul by his mother. As an infant, his Nightsiste...

  Ever since fourth grade, I dreamed of becoming a writer. In 2009, I brought that dream to life by penning my very first novel, The Pie Thief. From the back cover, "Oh no! Aunt Olive's pizza has gone missing! We don't know who stole the long, life-giving deep-dish pizza. Jack, Anna, and Tom will have to use all their courage. Pizza the Evil rat Peso might be a suspect. Will Jack, Anna, and Tom get the pizza back in time to make Aunt Olive happy, or will the bad guy win the day? Find out when you read The Pie Thief!" for National Novel Writing Month in 2009 Looking back, my passion for writing sparked at age ten, and my love for reading blossomed in middle school. Because of my CP, typing was a challenge, and speech-to-text software was out of reach due to my speech disability. When I was in eighth grade, I faced the daunting task of writing an autobiography. At just fourteen, I felt my story was barely beginning. Thankfully, my mom helped me type it out, supporting m...

("Edited with AI assistance") Have you ever wondered whether a single book could change your perspective on history and humanity? From Goodreads: “From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.” Who doesn’t love world history? I mean, it probably won’t make the centre at most parties, I mean, unless you're at a history party, which, in that case, sign me up(party hearty) from the writer Yuval Noah Harari. While reading this book, I found myself with mixed, mostly negative feelings. While the author, Yuval Noah Harari, presents a compelling narrative of humanity's evolution, I noticed an undertone that seemed critical of religion, which, as a religious Christian, I found unsettling. Harari, who is an avowed atheist, offers thought-provoking insights into how relig...

 With 2025 coming to a close, I think it’s time to count down my top ten books with honorable mentions. Star Wars: Death Troopers  I already wrote a blog about this book, so I’ll link to it.   here https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7207972660232719512/1203254104700170275  Searching for Adam: Genesis & the Truth About Man's Origin  If you want a good defense of young-earth creation, this is the book for you, understandable and takes the arguments for old-earth arguments seriously. Faith and the Founding Fathers  If you are a history buff and/or a faith buff, this Audible original is for you. Okay, now off to the list #10 Why I Am Protestant by Beth Felker Jones From Goodreads: “What does it mean to be Protestant? How can its strengths shape faith in the modern world, and how should its challenges be addressed? With clarity, warmth, and theological depth, Beth Felker Jones explores these questions in Why I Am Protestant . This book offers a positiv...

 I cannot believe that 2025 is already coming to an end. As 2025 draws to a close, I want to kick off my first December blog post by sharing five personal goals  for 2026 and explaining why I chose each one. My 1st goal is to read more of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, study theology, and pray more. As a flawed sinner in need of God's grace, I live my Christian life each day by reading the Bible, praying, and attending church. These practices are at the core of who I am. My 2nd goal is to read more broadly and without fear. Inspired by John Green, I want to try more types of books. I usually read non-fiction, but last year in therapy, my counselor suggested I explore other genres. In high school, my aide (due to my mild cerebral palsy, I couldn’t handwrite) said I could get stuck on a topic. Due to my ADHD, but I didn’t know that at the time. As I get older, I realize they were right. I don't want this blog to be limited to one topic, like the evolution debate (thoug...

  I saw Ken Ham at Grace Presbyterian on Sunday, November 2nd . Admittedly , I was hesitant at first . Why ? I'm not a diehard Young Earth creationist . What's that ? A person who believes the Earth and the universe were created by God in a relatively short period, typically less than 10,000 years ago, based on a literal interpretation of the biblical Book of Genesis (from Google AI) . But I decided to go into a sea of people; he sure did pack 'em in ! So much so, I had gone upstairs to get a seat, and I sat facing Ken Ham, center stage . He was entertaining and informative . Now , I admit I didn't give them much Grace back when I was younger . I thought Old Earth was the way to go, but it was a better case for a Young Earth than I thought . Let me back up . I'm still Old Earth but..  Around Christmas time last year, I asked for A great book with a bad title, " Defending Sin: A Response to the Challenges of Evolution and the Natural Sciences, "...