Now Available: In Parentheses Literary Magazine (Volume 6, Issue 1)

In Parentheses Literary Magazine / Volume 6 / Issue 1 / Cover Art

In Parentheses Magazine (Summer 2020)

By In Parentheses in Volume 6

68 pages, published 7/14/2020

The SUMMER 2020 issue of In Parentheses Literary Magazine. Published by In Parentheses (Volume 6, Issue 1)

In Parentheses Literary Magazine

Issue 1 | Volume 6

Summer 2020

INPARENTHESES.ART

@inparenth

Copyright 2020 ©

Front Cover “Agave” by Francesca Floris from the colleection “The World of Las.” Selections from her collection has been featured throughout this edition.

Back Cover “Gaia 12” by Francesca Floris

Francesca Floris / @frafloris92 / born in Oristano, Italy, in 1992. She takes photos, makes cartoons, and has attended the “Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia” in Rome. After working in the film industry as a professional for the past four years, in May 2020, joined some colleague photographers in working with actors through the medium of the webcam, starting a series of photoshoots that are set during the Covid-19 emergency lockdown in Italy.

Terry Brinkman / has been painting for over forty five years. He started creating Poems, Five Amazon E- Books. Tide Anthologies. Poems in Rue Scribe, Tiny Seed Utah Life Poem Village, Snapdragon Poets Choice, In Parentheses, Healing Muse and the Adelaide Magazine.

Steve Gerson / writes poetry and flash about life’s dissonance and dynamism. He’s proud to have published in Panoplyzine, Hungry Chimera, Write Launch, Route 7, Coffin Bell, Poets Reading the News, Crack the Spine, Riza Press, White Wall Review, Abstract, Decadent Review, Indolent, Snapdragon, Underwood Press, and In Parentheses.

David M. Alper / is a high school AP English teacher in New York City, residing in Manhattan. His work has appeared in Thirty West Publishing House, OPEN: Journal of Arts & Letters, In Parentheses, and elsewhere.

Joseph Hardy / is one of a handful of writers that live in Nashville, Tennessee, that does not play a musical instrument; although a friend once asked him to bring his harmonica on a camping trip so they could throw it in the fire. It was a good friend.

Originally from the American Midwest, / Hunter Parlette / is an undergraduate student at Columbia University, where he studies sociocultural anthropology; prior to moving to New York, he served in the United States Marine Corps. Poetry has long been one of his preferred methods of exploring and understanding his thoughts.

Jerrice J. Baptiste / is an author of eight books. She’s been published in The Yale Review; Kosmos Journal; The Caribbean Writer; The Lake Poetry Journal, The Tulane Review; Autism Parenting Magazine; and many others. Her poem and collaborative songwriting are on the Grammy award winning album Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti.

Heather M. F. Lyke / @teacherlyke / is a writer living in southern Minnesota. By day, she teaches students Creative Writing and American Literature. On evenings and weekends, she creates. She builds things out of nothing: sometimes with paint, occasionally with fabric, but most often with words.

Autumn Battista / @oatiemarie /is a 23-year-old living in Fitchburg MA. She graduated in 2020 from Fitchburg State University with B.S in English Literature and Disability Studies. She enjoys writing poems and hopes to eventually teach poetry at a University.

Liz DeGregorio is a writer and editor living in New York. Her poems have been published in Indie Blu(e) Publishing’s anthology “SMITTEN,” Crack the Spine’s anthology “Neighbors,” Beyond Words and Gravitas. Her flash fiction has appeared in *82 Review and Ruminate Magazine, and she’s had fiction published in BUST Magazine.

Mercury-Marvin Sunderland (he/him) / @romangodmercury / is a transgender autistic gay man from Seattle with Borderline Personality Disorder. Since 2019, he’s been accepted for numerous magazines such as UC Santa Barbara’s Spectrum Literary Journal, UC Riverside’s Santa Ana River Review, and University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s Straylight Magazine.

Sammie Lee Wilhoit / @exhaletheatre / moved across the country from California to go to college in Vermont. Sammie writes poetry to pinpoint feelings that she does not have words for and to write out memories and fantasies that keep her up. She was published in the Fall 2019 issue of In Parentheses.

Phillipe Martin Chatelain / @uptownvoice / Phillipe is the Managing Editor of In Parentheses. He is a poet from New York City with a Masters Degree in Poetry from The New School. He writes as someone in the tradition of the urban troubadour or the flaneur–wandering, taking notes. He believes that poetry of our generation has taken on a much more digital definition. Furthermore, it is important for New Modernist writers like those exhibited in In Parentheses Literary Magazine to assume the forms of media available in order to carry on the history of Sublime Art. His series taking shots alone was self-published in 2012-2015. The self-published collection FACETS (2019) is now available.

Onize Atta /@oniZay /is a lawyer, poet, photographer, producer, spoken word artist, creative director, stylist, fashion illustrator & designer, and mental health advocate amongst many other things, who believes in love and the limitlessness of the human heart and mind. 

George Gad Economou / holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy of Science and resides in Athens, Greece, freelancing his way to a new place. His novella, Letters to S., was published in Storylandia Issue 30 and his short stories and poems have appeared in literary magazines, such as Adelaide Literary Magazine.

Fareh Malik / is a 26 year old Canadian author and poet who has been performing spoken word since 2012. He is an up-and-coming author with a story to tell. He has been published on the In Parentheses website previously, as well as by Muslim Hands Canada. These poems are socially-reflective, and tell an important and relatable story for those who feel the reverberations of social injustice in their bones.

Elizabeth Galoozis / @thisamericanliz / is a poet and librarian living in Los Angeles. Her poetry has appeared in Faultline, Sinister Wisdom, Mantis, Not Very Quiet, and Inverted Syntax (finalist for the Sublingua Prize for Poetry). Her scholarly work has appeared in The Library Quarterly, College & Research Libraries, and ACRL Press.

Daniella Deutsch / is a 25 year old originally from Los Angeles. She is a preschool teacher at Beginnings Nursery School in New York City. Her publications include: Ink and Voices, Little Death Lit, and 5×5 Literary Magazine. Another piece of hers is set to run in this summer’s print issue of Gargoyle Magazine.

Glory Cumbow / is a writer living in North Carolina. She is dedicated to the arts, working with local theatres and singing in community choir. She contributes grant writing services to nonprofits that help youth and children. Glory enjoys traveling with her husband, live shows, and art museums.

Michael Ball / @whirred / scrambled from newspapers through business and technical pubs. Born in OK, raised in rural WV, he became citified in Manhattan and Boston. One of the Hyde Park Poets, he has moderate success placing poems including in Griffel, Gateway Review, Havik Anthology, SPLASH!, Peregrine Journal, and Reality Break Press.

J.L. Wall / @jl_wall / writing has appeared in Atlanta Review, Kenyon Review Online, Contrary, Frontier Poetry, and on the website of Baseball Prospectus. He teaches first year writing at the University of Michigan and is at work on a book examining five modernist poets, Situating Poetry: Covenant and Performance in American Modernism.

Walker Zupp / is a Bermudian writer. He was educated at Saltus Grammar School in Bermuda, and Marlborough College in the UK. He hated both. He recently published his first novel, ‘Martha’. He is studying for a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Exeter. He currently lives in Cornwall.”

Laura Ohlmann / is an MFA candidate at the University of Central Florida. Her work has appeared in Honey&Lime, South Florida Poetry Journal, and was an honorable mention in 2016 Wild Ekphrastic Poetry Contest. She enjoys sleeping in her converted Honda Element and biking up mountains with her partner and dog.

John Matthew Steinhafel / was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his Master of Fine Arts from Western Kentucky University. He is currently a PhD student and instructor of record at The Catholic University of America.

Andy Betz / has tutored and taught in excess of 30 years. He lives in 1974, and has been married for 27 years. His works are found everywhere a search engine operates.

Cheryl Comeau-Kirschner / is a native New Yorker, wife, mother, and community college professor. She is a former journalist, but this is her first attempt to publish fiction. By taking that creative leap, she has found prose inspiration from almost every subway ride, bodega breakfast run, and skyline sunset.

Pam Knapp / lives in the rolling countryside of the Sussex Downs, close enough to London to feel the heat, far enough away to avoid being burnt. As yet, she is an unpublished writer but longlisted for fiction in The Liars’ League. However, she knows that practise and optimism are essential life skills.

Adam Rose / @adamrose74 / writes and teaches in Los Angeles. You can find some recent work of his in Gravel, Four Ties Literary Review, The Milo Review, Story Chord, The Casserole, Reimagine and Tell Us a Story. Adam has an all ages graphic novel that was published by Markosia Entertainment last year.

Born in India, / Mandira Pattnaik / studied Economics. She has been published most recently by Citron Review, Gasher Journal, Eclectica, Lunate, Cabinet of Heed, Splonk, Brilliant Flash, DoorIsAJar and Commuterlit. She is a finalist at NFFD NZ and Retreat West Microfiction Contest. She loves to travel and embroiders to keep busy.

R. C. Stacey / @badgalrhysrhys /is a digital advertising manager at Focal Agency London, a BA (Hons) Scriptwriting graduate and an MA Film and Screen Media student with a keen interest in relationships: familial and romantic.

His name is / Christopher J. Ananias / He lives in Kokomo, Indiana. A misfit navigates society. He sees his problem; it resides in That Eye.

Aaron Brown / is a native of Richmond, Virginia native who grew up with a passion for writing. He studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Richmond before graduating in 2016. Aaron has aspirations of getting his short story anthology published in the near future. Meanwhile, he has begun his career as freelance writer through Upwork and Salem Web Network.

Joey Rodriguez / @jojoandpickles / lives in New York City with his wife, Lauren, and their Corgi, Joon. He is the author of four novels (JQR, Below, Termination Dust, and The Final Transmissions of A Doomed Astronaut) and one novella (Raptures of the Deep). To purchase any of his books, visit his website notyourplatypus.com.

Late summer 2020, / Leah Holbrook Sackett / will publish her debut book of short stories with REaDLips Press. Leah is an adjunct lecturer in the English department at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where she also earned her M.F.A. Leah’s stories explore journeys toward autonomy and the boundaries placed on the individual by society, family, and self. Leah has published short stories in several journals, including Momaya, Blacktop Passages, Halfway Down the Stairs, The Writing Disorder, Crack the Spine, Connotation Press, and more. Learn about her published fiction at LeahHolbrookSackett.website

Scott Pedersen / is a retired technical writer now writing fiction in southern Wisconsin. His work has appeared in Metamorphosis (Propertius Press), Falling Star Magazine, Louisiana Literature and The MacGuffin. When not writing fiction, he enjoys performing in a traditional Celtic band and dreaming of returning to Ireland and Costa Rica.

Katreana Bellew / is a Dramatic Writing student in New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has previously had published a short story in the SCRAWL Literary Journal. Now, as she’s bored in quarantine, she writes everyday, mostly flash fiction writing pieces due to her extremely short attention span.

Dr. Kris DeAngelis / is a faculty member at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC, a full-time mother, and a sometimes writer. Her current publications include a guest post Unbecoming and an overwhelming personal to-do list. She is seeking peace through introspection during this period of disruption and interruption.

Always asking, “What’s next?” “Why?” and “Why Not?” solo, sassy / Barbara Rady Kazdan / @achievingchange / loves back roads travel and forward thinking. Find this empty nester and lifelong change agent enjoying her weekly writing workshops and open-hearted friends in Silver Spring, Maryland, en route to far-flung family, and online at http://www.achievingchangetogether.com/published-essays.php

Michael Reginald Pitter / @pitterphoto / Michael is a writer, photographer and a PhD student in im- munology at the University of Michigan. He co-founded In Parentheses with Phillipe as an under- graduate. His contributions to the magazine range from analog photography to philosophical essays to articles regarding current advancements in biomedical research. Michael is also interested in the experimental synthesis of art and science through his writings and visuals.

Jamar Washington / aka “Z3r0” is a musician from Delaware living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Growing up with a passion for music, he plated several instruments: of which his favorites are violin and guitar. Z3r0 aims to make people feel what he experiences through his creative process in his songs. His debut single is set to release later this summer.

Strixx Slade / @strixxslade / has been photographing people from all walks of life for 12 years. Her skill in portraiture comes from her ability to bring out the particular part that makes every one of her subjects special in their own right. She currently resides in Brooklyn and you can find her on mode social media.

Tim Haywood / @shallowpond / is a graphic designer from Seattle. His short fiction has appeared in Gulf Stream Literary Magazine, Twisted Vine Literary Arts Journal, First Writer Literary Journal and Heater magazine. In addition, he’s written a blog since 2009 entitled Reflections of a Shallow Pond, offering his musings as a parent and tail-end Baby Boomer.

Once upon The Summer of Sin, two women met amidst the mud, blood, glitter and sludge of 59 Wilson,  / dArcBloom / is a living breathing experiment in healing through all creative mediums. Together oUI help the masses 222 shed their scales and have fun. Focus is an emotion to secrete liberally.

Francesca Floris / @frafloris92 / born in Oristano, Italy, in 1992. She takes photos, makes cartoons, and has attended the “Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia” in Rome. After working in the film industry as a professional for the past four years, in May 2020, joined some colleague photographers in working with actors through the medium of the webcam, starting a series of photoshoots that are set during the Covid-19 emergency lockdown in Italy.


Responses

  1. As The World Burns – Out Now! – TheFeatheredSleep Avatar

    […] Avendel (WordPress/We Will Not Be Silenced/The Kali Project), Erik Klingenberg (poet WordPress), Liz DeGregorio (poet SMITTEN), Sammie Payne (photographer/poet/Facebook/Instagram), L Stevens (poet), Jennifer […]

  2. […] Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  3. […] Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  4. […] As a modern church, we don’t talk much about first fruits, not unless we are reading over the Old Testament and mulling over a number of customs believers no longer follow. When we hear the word fruits today, a different idea comes to mind.Fruits, in the literal sense, are tasty, healthy sweets that we consume as a snack. Aside from tasting good, we use fruits to talk about things that feel good too. That’s when fruit becomes a metaphor. We say the word in reference to positive outcomes resulting from our godly deeds. The fruit of good parenting is children who walk in wisdom and discipline (Proverbs 22:6). The fruit of walking in the Spirit includes joy, kindness, peace, and patience.These last two fruits, those we eat or those we reap, are things we get to enjoy, benefits of our labor. The firstfruits, however, the ones from the Old Testament, are something different. Firstfruits are given to God, but if they aren’t food or benefits from our actions, then what are they?What are Firstfruits in Scripture?“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)“We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord.” (Nehemiah 10:35)In the Old Testament, firstfruits were material things the Jews offered to God as a form of worship and sacrifice. This was an act of thanksgiving that occurred three days following Passover. Leviticus 23 mentions the concept of offering firstfruits, as presented to Moses from God. A subsequent and more detailed outline of the act comes in Deuteronomy 26. Here, Moses explains to believers that they are to take some of their harvest and bring those goods to a priest. Afterward, the priest would place those items on an altar. An example of what people brought included grain.This community act of saying “thank you” was a response to God’s future blessing of giving them land to inherit, that is, the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 26:1). They believed in His promise and thanked Him in advance.Firstfruits are mentioned in the New Testament as well, though in this section of the Bible they take on a different meaning. For example, Jesus is described as a firstfruit:“But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)The reason Christians do not offer firstfruits as the Jews did is because of a change in culture and faith. The coming of Jesus and His sacrifice changed how believers gave back to God. Instead of a ritualistic approach to sacrifice, Christians now benefit from the sacrifice of Jesus. We are still obligated to give because Scripture commands us to, but our reason for giving is different. Firstfruits are not mentioned as something Christ-followers are obligated to uphold for God’s covenant with the people, but instead, living like Christ. Charity is undoubtedly a Christian virtue. Jesus gave. And that is the reason so many believers give now (Acts 20:35). Moreover, since we are not under the same previous obligation that the Jews lived under, our firstfruits come in a different form.Firstfruits already differed between the Old and New Testaments. Even today, our understanding of what we offer as believers has changed, but the recognition of giving has not. So then, if we are giving today, by modern standards what would be considered firstfruits?What Are Firstfruits in the 21st Century?MoneyThe most obvious of present-day firstfruits is money. Most Americans are not living on farms and tilling the land. Thus, they don’t have fresh crops to take from their land to the altar. Instead, many Christians make financial contributions to their places of worship. Oftentimes, believers follow the tithing process and give ten percent of their income to the body of Christ. This is a way of taking what’s earned and giving it first to God before we use the money on ourselves.FoodAnother material people can give outside of money is food. Many churches run efforts to garner food supplies for the homeless and other struggling communities. In substitution of food, there are clothing and even furniture donations, especially after the recent influx of Afghan citizens into America. Whatever material item is donated, the impact is still the same. We glorify God by working to serve and love His other creations. Money goes directly to the church, but items like food go directly to afflicted people.TimeOutside of material things to offer at church, we can also use our time to benefit others. Time is something we can donate in and outside of church also. There are always people to serve. We can find opportunities to greet people at church or work on the sound team. Or we could find someone in our neighborhood who needs help fixing their home or just a listening ear.Time is something we cannot get more of like money, food, or clothing. For that reason, sacrificing time is valuable and meaningful.Why Should We Offer God our FirstfruitsWhile we don’t offer up grain to a priest at an altar as the Jews did, we still give. And we should. As Scripture states, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). What we offer as firstfruits differs from the Jews, but the reason we give is still the same. We give to glorify God. Whether we give directly to a church or instead serve someone outside of church, both actions glorify the Lord.What makes firstfruits special is that they are offered first, before you take anything for yourself. Money is used as a firstfruit when people get a new check or when a new month is coming and people plan in advance what they are giving. The same applies to food. Budgeting what you will be donating makes those goods firstfruits. And with time, we can plan in advance how we can best give back to the Lord.As we offer God our thanksgiving, we also remind ourselves of what He has done. We don’t dwell in the Promised Land like the Jews, but we do live with many of God’s promises and blessings still, such as the salvation offered through Jesus. Every reason God has blessed us is a reason to be thankful.Do Firstfruits Ever Change?Firstfruits inevitably change with time. Modern understanding of past firstfruits differs within Christian circles, and how we go about giving God our own firstfruits is also unique and varies with time. What we offer God as a teenager won’t be the same as what we offer Him in old age. We grow wiser and more experienced with time. What one church contributes to God or the community differs from another. This means we will discover new ways to give thanks and find actions that especially resonate with us.Though what we consider firstfruits doesn’t stay the same, we all give out firstfruits for the same reason. We want to thank God for what He has and will do. And because God is always working in our lives, we have neverending reasons to say thanks.Photo Credit: (c)Couleur/Pixabay [photo1]Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  5. […] There’s a question that lingers in the minds of some people, a question often stirred up during times of racial tension, political debate, or historical accuracy. What color was Jesus?The answer to this question depends on who you ask. And the answer to this question matters more to some people than to others. All in all, we seem to walk away with the same answer each time. Jesus looks like me.But does Jesus look like you or does Jesus look like me? Surely, not both.With no specific verses to cite, there is no way to get the perfect picture of Jesus. Instead, we have to turn our attention to the historical context given in the New Testament. He was a Jew born in Bethlehem, which is in the modern-day Middle East. That insight into society will give us some insight into Jesus.What Color Was Jesus?Let’s start with what we know. As the New Testament concludes in the Book of Revelations, there is one detail that gives some physical description of Jesus, if not Jesus in the past, how Jesus will appear in the future. He is described as follows:“The hair of his head was white as wool-white as snow-and his eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters.” (Revelations 1:14-15)His hair is white, which we associate with old age. His feet are brownish like bronze, but bronze comes in different shades and only his feet are this color. His eyes are seemingly red or yellow and his voice booms. Based on these details, this physical description appears more symbolic than literal. There’s just not enough information to surmise a physical description. What else do we know?Father Abraham and Sarah originated in Mesopotamia. This God-ordained couple was the beginning of the lineage that would produce Jesus. Therefore, He likely carried some resemblance to these people, though there were a number of people between them and Jesus.We also know that none of the disciples wrote about his physicality in any of their books. For some reason, those details were deemed unimportant for future generations. There is no indication of hair color, height, and physical attractiveness. However, there are other historical texts we can reference. Ancient texts including Sumerian myth (from southern Mesopotamia?), detail the origin of humanity as “black-headed” people. Skin color is not regarded as black, but hair. This idea is furthered in A Vision of the Nether World, from the Akkadian culture (present-day Iraq).Regarding historical paintings that came later, Jesus took on a different appearance. Some of the oldest works replace Jesus’ potentially black hair with a brown and sometimes blonde hue. His skin alternated between peach or yellow in color with features that were meek, and masculine, though not overexaggerated in a superhero-esque kind of way. Though Jesus was often painted with a halo around His head to signify His divinity.The transition from text to painting, and Christianity when Jesus ministered to today, shows a man represented not by His real physicality, but by culture. Over time, He resembled someone less from ancient Bethlehem and more from Europe. That’s no surprise considering the artists depicting Jesus were European: Greek, Roman, Italian, Spanish, and more. History shows that because Scripture did not reveal Jesus’ appearance, people filled in the gaps for themselves, making Jesus into someone who resembled themselves.If we had to guess then, if placed on a color scale with snow white and pitch black on opposite ends, Jesus’ skin was somewhere in-between, which is where most of us are already.That leaves us modern-day believers with a question. What was Jesus’ race?The Race and Ethnicity of JesusWas Jesus white or black? That seems to be the question brought about in present America. Thankfully, the answer is simple – neither.The concept of race has become such a cultural norm that for better or worse, we teach our children to see and label people by skin color. When we as adults see people, we regard them as white, black, Asian, Hispanic, and more. Sadly, not enough of us ask the most obvious question – what is race?If we did, we would understand that race is not something we can attribute to Jesus because race is not real. There were no people in Jesus’ day regarded as “black people” or “white people”. The idea of race is itself a very modern term, invented by Europeans during a time when people needed to justify slavery. After all, how else do we explain colors like white and black being used in tandem with Hispanic (Spanish-speaking) and a geographical word, Asian?There’s no doubt that people around the world look different. Some are darker, lighter, taller, shorter, but this is true within countries. This is true within families. People look different based on their genes, food, diet, climate, and geographics. However, we are all one race – humans, with varying degrees of melanin which produce different physical features.We don’t know how much melanin Jesus had in His skin or how that influenced His hair color, texture, etc., but we know He was human.Jews today cover a wide range of colors. As some don’t realize, Jews are not a race. A Jew is someone who practices Judaism. Anyone is allowed to convert into this theology. Jews may have been associated with specific places in the past, but a Jew can be born anywhere, just like a Christian.If Jesus has no race, then does He have an ethnicity?Jesus does have an ethnicity, as we all do, but race and ethnicity are not the same. Race can be summed up as skin color and culture, while ethnicity is someone’s location of origin. Their nation. Biblical examples include Samaritans from Samaria or Galileans from Galilea. Present-day examples would be Indians, Japanese, and Americans. People are referred to by where they are from.Sadly, the church has embraced the ideology of race. The church has held onto this idea since its invention in American society. Everyone sees and speaks about race, including believers, but few of us discuss where the idea of race even originated or where it’s taking us. If we could stop seeing Jesus and ourselves through a lens of race, we could find ourselves more unified and set an example for unbelievers.A Colorblind ChurchShould color matter? Some Christians believe in intentionally advocating for diverse congregations, unnaturally pulling people from different communities into their church body. God has undoubtedly designed for us to look different; otherwise, we wouldn’t, but putting emphasis on our bad idea of race means that we make skin color more important than God did in Scripture.The colorblind approach to life is the best choice. We all come in different pigmentations, but color doesn’t matter to people who don’t believe in race.No matter the color of Jesus’ skin, we are all made in His image (Genesis 9:6).If knowing Jesus’ physical appearance was important, wouldn’t He have left behind those details? With that same logic, we don’t need to add any importance to our own skin. Do we go around assigning people to specific hair groups or height groups? We notice those details, but we don’t care. We should do the same with race and end the meaningless debate.What color was Jesus? Doesn’t matter.Photo Credit: (c)GettyImages/Ryan Rad [photo1]Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  6. […] Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  7. […] There’s a question we ask at two crucial moments in our lives. First, the question comes about when we’re curious to know what God has planned for our futures. Secondly, we ask the question when faced with such extreme lamenting, we wonder if we should continue living.Consider this, college students debate their majors just before entering into a career field. Adults wonder about where they should live and whether to start a family. Others among us struggle with suicidal ideations, questioning the merits of life compared to all the pitfalls.What all these people have in common is searching for a life with purpose.“After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born. He said: May the day I was born perish, and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived.’ If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above not care about it, or light shine on it.” (Job 3:1-4)There was purpose in Job’s life, purpose even in his suffering. At the time, however, he couldn’t see the full picture. Many of us have been there before too. We tore at our clothes, punched the wall, wailed, and considered giving up on life. Some of us were thriving in good seasons, but wondered what was coming next, if anything. We wondered if this was all there was to life. Then we asked the question:Why am I alive? In other words, what is my purpose? Did God put me here on this earth, in this city, at this job, in this family, for a reason? Is there a reason for my existence?The short answer is yes, there is intentionality behind our existence. Answering the why is a bit more complicated. No matter our path to asking the question, finding an answer is vital to living life with purpose. And if we’re Christian, answering the question helps us live life in tandem with God’s will.God’s Design for Your LifeHow do we know God has given each of us a unique purpose? There are clues to this conclusion at different points in the Bible. Here are a few:“For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.” (Psalm 139:13-14)God designed us with purpose from the moment we were just cells inside of our mother’s womb. He knit us together, considering our physicality, mentality, and personality. Our parents’ genes offered their own effect, but the Lord had the final say.Now that we know God designed our bodies, what about our talents and vocations?“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)God intentionally blessed us with certain gifts such as writing, cooking, organizing, communicating, and more. How we use these gifts is dependent on us, but the gifts are granted from above. This is further evidence of God’s intricate and unique handling of our lives.These gifts are not always readily obvious, but through experiences, we can make many discoveries.From designing our insides to giving us talents, all of this serves as evidence of God affecting our lives. These examples reflect just upon us as individuals, though. What about our relationships with other people and the external circumstances we face, the good and bad things that happen to us?“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)Most of the situations we encounter in life happen outside of our control. For example, we control how many job applications we send out, but cannot control whether or not we are hired. We can invest ourselves in a dating relationship but don’t decide whether or not the relationship ultimately works. Or consider that we are born into families, and don’t choose our family’s structure or wellbeing.Despite where we lack control, God uses all things for good on behalf of His children. All things. He has a deep influence on our lives, including the situations we deal with on a daily basis. With such oversight, God is the most qualified to answer our starting question.So again, we ask the question, why am I alive?Why Am I Alive?With the aforementioned verses in mind, we can answer this question with three different ideas:To ServeOne reason we are alive is to serve. God’s design for our life does not involve living for ourselves. We are called to use our gifts in service to Him and other people. And we serve no matter where our occupation or place is in society. Rich people can serve, as can the poor. The CEO of a business can serve, as can a janitor.Whatever we use our gifts to do, godly service means acting in a way that brings the Lord honor.We have the option of using gifts for personal gain. Strong communicators can swindle people out of money. Attractive people could make a living selling their bodies. Yet, these acts of service are selfish and don’t ultimately benefit God or anyone involved.To WorshipAs Christians, our lives should point back to God. Worshiping Him means intentionally honoring God through word and deed. Much like the intentionality He used in designing our lives, we are intentional about how we worship.That’s why we call Christian music “worship” music. The music and lyrics are intentionally designed to point others and ourselves back to God in a reverential way.To LoveAccording to Jesus, the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our being, and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40). God has set us upon the earth with a mission to serve, worship, and love. The word “love” means to will the good of the other person, not just affirming them, but also offering challenges when needed. That’s what Jesus does for us. He affirms our strengths and blesses us, but He is also willing to condemn sin.We reveal love in what we say and what we do, and much like the first two reasons for being alive, we can decide to love or not. A life lived with love will be apparent to others and to God.Much like Job, sometimes we know why we’re alive, but sometimes we struggle to remember. Often what clouds our judgment is present-day suffering. Some of us are losing children to wayward trends, failing in our marriages, falling into addiction, struggling to find work, and other things.All of this can make us doubt and wonder, why are we alive? We may speak like Job and curse the day we were born. But no matter how far we fall, we can get back up. We can ask the question again and again and find the answer once more.Then when we can turn to Scripture to remind ourselves of truth. Those relevant verses will point us back to God and the intricate, intimate role He plays in our lives. He’s been a teacher, father, comforter, guide, and more. And He has firmly answered our question. The next question is, do we believe Him?Photo Credit: (c) Unsplash/Paul Skorupska [photo1]Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  8. […] Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  9. […] Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  10. […] Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  11. […] Photo Credit: (c)Getty Images/eternalcreative [photo1]Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  12. […] Aaron Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance instructor, and visible artist, dwelling in Virginia. He at present contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps numerous shoppers by way of the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his brief story “Serenity.” […]

  13. […] Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  14. […] Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  15. […] Aaron Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance instructor, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He at present contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps numerous shoppers by the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  16. […] Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  17. […] “Why is God against homosexuality?” That could have been the question she asked. Instead, after sharing how much she enjoyed the community and lessons of Christianity, she revealed that she was taken aback after hearing a sermon that condemned homosexuality as sin. She stared at me puzzled, wondering what could ever be wrong with homosexuality. After all, she knew gay people. That was reason enough to know that what they were doing wasn’t wrong. And for that same reason, she couldn’t fully embrace the faith.Even as believers, we sometimes fall into this trap. Someone close to us comes out of the closet, a sibling, a friend, even a parent, and suddenly the action that we regarded as sin a minute ago is suddenly virtue. Interestingly, we don’t take this perspective with laziness, addiction, gossip, arrogance, or other sins. Only homosexuality.Why the special treatment?If we turn away from our culture and toward Scripture, we see a clear-cut depiction of why homosexuality is sinful. First, Jesus explains what sin is with, “So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.” And homosexuality is specifically condemned in various passages in both the Old and New Testaments:“You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable.” (Leviticus 18:22)“If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed a detestable act. They must be put to death; their death is their own fault.” (Leviticus 20:13)“Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males…” (1 Corinthians 6:9)“For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.” (Romans 1:26-27)“…for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.” ()In the various depictions of marriage in the Bible, homosexuality is never one. If God were a proponent of this, why omit such a union?Though Scripture is clear that homosexuality is sinful, what is not so clear is why. The reasons why God is against homosexuality are not so defined, and require some additional digging.Let’s take a look at 5 potential reasons God is against homosexuality:Not God’s Design for SexOne of the most apparent reasons homosexuality is against God’s will is the inability to procreate. Supporters of homosexuality correctly cite that not every straight couple can have babies. Yet, while select couples cannot have babies, reproduction is still possible in such a union. In fact, that’s the only way to produce children. God gave the commandment to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). Homosexuality prevents this from happening.We can all agree that sex can be pleasurable, but sex also serves the vital purpose of creating life.Not God’s Design for MarriageThere are no examples of gay marriage in the Bible. Not one. Whenever homosexuality is shown or described, the writers portray these actions as sinful. Why would God in all His wisdom, want Scripture to portray homosexuality as bad if He supported the idea? Why omit any positive examples of gay marriage or gay relationships?The answer is that God specifically designed us as male and female, and in this design, He made us compatible with one another. He made males and females different, yet made us for one another. Marriage is the ultimate expression of such a union (Mark 10:6-9).PrideAs the LGBTQ+ community continues to reveal, when we accept our sin and decide not to repent, that sin becomes hardened. And as the sin hardens, another sin enters the picture – pride. There’s a reason Scripture talks so much about the humble being exalted (Matthew 23:12). God helps those seeking change. When we become prideful in our sin, we lack a desire to change. Instead, we’ve come to accept our own behavior and expect the same of others. Scripture warns, however, with pride, comes our own destruction (Proverbs 16:18).All Love Is Not GodSupporters of homosexuality often say, “Love is love.” At a glance, this vague statement sounds reasonable, or at the very least, feels true. However, as most people know, you cannot properly define a word with the word itself. So, what is love?Scripture defines love as sacrificial, putting the will of another above your own. Jesus is a perfect example, and there are a great many passages that speak to the concept of love.Some people say love is love and they simply mean they want to pursue whatever attraction they feel. That’s not love. That’s lust, unbridled desire. We could say that all anger is anger, but as Scripture makes clear, not all anger is good (James 1:19-20).When we apply the actual definition of love to relationships, there is no doubt that a man could put the will of his boyfriend above his own. However, relationships are not limited to the two people involved, God is in the mix. Are you putting God’s will above your own?Scripture Says SoThe most obvious and self-evident reason is that Scripture calls homosexuality sin. Moreover, homosexuality along with sins like lying, are considered an “abomination” to God (Proverbs 12:22). We won’t know the why behind every word spoken by God, but we know His stance.Supporters of homosexuality often cite that being gay is “natural” and “inherent”. Science has never and will never identify a “gay gene,” however, they are correct. Sin is natural, but natural doesn’t equal right.For some people, lying feels natural, abuse, cursing, laziness. We all have our sins that we do naturally (Romans 3:23). Doing the right thing may even feel unnatural. However, right is right, and wrong is wrong.Sometimes the lines are blurry, but not with this issue.In ConclusionSimilarly, to a future alcoholic born out of an alcoholic and abusive family, this is often the case for people who come out as gay. Often there is a father missing from the picture and sexual abuse that occurred at a young age. Sin does indeed produce more sin, in ourselves and potentially in ourselves. The course of sin can be reversed, however.There is a God who sees and knows the trauma that each of us carries. He is not blind to our suffering or callous. God cares. While we may never understand the why behind everything that happens, we can rest assured that God will use all of it for our good (Romans 8:28).Thus, the next time someone comes out to us as gay or anything else under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, the proper response is not to accept and encourage. The proper response is to accept and admonish. This does not mean bashing someone over the hand in an effort to be right every time you have an opportunity. This means standing strong in your convictions and desiring what’s best for the other person, even if they don’t realize it.Scripture makes clear what sort of sexual activity is appropriate for humanity. Homosexuality is undoubtedly not on the list.Photo Credit: (c)GettyImages/Ocskaymark [photo1]Aaron Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  18. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance instructor, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He at present contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied shoppers by means of the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  19. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  20. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He is currently contributing to the work of I believe, Crosswalkand supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Discover his little story »Serenity.” […]

  21. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalkand supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  22. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  23. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  24. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  25. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  26. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  27. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  28. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  29. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  30. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  31. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  32. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  33. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  34. […] Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  35. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  36. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  37. […] Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  38. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  39. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  40. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  41. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  42. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  43. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, dwelling in Virginia. He presently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps numerous purchasers by the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Try his brief story “Serenity.” […]

  44. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  45. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  46. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance instructor, and visible artist, dwelling in Virginia. He at the moment contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied shoppers by means of the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  47. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance instructor, and visible artist, dwelling in Virginia. He presently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied purchasers by way of the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Check out his brief story “Serenity.” […]

  48. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  49. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He at the moment contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied purchasers by way of the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Try his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  50. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  51. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  52. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  53. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He at the moment contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps numerous purchasers by the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his brief story “Serenity.” […]

  54. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  55. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, dwelling in Virginia. He at the moment contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps numerous purchasers by means of the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his brief story “Serenity.” […]

  56. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  57. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  58. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  59. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  60. 4 Ways to Cultivate Deeper Relationships with Other Christians - Smart media update Avatar

    […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  61. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  62. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, dwelling in Virginia. He at the moment contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps numerous purchasers by the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Try his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  63. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  64. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  65. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He presently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied purchasers via the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Try his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  66. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  67. 6 Guiding Verses about Family Relationships - Smart media update Avatar

    […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  68. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  69. 6 Guiding Verses about Family Relationships - Topat10.com Avatar

    […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  70. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  71. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  72. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, dwelling in Virginia. He presently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied shoppers via the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his brief story “Serenity.” […]

  73. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  74. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance instructor, and visible artist, dwelling in Virginia. He at present contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied shoppers by the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Try his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  75. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the establishment. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  76. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance instructor, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He presently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied purchasers via the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  77. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He at the moment contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied shoppers by the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Try his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  78. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  79. 5 Prayers for a Broken Family - Smart media update Avatar

    […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  80. 5 Prayers for a Broken Family - Topat10.com Avatar

    […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  81. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  82. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  83. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  84. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  85. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He at present contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied purchasers via the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  86. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance instructor, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He at the moment contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps numerous purchasers by the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his quick story “Serenity.” […]

  87. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  88. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  89. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance trainer, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He presently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps numerous shoppers via the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Try his brief story “Serenity.” […]

  90. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  91. When to Care and When Not to As Christians - Topat10.com Avatar

    […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  92. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  93. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  94. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  95. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  96. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. He’s an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Check out his short story “Serenity.” […]

  97. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance instructor, and visual artist living in Virginia. He is currently contributing to work I believe, Crosswalkand supports various clients via the platform Preparatory work. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Discover his news »Serenity.” […]

  98. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance instructor, and visual artist living in Virginia. He is currently contributing to work I believe, Crosswalkand supports various clients via the platform Preparatory work. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Discover his news »Serenity.” […]

  99. […] Aaron D’Anthony Brown is a contract author, hip-hop dance instructor, and visible artist, residing in Virginia. He at the moment contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and helps varied purchasers by way of the platform Upwork. He is an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for difficult the established order. Take a look at his quick story “Serenity.” […]

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