Alex Tran

The Best Pen for Writing Notes and Underlining in Your Bible

Alex Tran — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 03:05:00 +0000

What is the best type of pen to use in a Bible? I wish I would’ve asked that question earlier. After trying highlighters, dry highlighters, pencils and pens (ball point, gelly, rollerball, etc.) without being satisfied with any for underlining and taking notes, I went on a quest to find the best pen. The short answer: pigment ink (i.e. archive quality) pens. Here are some of…

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Race Planning Using the SuperPower Calculator

Alex Tran — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:49:05 +0000

It all comes down to this: race day. Everything you’ve done in training was to prepare you physically and mentally to show up on race day and perform your best. With the hard part complete, there’s one more thing you can do to boost your odds of executing well on race day. I consider this the fun part: Create a solid race plan. If there’s anywhere running with power outclasses…

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How to Dig Yourself out of a Bible-Reading Rut

Alex Tran — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 21:14:17 +0000

In college, I remember a piece of surprising advice. I remember thinking, “Is that something a Christian is allowed to say?” A friend shared how reading the Bible had gotten boring and monotonous for him. To which someone suggested he stop reading the Bible for a season. Say, what!? I’m surprised my friend didn’t turn into a pillar of salt after giving that advice.

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I got convicted

Alex Tran — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 03:49:00 +0000

Conviction come’s in the weirdest ways sometimes. Over the past year, I’ve gotten more serious about running. Initially, I chose running because it was cheap way to stay fit. Hah, what a lie. Running hasn’t been cheap. But that’s a post for another time. As my pocket book dwindled from one running purchase after another, you better believe I jumped at the chance to become a brand ambassador…

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5 Lessons from 15 Years as a Christian

Alex Tran — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 05:00:54 +0000

Today (October 18, 2015) is a significant milestone in my faith journey. Fifteen years ago today, sitting at my computer in my dorm room, I gave my life to Christ and began a relationship with him. Along with that milestone, I also hit 10 years in full-time church ministry last month. So I thought it’d be fun to reflect back and jot down a few lessons I’ve learned along the way.

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Two Simple and Free Ways to Eliminate Porn Temptation

Alex Tran — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 01:40:00 +0000

The Internet is a giant, never-ending vat of visual temptation. Pornography, celebrity sex tapes, websites dedicated to adult content/explicit images, half-naked women in ads. It can appear quickly and from the most unexpected places. I was listening to music from Pandora’s website once when a full-page ad of a half-dressed woman appeared as a new song started playing. Pandora!?

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You and I Are Both in Full-Time Ministry

Alex Tran — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 21:40:22 +0000

Let’s play a word association game. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say the following words/phrases. My answers would be: skinny jeans, binge watching and working at a church. Since I work at a church, people often ask me what it’s like to be in full-time ministry. I hate this question. It implies I’m in full-time ministry and you are not. Here’s the truth. If you’re a…

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The Secret Sauce to Spiritual Growth

Alex Tran — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 23:11:57 +0000

I’ve been on a kettlebell kick lately. I’m fascinated by the lure of just two kettlebell exercises causing a “what the hell?” effect. Living in the world of kettlebell swings and turkish get-ups has brought surprising clarity to a question Christians often wrestle with: How do we grow in our faith and mature in our relationship with Christ? The answer begins with those two…

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6 Uber-Practical Steps to a Spiritually Significant Fast

Alex Tran — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 08:37:42 +0000

Honestly, I never look forward to whenever my church does a 21-day fast to kick off the year. I don’t look forward to it because what should be a deeply spiritual act nearly always deteriorates into nothing more than a shift in what I eat. I keep trying year after year to raise the spiritual bar, but haven’t quite nailed it (yet). What I have nailed is a few practical pointers that I…

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5 More 30 Minute Worship Playlists

Alex Tran — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 05:03:02 +0000

Over the course of time, I’ve created a handful of worship playlists. Add some more time to that time and now I have five more worship playlists to share with you! ;) Any worship songs you’re diggin’ currently? Share them with me in the comments! Lately, I feel more drawn to the mellow stuff. While I love the high-energy anthem type songs, they just don’t work well for intimate worship at…

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