Author Archives: StriderMTB

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About StriderMTB

Hi, I'm Matt. "Strider" from Lord of the Rings is my favorite literary character of all time and for various reasons I write under the pseudonym "StriderMTB. As my blog suggests I seek to live out both the excitement and tension of a Christian walk with Christ in the 3rd world context of Asia. I started my blog as an unmarried man who was blessed to oversee an orphanage of amazing children in South-East Asia. As of 2022, I am a happily married man to an amazing missionary wife serving together on the mission field. I hate lima beans and love to pour milk over my ice-cream. I try to stay active in both reading and writing and this blog is a smattering of my many thoughts. I see the Kingdom of God as Jesus preached it and lived to be the only hope for a broken world and an apathetic church.

My Tribute, Defense and Critique of Charlie Kirk

Posted on September 21, 2025 by StriderMTB

This is thorough and long, so get comfortable: INTRODUCTION Ten days ago I was holding my precious son, Levi, who had been born three hours earlier. I glanced at my phone and saw the headline that Charlie Kirk had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Church and Culture, Thought of the day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Christian Martyrdom vs Christian Progressivism and Christian Nationalism

Posted on March 1, 2025 by StriderMTB

Recently seventy Christians were beheaded in their house of worship by Islamic militants in the Congo. Imagine if you reversed the order of those words—it would be front page news in every publication. It’s hardly a blip in this week’s … Continue reading →

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Christmas as Rescue

Posted on December 26, 2024 by StriderMTB

I love Christmas as much as the next person. But we must remember that the true meaning of Christmas is found in the word rescue more than holiday. When the angel appeared to Joseph and told him not to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Church and Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Comparing the Hope of World Religions in the Light of Karma Law

Posted on April 1, 2024 by StriderMTB

Easter 2024 has passed. As someone who has been involved in missions in Southeast Asia since 2006, I have studied the beliefs of many in the region and have some thoughts. Does the resurrection of Christ offer a unique hope … Continue reading →

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A Liberal Jesus Misses the True Meaning of Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2023 by StriderMTB

In Matthew 1:21 Joseph is told, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit…and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from … Continue reading →

Posted in Church and Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Israel Jews vs Palestinian Arabs: A Christian Position

Posted on October 14, 2023 by StriderMTB

With the recent terror attack, the “SS” Hamas – Nazis think they have scored a victory in Israel, but it’s really a shovel for the grave of their own future and sadly for any decent Palestinian that privately disagrees with … Continue reading →

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Penal Substitutionary Atonement: An Internal Dialogue

Posted on August 4, 2021 by StriderMTB

Below is an internal dialogue in my own head over the theory of Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA). For what its worth I think the view can be partially valid, but only to the degree that God is not the Punisher. … Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics and Athiesm, Church and Culture, Critiquing Calvinism | 18 Comments

What is and what is NOT Christian Nationalism

Posted on January 21, 2021 by StriderMTB

Time to ruffle some feathers 😬. I’ve been working on a comprehensive book that deals with spiritual warfare, and recent events have brought back to mind part of chapter I wrote last year about the “leaven of the Pharisees and … Continue reading →

Posted in Church and Culture | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Disavowing media bias while not avowing Trump: Part 2

Posted on October 24, 2020 by StriderMTB

*I wrote this for my facebook a couple days ago. At the date of this posting, some press outlets are starting to pick up on the NY Post story—but mostly to dismiss it out of hand. This is Part 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Thought of the day | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Disavowing media bias while not avowing Trump: Part 1

Posted on October 24, 2020 by StriderMTB

Time to get slightly political—because that’s always FUN, right? 😅 As someone who voted 3rd party write-in during the 2016 election and will attempt to do so again with an absentee ballot, I’d like to take a middle-of-the-road approach in … Continue reading →

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