Bible Verse Graphics

I've been designing some Bible verses graphics for my church and would like to share them here. Feel free to use them for personal use. If you post them on social media, please give me a shoutout! (instagram: @en_karin)
I'll be adding more in the weeks and months to come, so feel free to bookmark this link.

I have collected all of them in this photo album.

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Coming August 4: Elements of Life, A Collection of Poetry. This collection explores the intersection of atomic precision and the infinite soul, weaving the rigid structure of the elements into the fluid tapestry of human experience. Through these verses, the fundamental laws of science become a new liturgy for understanding the quiet miracles of daily existence.

Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).
Growing in Love: What Does It Look Like to Follow Jesus? An Exploration of the Letter of 1 John
Melanchthon’s German Catechism translated into English.
Connect with me on Instagram, Substack, and Pinterest.
My reading recommendations. My merch store. My Etsy store.

My Tolkien Project Summer 2026

As you might already know, I teach part-time during the school year. That means that my summer schedule looks a bit different, and every summer, I try to do some sort of self-directed professional development. I’ve done courses through Coursera (one of my favorites was Organising an Empire: The Assyrian Way), as well as other online courses. This summer, I’ve decided to do a self-directed journey through some of JRR Tolkien’s works and works about him that I haven’t read yet.

Beyond the books pictured below, I am also reading The Fall of Gondolin and The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth by Ruth Noel. I will also listen to various podcast episodes, and I have some assignments and projects that I’ve designed for myself. I’ll be sharing occasional tidbits in my newsletter, if you want to follow along. I may, down the road, turn this into a more fleshed out blog series, but I don’t have concrete plans for that yet.

 
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Coming August 4: Elements of Life, A Collection of Poetry. This collection explores the intersection of atomic precision and the infinite soul, weaving the rigid structure of the elements into the fluid tapestry of human experience. Through these verses, the fundamental laws of science become a new liturgy for understanding the quiet miracles of daily existence.

Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).

Growing in Love: What Does It Look Like to Follow Jesus? An Exploration of the Letter of 1 John
Melanchthon’s German Catechism translated into English.
Connect with me on Instagram, Substack, and Pinterest.
My reading recommendations. My merch store. My Etsy store.

June Desktop Wallpaper

Device wallpaper for June 2026. Click on the picture for a full-sized version.

Elements of Life - Join the Book Launch Team

As I announced earlier this year, my next book is going to be published later this year. It is a collection of poetry and is being released on August 4.

This collection explores the intersection of atomic precision and the infinite soul, weaving the rigid structure of the elements into the fluid tapestry of human experience. Through these verses, the fundamental laws of science become a new liturgy for understanding the quiet miracles of daily existence.

There is still time to join the launch team. You can do so here.

Also, I hope to be announcing preorder details and preorder bonuses soon! Keep checking back here or sign up for my newsletter to get the information in your inbox.

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What does it look like to follow Jesus? I’ve written a book that walks through the Letter of 1 John and offers practical guidance for spiritual growth. Buy it here!

Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).
Melanchthon’s German Catechism translated into English.
Connect with me on Instagram, Substack, and Pinterest.
My reading recommendations. My merch store. My Etsy store.

A Survey of World Religions: Taoism (or Daoism)

Taoism (or Daoism) is an ancient Chinese philosophy and religion that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao (the Way)—the fundamental, underlying principle of the universe. It focuses on spontaneity, simplicity, and non-interference.

Worldview: Origins, Meaning, and the Afterlife

Taoism views the universe as a self-regulating, organic whole that functions according to natural laws.

• How the World Began: Creation is viewed as a process of differentiation rather than a single event. From the primordial void (Wuji) emerged the Tao. The Tao produced the One (primordial energy or Qi), the One produced the Two (Yin and Yang), and the Two produced the Three (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity), which then gave rise to all things.

• The Meaning of Life: The goal is to achieve harmony with the Tao. This is pursued through Wu Wei (effortless action or "non-doing"), which means acting in alignment with the natural flow of life rather than fighting against it. Life is about returning to a state of simplicity and "uncarved" potential.

• The Afterlife: Classical Taoism is more concerned with the transformation of life than the destination after death. While some branches of religious Taoism seek physical immortality through alchemy and meditation, death is generally viewed as a return to the Tao—a transition from one form of energy to another.

Religious and Spiritual Practices

Taoist practice focuses on balancing the body’s internal energy (Qi) and aligning with external nature.

• Meditation and Breathwork: Taoists use various forms of meditation to quiet the mind and circulate Qi through the body.

• Tai Chi and Qigong: These physical exercises are moving meditations designed to balance internal energies and promote health and longevity.

• Dietary and External Alchemy: Historically, some practitioners followed strict diets or used herbal formulas (and occasionally minerals) to purify the body and extend life.

• Ritual and Offerings: In religious Taoism, priests perform rituals to maintain communal harmony, celebrate festivals, and petition deities or spirits to ward off illness and bad fortune.

Major Deities and Figures

Taoism has a vast and colorful pantheon, often organized like a celestial bureaucracy.

• The Three Pure Ones: The highest deities in the Taoist pantheon, representing the three primordial emanations of the Tao and the different aspects of the universe.

• The Jade Emperor: The ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below it, responsible for the administration of the universe.

• Laozi (Lao Tzu): The legendary founder and author of the Tao Te Ching. He is often deified as one of the Three Pure Ones.

• The Eight Immortals: A group of legendary figures who achieved immortality through Taoist practices. They represent different walks of life (old, young, rich, poor) and are popular figures in folklore.

• Queen Mother of the West: A powerful goddess who guards the peaches of immortality and governs the female Yin energy.

Major Religious Texts

The Taoist canon is known as the Daozang, containing thousands of volumes, but two texts are essential for understanding the core philosophy.

• Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing): Attributed to Laozi, this is the most influential Taoist text. It consists of 81 short chapters of cryptic, poetic wisdom regarding the nature of the Tao and the art of living.

• The Zhuangzi: Attributed to the sage Zhuangzi, this text uses parables, humor, and irony to explore the limitations of human language and the freedom found in spontaneity.

• Liezi: A later collection of stories and philosophical musings that emphasizes the value of rest and the acceptance of change.

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What does it look like to follow Jesus? I’ve written a book that walks through the Letter of 1 John and offers practical guidance for spiritual growth. Buy it here!

Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).
Melanchthon’s German Catechism translated into English.
Connect with me on Instagram, Substack, and Pinterest.
My reading recommendations. My merch store. My Etsy store.

A Survey of World Religions: Confucianism

Confucianism is often described as a "social-ethical philosophy" rather than a traditional religion. It focuses on human relationships, social harmony, and the cultivation of virtue to create a stable, flourishing society.

Worldview: Origins, Meaning, and the Afterlife

Confucius was famously more concerned with how to live in this world than with the mysteries of the next.

• How the World Began: Confucianism does not have a specific creation myth. It accepts the traditional Chinese view of the cosmos as a self-existing, organic system. The focus is on Tian (Heaven), which is viewed not as a personified god, but as a cosmic moral order that sustains the universe.

• The Meaning of Life: The goal of life is to become a Junzi (an exemplary person or "gentleman"). This is achieved through the cultivation of five core virtues, the most important being Ren (benevolence or human-heartedness) and Li (ritual propriety or etiquette). Life’s meaning is found in fulfilling one’s role within the "Five Key Relationships" (e.g., Parent/Child, Ruler/Subject).

• The Afterlife: Confucius famously said, "If you do not yet understand life, how can you understand death?" While Confucianism acknowledges the existence of spirits and ancestors, it does not focus on salvation or a literal heaven/hell. Success in the afterlife is essentially the continuation of the family line and being remembered by one's descendants through proper memorial rites.

Religious and Ethical Practices

Confucian practice is deeply rooted in daily conduct and the performance of rituals that reinforce social bonds.

• Filial Piety (Xiao): This is the foundation of all virtue. It is the extreme respect and devotion children owe their parents and ancestors.

• Ancestor Veneration: Families maintain altars in their homes to honor deceased ancestors. Ritual offerings of food and incense are made to show that the family remains a single, continuous unit across generations.

• Ritual Propriety (Li): This involves following the "proper way" of doing things—from how one speaks to elders to how official state ceremonies are conducted. Following Li is believed to harmonize the individual with the cosmic order.

• Education and Self-Cultivation: Continuous study of the classics and reflection on one's own character are considered essential "religious" duties.

Major "Deities" and Figures

Because it is a humanistic philosophy, Confucianism does not have a pantheon of gods to whom one prays for miracles.

• Confucius (Kong Fuzi): The founder and "Great Sage." He is revered as the ultimate teacher and a model of human perfection, though he is not worshipped as a god.

• Mencius (Mengzi): The most famous follower of Confucius, known for his belief that human nature is inherently good and that rulers must provide for the well-being of the people.

• Tian (Heaven): The impersonal force of the universe that grants the "Mandate of Heaven" to just rulers.

• Ancestors: Deceased family members are the most immediate "spiritual" figures in a Confucian's life, acting as protectors and links to the past.

Major Religious Texts

The core of the Confucian tradition is found in two sets of books.

• The Four Books:

1. The Analects (Lunyu): A collection of sayings and ideas attributed to Confucius and his contemporaries.

2. The Mencius: Conversations and philosophy of the sage Mencius.

3. The Great Learning: A guide for self-cultivation and leadership.

4. The Doctrine of the Mean: Explores the concept of balance and harmony with the way of Heaven.

• The Five Classics: Ancient texts that Confucius himself edited or taught, covering history, poetry, and divination (including the I Ching).

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What does it look like to follow Jesus? I’ve written a book that walks through the Letter of 1 John and offers practical guidance for spiritual growth. Buy it here!

Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).
Melanchthon’s German Catechism translated into English.
Connect with me on Instagram, Substack, and Pinterest.
My reading recommendations. My merch store. My Etsy store.