My name is Micah Furlong, and I’m a Jewish Christian.

Growing up as an Army brat, I didn’t have a normal childhood. Our family tables were often missing one person, moving was a constant hassle, and most importantly, schools and friendships were a come-and-go situation. This is the case for many children of a military parent or parents. Never feeling settled in one spot can overshadow what could be a great story for the entire family.

It’s that time of year again. Cue the frantic scramble of people on the hunt for a Halloween costume that is the perfect combination of current yet witty, and clever without being obscure. A costume that guarantees a conversation wherever you go. Over the years, to ensure such a getup, people have worked to push the boundaries. From bloody cheerleader costumes to illegal immigrants, offensive Halloween costumes have become an annual tradition. This year will be no different.

The recent debates regarding Islam have made me reflect on my right to the freedom of speech. Part of the First Amendment adopted way back when, this freedom is one Americans too often take for granted.

During Welcome Week at Baylor, I remember walking across campus back toward my dorm with one of my friends who was Indian. I had been on campus for a grand total of three days, and to this point, it was everything I had hoped it to be and more.

In ancient Greece, townspeople came together into the marketplace for both commerce and trade, on the one hand, and the exchange of ideas, on the other. This culture, which reached its zenith in ancient Athens, is powerfully captured in Acts chapter 17.