This is the first in a new series called “Five Questions”. I’ll be irreverently interviewing a few people whom I find interesting and sharing the results with you. Enjoy.

I blame Kevin Miller of impending “Hellbound?” fame for first introducing me to Nick’s blog. Since that fateful day several months ago, I’ve kept up regularly with the writings of Mr. Ahern. He posts on a confetti of topics within the realm of religion/theology/art/culture. Whenever I understand what he’s writing about, I really enjoy it. After hitting it off on Twitter, Nick and I have proceeded to exchange a series of avant-garde text messages about the intersection of blogging and God. He’s a good guy. Anyhow, enough of the accolades. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty: 

1. First off, you call your blog “Split Frame of Reference”. What’s up with that?

Split/Frame reminded me of an editing trick I did in film school, trying to splice frames and all that. Very film related, and probably overly pretentious. Frame of Reference seems to deal with ideas and all that seem to determine how we approach and deconstruct motifs and ideas. For me, it was more in relation to culture and Christianity and how the two fight in bed with each other. I’m a big fan of deconstructing things down to bare bones, and seeing how they operate, and if they are compatible with other ideas.

2. Have you ever been called a heretic or a liberal? If so, how did that make you feel?

Many times to both labels. I’ve had a few souls (God bless them) that “anathematized” me, which provoked two reactions. One, how can a non-unified church anathematize someone? and two, I actually stopped and thought about it. Was/am I a heretic? That actually disturbed me greatly, and I did wonder if I could believe the things I believe and still be a Christian (however we define such a term). It provoked doubt, ultimately. And in regards to being labelled liberal, that just made me chuckle. I’ve had conservatives and fundamentalists call me liberal, and I’ve had liberal friends call me conservative. “Liberal” is a loose term that some/many throw around as a means to dismiss a view they don’t agree with.

3. What’s the biggest change that’s happened inside your own head in the past year?

I’ve come to realize that there is a select group of people out there that I’m willing to include myself in, and the label is “bastard Christians.” What I mean is, the church is a whore, and we’re its bastard children. The implication that went around in my head in deconstructing this was several fold: Unloving fathers inflicting abuse upon the our mother (the church), resulting in its bastard children growing up dysfunctional, bruised and afraid. Terrified of commitment and abandonment, and just wanting to be loved by anyone. Coming to the conclusion that our dear mother is not a saint, that she can be abusive and cold, and wondering if she is beyond salvation. The adoption of wounded children into the fold of a new Father, a Father that is gentle, merciful and just.  An adoptive Father that loves us, that doesn’t care about the broken past, forgives us our sins and desires to see his Bride unified. A Father that is capable of bringing such resurrection is one that has just begun to reveal Himself to me. Prayerfully desiring that this Father’s love will never be escaped, and that the church would turns fully towards Him, and bring all of humanity with them. That the Bride would bring solidarity.

In a nutshell, the implications of this are huge. It covers eschatology, creation, resurrection, atonement and ecclesiology. This Father has begun to show me that there is hope in spite of my ruptured past, and desires to make me new. And in this, I hope, all shall be well.

4. Who are you voting for this fall?

Had you asked me this a year ago, it would’ve been Romney. Now, working through the lens of Jesus and his Kingdom, I find it very difficult to vote for either candidate. I think flipping a coin between Mickey Mouse and Jon Huntsman might be my only option.

5. What do you want to be if you grow up?

A famous screenwriter, a good friend and a loving husband. I’ll take the last two if God would grant only those.

Follow Nick on Twitter: @NickAhern
Read His Blog: Split Frame of Reference
Also, this: The Christian Manifesto