Faith. Life. Gaming.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is a game that I love but will never finish.
The atmosphere, artwork, and overall vibes are perfection. The game demands that you git good. Real good.
Somewhere over 10 hours in, I just thought, I’m done. I’ve experienced enough of Silksong to know that this game is a masterpiece I will never complete. I’m good with that.
But, I can admire the game from a distance.
And I can even be excited over the upcoming expansion.
Joshua, over at KeepThinking, emailed me recently with the idea of doing a “try this game”, where we each choose a game for the other to play and then write about the experience. I thought the idea sounded good and immediately emailed Josh back, “I’m in!”
The game Joshua picked for me to play is called Rakuen. This is a game that I’ve been aware of but have never dug any deeper. However, Rakuen looks to scratch my love of indie games, pixelated graphics, and a primary focus on story. (The game I picked for Joshua was Abzu, which he wrote about here.)
As I journey through the world of Rakuen (I am a more than a few hours in), I’m keeping the following questions in the back of my mind:
I will probably finish Rakuen towards the end of the month. Want to play with me? Get the game (PC & Switch) and dive in!
There was a time when I wrote often—about faith, life, and video games. It was a passion, a calling even. But somewhere along the way, that passion faded.
Not my faith. That remained, deepened even. I became a Sunday school teacher, a deacon. I poured myself into people, into service.
And life? It didn’t stop—it got more complex. Looking back, my dream of blending Christianity and gaming feels a bit naïve now. I wanted to carve out a space where both could coexist, where thoughtful engagement could thrive. But the digital landscape shifted. Sites came and went. The world moved on.
Still, I game.
I run from robots, shoot Nazis, battle dragons. The adventures continue. I just don’t write about them anymore.
Now, in 2025—nearly 23 years since JohnnyBGamer began—I find myself wondering about its original mission. The internet has evolved beyond anything we imagined: streamers, influencers, endless video. Simplicity gave way to spectacle.
And yet, the heart of it all—faith, story, play—still matters. Maybe it’s time to rediscover what that looks like today?
What happens when a blog goes silent for nine months?
Whispers start.
And if you caught my last few posts, you might have even wondered: Is Bryan doing alright?
In my absence, my family and I have discovered healing. Healing that can only come from plugging into a local body of believers. Sitting / soaking under solid teachers who exemplify what a healthy church looks like.
Together, we have made a conscious decision: we aren’t going to stay stuck in the past. That is not to say that I do not have days where the past suddenly comes back with a vengeance. But I am choosing not to hold on to it. To let God speak in those moments. Realizing that yes, there is past hurt but there is so much more hope in the present.
I am doing good.
Still reading the Bible and other books.
Still playing the video games.
Thankful that my family and I discovered Mobberly Baptist Church. Where we became members this past Sunday!
P.S. You should also check out Pastor Andrew.
Welcome to the Surf Report for November 26, 2024!
If you have ever experienced death in your family/friend circle, you know that there is an ebb and flow to it. Some days you are good, the world is bright and beautiful; other days you are not so good, the world is rainy and depressing. Ultimately, you are mourning a loss. Mourning what could have been but will never be. That’s where I’ve been since I last wrote. Experiencing the highs and lows of losing not a person but a church.
At the same time, my family and I joined Mobberly Baptist Church. I figured that I could either wallow in the past or press forward into the future. We have joined a small group; I have joined a weekly men’s Bible study. God is good.
I look forward to healing, serving, and getting to know more people.
I am currently reading:
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne – A tale of Vikings sprinkled with just enough mystery to keep me going. There is a magic element to it but how much magic remains to be seen. I am enjoying the world and the characters therein.
Shepherding Like Jesus: Returning to the Wild Idea that Character Matters in Ministry by Andrew Hébert – I’ve only gotten through the introduction but the title says it all: Character Matters in Ministry. Looking forward to reading through this book by my new pastor.
And then, I’ve been listening to The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson on my commute to/from work. I’ve read this book some fourteen years ago but decided to relisten to the series on audiobook.
I bought Metaphor: ReFantazio and Dragon Age: The Veilguard within the span of a week. I love the story, characters, and atmosphere of Metaphor. The battle system though is something else. I find myself under-leveled and almost in an analysis-paralysis. Should I have picked another character class? Am I playing the game right? I love it… but Metaphor is unlike anything I’ve ever played.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard plays well, has an interesting story that never goes where I think it will, and solid characters. It’s one of those games where a story mission is just the perfect length to play, beat, and then log off for the night. I’ve been playing for about 7 hours now. Will continue and report back.
That’s it for me. How about you? What have you been up to? Let me know in the comments below.
JohnnyBGamer