MATT BLAZER (Cultural Engagement)

Name:  Matthew Peter Blazer (matt@riversidestl.org)

Role at Riverside: I am the Cultural Engagement Intern at Riverside Church.  I work alongside Phil Woods, the Pastor of Community, especially with "Bridge Event" venues such as On Tap.

Family: I am married to Rachel Blazer, and we have a beautiful daughter named Caroline.

Education: University of Missouri in Columbia (Degrees in English and Religious Studies: that means I wrote a lot of papers).  Currently working towards a Masters of Divinity at Covenant Seminary (that means I will be really holy soon)

Dream for Riverside: That Christians and Spiritual Seekers will see that knowing Christ does not mean a homogenous, strictly Republican (or Democrat), or particularly safe (insert your cliché here) life.

Favorite quote: “the truth is that there are no such things for which men will make such Herculean efforts as they things of which they know they are unworthy.  There was never a man in love who did now declare that, if he strained every nerve to breaking, he was going to have his desire.  And, there was never a man in love who did not declare also that he ought not to have it…  If we ask the same man how much he merits, his mind shrinks instinctively and instantaneously.  It is doubtful whether he merits six feet of Earth.  But, if you ask him what he can conquer – he can conquer the stars.” – G.K. Chesterton “Heretics”

Favorite big screen moment: The End of High Fidelity with Jack Black singing Marvin Gaye. 

Favorite music: U2, Pearl Jam, learning to love Jazz, sometimes I ask Brian Janous what I ‘should’ like. 

Hero: Kris Cooper

What I am learning these days: To stop looking for what I want out of the Bible and instead look for what the author was trying to say. 

A few of my favorite things: Being a Model Sinner, playing with my daughter Grilling, my dog Ron, having Ron attack my cat (Batman), movies, Andre Dubus is my favorite author.