An Indian monsoon can suck the energy right out of you. Humidity builds and the steamy air closes in—the prequel to the relief of a rainstorm. It’s astonishing, the havoc this weather wreaks on a house. Doors swell too thick to be closed. Paint peels off the walls. Closets turn […]
Love Your Enemies
The boy put his hand up. “Why are Christians being killed in Iraq?” he asked. I looked at this brown-eyed 6-year-old boy in my Sunday School class and wondered how in the world I could begin to explain it to him. How could I explain that most Muslims are not […]
A Moment’s Notice
Have you ever paid close attention to all the little moments you have each day? Sitting on the bus, taking the subway to work, grabbing a quick meal during your thirty minute lunch break, or perhaps it’s waiting in line at your local coffee house for your morning perk. We […]
The First Day of Class
The first time I stood in front of twenty teenage boys in the Arab Gulf to teach an English class, I was terrified. I had no previous education training or experience—whatsoever. The pace at which my students spoke Arabic was torrid at a minimum, so needless to say I understood […]
Grief Beyond Words
The most intolerant people can be those who are super-serious about their religion. I visited Jonah’s tomb in Mosul when I lived in Iraq. Now I have to say “I visited it before they blew it up.” We cry today. The fellow who speaks in Arabic at the […]
Deny Yourself: A Lesson From the Book of Luke
It was 6:00 a.m. and I was wide-awake. Not because I am an early riser, but because of jet lag. All signs were pointing to this quickly becoming a challenging day. Our team dug into our daily devotions, which focused on pursuing a lifestyle of servitude to Jesus as pictured […]
Show & Tell: Reflections on 1 Corinthians 1:18
Remember show and tell? It was stressful. How could you possibly choose? You’d want to bring your dog, your grandfather’s arrowheads, and your autographed picture of a pro figure skater. You’d line up your stuff on your bed wishing you could bring it all. After what felt like hours but […]
Disciple Making Movements and the Syrian Refugees
As we walked into this particular Syrian refugee family’s home, one of the daughters was mopping the floors. I lifted the skirt of my clothes, as I felt slimy water fill my sandals. I tried not to visibly grimace. As I entered the home I could see a huge pile […]