O LORD, you examine me and know me. Psalm 139:1 At the beginning of a new year, there is much unknown. We try to know all we can, but the fact is, we cannot. We have a complicated relationship with knowledge. We want to know but we are afraid to know. We long to know and be known. We dream of being known and loved despite it all. But we are afraid of examination. Knowing… Read More
Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice —I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. Luke 6:47-48 The word practice is so graceful. I quite prefer it over… Read More
For all the wise men and women I know across the nations. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and… Read More
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.… Read More
During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old. Luke 1:5-7 They… Read More
This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of… Read More
But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened. At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way. For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting… Read More
In honor of the 1009 survivors in Katanga, Gitare, Mbege, and Langalanga, Kenya. Have you ever felt the weight? The sheer weight of the destitute, surrounding you, holding on to you, hoping you will take the pain away? Hands cracked with labor, the dirt of hard-hoed gardens under fingernails long blackened with reality. Coats mended so many times the stitches march like uneven words telling stories of terror, loss, and hunger. Feet split and thickened… Read More
Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may be spread everywhere. Song of Songs 4:16a (NIVUK) I live at the moment in a small and simple space on the edge of the Rift Valley in East Africa. The first thing I did when I arrived was drag the wooden desk to a window, where I spend most of my days writing and watching monkeys. I counted 21… Read More
For C, with love …Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. Exodus 20:21 I awoke to the sound of hyenas last night. In the darkness, everything seemed wild and terrifying. Anything could happen, or so I thought in the inky black of my bedroom. Are they at my window? Will they devour me? Am I safe? As my focus cut through the heavy blanket of sleep, I remembered the truth. I am… Read More