Latest Posts

Third Sunday in Advent: When Mary Became Mary

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

Second Sunday in Advent: The Gift of Hope

  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

First Sunday in Advent: Running with Rahab

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

A Better and Lasting Possession

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

Have You Ever Felt the Weight?

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

Is it Wind or Monkeys?

  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

The Thick Darkness

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

Privileged Places

Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” John 20:26b I sit in the early morning light looking out over the pastel surface of the Brussels airport, and I see Jesus. He is here. His gentleness undulates through the mist that sits reverently over the tarmac. I can trace His order along the carefully laid lines and dashes showing luggage trucks and airplanes where to go, and where not to. I… Read More

When You Grow Weary and Want to Give Up

Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. Hebrews 12:3, NET Sometimes third and fourth-degree burns cause severe nerve damage, resulting in chronic pain. The problem for burn survivors and those who love them is that it takes time to know if such damage will be one’s fate. In the months after burn trauma, the miraculous human body produces… Read More

First Stop, the Cross

For S, and all who suffer injustice. For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female —for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-29   But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have… Read More