-
My Native Language
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it (John 1:1-5). My first language is English. I do not remember… Read More
-
If You Must Withdraw
Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.Luke 5:15-16 Withdrawing may seem a strange subject during a global pandemic when humans are already withdrawn across the world. But in some ways, forced physical withdrawal has fostered the opposite effect: a frenzied drawing near in non-physical ways. Texting, tweeting, Tik-Toking, You-Tubing, Zooming,… Read More
-
Seed Beginnings
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.Zechariah 4:10 I lay there in the dark, alert and ready to leap out of bed at any given second. The sound of the rat running back and forth on the bedpost inches from my head had me frozen in place, immobilized and afraid to breathe. What on earth is he carrying in his mouth with such dedication? I wondered to… Read More
-
Honor Outcry: What Racial Outrage Reveals About the Human Heart
for Erick George Floyd, you were caught trying to buy a pack of cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill, according to the news reports. As you placed that bill on the counter in hopes of getting one more drag from a cigarette you had no idea you stood on the razor-fine edge of a precipice, your life an inflection point for an entire nation. You had no clue you would soon ignite an honor outcry.… Read More
-
Relationship Reset
A global pandemic is a good time for a relationship reset with Jesus. What does the forced halt in productivity reveal in your relationship with God? The tribe I once lived with in East Africa called us outsiders “wazungu”, which literally means “people who spin around and around.” We sure did spin around and around in the beginning, running here and there with our fancy projects and new ideas, keen on doing something Important. But… Read More
-
Mind Your Manners
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27 We all glanced around, wondering who would go first in front of the dairy case. I needed cream cheese. After a woman finished her selection, I moved forward to grab mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an elderly gentleman patiently leaning on his cart across the aisle. Did I step in front of him? Oh, no, I… Read More
-
Begin the Work
for Jen and Hil, we the original Cambridge Three Get up and begin the work! May the Lord be with you!1 Chronicles 22:16 I had longed for many years to become an intercessor. I was surrounded by mighty prayer warriors, women and men who devoted regular time to deep and persistent prayer, a level much deeper than I, as a young college student, had ever committed. I could see the fruit of their prayers, the… Read More
-
School’s Out
My counsel to you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7, MSG School’s out. Families are clustering around… Read More
-
Smartphones, Snapchat, and Shame
All day long I feel humiliated and am overwhelmed by shame.Psalm 44:15 Like a flood that creeps in overnight, flowing under doors and rising over baseboards, shame has come into our hearts and homes, invading the privacy of our most personal dwelling places. The introduction of smartphones and social media has brought convenience and benefit to our lives. We can now take passport photos on our phones and get them the same day at the… Read More
-
Christmas is for the Naughty
@audreycfrank Tears streamed down her face as she tried to explain between sobs what was causing her so much woe. “Jusdhat siadillf mmmeisgah wumph!” I do not speak Sobbing Hiccup very fluently, and I truly had no idea what was making my child so upset. One minute we were driving happily down the road on a sunny afternoon, talking about Christmas. The next thing I knew she was unintelligible and crying her eyes out. Turning… Read More