Tag Archives: Missions

60 Poems Lost

Listen HERE In a recent prisoner exchange, Afghanistan surrendered an American Christian for an Afghani convicted of selling drugs and terrorizing.  The Christian had spent the past two years in jail in Afghanistan even though he had all the proper documentation, had initially been welcomed by governing authorities, and was in the country to helpContinue reading “60 Poems Lost”

The Old Cane Pole

My dad has a long cane pole hanging in his garage. When we visited for Christmas, I asked him to tell my sons about it. “Well, it was Papa’s,” he said, meaning his dad, “and he called it a Calcutta cane pole.” Dad went on to describe the way Papa held the pole, the wayContinue reading “The Old Cane Pole”

The Battle of Advent

Listen HERE I live on a reservation where I see many battles. Even while I watch my little boy fight imaginary foes with a wooden sword, I am praying for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are fighting the battles of addiction, grief, loneliness, rejection, generational trauma, and hopelessness. Those foes rise up withContinue reading “The Battle of Advent”

White for Harvest

Listen HERE My son has been watching everyday for the harvester to come gather in the wheat that has been growing next to our house. He got to ride on the seeder when they planted the field, and he has been watching it grow all summer. Today, the field was white as the sun shoneContinue reading “White for Harvest”

Belonging

Listen HERE A friend of mine recently shared about attending a large cultural event in our community. She’d been many times before. She knew most of the people participating. But this year, it was different. As soon as she arrived, she thought, “I don’t belong here.” As a Christian, my friend recognized that a largeContinue reading “Belonging”

The Value of One

Listen HERE I have spent most of the summers of my adult life teaching the good news of Jesus to hundreds of children. I usually take huge crates of snacks, chalk, bubbles, and crafts to neighborhoods nearby, and the children gather when they see me coming. This summer was different. This summer, I focused onContinue reading “The Value of One”

Grass and Flowers

The wildflowers have overtaken both shoulders of the dirt road where I live. When I walk there, I watch bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds thriving on the pollen. It is a blessing to step out the front door into so much fragrant beauty. Whether the sun is shining on them or hail and wind batter them,Continue reading “Grass and Flowers”

Beautiful Little Fingers

Listen HERE Summer is the season of sidewalk chalk. Both at home and at church, I have crates of sidewalk chalk to keep little fingers busy and to share the Good News through color. Yellow. God is holy, and He made everything.  Black. We sinned and disobeyed God, separating ourselves from him forever.  Red. HeContinue reading “Beautiful Little Fingers”

Spiritual Sacrifices

Listen HERE The little boy motioned to me to bend down closer so that he could speak into my ear. Before then, the only whole sentences I’d heard him utter were, “Have to go bathroom,” and “Is it time to eat yet?” He had a long tale to tell that brought waves of grief asContinue reading “Spiritual Sacrifices”