A well-traveled highway connects Jimma and Gore, Ethiopia. Some of the highway is paved. More significantly to many Christian Ethiopians is the even stronger connection between Gore and Jimma that started with the “coming of the Holy Spirit” and subsequent “Great...
Because I love fishing I've been thinking about John 21 recently. This great chapter, which takes place a week or more after Jesus’ resurrection, recounts Jesus’ restoration of Peter. But the whole scene is set in the context of Peter and several disciples having gone...
I’m keenly aware that this is a season of the unexpected. Despite the fact that Jesus repeatedly told His disciples what would happen, they never expected His crucifixion or his resurrection. Are we any different? This last year is proof of God doing the unexpected....
I’ve been reflecting on James 1:19, which in part reads: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” I believe this verse tells us how we can improve communication. Half of effective communication lies with the listener. We need to...
Grace, not guilt, is what should drive us to spiritual disciplines. You see, when it comes to spiritual disciplines, it is easy to slip into guilt mode. We mistakenly let a low-grade guilt drive us to practice spiritual disciplines and think that if we just do enough...
You can easily see how it fits in, but in thinking about this I believe the quote applies to the season of Advent broadly. You see, the waiting, longing and silence of Advent makes the joy of Christmas all the better. Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament...
This is why I’m grateful for the season of advent. Advent means coming or appearing, and it is a season that shapes our expectations. It reminds us that the world waited a long time for Christ’s first coming and that when he came it was not in the way they expected....
Prepositions matter! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” I’m really glad the command isn’t to “give thanks for all circumstances.” There are lots of things I cannot and even should not give thanks for this year, but in the midst of...