August 2011
10 posts
3 tags
Freedom.
Today, a friend of mine showed me what it means to be free. As we sat in Starbucks catching up between talking moms and hissing espresso machines, she began to sing. Loud. I had asked about her song writing, wanting to hear some of her thoughts on creativity, expression and the music industry, but she had something entirely different in mind. She opened her phone to a page of lyrics, smiled, and...
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life...”
– Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist.
4 tags
How Not to Hate America After Missions (Part 2)
God is the same—there and here
When my team did ministry in Iringa, Tanzania, we partnered with a young teacher named Peter who seemed a little over excited about America. He told us, “Wow, I’m so happy to be with a team from the U.S.A. I love American churches. I love American books. One day I will go to America and learn so much about God!”
I stared at him in disbelief, thinking, “Does he...
3 tags
How Not to Hate America After Missions (Part 1)
As I step into the church, bass booms against my chest. Neon lights reflect off the worship leader’s guitar as he sings, “There is no one like our God,” with an auto-tuned effect on his voice. I feel slightly uncomfortable. As the song builds, my friend turns to me and says, “Doesn’t this sound amazing? They just spent $300,000 on a new sound system.” I oddly laugh with a hint of anger. I’m now...
Good Story.
Living a life of comfort won’t make a good story. Living a good story won’t be comfortable. Although it’s tough, I think I’ll do the second.
Endless Ocean.
The Holy Spirit isn’t an object to study. He’s an endless ocean to swim in.
Top 11 Moments of My Race.
11. Watching two dozen orphans become carefree, goofy children at a water park in Mindanao, Philippines.
10. Laying hands on an elderly man with tuberculosis confined to an African hospital bed. His eyes lit up when he realized society could isolate him, but Jesus would still send people to comfort him.
9. Laughing as a monkey stole bananas from a man offering them up to a Hindu idol in a...
