Weightless
During Ramadan, life changes more drastically here. Outwardly, cousins fast from sunrise to sunset. Everyone else, are to respect that commitment, even when it is not expected. Inwardly, it is common for cousins to believe Christians will try to tempt them to break their fast, even if it is an unintentional sip of water. Displays that lack restraint can perpetuate the perception of neglect and disregard for cousins beliefs, increasing a divide, rather than bridging it. So, why then do cousins fast? On the Metro, it is now more common to see nearly every passenger reading their Quran on their… Read more >>
The Real Adventure
There is a lot of history where I now live. Stone carvings, giant monuments, a full river, churches, temples, mosques, caves, parks, and desert places, the list goes on for literally 1000s of years. In a couple weeks since arriving, I’ve been reflecting on the gradual adjustment of calling this place home and my team home and this culture home. I think home is found in faith and as fun as it is to explore and share the places I’m now surrounded in, beginning to live here has instead been more about learning a way of life different than what I know while developing my faith to have discernment… Read more >>
Building Trust
Over the past few weeks I have been praying about the many aspects of trust and ways I can practice it in new relationships, especially when the Gospel is best shared through weakness. I think there are significant, yet difficult aspects in building and sustaining trust in ministry. Significant because in ministry you are living to reflect the character of God, yet difficult because we are all sinful. How then do you build trust? This question I think comes up often because of how important it is in relationships and I don’t think there is a simple answer. Although, I think there are aspects… Read more >>
Breaking Glass Ceilings
Have you ever thought about literally speaking the same language as an act of love? Probably not because love doesn’t come from language, yet it is an avenue. Rather, what I can gather from 1 Corinthians 13 is if I have the language ever so perfectly and speak like a local, and have not the love that grips the heart, I am nothing. Acquiring language can be difficult and these past few weeks, I’ve been able to put in perspective that learning Arabic requires that I participate by observing in ways I haven’t done before. To do more than see the world, but hear it. To listen for sounds which are… Read more >>