I recently participated in the Harvester Island Wilderness Workshop in Alaska. My time with fellow writers, workshop leaders, and the beauty of the last frontier allowed me to explore the craft of writing along with a new-to-me place on the planet. Virginia to Alaska It took four flights, on progressively smaller planes, to travel 4,500 miles….
Travelers
We Are Travelers
We are travelers in a foreign land. As Christ-followers, we are citizens of God’s kingdom. We step onto the open road anticipating God’s handiwork. The mindset of a traveler opens our eyes to appreciate the stunning world around us. I have experienced an unimaginable depth of freedom when galloping horses over rolling hills into the brilliant…
Dipping into Memories
Extraordinary adventures fill my memories of last year. As I pause to reflect, I begin to grasp the depth and breadth of the experiences of 2015. Friends and ministry partners allowed me to travel and experience new cultures. I heard languages I had never heard before, ate exotic foods, and found fellow believers in all…
Face to Face with Darkness
Sometimes on this life’s journey, we come face to face with darkness and evil. Yesterday was my day. I saw slavery. Here is what happened: A seemingly trustworthy man offered a job to the dad of an impoverished family. The man gave a cash advance to help move the dad and family to the new…
Mind-blowing Life Lessons after 60K Miles
Over the past year, I’ve traveled more than 60,000 miles. Life lessons emerged as I paused to reflect. We humans are an interesting bunch. Our stories vary but common threads weave us tightly together. In no particular order, here are a few observations jotted down while 30,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. 1 – Cultures develop…
Am I Too Comfortable in this Life?
When I am home, I auto-pilot my way through most daily tasks. Even driving. When I returned from the grocery store yesterday, I barely recalled the drive home. Scary stuff. My mind lapsed into replaying conversations from the day, then making dinner plans, then deciding what to include in a new book proposal. My body,…
One Thai Day at a Time
I sit barefoot in a bamboo hut in rural Thailand. My sandals lay at the foot of the six-rung wooden ladder at the home’s entrance. It’s the close of another Thai day. Smoke wafts into this center space of the home as the family prepares dinner. The open fire pit glows off to the right…
48 Hours and an Ocean Away
I am literally on the other side of the planet from my home. In an amazing opportunity, I’ve joined a small team to come alongside the ministry of Farthest Corners in Thailand. We are here to host several biblical training seminars in rural villages. I am humbled to be a part of this team and…
Faith Expressed in Art
Today I saw one of the most meaningful artistic expressions of the Christian faith that I have ever seen. Art moves people but it also polarizes. We had the wonderful privilege of visiting McGilvary College of Divinity in Chiang Mae this morning. One of the few Christian seminaries in Thailand, the school teaches theology to…
Back to Africa
I returned to Africa this week. The children, mama’s, and staff of Every Orphan’s Hope have stolen my heart! EOH reaches out and cares for AIDS orphans in Zambia in the name of Jesus. They are making a profound difference in the lives of many children. At the heart of their mission is the mama…
