Category: Journal

One of the qualities of a good Christian leader is the kind of transparency that leads to trust. Jesus Christ is our best example of that. His life and teachings were documented very well, and many people saw and heard how He lived among us. He spent much of His time in public, openly proclaiming …

Last year at this time, I was in Manila, staying at a guest house with a precious 10-month-old baby girl, waiting for the legally-required 5 days to pass before I could fly her home to meet the rest of her new family. A couple of years earlier, my wife asked me to pray about applying …

I find comfort in the moral absolutes in the Holy Bible. I really do. I like to know what is right and what is wrong. The Ten Commandments are pretty clear to me. So is the Law of Love proclaimed by Jesus Christ. If you search the Scriptures (as I did) on modesty and clothing …

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, but also one of my favorite attitudes for any time. God enjoys our thankfulness. Today, I’m thankful because: God answers our prayers. God is good. God is wise. God loves me and my family. God heals us of both big and small things. He just healed my wife …

Some things are not easy to write about, but this one has been on my heart, lately. This isn’t just my war for righteousness, but it affects you, too. Today, at lunch, a friend told me of his son’s adventures in a college art class. They had a day devoted to pornography, and were showing …

While traveling by air, I am often amazed at the nearly world-wide response to a single terrorist act or threat. I’m not so much amazed that the response is wide-spread, but at the apparent inability of those who make and those who enforce these reactionary rules to think logically. For example, a few weeks after …

I am pleased that I was able to vote in the current election in Colorado. I really tried to vote absentee while living in Papua New Guinea, but the slowness of air mail into and out of PNG made that impossible each time. I value the priviledge of voting. I take seriously the responsibility to …

[updated 26 October 2006] Until now, I haven’t done much sharing of what our needs are as missionaries with you. I discuss them with the Lord, of course, and He often puts things on people’s hearts to give to help with things. Sometimes people ask us what our needs are, so here are both the …

I’ve been thinking a lot about beauty and morality, lately. I like to look for and enjoy beauty. I enjoy photographing beautiful scenery. I think that one reason I enjoy photography so much is that it helps me practice looking for beauty, and I keep getting better at it. Honestly, I can even find beauty …

Why write a psalm? Why not? My reasons are: God is worthy of thanks, praise, and worship. Writing and reciting or singing a psalm is one way to give God the honor He deserves. We are made to worship God, so entering into true worship of our loving Father gives us joy and peace. Praising …