Paradoxes are great things to explore. They are not contradictions, for their connection and equity simply are beyond our finite understanding. Like when the "peace of God, which surpasses understanding , will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" ( Phil. 4:7 ). How can we experience this peace, yet not understand it? Our knowledge is according to experiencing it, that’s how. Recently I wrote a paper, and the professor especially liked one section I wrote: "… two things become apparent to me. One, God does not use lazy people. And two, those who are greatly used...

Yesterday I shared a bit of our story — and realize their are so many gaps I left out. Since this really isn’t about us , but rather about Christ and His worth, those gaps will have to be like the cracks in a clay pot that reveals the excellency and worth of the object inside ( 2 Cor. 4 ). Please look past us and see the beauty of God. Here are the top five lessons I (think I) have learned over this past 50 month journey and beyond. All are interconnected: People are more important that what they do. Personalizing it: I am not what I do . That is, my identity is rooted in...

A short article/reflection of mine has been posted at Going to Seminary: “Transitioning One’s Soul to Finish the Day Well” SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Transitioning One’s Soul to Finish the Day Well", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2008/03/26/transitioning-ones-soul-to-finish-the-day-well/" });

Kari is continuing her retelling of our story, “The Road to Santa Clara,” detailing our experiences in leaving all for a ministry opportunity a few years ago. The lessons learned along the way have proved to be invaluable, and although we wouldn’t sign up for it again, we wouldn’t trade it for the world. It is a redemptive story of God’s sustaining grace and the depth of friendship in the midst of confusion and frustrating circumstances. The entire story is now up: Ch. 1: The Phone Call | Ch. 2: The U-turn | Ch. 3: The Jeep | Ch. 4: The Apartment | Ch. 5: The Meeting | Ch. 6: The Rack...

Christian Audio has made available a great free resource this month: The Life of David Brainerd (Unabridged) by Jonathan Edwards as a free audiobook. Be sure to use the coupon code OCT2007 I cannot recommend this book more highly. In fact, if I ever get my copy back, after someone borrowed it , I will read this book again, and again, and again. For now, I’ll listen to it. This book was chiefly compiled and expanded from Brainerd’s own daily journal by Jonathan Edwards, who was affected mightily by the young missionary. Although Brainerd died at the young age of 29 — of...

No, Dutch isn’t walking yet (or crawling, for that matter; but he is saying many great things, like “Ba Ba”, which we like to think is my name). As I plunge into the depths of seminary training once again I am reminded that faithfulness in the “small” things is what pleases God most. The “big” things will take care of themselves when I am faithful in the little details and when no one is watching. So often success is defined by the big outcome, but this quote reminded me that as I venture deeper in my studies and the long arduous road (of Greek vocab...