3 years ago, Dr. John Coe of Biola’s Institute for Spiritual Formation preached at a Biola University chapel and it rocked my world. He preached on something that I have become all too familiar with: the dark night of the soul. Now it is true that God is always present. This new covenant reality, bought by the blood of Christ, that God indwells us necessarily brings us to another truth: that he will never leave […]
This year on the 24th of April, Armenia remembers the 97th anniversary of the displacing of 250 influential Armenian citizens from the Ottoman capital city in 1915. This event was the pivotal beginnings of what would be later called the Armenian Genocide. During the Genocide, which took place from 1915 to 1923, Turks massacred two thirds of the Armenian population. That was nearly one and a half million Armenians. These murders were implemented through the […]
Those must have been the sweetest nights, to meet your sons around the fire and tell firsthand the greatest bedtime stories in the land. When serpents walked (before they lost their feet) and how you named each bird and beast. And when you fell asleep alone but woke up wed, with one less rib and man’s first wound. Your bed, now far too small, you quickly built again. How neighbors talked: “That man’s the one […]
When I received news of Chuck Colson’s passing, I was instantly overcome by the grace of God and his relentless desire to save the most wretched people on earth. Chuck Colson was a man transformed by the power of Christ. He entered those prison walls a convicted felon, but he found freedom like nothing on earth, even while being surrounded by iron bars and cement walls. This is amazing grace! This is the same grace […]
NO SPOILERS AHEAD Twenty-three children must die. This is all I knew about the “Hunger Games” before walking into the dark theater to watch the very popular film with my little sisters. If you know me at all then you might be shocked to hear that I would endorse such a movie being not only a pacifist but also a future social worker (The “Hunger Games” would be a child protective service nightmare). Throughout the […]
My friend, Aaron, and I walked into a Mosque on a Sunday afternoon looking for a fight. Or at least I was. Aaron was just being nice by going with me. I was in a class that required me to dialogue with Muslims about their faith and my faith with a slant towards apologetics. As an American, my first thought was a real live Muslim? If you’re not from here (America) you probably don’t know […]
The day my youngest brother was born was simultaneously incredibly joyful and acutely painful. Being in 5th grade, I was filled with the excitement at the prospect of a new addition to our family, and hopeful for future trips to Disneyland. But all that changed when, upon his birth, the doctors informed us that Daniel was born with Down syndrome. I remember many people visiting my parents in the hospital, bringing meals over, and rejoicing […]
It’s Friday, 11:20 a.m. and I am so frustrated with my little charge, Giuliana. I just picked her up from school and we are driving back to the house when she asks me what we’re going to do when we get home. I tell her that she can play while I finish up a few chores. “Can I watch TV?” she inquires immediately, and I say no. Because too much TV isn’t good for her. […]
Last Friday Andrew posted about whether or not he and his wife should have children. As I thought about the issues raised – Is it best to wait? When’s the right time? – I tried to think about the issues from the only perspective I can: singleness. Allow me to be candid for a moment. I always wanted to be a young father. As it stands I may be able to be relatively young when I get […]
How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God (Luke 18:24-25) So said Jesus to the rich young ruler who, when instructed to sell his possessions and follow Christ, wilted and walked the other way. You’ve probably heard the statistics. The income for […]
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