Bible
Trust as an act of faith
If trust is necessary for good relationships, how do we trust people who seem trustworthy (for any reason)? One answer may be trusting God to be good even when other people are not
Anthropology
Missionary Construction
I’m not sure if missionary construction is more or less well known than missionary linguistics, but they are likely both a bit of a mashup for most people. I took this picture on my way home last week (stuck in holiday traffic, plenty of time to get the shot…) as Read more…
Anthropology
Perfectionism and the Strife to Enter Rest
for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. Hebrews 4:10-11 (ESV) This passage I have long found difficult to understand, and Read more…
Anthropology
Ministry in a Time of COVID
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of Read more…
Anthropology
Peninnah and Promises
I never met a woman named Peninnah until I lived in Africa. I recall first hearing this name, mostly because it was so strikingly novel that I assumed it was a mistake, and had to ask her name again. Even my spellchecker doesn’t recognize this name. But since that first Read more…
Anthropology
Good Friday Meditation
21After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, 24so Read more…
Bible
Writing Systems
One of the side benefits of the consultant conference I attended in September was that it was in Thailand, where some of our colleagues are based. Specifically, those who work on WeSay, a program I have put to good use in DRCongo, and hope to continue using in Cameroon. The Read more…
Bible
A Tale of Two Prophets
The narrative found in 1 Kings 13 is very important to me, personally, because it played a key role in figuring out what to do in my life. How do we understand God’s call on an individual? But despite the very clear and very personal application illuminated to me at Read more…
Commentary
Slow to Speak
One of the most useful pair of verses I know, for both parenting and discipleship in general, is James 1:19-20: 19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Read more…
Bible
And it was night
A friend pointed out this morning the structure of the disciples’ questions in John 13-14, and I thought it worth laying out here. It’s almost as if, after Jesus’ celebration of Passover with his disciples (John 13:1-30), some still have questions, so Jesus holds office hours at night: 31When [Judas Read more…