In about 9 days, Ramadan will kick off for Muslims around the world. Ramadan is the Muslim holy month, the same month during which the Quran was given to the Prophet. During the month, Muslims eat breakfast before their dawn prayers. They fast all day, give to the poor, and seek to live moral lives since immoral acts breaks the fast. They attend special prayers at the mosques and then, around sunset, they break their fast by eatings dates. The person who pays for the dates earns credit with Allah. The group feasts well into the night on various dishes, usually with family and their closest … [Read more...] about A Ramadan Dilemma
Contrasting Views on a Future IMB President
The various perspectives on a new IMB president fascinate. I'd like to summarize and contrast three distinct perspectives that have been posted on SBC-oriented sites. If I am citing your work, authors, please note I could not possibly hit every nuance of your original writing; readers, please see the authors in their own words via the links provided. However, there's a question at the end that is best answered if you've not yet read the original articles. *Please note: I'm not a battle blogger. If you see some fighting words here, I beg you to assume that I do not perceive them in as … [Read more...] about Contrasting Views on a Future IMB President
Pence, Women, and Ministry
Vice President Mike Pence made news in 2002, though no one noticed until last month. Pence invoked the Billy Graham rule about dining alone with women, and the internet had a bit of fun with the discovery. Others came to Pence's defense, wondering just what the problem was. Christians are not alone in applying this concept. Ta-Nehisi Coates, an atheist, expressed the Graham Rule in terms that sound nearly evangelical: I've been with my spouse for almost 15 years. In those years, I've never been with anyone but the mother of my son. But that's not because I am an especially … [Read more...] about Pence, Women, and Ministry
The Unemployable: When Missionaries Return
Time was when young men attended seminaries, became pastors, and moved outward to international harvest fields. They lived and preached in situ, aging for 30 years towards an eventual retirement in the U.S., a retirement filled - if desired - with revivals and interim pastoral roles. Not so much any more. Young men and now women attend seminaries and move directly towards the field. Sometimes they lack US-based ministry experience, but that's alright. Increasing numbers of workers in non-ministerial roles find themselves called to missions; they earn sufficient seminary hours to qualify … [Read more...] about The Unemployable: When Missionaries Return
Aren’t We Blessed?
The stories of Donald and Iris have reached perhaps their final installment. It's nothing more than an examination of what it means to be human - and redeemed - in a world that has largely forgotten you, unless it's to ensure you suffer and doubt. “We’re so blessed.” Donald turned to face Iris as she rested awkwardly in her motorized bed. Various tubes tangled with the sheets, complicating the task of helping her sit upright for a light lunch. Donald reached to smooth her hair and push her glasses further up her nose, paying more attention to Iris’ condition than her words. “We are, … [Read more...] about Aren’t We Blessed?
Uncivically Engaged
I have a confession: I didn’t vote in the presidential election. I did not abstain due to distaste for the candidates. I wasn’t traveling that day, nor was my ballot misplaced. I just didn’t vote. Living overseas makes for some difficult voting processes, to be sure, but even if things were easy I wouldn't have voted. *The embassy is really hard to get to from here, and the lines are long. Security takes forever. I know what my father's generation would say. "It's our Christian duty to vote for good family values. We need another Ronald Reagan. Only pinkos don't vote. Tom Landry … [Read more...] about Uncivically Engaged
Running With Muslims
“Get a little closer. Within two steps of me, babe; three, at most.” -Me, as Wife and I jogged past the mosque I worked second-shift when Wife and I married. I’d arrive home exhausted around 5:00 am and stagger to bed for a few hours of sleep before my other job – or my college classes – began. Wife, on the other hand, was early to bed and early to rise, in order to do her daily aerobics routine. At 6:00 am. On a wooden floor. Two feet from the bed. Over the years, she’s continued her exercises. She added small weights in the mid-90’s. Running joined the repertoire after 2009. … [Read more...] about Running With Muslims
Request for Reading Lists and Materials : Your Top Five Recommendations
Try never to be the smartest person in the room. And if you are, I suggest you invite smarter people … or find a different room. - Michael Dell A tremendous challenge I face as an international missionary is being, in a manner of speaking, the smartest person in the room, biblically speaking. My job is evangelism, church planting, and discipleship and as such, leadership deliberately places me in areas where Christians are few. As a result, I lack the fellowship of mature believers with more experience, knowledge, learning, and age who can challenge me. Even when local brothers in Christ … [Read more...] about Request for Reading Lists and Materials : Your Top Five Recommendations
An Unwilling Transition
What's up? Procrastination. What are you not doing? Everything but this. So packing? Selling? Saying good-bye? Zero progress. When's the garage sale? Go away, Ethan. Two years ago we sold a ton of stuff, packed our remaining belongings, and moved from one international place of service to another in response to a change in calling. We left behind friends, incomplete projects, a culture and language our family understood, and a nice apartment in the mountains. In exchange, we sweated in a small house in a place whose language seemed impossible while hoping our kids would … [Read more...] about An Unwilling Transition
Do Large Gifts Open Doors for Mission Applicants?
Recently, Dr. Rick Patrick (FBC Sylacauga, AL) asked some difficult questions over at SBC Today. I'd like to address his queries, even if only as part of a thought exercise. I'll quote and summarize as best I can, but in fairness to Dr. Patrick readers would be better equipped if they read his article in its entirety. Dr. Patrick's article, "Evaluating Missions Support Tricky" starts by acknowledging dual tracks in financial support for SBC missions. The Cooperative Program (CP) model still exists as a valued giving tool, but the Great Commission Giving Plan (GCG) has risen as another … [Read more...] about Do Large Gifts Open Doors for Mission Applicants?