I was house-sitting for my friend Jose while he was out of town. I accidentally knocked over an ornate clock he had received as a gift. It hit the hardwood floor and broke into dozens of pieces. My friend is quite handy and tried to glue the clock back together after determining where each piece [...]
Early in my Christian walk, Jesus’ words, “Go and sell what you have, give to the poor, and then come follow Me,” challenged me to simplify my life in order to serve God. I didn’t hear these words as a harsh, top-down command; rather, I saw how Jesus modeled this message and invited me to [...]
My son has Asperger’s syndrome, a highly functioning form of autism, which, among other challenges, causes him to see the world in black and white with little room for ambiguities. His questions about life can be poorly timed and somewhat awkward, but they are also piercing and get right to the heart of whatever issue [...]
I live in a sea of need and brokenness. It is inescapable here — just steps outside our apartment, just a glance outside our windows we see the waves of human suffering and the struggle to survive lapping at our four walls.
I came here wanting to enter into that sea, wanting to walk alongside the [...]
“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
(Isaiah 40:3)
The seasons of the church year have become significant in my rhythm of life, community and mission. I especially look forward to making space for Advent, as I prepare for the celebration of the incarnation of Jesus [...]
By Calvin Smothers
In Nepal everyone is related to you. You are not greeted by your name alone but also by a person’s relationship to you. You are called sister, brother, uncle, auntie, mother or father. To the elderly ladies at Prem Ghar, I am Calvin Bhai (“younger brother”). To the young girls at Karuna Ghar, [...]
They say my grandfather was a terrible man. He was a greedy hacienda owner, and all the villagers in our town hated him. Once, when I was young, my dad stumbled into the house bloody and nearly dead. The villagers had thrown him into the river, simply because they hated my grandfather.
After that, my father’s [...]
Our design mastermind and Advocacy Coordintor, Jara, married her beloved Kenley in October. It was so fun to celebrate such a dear friend’s movement into the next phase of her life.
But, our office, where the reception was held, was a mess at the end of night.
Several of the wedding guests came up and asked, “How [...]