What my sons’ mugshots taught me about citizenship

How about those two cute little mugshots?  They are my two oldest sons in September 2000, when they were 3 and 2 years old.  Our family of four had just moved to Kingston, Jamaica, and we had to apply for immigration status as legal aliens.  That meant we had to get photos taken and useContinue reading “What my sons’ mugshots taught me about citizenship”

The one thing you need (to make it as a stranger in the world)

In a world of partiality and discrimination and bias, where is the one place that still considers everyone impartially? The church?  Nope.  Martin Luther King Jr. said years ago that Sunday morning is one of the most racially segregated places in America, and it is still true today. I read an article this week thatContinue reading “The one thing you need (to make it as a stranger in the world)”

The day I felt like a stranger and couldn’t find my car

Years ago I was delivering a meal to refugees in the city of Lancaster.  They had newly arrived from years of living in a refugee camp in a faraway country, having fled for their lives from their home country.  They arrived at the refugee camp with extremely few possessions and hardly any opportunity.  Imagine theContinue reading “The day I felt like a stranger and couldn’t find my car”

Reflections on perseverance in difficult times

This week, I’ve been reflecting on suffering and salvation from 1 Peter 1:6-12. In verses 10-12 Peter takes a moment to talk about this salvation.  He says that prophets in past spoke of this salvation.  The Spirit of God, he said, was at work in these prophets.  In verse 11 the Spirit of Christ inContinue reading “Reflections on perseverance in difficult times”