Two weeks ago: No city in the world is quite as crazy as Manila. The congestion in the Philippine capital makes traffic on our freeways feel like a drive in the country. Just arriving from Bangkok, I paid a little extra for a local shuttle service to drive me to my hotal, not wanting to…
Hitting Pause: This will be the last prayer devotional for a few weeks as I am heading for Asia early next week, first to Thailand and then to the Philippines. Asking that you pray for a fruitful, safe and healthy trip. Next devotional will come in late May. And there will be no Monday evening…
“Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the Word spoken through angels proved unalterable and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was first spoken through the Lord,…
Cherry: Last week I shared the story of 13-year old Cherry, one of the girls we have been raising at the Thai/Burma border. A year ago, with her mother dying from AIDS, Cherry was brought to us, her mom asking if we would take her. We did. During school break a couple of weeks ago…
Knowing she was dying, Cherry’s Burmese mother brought her to our ministry home in Thailand about a year ago. Cherry transitioned easily, enrolled in school, started helping with our outreach and became a beloved part of our family. Quiet, slender and cute as a button, Cherry had experienced a very challenging life. In an email…
Rebellious kids are a problem in Laguna, so are parents who placate them from a young age, not taking them to church on Sundays and often investing more time and resources in their worldly pursuits, without balance in their spiritual development. We would not think of starving our kids of food, but I am amazed…
It’s been awhile since I’ve driven through the desert but I did Sunday morning, heading for Centinela State Prison with Bill Devin. I’d forgotten how beautiful the desert can be, especially at sunrise. It feels like another world, the stillness very welcomed by me, such a stark contrast to the hectic environment I usually experience.…
How much I love this church and there’s no greater joy than watching all God is doing with our youth. What a blessed ministry under the careful guidance and leadership of Pastor Sam and his team of awesome leaders. Couldn’t stop smiling after watching this video. An unbelievably precious moment for each one baptized. “And…
But God, I Just Don’t Get It: Your house burns to the ground. You lose a child in a tragic accident. You’re stricken with a long lasting illness; you are unjustly accused. Someone you love breaks your heart. You become so discouraged with life you barely hang on. A recap of my message from Sunday for those…
In a hurry, she stepped awkwardly into the elevator and suddenly lost her balance, almost tumbling over. Before I could lend a hand, she quickly caught herself, grabbing tightly onto the inside rail. Elderly, overly tanned, wearing heavy perfume with thick red lipstick and high thin eye-brows, she looked decidedly distressed. “How are you”? I…