In the Footsteps of Paul during COVID-19

Each spring I am somewhere in the eastern Mediterranean leading a group that’s visiting archaeological and biblical sites. But with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, all such tours have been cancelled through much of 2020. One of my favorite itineraries follows the footsteps of Paul in Turkey. We begin in the southeast at Antakya, […]

Read More

Resurrection Life Now!

I love being in two places at once! I don’t mean an absent-in-body-but-with-you-in-spirit thing which we sometimes say when declining an invitation. I mean something quite different, but it is still a mystery to me as to how exactly this can be true. There is, of course, the place I now am physically. So, where […]

Read More

Prayer and Fasting

A Time of Prayer and Fasting David built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. THUS, THE LORD WAS MOVED BY PRAYER FOR THE LAND AND THE PLAGUE WAS HELD BACK FROM ISRAEL. 2 Samuel 24:25 (NASB) Our world and all its inhabitants are in the throes of dealing with […]

Read More

CLEAN HANDS, PURE HEARTS

I thought I’d learned all I needed to know about hand washing in kindergarten. But a global pandemic leaves little margin for error. Who knows but that one second short of the magic 30 might cause a crafty Covid-19 escapee to take up illegal residence? So I am doing my part to help prevent the […]

Read More

The Cup

This Easter is disturbing. For so many across the world, these are terrifying times. I don’t need to elaborate as I am sure you all know very well; we could all write out a long list of the various hardships being faced. With varying degrees of engagement, International Churches (ICs) are working to love and […]

Read More

A Decent Steak and a Good Wine

I have often been troubled by this passage in Hebrews 5:11-6:3 (please read it now!). A range of questions come to mind. Is it true of my church? Am I part of the problem? Given the list of the basics here (6:1-2), what does the writer to the Hebrews regard as “solid food”? What is […]

Read More

COVID-19

Global Family: Displaced Migrants, Isolated People, and Local Congregations By Dr. Sadiri Joy Tira (Dmin, DMiss) Catalyst for Diasporas, The Lausanne Movement The World Health Organization has named the Coronavirus, “Covid-19” (https://time.com/5782284/who-name-coronavirus-covid-19/). This virus started in Central China, and with travel, has spread, with over 51,800 lab-confirmed cases globally (https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200216-sitrep-27-covid-19.pdf). This outbreak has impacted economic […]

Read More