Category Archives: Missions

This place has not grown smaller…

Posted on by
Reply

But it is not Caer Dallben which has grown smaller. You have grown bigger. That is the way of it.“ [L. Alexander, The Chronicles of Prydain – The Book of Three]

This quote from the end of Taran’s journey has a lot of truth in it. His home, Caer Dallben did not seem the same after his return, but it was him who had changed, not his homeland.

It was not that he had outgrown Caer Dallben, but he had grown up. One does not necessitate the other. The more we grow, and change, and mature, the more we are able to love our roots.

Camino Day 3

Posted on by
1

Day three on the Camino. See day one and day two.

We had another day of walking, and kept the distance to another 17 km. We hiked from Gonzar to Palas de Rey.

Still feeling happy after two days of hiking!IMG_0092

Fun with friends!IMG_0098

Getting a stamp everywhere we stoppedIMG_0187

One guy’s name means “10,000 lakes” in Korean and the other guy is from “the land of 10,000 lakes”IMG_0197

Good morning!IMG_3936

IMG_3940

Hiking when the sun comes upIMG_3941

Proof we did the Camino togetherIMG_3950

Telling storiesIMG_3966

Galician LandscapeIMG_3972

A Bug’s LifeIMG_3978

Watching the pilgrimsIMG_3982

Lost in timeIMG_3984

We finished with everyone who started, and picked up a couple along the way!IMG_4003

No matter where 

Posted on by
2

It is easy to romanticize life overseas for those who have yet to live that life. And it is easy to romanticize life in your passport country when you are living that overseas life.

I make both mistakes. Neither is truthful. Neither is helpful. Both diminish my joy in the gift of the life that God has given me.

Trusting God is equally hard no matter where I call home. But that also means that joy can be found no matter where I stand on this globe.

Camino day 2

Posted on by
Reply

To read the explanation and see the photos of the first day on the Camino this year, click here.

After we hiked over 30 km the first day, we learned our lesson and did 17 km the second day. We had a lot more time to sit and talk, drink coffee, and “smell the roses” (although I prefer to “eat the blackberries”). Here are photos from day 2.

IMG_0165

A misty morningIMG_3877

The concept of the Camino is fairly easy – follow the arrows.IMG_3881Beautiful pueblo homes

IMG_3884

Getting rechargedIMG_3892

Group picture!IMG_3900

HelpingIMG_3916

Tanzen was kind enough to hold Kate’s hand to keep Kate from fallingIMG_6871

One of Tanzen’s favorite things- getting stamps in her Pilgrim PassportIMG_4015

Ready for lunch!IMG_0085

Camino

Posted on by
Reply

Our family participated in a hike with our Conversational English Group on the Camino De Santiago. The route is a 500 mile trek across the Iberian Peninsula which normally takes about 40 days to do, but we only did 3 days of it. Last year Crystal and Tanzen both participated in the first day and took a bus home, but this year they stayed with us the whole time. It was a great time for conversation, friendship building, and cultural exposure!

IMG_4023

The first day we walked from Samos to Ferreiros, a full 30 kilometers. Tanzen did quite a bit of the walking (with the help of Crystal, and gracious friends!) and by the time we arrived at our hostel, we were exhausted!

Screen Shot 2017-08-28 at 10.29.35 AM

We had a great group with us!

IMG_3805

The path is a mixture: gravel, single track, rocky, smooth, pavement, and stone.IMG_0149

What keeps the pilgrim moving? Take a guess.IMG_3829

We count this as science class.IMG_3834

A church along the wayIMG_3840

Enjoying the walkIMG_3849

Learning new whistling tricksIMG_3858

Pulling (or pushing) her own weightIMG_3859

Constantly changing landscapeIMG_3866

By the end of the trip our stroller was a moving flower shopIMG_6807

Resources: Anger

Posted on by
Reply

I have asked Josh Stephens from Community Baptist Church and Biblical Counseling Alliance to share some of his top resources in various areas of counseling. Over the following weeks I would like to share those, interspersed with some of my own. Please share your own below in the comments.

The order is alphabetical. See Addictions.

Anger

Jones, Robert D. Uprooting Anger: Biblical Help for a Common Problem. P&R Publishing, 2016.
Scott, Dr Stuart. Anger, Anxiety and Fear: A Biblical Perspective. Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 2009.

 

Other Resources:

Here is a handout which Crystal put together:

Anger: What it is and how do I deal with it?

 

 

Resources

Posted on by
Reply

I have asked Josh Stephens from Community Baptist Church and Biblical Counseling Alliance to share some of his top resources in various areas of counseling. Over the following weeks I would like to share those, interspersed with some of my own. Please share your own below in the comments.

The order is alphabetical. Today we start with Addictions.

 

Addictions

Shaw, Mark E. Addiction-Proof Parenting: Biblical Prevention Strategies. Bemidji, MN: Focus, 2010.
———. Cross Talking: A Daily Gospel for Transforming Addicts. Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 2010.
———. Hope and Help for Sexual Temptation. Focus Publishing, 2012.
———. How Not to Raise an Addict: Biblical Prevention Strategies. Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 2017.
———. Relapse: Biblical Prevention Strategies. Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 2011.
———. The Heart of Addiction: A Biblical Perspective. Bemidji: Focus, 2008.
———. Understanding Temptation: The War Within Your Heart. Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 2014.
Welch, Edward T. Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave. New Growth Press, 2012.

 

 

*Website

Here is my review of Setting Captives Free, a valuable resource in daily transformation.

Science and Truth

Posted on by
Reply

The next time someone dismisses you with the “Only science gives reliable truth” canard, ask if he wants you to take his statement as fact or simply as unsubstantiated opinion. If fact, ask what testable scientific evidence led him to his conclusion. As it turns out, this claim is not a fact of science. It is a philosophical assertion about science that itself cannot be proven by the scientific method and would therefore be unreliable, according to this approach.

– Koukl, Tactics