Wonderings and Wanderings

Hanging with Condemned Men

December 21st, 2009 | 2 Comments

On the last day I was in Uganda, I spent some time with several men on death row at the Luzira Maximum Security Prison in Kampala, Uganda. The inmates are referred to as “condemned men”. As we went through all the security points and the long walks through various hallways and doors, we finally arrived to the waiting room outside the courtyard. Through the bars we could see the men – all dressed in white uniforms … Read entire article »

Filed under: Spiritual Formation, Travel

Focus on the Person

December 19th, 2009 | Add a Comment

There are many ways to protect the dignity of individuals whose dignity is threatened by life situations. One of the challenges that we face when caring for a neighbor is the challenge to honor and respect him. Sometimes we are so focused on doing a deed or seeing a result that we trample on the very person we are trying to help. It isn’t about the cup of water, the plate of food, or … Read entire article »

Filed under: Making a Difference

Driving in Kampala Stirred Up More Than Dust

December 14th, 2009 | 1 Comment

Has it really been almost two months since I posted last? Sorry about that. It hasn’t been for a lack of things to blog about but rather from an abundance of living. November was a blur but a wonderful blur. I spent two weeks in Kenya and Uganda on vacation. I have an amazing amount of different thoughts and feelings to blog about from the trip. I think about them and ponder them yet struggle to … Read entire article »

Filed under: Miscellaneous, Travel

Elizabeth Olten and Forgiveness

October 26th, 2009 | 9 Comments

Being home sick today gave me a lot of time to think about what today was going to be like for my youth. I was praying last night and today for you. Praying especially about the ramifications of Elizabeth Olten’s murder, for the things that would be said about the accused, for the many rumors and harsh words that would be said. That was before I even learned about the death this morning of … Read entire article »

Filed under: Current Affairs

Giving Jesus a Ride

October 13th, 2009 | 2 Comments

Last Sunday, I gave Jesus a ride. He was a middle-aged woman with a yellow backpack and a cane walking north on Highway 63. I almost missed him. After finishing the second service at church, I was running late for a meeting in Ashland, a little town 15 minutes away. Speeding up the highway, I was on him before I knew it. I quickly recognized the woman walking with her thumb outstretched as the woman … Read entire article »

Filed under: Making a Difference, Ministry

Kicking off the Comforter

October 5th, 2009 | Add a Comment

Today began with the funeral of a wonderful young man who had worked at our church as a recreation associate. Craig Hendrickson was a larger-than-life guy who made anyone feel relaxed in his presence. He was fun. He was light-hearted. He was devoted. He was a fighter. He struggled with Hodgkins Lymphoma for several years and always said he would play until the whistle blew. The whistle blew for Craig last Wednesday. This morning hundreds … Read entire article »

Filed under: Spiritual Formation

I Saw a Man Die on Oprah

October 2nd, 2009 | 2 Comments

I saw a man die on Oprah yesterday. It wasn’t of embarrassment. It wasn’t a character in a movie. It was a real man. A young man. A man who had a name I do not know. A man who had a family and dreams, I suppose. Maybe both of these had died long before. I was watching her show because she was telling stories of women in the world. Women who have made a … Read entire article »

Filed under: Current Affairs, Featured