“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him’” (Matthew 2:1-2). It’s one of the iconic images of Christmas, instantly recognizable to Christians and unbelievers alike: three Magi — or “wise men,” as many Bible translations render the Greek word magos — traveling across the desert, following a bright star in the east. The other image of the Magi we immediately […]

“I’m aging.” This was my reaction upon watching a movie depicting a death scene, prompting the scary thought of my eventual demise. Likewise, it offered a glimpse as to how far I had traveled, how maturity had reached me and how my childish ways were now in the rear-view mirror. Very deep stuff, given these conclusions were reached by an 8-year-old boy! And as my grandpa held my hand while exiting the theater and I gazed at his grizzled tired face, it dawned on me that someday I would be him. The prediction made so many decades ago came to […]

One of my greatest joys in life is witnessing the vibrancy of the global Church during my travels. Whether it’s congregations here in South Florida or Christian communities in distant parts of the world, the Church continues to be a dynamic force, a beautiful expression of people sharing the light of Christ across cultures and continents. Yet, as we reflect on this shared mission, one might ask: what makes sharing the Gospel in 2024 distinct from other times in history? Changing times While some may claim we live in an era of “unprecedented change,” the truth is that change has […]

“O Lord, how long shall I cry and You will not hear?” (Habakkuk 1:2).  This question asked by Habakkuk was born out of a – “burden” that consumed him (Habakkuk 1:1). He faced a moral dilemma. How could a holy and loving God who had called Israel the “apple of His eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10) now allow the pagan, godless Babylonians to besiege and ultimately destroy the city of Jerusalem? If we are honest, most of us have felt like this at one time or another. We, too, have been burdened by what seems the inactivity of our God on our […]

“You can be safe or you can be brave, but you can’t be both.” Little did I know at the time that this pithy phrase would become synonymous with major change in my chaotic existence. Having returned to the mainland after six years of serving at American embassies overseas, I found myself in a “desert purgatory” far from the international limelight. El Paso, Texas in the mid-80’s was definitely an exile destination, albeit my request to Headquarters to be transferred to a “warm dry place” due to my son’s chronic asthma condition. But the location could not extinguish the fire […]