Up at the top of the list of parts of the Bible that seem generally pretty useless except as fodder for cross-referencers—along with the passage that parses whether one can eat a catfish, and the list of Esau’s descendants—are the personal remarks at the end
reflections
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. Let me say it again, to live is CHRIST, to die is GAIN. As I received news of the death of four friends in Uganda while we have been away and another of a friend’s
Among the more strange aspects of missionary life is furlough. Not infrequently am I asked what the purpose of furlough is, and I struggle to give an answer. For most people, employment is year-round, broken by perhaps a few weeks here and there of vacation.
Remember me, O my God, for good. Nehemiah 13:31b The cycle of sin and salvation has been turning, turning since that first forbidden fruit. Humans bask in God’s presence, then forget its sweetness and, in our desire to make ourselves God, get what we deserve.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its
I have been pondering the privilege of being present in this place at this time. The Bible does not tire of the analogy of the world as a field. Pictures of soils, seeds, vineyards, thorns, vermin and harvest abound. Many a missionary has termed their
We made it. We made it through the final goodbyes, the airport send -off, the dentist appointments, immunizations, Kampala craziness, too much sugar, and the trip home with me behind the wheel. The Folkerts family flew back to Canada on Sunday night. There were real
The Easter lilies have bloomed; the rains have returned; the oxen are in the fields plowing; white ants and wild greens and mushrooms are available. Everywhere we are surrounded by seasonal reminders of life renewed and refreshed. But the lilies and mushrooms spring up and
A generous reading of the blank spaces between postings on this blog would assume not only that life on the mission in Karamoja is very busy, but that it is too ineffable to be memorialised in such a space as this. Indeed, much (too much?)