Jonathan is over at A Life Overseas, explaining his “3 Sphere of Offense” model for dealing with abuse.
Again, click here to read the article.
Jonathan’s
Avoiding Platitudes, Accepting Influence, and Loving Jesus (John 11:1-44)
Last Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at the ICF here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
To listen to the message, click here, or view on iTunes.
We looked at how Jesus allowed his emotions to be influenced (by a woman!), we talked about platitudes and why to NEVER use them, and we considered the different ways Jesus empathized with Mary and Martha.
He mirrored each woman and responded very uniquely, in fact.
We also talked about the one thing we must remember for this story to make sense: I am NOT the center of Christ’s universe. The Father is. Christ’s love for me is secondary and derivative. His primary goal is NOT to relieve my suffering or heal my disease.
So, although he loves, he sometimes “stays.”
— Jonathan T.
One Simple Way to Bless TCKs {A Life Overseas}
Jonathan is over at A Life Overseas . . .
My book is called Misunderstood because that is how many young TCKs feel.” —Tanya Crossman
It’s true. Many kids grow up among worlds and end up feeling completely and totally misunderstood. They may feel misunderstood by the societies they’ve grown up in and the societies they’ve returned too. They may feel misunderstood by the nuclear families they’ve grown up in and the extended families they’ve returned to.
So what do we do?
What can parents do? Parents who know they don’t understand all the ins and outs of growing up globally?
Well, what do we do when we interact with anyone we want to get to know better? Read a book? Google them? Ask other people? Read an article? Maybe.
But typically the best solution is just to treat them like the unique human beings they are and start asking questions.
I think that one of the simplest things we could do to help the TCKs in our life to feel more seen, more loved, and less misunderstood, is to get better at asking questions.
And of course we have to care about their answers.
Questions give value and open the door to deeper intimacy. Questions are Christ-like, with one scholar identifying 307 individual questions that Jesus asked during his earthly ministry.
It’s hard to ask questions, though, because I have to shut up long enough to listen to the answers. Most of us simply prefer giving answers to asking questions.
Finish reading here.
The Proverbs 32 Man {A Life Overseas}
by Jonathan
Women have had their chapter long enough, and my wife’s written about how she’s pretty much failed at following it. I think it’s time for the men.
It’s time we define the ideal man to whom we should compare all men, from henceforth and forevermore, regardless of context or culture, giftedness or calling, personality or preference. THIS is the perfect man.
Now, this isn’t some sort of legalistic standard we’re going to hold all men to. It’s just sort of a guideline for men to aspire to. It’s good for men to have goals and examples. If a guy feels bad because he isn’t as awesome as the Proverbs 32 Man, he shouldn’t. He should be encouraged and challenged to try harder, to honor God with his manhood. Proverbs 32 can provide a sort of prayer guide for the man who falls short, giving him something to lean into and press into and run hard towards. He should humbly allow this interpretation of perfection to take him deeper than his feet could ever wander.
Read “Proverbs 32” over at A Life Overseas.
A Letter to Christians Living in America from a Christian Living Abroad {A Life Overseas}
by Jonathan
I hear you.
Some of you are angry and disenfranchised. I’m on Twitter. I know.
You see the church and politicians wedded at the hip, and you throw up.
You feel like the American church has sold her soul and is rejoicing about the bargain.
You’re embarrassed, like a cool kid with an uncool mother, and now you’re asking to be dropped off a couple of blocks away from school.
You’re not quite sure what to do. Do you fight and rant and protest? Do you take the Benedict option? Do you just disappear out the back door?
Continue reading over at A Life Overseas
Jonathan & Elizabeth Trotter 