Ministry

A Father’s Prayer

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by Jonathan

I love hanging out with teenagers.  In fact, I think I enjoy being with teenagers more now than I did when I was one.  But anyway, I’m beginning to notice how many teen girls view themselves so negatively.  They don’t see themselves as God sees them: cherished, loved, special, and beautiful.  When others say they’re inadequate and lacking, they listen and believe.  I’m the older brother of seven sisters, the father of two daughters, and the husband of one wife, so this is personal.  (In fact, my wife has written on her struggles in this area here.)

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Twizzlers for Everyone (or How I Missed the Point)

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by Jonathan

It’s often called Golden.  It’s too simple.  It’s nearly impossible to implement in real life, but according to Jesus, it sums up pretty much the entire Bible (at the time of writing).

It is, of course, the Golden Rule, and it goes something like this, “Do for others what you would like them to do for you.  This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

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Outlawed Grief, A Curse Disguised

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by Jonathan

[Note: For an expanded version of this article, click here. The expanded version appeared on A Life Overseas in December, 2013 and is geared more for a missions/TCK audience.]

Someone dies, or gets cancer, or gets cancer and then dies.  Someone else says something eminently useful like “All things work together for good” or “He’s in a better place” or “I have a time-share in Florida and the carpet’s getting replaced this week.”

Someone moves to a foreign field, and it’s hard, and it’s sad, and they have kids.  And the kids feel it too.  They’re sad.  They miss grandma, and McDonald’s, and green grass.  Someone tells them, “It’s for God,” or “It’ll be ok someday; you’ll look back on this as one of the best things that ever happened to you.” Maybe their parents tell them that.

And grief gets outlawed, and the curse descends.  And the child understands that some emotions are spiritual and some are outlawed.

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Judgers ‘R Us (or How One Lame Phrase Can Change a Life)

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by Jonathan

gvl

I like to judge people, and I bet you do too. After years of practice, I’d say I’m pretty good at it; in fact, I’m probably better than you.  But, from what I can tell, Jesus isn’t really ok with that, and he says so pretty clearly.  (See “The Bible.”)  That makes me sad, because it’s such a natural pastime, something that comes so easily and is so quickly perfected.

What?  You never judge?  Then feel free to judge me for judging and return to your favorite Pinterest site, the one with lots of flowers, butterflies, and cute kittens.

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I’m a what?!

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by Elizabeth

I’m an introvert. I’m also a missionary. According to a recently-popularized definition, an introvert is someone who is drained by being with other people, and who is energized by being alone. But missions is a rather people-intensive lifestyle, right? Is it possible for an introvert to be a missionary? For me, the short answer to this question is “yes,” introverts can be missionaries. But the story of how I arrived at this answer is not so short. . .

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