Posts Tagged as ‘Perspectives’

February 22, 2010

Within a Yard of Hell

I don’t beg much, but PLEASE read this eye-opening reflection about the situation in Athens from our friends Tim and Rachel (who are now serving in Rome) after a recent visit to our ministry center.

Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a [...]

December 30, 2009

Spread Joy

Take five minutes today and make someone feel like an all-star!

This scene was orchestrated by a group called Improv Everywhere, whose mission is to cause scenes of chaos and joy in public places.  How will you spread joy today?
I’m going to serve my wife by scrubbing the toilets and bathtub.   I’m [...]

December 28, 2009

Jesus as Refugee: The Hope of Christmas

Today – 2000 years after the birth of Jesus – Christmas celebrations are extravagant events, full of food and drink, gifts and decorations, laughter and merriment.   We travel great distances to gather with family and friends.   We reflect on God’s grace in our lives, and His grace revealed in the tender flesh of a baby, [...]

October 28, 2009

Encountering Jesus

I work with refugees… and I have the best job in the world.  Everyday I get to see refugees encounter Jesus, and be forever changed.  I’m reminded of how people often responded to Jesus’ presence in the gospel accounts: they gawked in amazement; they broke into spontaneous worship; they fell down at his feet; they [...]

October 26, 2009

Where is the Church?

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (or UNHCR – the UN refugee agency) recently sent a delegation to visit the migrant detention centers on the Greek island of Lesvos (see here or here for some context).  The conditions were appalling:
Both men [the UNHCR representative and a Greek government official] condemned the poor conditions, which [...]

October 21, 2009

Got Rage?!

Can I introduce you to a movement?  One Day’s Wages is passionate about ending extreme global poverty.  It’s challenge is simple: donate one day’s wage to provide practical help (e.g. dig a well, finance a business loan, provide mosquito nets, put kids in school) for the world’s poorest.  Eugene Cho – who serves in an [...]

September 14, 2009

Why Vision?

Our team has recently begun a discussion of vision.  As a ministry, vision gives us purpose (what are we working towards), direction (how will we get there), and motivation (why go there).   Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be (this definition comes from [...]

August 19, 2009

Locked-In

Refugees and migrants have few protections.  They are especially vulnerable to those who prey on the weak and defenseless.  Because refugees often don’t speak the language and have forged documents, they become prime targets for scams, mistreatment, and abduction.  When I read the article below (from ekathimerini.com), my mind went to God’s words through His [...]

April 19, 2009

Christ is Risen!

Χρίστος Ανέστη!   Truly, Christ is risen!
It [our faith] will be counted to us [as righteousness] who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Therefore, since we been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  [...]

January 28, 2009

1 Post, 2 Points

Every Thursday we offer showers to about sixty men.  Two by two, we slowly work our way through the long list of those waiting.  Most of these men sleep in the park or are squatting in a building without water, and rely on this weekly shower to feel human (not a hyperbole). While there is [...]