Christians, typically, have pre-conditioned ideas about the rudimentary pagan-ness of Hinduism with its thirty million gods. But we understand so little. Driving to and fro in Kolkata, I observed how each cabbie had his pictures of gods or goddesses, sort of like the picture of the mother Mary hanging from mirrors in Mexico. I noticed […]
Continue readingRacism and Religious Adherence
I am against racism in all forms. It’s sad that more is not said against the religious version of this discriminatory evil. In going to this place, I realize that I am delving into a sensitive subject matter here. As a caveat to Christians desiring to be lights of influence, let me just say that […]
Continue readingHalf the Battle
I just talked with my friend, Dana, who is reading my book, and she expressed how timely it was since she has a new atheist friend, and also brand new Muslim neighbors, headscarf (they call it “hijab”) and all! Before we hung up, I mentioned that half the battle is getting relationships moving in the […]
Continue readingSweet Chariot! (A 30,000-foot Conversation with a Muslim Friend).
Embarking from LAX, I found a seat on the Emirates airbus, only to find myself sandwiched by two rather intriguing international gentlemen. One, a broad-shouldered man from Nigeria, had me scrunched in the middle. During the sixteen-hour flight, he passed on all meals preferring shots of liquor instead. Not surprisingly, he slept most of the […]
Continue readingMy Fight Through Fear
I have never gone on a mission without the fear factor. The recent excursion to Africa, Egypt and India was no exception. It reminded me of 1986, when a trip to the Philippines nearly got scuttled due to the coup d’état of Ferdinand Marcos. Very déjà vu-like, departing to Egypt in the wake of the […]
Continue reading10/40 Window Gut Impressions
Over the next month, I will be blogging on my recent visit to Africa, Egypt and India. As a disclaimer, the reason I haven’t written yet is because I’ve been under a publishing deadline. The first four pieces (more to be added later) of my Missional Engagement Series are completed and sent! Thank God. My […]
Continue readingGot Gospel Clarity?
Earlier this year, I went to a two-day training session for church leaders, and when the evangelism subject surfaced, they asked each table to discuss the process they used to reach unbelievers. Of course, I love these conversations! But I bit my tongue, and tried to listen to what others were doing and thinking. As […]
Continue readingBook Review: Church Planting in Muslim Cities by Greg Livingstone
Referred to by a friend, I too am offering my endorsement of Church Planting in Muslim Cities. I can hardly believe that Livingstone wrote the book twenty years ago! He, in my view, was ahead of the curve. Besides some of the practical nuggets regarding the challenge of establishing churches inside Muslim domains, the biggest […]
Continue readingWhat Hollywood Can Teach the Church
He seems to be saying some of the same things that you are. The email, which came to me from my wife, referred to a speaker who had visited my son’s school. Not the typical gig at a Christian college, Ralph Winter, is a Hollywood producer with notable credits including the X-men films. Many things […]
Continue readingThe Journey Out of Dry
Have you ever found yourself in a spiritually dry period? This desert experience, where the “living water” promises of God appear like a mirage, is something all Christians face. My wife, who is super big into her devotions, recently confessed to being in a dry spell. Anyone who goes through this sort of parched season […]
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