Blog Archives
To be or not to be
Being goal and task oriented is great for accomplishing projects and completing assignments. I am heading out for a 2 week trip to Africa to continue work on several projects and begin 2 new ones. The list of things to accomplish is long and I anticipate the days will be too long and the nights too short on the trip. … Continue reading
Making the Devil Tremble
As I was reading the news about Jos today I thought back to my visits and the beauty I have seen there. Jos has been known as a place of peace and tourism – but not today. Two bombs were detonated near central Jos on Sunday night. No one was killed in the attack, but more than 100 have lost … Continue reading
Posted in JR Whitby, Nigeria, Uncategorized, West Africa
Tagged J.R. Whitby, Nigeria, Prayer, Violence
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Jos on Knife’s Edge
The bombing of the UN headquarters in Abuja on August 26, 2011 struck close to home for me. A good friend who works for UNICEF was in the building when the suicide bomber drove his car through 2 security barricades and into the first floor of the building before detonating the bomb. She escaped unharmed in what she described to … Continue reading
Posted in JR Whitby, Listening Groups, Nigeria, Uncategorized, West Africa
Tagged J.R. Whitby, Nigeria, oral cultures, Violence
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A dog is a dog is a dog
DOG. What comes to mind when you hear that word? My wife and I love big dogs. The first 3 we had were Great Danes. And yes, they were inside dogs. Then we had a giant schnauzer – all 105 pounds of her. Most recently we adopted an American Bulldog named Zeus from a dog rescue organization. He is the … Continue reading
Posted in JR Whitby, Nigeria, Orality, Uncategorized, West Africa
Tagged indigenous pastor, J.R. Whitby, oral cultures
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It’s Like the Wind, Nic
We went to the beach Sunday. Our church family had a gathering of fun, fellowship, volleyball, swimming, conversation, s’mores and worship. West Michigan’s sandy shoreline is spectacular in the summer. A cool north wind was blowing and it felt good in the warm afternoon sun. I brought my kite in case someone told me to go fly one. I have … Continue reading
Roadblocks and AK-47s
When I travel in the developing world outside of the major cities, there is something both discomfiting and reassuring about roadblocks. Sometimes it is hard to tell which it will be as you approach the checkpoint. When your driver is commanded to stop by a military officer with an AK-47, there are usually questions about why you are on that … Continue reading
John RW Stott – Words to Live By
John RW Stott went home to his eternal reward on July 27, 2011. One of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century, some called him the “evangelical Pope.” His prolific writing, sermons while Rector at All Souls Church in London, influence in the Lausanne Movement and the thousands of majority world pastors trained and equipped with books … Continue reading
7’6” – Yes – Size 18
When I lived in Tulsa Oklahoma 25 years ago I had season tickets to watch the local college basketball team. They had a skinny player one year who was something like 7’6” tall. I do not remember his name but I believe he was the tallest player in college basketball that year. He had a t-shirt made that said “7’6” … Continue reading
Love like that
A financial advice newsletter I was reading this morning said that nothing happens until you get off the couch and do something. That’s true whether you are getting your financial house in order or starting a diet or exercise program or almost any good thing in life. You cannot just sit and do nothing and expect positive things to happen. … Continue reading
The grandkids are coming! The grandkids are coming!
Our 3 oldest grandchildren are coming for a visit today. My wife and I can hardly wait. After seeing them several times a week for the 15 years they lived nearby, they moved last summer to our son-in-law’s hometown on the other side of the country. Phone calls, email, Facebook and Skype video help us keep up with their lives … Continue reading