Jesus and Trump?
It appears that the unholy mix of American nationalism with some brands of Christianity have produced a blind allegiance to whomever speaks their language. Trump has been the spokesperson most recently but in the past it’s been Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and to a...
2020 was a beautiful year
The last 9 months have been the most difficult of my life. My work has suffered. My health wasn't good - both Chris and I had Covid 19. (I'm pretty sure mine was actually Covid 20 as I felt especially sick. Or....maybe I'm just a guy). The Presidential election was...
I’m baaaack
I'm going to start blogging from time to time again. Just wanted to write a couple sentences here to say that. More soon.... carl
Sometimes Jesus Stood Alone. (And, Sometimes You Should Too.)
Jesus was often alone. Yes, he had a team and some very close friends he spent tons of time with, but you’ll often find him alone in the Gospels. This is a highly nuanced point about the life of Jesus. Mostly I would encourage you, and me, to live in community. Be...
Grounded.
Some fairly big news from Carl and Chris. In the spring of 2013 I started to feel something. Call it “getting old.” Or as I prefer - “Wisdom.” But it was telling me to slow down my life of rushing around the Middle East sharing Jesus and doing humanitarian work. That...
The Hard Sayings of Jesus
If Jesus is our model, we must follow him with bravery and courage in our day-to-day interactions. Take risks. Mess up. Say the wrong thing and then go back for a redo. Otherwise, we'll languish in the backwaters of boredom doing nothing but rehashing weather and...
I’m So Sorry
Chris's Story. One evening, Carl and I and some close friends took the light-rail train to downtown Denver. Soon we were strolling down the busy cobblestone streets, chatting and laughing on the way to our favorite restaurant. While our hearts were united in...
Big, Scary…Christians
Erica's Story. The news bothered me. No one could--or wanted to--deny the fact that repeated and terrible acts were being perpetrated in the name of Islam by extremists. But the broad brushing of all Muslims as security risks and the fear-mongering regarding refugees...
Billy Graham, My Mentor
I wrote this several years ago as part of a 10-piece series called “My Top Mentors” and I repost it now with great joy and sadness. ----- As a five year old in Kindergarten, I already felt like an “Evangelist.” During “show and tell” I’d always ask the other kids a...
United in Compassion
Joel's story. Afghani, Sudanese, Iraqi, Syrian, Rwandan...these were the nationalities of the refugees who gathered at English Club on Thursday nights. Faithfully they came to the apartment clubhouse, week-in, week-out, hoping to practice their beginning English and...
