Category: Life Lessons
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Oh, for Eyes to See the Greatest in the Kingdom
A couple of months ago I stood in a little village in rural Ireland, with my father in the faith, staring out across the rolling drumlins interspersed by the many lakes that fill the gaps in undulating landscape. Lakes like the one in which I and many others have been baptised. A long summer evening…
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One Term In
We are currently back in the packing stage. This time to head back to the field after our first visit home. For some reason, nowadays missionaries call each stint on the field/particular season on the field, a “term”. Sounds quite like a politician, but perhaps it is therefore fitting for those called to be “ambassadors…
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Better Than All The Stories
Last week we had some visitors from Ireland staying with us. One evening, as we were putting the kids to bed, we all sat on the floor and did that day’s devotional from a book. One of the questions that day was, “what is your favourite Bible story?” One-by-one we went around, telling our favourite…
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What I Do Have I Give To You
Living here in South Asia places a huge burden on the heart, that does not exist to the same extent in Ireland/the West. Poverty. Now of course, we have poor people in Ireland, and we try to help them as we can. Yes, there are those on the streets looking for money, sad scenes of…
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Fools of a Unique Culture
In a couple of weeks it will be one year since landing in our host country in South Asia. As I sit here enjoying Andrew Peterson’s new cover album of Rich Mullin’s legendary “A Liturgy, A Legacy and A Ragamuffin Band”, there is definitely much to give thanks for. A few weeks back a new…
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A Father Before the Altar
Last night my daughter snuggled into my shoulder as I read to her the ending of Book 3 of the Wingfeather Saga. My eyes grew wet as I spoke to her of a father’s mighty act of heroism and strength for the hour – giving of his complete self for the sake of his children.…
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Ebenezer and the Making of a Man
“God knows what it takes to make a man” These were the words spoken by the dear brother who had discipled me in his own home for three years. I had recently moved to England to work, still a relatively young believer, with a difficult new church situation, and more than anything, a lament of…
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The Son of Man Came Not To Be Served, But…
Christians are a servant-hearted bunch. At least, we ought to be! And usually we are, to one degree or another. We love our King who humbled himself, took on the form of a servant and died a humiliating death on a cross for us. This event has gripped our hearts, and we want to likewise…
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The Change Along The Way
The story goes, that when the Cambridge Seven (distinguished young British missionaries who had left their popular sports careers and student lives, to move to China) arrived on those Eastern shores, that they had somewhat of a run-in with their new team leader – Hudson Taylor. Hudson Taylor was well known for his deep commitment…
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Trust Not In Fluent Lips
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” – Galatians 3:3 For new missionaries, the realm of language learning is a battlefield. Never mind the funny mistakes one makes (E.g. You try telling your students that you’re proud of them, and instead tell them that you’re pregnant…), on…
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Leviticus and the Pilgrim Mind
Childhood summers meant camping. On an almost rolling two-year cycle, we would one year go down to camp in the very south of Ireland, and the next, load up our 7-seater car with all manner of things, catch a ferry to England for a quick visit with our grandparents, and then take the Channel Tunnel…
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The Pigeon and the Coo d’Etat
The chilly air of a Scottish April morning warmed slightly as the sun rose slowly. Or at least, became present in unseen places. It doesn’t shine too intensely in Scotland on a regular basis. Nonetheless, as the dewy ground heated slightly it gave way to a gentle mist, the dawning light catching the edges thereof,…
Imitators of Those 