Imitators of Those

“And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Hebrews 6:11-12

Category: Uncategorized

  • The Holy Approach of the Magi

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    Dónal
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    A couple of weeks ago my daughter had a part in her school nativity, singing some solo sections of “We Three Kings”. Needless to say, Christmas singing started early in our house this year, as she provided us with daily renditions of the song, practicing it incessantly. As a result of this, I’ve had a…

  • Let an Unpolluted Heav’n and Nature Sing

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    Dónal
    in ,

    Multiple times in the week, I am asked what I enjoy about the area in which we now live. I have many answers, from the taste of delicious South Asian dishes, the bustling bazars with their dozens of varieties of fish, fruit and veg, and the friendliness of locals, to the golden rice fields, the…

  • What I Do Have I Give To You

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    Dónal
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    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…

  • A Father Before the Altar

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    Dónal
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    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.…

  • Ebenezer and the Making of a Man

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    Dónal
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    “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…

  • Leviticus, Janner Igiby & The Other Side of the Altar

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    Dónal
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    Over the past month I’ve been reading the Wingfeather Saga to my daughter. It is fun to see her eyes open wide at the twists and shocks of the story, and to see it spill off the page, into her imagination, creating a world within her mind. We’ve just finished the section where Janner Igiby…

  • Teleported to Glory

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    Dónal
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    In the next couple of weeks, we are going to have our first visitors from home, coming out to our adoptive country. Dee’s mother, brother, and sister-in-law-to-be, will be on their way back from a trip to Australia, and on the way to Ireland will stop off with us in South Asia for a week.…

  • The Change Along The Way

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    Dónal
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    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…

  • Trust Not In Fluent Lips

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    Dónal
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    “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…

  • The Tears That Are Seeds of Hope

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    Dónal
    in ,

    There is so much decay around us. Everywhere. Each one. Declining health, immense poverty, death, broken relationships, unloved children, shame, starvation, mental scarring, oppression, broken systems, corrupt systems, non-existent systems. And that is a short-list for our corner of this globe. Each nation has its own list. Maybe we just grow numb to it with…

  • The Faithful Understand the Time

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    Dónal
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    If you were to drive a couple of hours North-West of Dublin, until you find the Middle-of-Nowhere, then take a left down a very bumpy, pot-hole filled road, cross a bridge, down another few roads with grass growing up them, you will come across a little village. It is a single street, with a couple…

  • The Pigeon and the Coo d’Etat

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    Dónal
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    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,…