Journey Of StonesWhen we hear Jesus’ story, we hear about rocks and stones:Upon this rock I will build my church . . . He who is without sin cast the first stone . . . If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out . . .The stone which the builders rejected, this became...
As we prepare to head home tomorrow, I have been thinking of those things I miss about life in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.Not people, mind you, as I don't want this to slide into sentimentality. Let's just assume I miss home family and church family...
Brent Burdick here as Talbot wanted me to guest blog for him today. That, and the fact that he is too technologically inept to upload my photos! Anyway, this is the church I preached at while Talbot was preaching in Raikia. The church building was burned...
United Methodist circles have been abuzz over the last eighteen months or so regarding the topic of guaranteed appointment.For those of you unfamiliar with our lingo, guaranteed appointment is the United Methodist practice that for all practical purposes grants...
PREACHING AT GOOD SHEPHERD AND PREACHING AT RAIKIAOn Sunday I preached at the Raikia Baptist Church, a congregation of 350 or so located in heart of the Kandhamal District in the state of Odisha here in India.(It is enough of a miracle that I have any internet...
The best moment of today's teaching at the Orissa Follow-Up Ministry didn't come while I was teaching.It came in a conversation with six different pastors who all shared one thing in common.They'd all been arrested.For preaching the Gospel. Some were incarcerated for...
As I write this, it's Wednesday night, India time, and Wednesday morning, US time.In other words, I've already been where you are right now.It's the way time works.Our team of James-Michael Smith, Brent Burdick, and I, along with host P.R. Misra, spent our first day...
As you can see under the "Books I Like" heading, I recently read Peter Ames Carlin's new biography of Bruce Springsteen.And in reading it, I discovered something I share in common with him.Not guitar talent.Not singing voice.Not ability to write lyrics.Not...
Here are some things that Brent Burdick, James-Michael Smith, and I hope to accomplish as we minister in the state of Odisah which is in eastern India. The map below says "Orissa" because the state just changed its name to Odisha in 2011. 1. Learn from the...
To my right is James-Michael Smith.To my left is Brent Burdick.As you read this, we are somewhere over Asia, flying into Delhi, India.From there, we are headed to the state of Odisha, the city of Bhubaneswar, and then the regions of Balasore and Kandhamal.It's my...