The “G” word. Who’s uncomfortable? I’ll say it again… “GRIEF”. [This is the best graphic I could find to describe my experience of grief.] Remembering experiences of grief… Using the words of the psalmist as a guide, we can remember our grieving, and see how God has met us in our grief. Get your tissues […]
One Challenge is blessed to have mission pastor Gill, and his wife Karen, at OC International for over 20 years. They have served as OC workers in Asia, and they are now based at the U.S. Mobilization Center in Colorado. In 2020, Gill took on the role of mission pastor to encourage, pray, counsel, and […]
We make 100s of choices every day. An exercise in building awareness is to try and notice every decision you make in a day, or part of a day. In my practice of this exercise, I’ve noticed 3 categories of the choices I make in a day. Most of the choices in my day don’t […]
Castles and fortresses light up my imagination. They were built not as a palace for luxury or pleasure, but as a protection from imminent danger. The enemy could be right on the other side of the wall or gate, but the people are safe inside. In times of war, Kings and Queens, as the treasures […]
You may recognize this scene if you’ve ever visited Venice, Italy. Pay attention to the gondola sailor. He’s standing behind the passengers gently guiding the small boat along the canal. The passengers don’t have to know the way, they just have to trust the guide to direct them. And, because they don’t have to worry […]
Jesus is the light of the world. Have you ever thought about the power of light? Light imagery is used throughout literature and films to suggest the good, the true, and the hope at the start of something new. Children often claim to be afraid of the dark… and not just children, I know I […]
Jesus is the King of Glory. In nations with a monarchy today, the monarch’s reign is life long and the line of succession must never be broken. The moment one king dies, the new king’s reign begins. As believers, we see Jesus as our King. We know that in the resurrection Jesus conquered death, so he will […]
Jesus is the true vine. The vine is the strong, sturdy, woody part of the plant. In the resting season of growth, the branches are all cut off and the vine remains. The vine is constant, eternal. The vine is the source of life for the branches. The vine yields the fruit. In this new […]
Jesus says he is “the good shepherd”. The defining characteristic of the good shepherd is that he lays down his life for his sheep. His sheep are his priority. The shepherd is completely responsible for the life of the sheep. In this new series of video blogs (or “vlogs”), we explore some of the “I […]
As I sit and write this reflection, it is a snowy day in Colorado. I find myself longing for spring. The warmth of the sun, the budding of trees, chirping song birds, and the beginnings of the green that shouts life is on the way. In fact, according to the calendar, spring is already here, but […]
