Is it harder to talk with people about Jesus if those people don’t believe in any God, or a different god? I won’t try to answer that question, I’ll simply note there is a difference. The above photo is an item found in the seatback pocket on my flight today to Singapore. Lion air Group… Continue reading We’re Not in Kansas Anymore…
Category: Theology
The Small Catechism
I was commenting to a colleague of mine this week that the more I teach Luther’s Small Catechism the more I appreciate it. The simplicity in presentation of concepts and truths that have occupied theologians for thousands of years is remarkable. If you haven’t looked through your catechism in a while I strongly recommend it.… Continue reading The Small Catechism
One Year-ish
We celebrated our one-year anniversary in Medan today. If you go by days of the week it works out because we arrived in Medan on a Sunday evening. But if you go by dates, like any civilized human being, then tomorrow, February 13, is our one-year anniversary. We’ll celebrate a little bit tomorrow as well… Continue reading One Year-ish
The Sun Is the Same, In a Relative Way…
…but we are older. This was us one year ago today – younger, tired after being up until 2am and then having to get up VERY early. Freshly dropped off at Sky Harbor International Airport (I defy anyone to name a more beautiful airport name) in Phoenix to begin our long-awaited departure towards a new… Continue reading The Sun Is the Same, In a Relative Way…
First Teaching Gig!
The bywords of living overseas are adaptability and flexibility. These are essential just to handle all of the changes in culture and ways of doing things one encounters regardless of where they decide to move to. They are also essentials for my unique position in the Southeast Asia Region, as I’m deployed as a regional… Continue reading First Teaching Gig!
Goodbyes
In just under two weeks we’ll celebrate our 1-year anniversary of our arrival in Medan. Hard to believe it’s been a year. Also hard to believe it’s only been a year! We’ve met a lot of people in this year, and continue to meet new folks regularly which is a joy and blessing. But there… Continue reading Goodbyes
Angkor Wat
Our formal programming and gathering ended Thursday evening. The Cimas arranged an optional excursion to Angkor Wat for those interested. We obviously signed up – how often do you get an opportunity like that?!?! It would require a six hour bus trip each way, with one day of exploring Angkor Wat in between. Angkor Wat… Continue reading Angkor Wat
Time in Phnom Penh
We’re staying in the heart of Phnom Penh in one of the few hotels capable of handling a group of our size while located nearby a plethora of places to eat and things to see and do. It’s a bustling, big city. It reminds us somewhat of Medan, though the feel (as a capitol city)… Continue reading Time in Phnom Penh
Standing Out
We’ve been in country now for nearly 11 months. I’ve learned to ignore the stares (mostly) and turned heads from locals amazed at seeing a bule (Caucasian) way out here in Medan. We have routines of a sort, places we usually go, and after a while you stop thinking about it. This is partially necessary… Continue reading Standing Out
Christ the King
We worship at an English-speaking congregation that isn’t Lutheran. Given the choice between attending a more Lutheran service in Bahasa Indonesia when we can’t understand it at all, or dealing with doctrinal and traditional differences where we could hear the Word and be part of Christian community, we opted for the latter. It has been… Continue reading Christ the King
The Nelson Family Indonesia 