Categories for Stories of Hope
Yesterday morning, I took Ruth home following our Thursday morning meeting at ANM. “Mom Ruth” became a widow recently. Before her husband, Gordon, the ANM chaplain, became ill and died, she attended the meetings every week. In fact, her presence added spiritual vitality to our gatherings. However, when she asked me the night before if… View Article
I am a firm believer that God gave man coffee. I suppose tea also applies, because either one can open the door for meaningful conversation. What would otherwise be an ordinary building, a coffee shop can be a place where lives are transformed in a community setting. Alex and I were sitting in the back… View Article
Part One Yosef Ben Chaim means Joseph Son of Life. He is the 11th son in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family in Israel. I met him in India. It was an unlikely meeting, but there appeared to be nothing of the average in this young man, even though he thought very little of himself and even… View Article
We came to Dharwad to be of assistance to the ministry of Caring Hands. Our plans were to train three pastors in the use of tools and basic carpentry. Since we cannot bring tools with us, the challenge in India as in most countries is to find the needed tools and materials that are made… View Article
When I make plane reservations for myself or team members, I try to reserve aisle seats for a few reasons. First, it is the “servant seat.” It provides the advantage of helping the flight attendant and those seated beside you to pass trays and trash back and forth. It is easy to move into the… View Article
I awoke this morning in the 17th floor apartment of a Holocaust survivor woman named Clara and her husband Eliya. They live in Netanya, Israel. Brian, the founder of Abundant Bread of Salvation, introduced us to them and requested our stay. We arrived late, but that did not hinder Clara from coming to the ground… View Article
The following article is a guest post submitted by a Messianic mother in Israel. We recently drove Michael (alias) to Ammunition Hill to send him off for his 3 years of mandatory military service for Israel. As we walked to the gate to tell him goodbye, we passed multitudes of families giving one last hug… View Article
In Israel, a Sherut is a mini-van driven by a professional. If you need a ride for more than 4 people and can’t take a public bus, you need to hire one. In the Old City, there are many available, but not many are honest. At the guesthouse where we stay, they recommend honest drivers…. View Article
In the Old City of Jerusalem, worlds collide and cultures divide. The area is literally divided into four quarters. The tension becomes tangible at times. This was my third stay in this section where the Armenian, Christian, and Muslim Quarters touch. Farhan, a man of peace I have come to recognize shop owners and they… View Article
“Anything, even a shekel,” he begged in a raspy voice. “Lo, todah,” (no, thanks) I answered. Wrong answer. He knew it and I knew it. My problem was that I was getting used to beggars in Jerusalem. There are many. Unless you walk the streets, you wouldn’t see them. In fact, most Americans don’t realize… View Article
“Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to hell anyway.” I was shocked at first, but then it clicked. She was speaking out of what she believed. A few minutes earlier, I was sitting with a fresh cup of coffee in the Food Court of the airport in Philly. We had about 3 hours before… View Article
And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. Acts 18:2 Paul was alone. Actually, we know that he is never alone, that the Lord is with… View Article