Insights

Neither poverty nor violence are abstract concepts.  They are choices we make that impact the lives of the innocent.

Today those innocent are telescoped in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and in Tucson, Arizona.  And in the days since both tragedies occurred, and in the days to follow will be the recriminations, the probing questions, the partisan arguments both political and theological.

But not today!  Please, not today.

Today is a day to mourn with those who mourn.
To console those who mourn.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of ...

My mood on Saturday morning suddenly turned somber as I learned about the shooting tragedy that took place in Tucson, my hometown.

Having reconnected with many Tucson friends through Facebook, I started seeing their posts shortly after the event occurred and in seeing pictures on the news, realized that this tragic event took place in a very familiar shopping center located just a few minutes from where I used to live.

Even though Arizona politics have become heated in recent years, I couldn't imagine something like this happening in this small community.  Growing up in Tucson, I can recall ...

Over the past several weeks I've been doing a fair amount of "pondering" ... in large measure precipitated by a personal move.  In a rapid chain of events that's kept me in a head-spinning mode for three months, I sold my home of 23 years, the place where Jon moved from earth to heaven, and landed in a new (to me) nest.  It's been an extraordinary thing -- houses just don't sell in SoCal right now, especially when it isn't even listed.  The best part of the whole saga is that my beloved abode now holds a ...

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day:  December 7, 1941

It's a day, an event brought back into our national conscience on September 11, 2001 when the people of New York City and the people of the United States were attacked.  It drew comparison to the attacks at Pearl Habor as an "even worse disaster!"

For the generation who grew up in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and World War 2, the significance of Pearl Harbor has perhaps dimmed, but never lost.

I remember my trip to Pearl in the late 90's, visiting the site of what is now the USS ...

This evening at sundown marks the beginning of Hanukkah--a significant celebration by a people who endured generation upon generation of bondage to foreign enemies.

More than 21 centuries ago, the Holy Land was ruled by Syrian Greeks who wanted to forcefully engulf the people of Israel.  But a small group of faithful Jews defeated an army of Greeks, drove them from the land and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to God.

As the Jewish historical narrative recounts, when they went to light the Temple's menorah, they found only a single vile of olive oil that hadn ...

Abused children
Poverty
Crimes against humanity
War

And yet, I can name abused children who've changed my life with their sweet hope and trusting love.

I'm met poverty that has a name, a family, a committed faith in God that puts me to shame.

I see the result of heinous crimes against men, women and children and I praise God for the opportunity to connect with Compassion International, Mercy Ships^®, HCJB Global, Samaritan's purse, International Justice Mission, World Vision, Prison Fellowship and so many others who do something about it.

I hear of places like Iraq, Afghanistan ...