Tag: Pray

June 24, 2026

We’ve all experienced from time to time what the Spanish poet and mystic St.John of the cross referred to as “a dark night of the soul”. Or, as Psalm 23 puts it, “the valley of the shadow of death”. Darkness and despair haunt the night for countless souls. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, or so it seems. I remember as if it were yesterday a dark valley my family went through when our daughter’s husband was tragically killed in a construction accident while teaching at a university in Zambia. My immediate response as she tearfully told me via a...

May 27, 2026

Recently my wife Kathy and I spent a few hours with a childhood friend of hers who has been battling several serious diseases. It’s remarkable that she is yet alive but she is. Not only alive but buoyant, good humoured, and joyful. Indeed, her attitude and worldview in the face of constant vulnerability is both countercultural and truly inspiring. We went to see her, prepared to encourage her, but found ourselves as the ones encouraged. It reminded us of our visits these past 26 years to dying orphans and widows in Africa and India. We have visited and prayed for countless numbers of what...

March 4, 2026

We’re in day 3 of the USA/Israel attack on Iran as I write. The law of unintended consequences is already evident, not only in “friendly fire” tragedies, but also in terms of other major nations being drawn in. Already it has become a regional war as Iran is attacking most of the Middle Eastern countries. As you read this blog it’s probable that many more unintended consequences will have occurred. My wife and I were just in Jerusalem a few weeks ago. The hotel where we were staying has a remarkable view of Mount Zion and the Old City. We spent wonderful moments sitting on our...