What’s the missing ministry in worldwide missions today? We have no shortage—at least less of a lack—of preachers and teachers, administrators and accountants, construction teams, musicians, and hostesses with the mostest. Even Christian colleges with dedicated missions programs focus on camps, seminaries, TESL and tentmaking. And I’m all for it! But we could really, really…
Can you believe it’s that time again? On New Year’s Eve, my daughter and I both hustled to make our yearly reading goals. I finished around 9 p.m. She slid in at 11:25. Both of us in time for punch and fireworks in Chile! Now for the recounting of my top 12 books of 2025….
Did you know that November 20 is World (or Universal) Children’s Day? Here in Chile, we celebrate the children on the second Sunday in August, but on an international level it’s commemorated close to American Thanksgiving. Now, I admit that amid the race and roar surrounding me, I paused only a minute last week to…
Would you believe I searched my house high and low for two Anne of Green Gables tins I have? I acquired them some years ago on a foray to Prince Edward Island on the trail of Lucy Maud Montgomery, but failed to find even one for a photo this week. However, I did come up…
It’s that time of year again when we do what used to be called making New Year’s Resolutions. Instead, I like to review the past year and reflect on what was accomplished, usually with gratitude. And especially it’s the time when I look back on my book list and share with you my favorite reads…
It’s that time of year again, and yet every single Christmas season never fails to inspire, excite, and touch my heart. Each December as we drag out the decorations and stock up the freezer with fudge and gingerbread, we also pull our favorite holiday movies out of the cupboard. So this month, I’m wandering off…
Do you like biographies? Maybe it’s the dozens of missionary life stories I had to read in Bible college, but I’ll admit my reluctance to receive this particular book from a coworker, let alone read it. Hearts of Fire shares cameos about eight women of the persecuted church around the world, collected by The Voice…
Lists are fun, aren’t they? Several of my fellow bloggers have recently shared their top reads of 2023, so I thought it was high time for my (more or less) annual list of favorite books too. Usually, it’s a challenge to choose just a few favs out of 100 (+/- again) books read over the…
Twenty-five tins that contain—or once contained tea—line the shelves and cupboards of my home. While I consider myself more of a coffee drinker than a tea fan, those special cups of tea remind me of dozens of “tea reads” over time. The main character of my original story world, Melissa Travis of Destiny at Dolphin…
Many authors keep in mind an avatar or ideal future reader while writing their books. Christian writing podcaster Thomas Umstattd, Jr. suggests directing our stories to a real person rather than an imaginary persona. The apostle Paul was writing for Timothy—one person—when he scribbled the biblical epistles of I and II Timothy. Yet millions of…
How often do you not finish the books you’ve picked out and started with such diligent intentions? Though a friend tells me I’m a bit obsessive-compulsive that way, it happens more than I’d like to admit. Back when I homeschooled my girls, we learned one day that King Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199) owned a magnificent…
Brought up near the coast of Maine, I often heard the proverb: “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.” In some parts of the country, they may say “farmers” or “shepherds” rather than “sailors,” but I live in a seaside context even today, so I’ll stick with the…