While wandering the streets of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Ryan and I had an unintentional cross-cultural edventure. We passed an alleyway with a direct view of a neighborhood Buddhist Temple. Thai temples are topped with elaborate rooflines including beautiful roof peak...
Footsteps of Jesus Pilgrimage: Day Four to Day Five
Now that we had a greater understanding of the culture into which Jesus lived, it was time to look more closely at Jesus himself. Day Four on the Footsteps of Jesus Experience: we headed to Bethlehem to begin retracing...
Footsteps of Jesus Pilgrimage: Day Two to Day Three
During our Footsteps of Jesus Pilgrimage Day Two and Day Three, we needed a primer about the groups who were active during the 1st century. The 1st century world of Jesus was filled with a diversity of people and...
Footsteps of Jesus Pilgrimage: Day Zero to Day One
Our “Footsteps of Jesus” pilgrimage (Sept 26-Oct 1, 2016) was an amazing way to see the places were Jesus walked in Jerusalem and Galilee. Every time we read the Bible we will not only have those places in mind,...
Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth
The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth is one of my favorite churches! In and around the church are art installations from around the world, honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. I could spend hours considering the symbolism and artistic...
Sunrise at the Sea of Galilee
It was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee that Jesus first called fisherman to follow him. Jesus’ ministry around the Sea of Galilee took him from the local synagogue where he experienced the spiritual life of the...
Footsteps of Jesus: Let’s start in Jerusalem
For the next couple weeks we will be pilgrims through Israel and Palestine on a Footsteps of Jesus tour with our dear friends and mentors, Bob and Pam Rognlien. After years of saying, “Next year in Jerusalem,” we are...
Sunday in Dublin: A Church, a Cat and a Rat, and a Roast
Christ Church, Dublin On Sunday, Sept 11, 2016 our family went to worship at Christ Church, Dublin. The stone facade of the building houses an equality beautiful church where faithful worshippers gather each week. This Anglican church...
Fairy Tree: Christian Women Behaving Badly
You’ve probably heard in history classes that religious sites tend to be built on top of each other over time. There is an element of sacred space and land that people try to honor through this practice. However, there is also...
Greyfriars Kirk: Where the Loyalty of a Dog and Faith Meet
Our friend Dennis Hern from Good Shepherd gave our girls a children’s book about Greyfriars Bobby this past year so it was on our list of things to see in Edinburgh. Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier, was...