Queen Esther

I’ve been reminiscing about Bosnia lately. I visited there in June to see friends. Then, the other day, I was in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at an authentic Bosnian restaurant. And now that it’s full-on fall, my wardrobe has turned dark and monochrome—so characteristic of Bosnia. In Bosnia, my dark attire was right at home. But…

These are crazy times as a wide net is cast over all categories of immigrants in the US. It is one thing to debate whether immigration policies are helpful or harmful in the abstract. It is another thing when you know real immigrant families who live in the US with legal status, who play by…

It is holy week leading up to Easter Sunday as I write these rambling thoughts, triggered by many things. I will mention two of them here.  First, the death and resurrection of Jesus from the grave are the center and focal point of Christianity. Without them, there is no Christian religion. Paul made that clear…

Early in my Christian life, I was taught the value of spending extended time alone with God. The idea is that extra time, without life’s ordinary responsibilities and distractions, will cultivate a habit of listening to God and perhaps hearing his voice more clearly. Consequently, over the years, I’ve set aside time off and on…

These are complex times for the United States, particularly regarding immigration. I hardly know where to begin, so I’ll start with a disclaimer: I’m still learning. A few years ago, I was only a passive observer of global migration trends, particularly during the pre-COVID-19 waves of migration in Europe. While living in Bosnia, we witnessed…

It’s time for my annual tribute to Christmas. Most of you reading this probably think Christmas is over, and these reflections on Advent are late. The waiting and anticipation for the incarnation of Jesus has happened. Last week. But not really. In the Orthodox Christian tradition, Christmas is on January 7. It depends on your…

You may think I write too much about (im)migration. Fair enough – my wife agrees with you. And I admit there are other important topics to write about in the context of our mission work. However, if you remove migration from the conversation about the mission of God, you remove the divine means by which…

Reading through the Old Testament it’s hard not to notice the prophet’s fiery rhetoric over Israel’s covenent unfaithfulness. Amos and Micah were not alone in voicing God’s displeasure and rebuke for Israel’s infidelity which included neglect of justice for the poor and powerless.  Though often hopeful and framed with God’s gracious mercy, OT prophecy ends…

It is no secret that I am pro-immigration. My views are rooted in consistent testimony of Scripture regarding how the people of God are to treat the less fortunate, which includes the foreigner, the poor, and the oppressed. This describes the great majority of immigrants. However, I sometimes fear that the virtue of my cause…