by Emily | Jan 4, 2015 | Glory, Kingdom of Heaven, Love, Pain, Prayer, The Beatitudes
It was the morning of Good Friday, almost 2000 years after Jesus was on trial. My father and other organization members had gone to the courthouse. I lived with my family in Central Asia, and for months our whole team had faced investigation from the government, court... by Emily | Dec 6, 2014 | Freedom, Kingdom of Heaven, Love, Prayer, The Beatitudes
When I look at the news headlines, I almost always see accounts of discord and power struggles, which catch our attention because of our aversion to pain and conflict. The global history of wars speaks of the human tendency to seek power, yet there remains a deep... by Emily | Nov 14, 2014 | Glory, Kingdom of Heaven, Pain, Prayer, The Beatitudes
When reading the Beatitudes, the descriptions of those being blessed often seem lofty (I know my focus is not always on righteousness) or unpalatable (whose goal is it to be meek and mourning?). We all know that no one is perfect, so the next statement appears out of... by Emily | Nov 10, 2014 | Freedom, Kingdom of Heaven, Love, The Beatitudes
Have you noticed the cyclical patterns of relationships? It can go two directions: When one person demeans another, the recipient will often react negatively and hurtfully, giving more grounds for hard feelings, a pattern of conflict gradually escalating as the lists...
by Emily | Oct 27, 2014 | Kingdom of Heaven, Love, The Beatitudes
I just read in the news that between 1990 and 2014 the percentage of people going hungry in this world has dropped from 18.7% of the total population to 11.3%. An incredible global effort has been reaching out to those who hunger and thirst, because of the fundamental... by Emily | Oct 27, 2014 | Love, Pain, Prayer, The Beatitudes
We’ve been exploring what it means to be part of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, starting with Jesus’ descriptions of its citizens, including those who are “poor in spirit.” He goes on to say: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” This one hits...
