I just read two books by Michael Lewis. The first was his latest book called Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World. Love that title! The book gives some eye-popping background and tragic [and sometimes hliarious] narrative to the financial collapse in Greece, Iceland and Ireland. A great book if you want to understand the current-day woes…
Read MoreOur eco-friendly $5000 home
In the past few months, we have turned a storm damaged yurt into an eco-friendly, toxic-free, funky home for our family. Last night my wife and three of our kids officially moved in to the house we created from recycled materials. We slept on our new wood floor, lit a fire in our pot belly stove,…
Read MoreCoptic Pope Shenouda III Dies
The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Shenouda III has passed away at the age of 88. He was greatly loved and respected. I saw pictures of him on walls all over Cairo. I have a lot of respect for the Egyptian Orthodox church. It’s one of the oldest churches in the world and…
Read MoreMy book – Your help
THANK YOU! Last year was amazing. Your gifts enabled me to spend time in Turkey, China, Indonesia, Egypt, and Eastern Europe to equip missional leaders and their networks in those countries. And because we traveled most of those countries in our 4×4 overlander, the whole family could come along for free. It was a great…
Read MoreIs the number 666 really on our barcodes?
A blog reader asked if the number 666 is somehow integrated into the barcodes. This has been a discussion for over 30 years among Christians. I asked my friend David Allis who is not only a Christian man but is also a leading seller of barcodes, to reply to the question, “Do all barcodes have…
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving
My wife is American so its customary for me to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Its also customary for us to cook a GINORMOUS turkey dinner and invite everyone and their dog in to eat it with our family. Yep that really is Turkey and Gravy Soda but its made by some other person named…
Read MoreSeeking unity in the Egyptian Revolution
Egypt: 33 bodies in the main Cairo morgue right now. Might be more in Alexandria and other cities. 1700 injured, many blinded by rubber bullets. Last month’s violence against Coptic Christians, which resulted in 23+ deaths, was the bloodiest sectarian violence in Egypt in 60 years. This week, things got even worse. Its a mixed…
Read MoreSouth of the Poverty Line: Eating Better
Are you a newbie to poverty? A recent migrant to redundancy? A casualty of the recession? Welcome to South of the Poverty Line! It might be a bummer that you’re here but its not the end of the world. In fact, it might be the beginning of a meaningful journey. It has been that for…
Read MoreHappy Christmas everyone
Last year we celebrated Christmas in Portugal. Its hard to believe that our family has been in 25 countries since then. And now we are all in Portland Oregon, USA for Christmas with the relatives. Its been 10 years since our kids have shared a Christmas with their grandparents and cousins and Aunties and Uncles.…
Read MoreGlobal Faith Forum: Day 2
Back at the Global Faith Forum at Northwood Church, Keller, Texas. Bob Roberts has done a superb job of adding the right tone to this event. Humor goes a long way and Bob is quick to make fun of everyone and put all the speakers and guests at ease. Some highlights today: Ray Bakke talking…
Read MoreKiwis are UNBEATABLE and UNDEFEATABLE!
OK – you have been expecting me to say something about the New Zealand's spectacular undefeated appearance at the FIFA 2010 World Cup . . and here it is. Paraguay could not beat the Kiwis. Slovakia???? Nope!! Not even Italy, the defending world champions, could beat the Kiwis. That's because the KIWIS ARE UNBEATABLE! And…
Read MoreAn Episcopal on Cooking, Parties and Spirituality
While in London a few weeks ago, I read a fantastic little book on food and spirituality by Father Robert Farrar Capon called The Supper of the Lamb. I loved the book, even though it was written in the 60's. Especially because it was written in the 60's. Its still works today! This guy has…
Read MoreMerry Christmas from TSK and family
Merry Christmas from our family. Hope you have a wonderful holiday. We are spending our Christmas in the ancient town of Silves, Portugal, where we are waiting for some paperwork and some funding so we can get into North Africa. Actually, its a great place to be for Christmas and quite warm, compared with the…
Read MoreA Slow and Kind Thanksgiving
We are walking over to a local farm today to pick up our turkey for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving day celebrations. Once again I am happy to report that our celebration will be slow and kind, as well as compassionate, local and free. And it will be a day of good friends and thanksgiving for all God…
Read MoreSlow Food Movement and Joshua Viertel
Josh Viertal is speaking here at The Feast and asking how many of us have “recently engaged in an agricultural act.” All of us have, obviously. Josh is President of Slow Food USA, a movement that I have always appreciated. He is talking about school lunches under the Time For Lunch campaign, diabetes, obesity, waste,…
Read MoreHPV and our family in the news again
My wife and daughter Abigail are the lead story on the Orkney Today website. This is related to an unwanted HPV jab a few months ago that made the news. This time, a member of Scottish Parliment is upset that Scotland has no minimum age for consent for medical treatment and sexual health services. Our…
Read MoreMaking Pizzas and Starting Sustainable Churches
I made pizza again last night and they turned out great. Every Friday for the last 8 years, we have made pizza. Guess what? Somebody took a video of me in New Mexico a few years ago making pizza at the Emergent Gathering. I only just found it. Thanks Randy for uploading. The video is…
Read MoreSlow Sunday
Today is Slow Sunday in the UK, a day to celebrate slowness – slow food, slow pace, slow and enjoyable day. My family is cooking a slow stew with beef bones today but the fact is that we changed over to a slow food menu for Sunday a long time ago and have been sticking…
Read MoreFamily update
We are all enjoying good weather and are preparing for our first summer in Orkney. Sam has a part time job working for one of the cafes across the road. Tamara is only 6 but she is becoming a great chef – She just made something yesterday without a recipe – just threw in all…
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