So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness… God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. …I tell you the truth, when you [helped] one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!… Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to […]

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With the craziness of the season, Haiku seemed the right medium for today….. Then a star, a dark barn donkeys, sheep, a bed of straw emmanuel.  jesus. Now bustle.  bells.  lights.  trees. we buy, wrap, cook, decorate what would jesus do? *** It’s so easy to get caught up in the stuff. I want to let go of some of that and focus on serving instead. What one thing could you let slide this Christmas season?  Leave a comment…..

To all you future parents…If you gain the ability to influence your child’s birthday in any way, for heaven’s sake, don’t make it in December! Exactly two years ago, we sat in a small office in Kyiv, Ukraine, asking permission to adopt Lena. Today, she turns Sweet 16. So much has changed in two years Two years ago, she barely spoke any English Last year, she passed the state standardized testing with no help. This year, she read Romeo and Juliet…and understood it. Today (halfway through her Freshman year), she has a B average with no accommodations. Lena is amazing. […]

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Every year since we met (with a couple exceptions…sometimes I suck at keeping up traditions), Mark and I have given each other an ornament.  Often, the ornament reflects a theme of the year, or a season in our lives.  Sometimes, it’s just cute or silly or pretty. The first Christmas after we were married, I slogged my way through a bout of major depression.  And I mean Major.  I boycotted the holidays.  I didn’t want a tree.  Mark and his sister both took a day off work, got a tree and decorated the house while I was at work. I […]

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We can’t say the word “winning” this year without at least a split-second image of a manic Charlie Sheen. But true winning is finding a path of forgiveness and love.  Winning is finding God’s way through pain instead of our own.  Winning is finding the passion that can drive us forward to make a difference, to love out our faith and impact lives. Alex Krutov is a winner. Alex has found hope in the midst of hopelessness, laughter in the midst of fear, perseverance in the midst of abuse.  Enduring horrors no one should ever endure.  Watching friends die.  Burying them […]

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