How Do You....

Tomorrow I will be leaving for Charlotte. Do not get me wrong, I am excited to be back on the East Coast in a city and people I love dearly. I am excited to be a part of this very challenging phase of life. I am excited to be back in the South and start grad school. But I cannot leave Rehoboth without feeling a little sad and reminiscent. What follows is my heartfelt goodbye to the place and people I have come to appreciate and love.

Ah the Memories

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the challenges facing Rehoboth and the issues I had to face being in New Mexico. While it was not an inherently 'happy' post, it was right and good to reflect on the rough parts of the year. That being said, today I want to talk about some of the times that made me stop dead and appreciate being a part of this crazy place. These are the times, combined with the darker times, that have made this year unforgettable. Let the fun memories begin!

Into the Darkness

Last week, I covered the background of my coming to Rehoboth.  While there is more could be said, I think it is a better to delve into the actual year.  Today, I am going to address the challenges of being in New Mexico.  Sure, I had my own personal challenges (and I will talk about them) but I also wish to delve deeply into the cultural, social, and fiscal challenges of Rehoboth.  This is not going to be an inherently 'happy' post, but I find such hidden joy and hope all around me because of these difficulties.  I pray that same joy and hope will shine through to you.

A Mission High Fullfilling

I checked my 'Stats' page for this blog and realized I have not written anything lately. This, be it for the good or bad, will change as I present a four part series on my thoughts about my experience in New Mexico. I will share the joys and the pains, the happy times and the struggles. It will be honest but also full of reflection and hope. The last post will be directed at the people of Rehoboth, but I pray that each post would encourage you and challenge your view of service.

It seems fitting that the first post of the series should describe the background to this year. After all, any good narrative has a back-story  How did I get here? Why was I called by God to such a random place? How did I feel about this calling? Sit back and enjoy reading the beginnings of how a great God set the stage to change the life of a kid that never dreamed of such a life experience.

Anger and Trust

A common question in the Christian community is how to deal with anger and frustration during times of intense trials. Can you be angry at God? What role should faith and trust play in this theater of life? How can one find this faith and trust when all hell breaks loose and you cannot find any of either? These are typical questions and better, wiser people have tackled this issues in many, many ways. I am not here to break any new theological ground on this issue. I want, instead, to share my experiences and have you draw your own conclusions from there. Sounds good? Let's go!

A Revisitation of 'Being Blessed'

If you are anything like me (perish that thought!), you have probably had this experience: you go to a friend's house and they show you a new car, gadget, interior or the ilk and when you ask them about it they give the polite responses of, "Well, we are very blessed" or "God has been good to us." What I want to do in this post is re-imagine what 'blessing' looks like. How should the wealthy among us act? What about the 'less privileged?' What does it look like when God blesses us? If any of these questions sound interesting, keep reading.

A Most Horrific Reality

In the introduction post to this blog yesterday, I promised that tRT would be open, honest, and sometimes controversial. I preface this post that way because the topic I am covering (abortion) is not to be taken lightly. It is extremely polarizing and can lead to political attacks and damaged friendships. This post is not designed to ignite passions and lead to angry comments towards others. It is designed to show how Christians need to respond to this subject and the ensuing disagreements. Keep an open mind and comment in the section below with your thoughts.