On Saturday, December 31, I traveled to Albania with former BASOM pastoral resident Bryson Bridges. We will be ministering to about 120 Albanians who serve on the staff of Cru, a faith-based community originally founded as Campus Crusade for Christ, reaching out to university students with the good news of Jesus.

Through our partnership with Kairos, our Pastoral Residents will have the option to enter a bachelors, masters, or doctoral program during their residency at a fraction of the cost of traditional seminaries.

Recently, we prayed about the holidays and for the curmudgeons or grumpy people in our lives. We all have people in our lives who are hard to love. What I’m learning is: loving these people is not just nice, it’s our job as followers of Christ.

Itʼs been said, “Weʼre like beasts when we kill. Weʼre like men when we judge. Weʼre like God when we forgive.” Those of us who have been on the receiving end of forgiveness, know what a gift of Godʼs grace it is!

For over 40 years I was paid to pray. Whether before or after a Sunday morning sermon, or to end a counseling session, or to kick-off a small group meeting, I prayed professionally, as if on-demand. Still, as a semi-retired pastor, when sharing a meal with friends or family, all eyes tend to look towards me when the moment comes to give thanks. It seems I cannot escape being a professional prayer.

The roundabout way may not be the most direct route, but it represents a wonderful era in the spiritual life when God shows up in very tangible ways that assure us of his presence on the journey.” – Ruth Haley Barton