It was my joy to pray with a prodigal this week to rededicate his life to Christ. The bondage of sin was too much for him to bear, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit lovingly confronted him with the error of his ways. The grace of God showed up, and that which was dead is now alive again.

This experience reminded me of Paul’s declaration to the Galatians. They were tempted to come under the bondage preached by Judaizers.

On Sunday, Sherry and I went to one of our favorite eateries after church: Café le Gourmand (Bujumbura, Burundi). They serve wonderful coffee, great food, and amazing French pastries! Though we rarely eat pastries, every now and then we just cannot resist. Sunday was one of those days!

Have you ever received miraculous healing? I know many who read this will answer yes. In more than 30 years of ministry I’ve witnessed several documented healings and have personally received a healing touch from God. I unreservedly preach that divine healing is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers. In my mind, if God created human beings, then He has the power to intervene when disease and sickness attack that creation.

Luke’s gospel does not shy away from showing Jesus as a healer. His letter to Theophilus is filled with divine intervention in the lives of the suffering. Two powerful stories found in Luke 5:12-26 help us see the power of God to heal. But let’s start with an important question, “Where does sickness come from?

I am writing this blog while flying from Bujumbura, Burundi to Johannesburg, South Africa. Sherry and I are attending the One House Conference for all Assembly of God missionaries in the Africa Region. We lived in Johannesburg for 12 years and it feels like we are going home. We’ll see many familiar sites, visit old friends, and remember some exciting days of ministry planting and pastoring churches in the city.

All followers of Christ are on a mission from God. Whether preacher or plumber, none are exempt from making disciples in every nation. But what does that look like? Luke 4:31-44 gives us a day-in-the-life of the chief disciple maker, Jesus Christ.

I am a biblical teacher! Over the years that gift has led me into various facets of ministry through the years. Today, I live and do ministry in East Africa. Most call me a missionary, but I am a teacher who happens to exercise his gift in a cross-cultural context. Living out God’s purpose for my life is wonderful but it also comes with temptations.