The traditional values beneath a modern face that keep women at risk – August 2015
August 2015Well of course a man should beat his wife if she cheats on him!” It has been three years since my friend made that comment with a laugh, as I stared at her with a stunned expression, and yet I still remember it clearly. It was the first time since coming to Lebanon that I realised the depth of the […]
A rising generation – July 2015
July 2015Beneath the blue skies of Palestine, in the cheerful, vibrant town of Bethlehem, there lives a rising generation. It’s a generation of new graduates, celebrating with many, the joys of completing their long periods of study. Among them are around 50 students graduating from Bethlehem Bible College (BBC) who finished their educational journey on 13 June. Acting as MC of […]
Charlie, Charlie and Egypt’s fascination with fate and fortune (July 2015)
“Charlie, Charlie, are you here?” One of the latest – and strangest – internet phenomena has been the Charlie Charlie Challenge: a curious game that uses something similar to a Ouija Board with yes/no answers, and two pencils to summon a demon named Charlie. Participants ask questions about the future and Charlie is said to respond with a “yes” or […]
Keeping up with the Nassers – June 2015
June 2015As I mentioned in my previous post, materialism plays a heavy role in Lebanese society. Here, “keeping up with the Joneses” takes on an entirely new dimension. Appearance is important; your reputation is everything. Wedding on the Beirut corniche (cwirtanen/Flickr Commons) Lebanese women are famous for being beautiful. A few years back, when I told a taxi driver in Cairo […]
Wedding bells in Bethlehem – May 2015
May 2015My parents just celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary. Thirty-four years – year after year, more beautiful, more enriching and more satisfying. Whilst we were all sharing their delicious anniversary cake, I sat marvelling at the work of God in their lives. I remember very clearly how they brought me and my brothers up to love God and walk in His […]
Embracing the cross – April 2015
April 2015“The people of the cross.” Remember this statement? In the words of ISIS, it was the crime of which 21 ex-patriate Christians in Libya were found guilty and worthy of beheading by ISIS a few months ago. As we approach Easter, I cannot help but once again think of those brave 21 whose faith and final cries, “Lord… Jesus Christ!” […]
The beauty of Lebanon – April 2015
I have lived in Lebanon for almost three years yet I still feel I am discovering new things every day. This morning I took a different route to church suggested by my friend and we drove by an ancient Roman aqueduct, built into the cliffs rising above Beirut centuries upon centuries ago. Only five minutes from my apartment and I […]
The ways of life and death – February 2015
February 2015“ISIS’s mission is to enforce the sovereignty of God. Christ’s mission was to enforce the sovereignty of God.” This shocking introduction to one of Dr Maher Samuel’s recent televised messages (see clip below) speaks volumes in the light of the recent regional developments and international comments. Dr Samuel went on to explain the vast contrast between the two, for while […]