Journal

The Church of the Province of Southeast Asia

The Church of the Province of Southeast Asia

Bill and I had long meetings today in Singapore at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. We had a very profitable time with the Archbishop of the Province of Southeast Asia (CPSEA), Bolly Lapok from Kuching, Malaysia, Keith X who convenes the Economic Empowerment Task Force for the...

Singapore in One Photo

The 55-story high Marina Bay Hotel and Park, with a giant ‘boat’ on top connecting the three towers, complete with pool, casino, restaurants, spa, and more.  And why this photo sums up Singapore is that when Bill Deiss left Singapore in 1984, there was no...

An Inspiring Story and Recommended Book

“They tried to put me in solitary confinement but that is actually impossible as God is everywhere.” James Mawdsley   What would you go to jail for in Burma?  Burma itself, in the case of James Mawdsley. Mawdsley is a Brit who, in the late 1990s, got...

A Growing Church in Burma

After hearing virtually every Anglican Burmese talk about the Archbishop’s vision for the Province of the Church of Myanmar (CPM), “Thy Will Be Done,”  we were excited to hear it from Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo himself.  He did not disappoint, and we were...
Recent Reports on Retreats at Corhaven

Recent Reports on Retreats at Corhaven

Some wonderful women who’ve recently come to Corhaven for retreats have blogged about what they experienced. Read reflections from Lori Smith and Sarah Klotz. We continue to be amazed and grateful for how God meets people here. It’s not what we...

Into the Tragic Underknown

“For years, Burma’s plight was one of the most under-reported tragedies in the second half the twentieth century.” Benedict Rogers, Burma: A Nation at the Crossroads I’ve been aware of just how little I know about Burma as the days before entering near.  The world is...

With Half of the World

We arrived after a full day’s journey from Washington to Singapore, 28 hours from door to door via Tokyo, Japan.  Flying over Southeast Asia, the little flight map on the plane showed us the cities that lay sleeping below…Taipei, Taiwan; Manila and the cyclone...
Blogging Burma and Southeast Asia

Blogging Burma and Southeast Asia

Dear friends and fellow-pilgrims…In a week’s time, I’ll be traveling to Burma and Singapore, and writing about it on our blog, and I hope you’ll come along for the journey!  Following the pattern of mission reports from Congo and South Sudan, and Israel and...

“A Father’s Blessing”

Several weeks ago we celebrated with our son Daniel his marriage to Brittany and I was able to share the following blessing: Daniel, you have our blessing to leave our home and to make a new home with Brittany and to take with you the best that we could give you....

“No more hurting people. Peace.”

“No more hurting people.  Peace.” These are the words of 8-year-old Martin Richard, of Dorchester, Massachusets.  They are from a poster he created in school, after the  shooting death of Trayvon Martin.  When Martin Richard was killed in the bomb blast at...
Who knew a farm would be so interesting?

Who knew a farm would be so interesting?

Who knew a farm could be so interesting?  Coracle gathered a group of us for a tour of Polyface Farm in August, where they are taking a lead from God’s design of nature to produce delicious food, excellent in every respect. Polyface, nestled in a beautiful area of...
A Theology of Vocation and Spiritual Formation

A Theology of Vocation and Spiritual Formation

The following is the edited transcription of a talk given to participants of The Washington Institute’s “Come and See” Vocation Conference July 16-17, 2013 in Washington, DC. Jesus came into the deep mess—the mess of the human experience.  Of course,...
Gollum or George?

Gollum or George?

by Chrissy Koach Movie fans may already know what I’m talking about: one is obsessed and the other is oppressed. One is consumed with desire to possess something, and one is feeling crushed by circumstances surrounding him. Neither one is perfect:  George verbally...

How established are our roots?

The other week, I assisted my wife and some other adults in advising a group of sr. high aged kids from around the country, in a week of service and volunteering.  This “Work Camp” was held in Concord and Charlotte, NC at a therapeutic horse farm...

Dad and backseat theologians

The other day, I was driving home with my boys after a rained-out Little League practice. Lightning flickered behind receding clouds, a headache lingered from a long day at the office, and my 8-year old, Owen, predictably asked if they could play outside when we got...