Partners and Citizens

In the heart of the Protestant Reformation was a cry that still echoes in our churches today: Sola Scriptura—Scripture alone. For the Reformers, this wasn’t a slogan of rebellion but a return. It was a return to the foundation that had once grounded the early church—the Word of God rightly read, taught, and trusted.

Let me take you back to the summer of 2018. Lisa and I traveled through Dubai to Nepal for the first time, accompanied by three fellow members of my former church, Redeemer Fellowship Church. The trip was in response to an invitation from Dan Pokharel, the Nepali founder of Global Mission Nepal, a church-planting ministry. Dan and I were doctoral students together at Southern Seminary. He often wrote his papers about Nepal, and through them, I came to witness the incredible stories of God’s power in that nation. Over the past few decades, it has felt as though the Book of Acts is being reenacted in Nepal—and Pastor Dan has been at the center of it.

On our last day in Dubai, Lisa and I ventured into the desert—something neither of us had ever done. We joined a small group of strangers for a guided excursion into what I call "the oasis in the desert." Our guide, Hazer, was a kind man from Pakistan who, like many others, had left his family behind to work in the Sheikh’s grand city.

In a world full of chaos, confusion, and suffering, the invitation of Jesus rings out like a healing balm: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). The rest Christ offers is not temporary relief or worldly comfort—it is eternal hope and peace found only through unwavering and humble faith in Him.

Dubai is not a new destination for Lisa and me. We passed through briefly during our first trip to Nepal in 2018, taking the metro during a long layover to catch a glimpse of the city before continuing on to Kathmandu. But to say we had truly been to Dubai would be generous.

These paragraphs chronicles my journey with my wife, Lisa, to Asia. We started in Orlando (which is not Asia). Then, we flew directly to the oasis in the desert, Dubai. After a few days, hop a plane to Kathmandu, Nepal, the home of Mount Everest. We only stayed a moment there, before hitching a ride on Buddha Air to Chitwan, Nepal, which have wild rhinos (a teaser). We will finish our adventure back in Kathmandu. After returning home, we would have traveled 21,632 miles (34,820 kilometers). To put that distance in context, we have traveled nearly 87% of the total distance around the earth.

The Christmas season brings us to moments of reflection—on God’s sovereignty, the trials of life, and His ultimate plan of redemption. One particular Christmas carol, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, with its poignant lyrics, invites us to consider the themes of suffering and waiting. Coupled with the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel, these reflections provide a profound look at God’s faithfulness and grace.

The book of Ruth is one of the most beautiful and redemptive stories in the Bible, nestled between the chaos of Judges and the rise of the Israel’s kings in 1 Samuel. In this week’s Advent devotion, titled “He Who Is Mighty,” Lisa and I focus on the themes of shame, redemption, and God’s unwavering grace on sinners.

Through the lives of Naomi and Ruth, we see how God lifts shame, restores brokenness, and transforms lives. Drawing inspiration from the song “He Who Is Mighty” by Sovereign Grace Music, we reflect on how Christ lifts the shame of through His life and death.

As we continue our Advent reflections, we turn to a cherished hymn, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus," written by Charles Wesley. This beautiful carol, though brief with just two verses, carries profound themes of grace and Christ’s kingship. It reminds us that Christ came into the world to set us free from sin and fear, offering salvation by grace, not by works.