Dear Family & Friends, It was a sad and smiling week around Imago Dei Community. The sadness came from losing Terry Shoman, our 52 year old financial staff officer, to a massive heart attack. The smiling came from the very same person. He never stopped smiling and he laughed at your jokes. His brother, Mark, [...]

Family and Friends, The Kigali Kompletion team going to Rwanda sponsored a seven hour Bible marathon covering Luke and Acts. The Kigali team will be using the Gospel of Luke as their ministry book. When we were not reading were praying for one of the team members. Each Kigali member read the passage they would [...]

Family & Friends, It was a difficult week at Multnomah that included the hospitalization of Muriel Cook. Norm and Muriel Cook have deep roots at MU and Muriel still counsels our students on campus. This week her blood pressure and pulse went too high and she was admitted to Providence Hospital. The God of all [...]

Family & Friends, Last time I recommended writing down everything you are doing and its time investment. Then pick people who care about you and have them suggest their top three cuts. I’ve listened to the men of Aslan’s How and here is my new lighter, leaner, stripped down, unburdened schedule as a result. CUTS/REDUCTIONS: [...]

Family & Friends, Both time and money are limited, but I tell students that they have time and money for what they most want to do. But sometimes we need a little friendly help. Ever feel like you have more stuff to do than you have time for stuff? Every several years I list everything [...]

Dear Family & Friends, What comes to your mind when you hear Rwanda? For many the movie “Hotel Rwanda” introduced them to the horror known as the 1994 Rwandan genocide. But few know the story of God’s work in Rwanda during the last 20 years. Today, it is safer to walk through the streets of [...]

Family & Friends, Our leaders and the prayer team met several times in December to offer an audacious prayer. We know that buildings near downtown Portland cost millions of dollars. So in some of our prayers, we asked God for a free building big enough for 2,000 people and dozens of ministries. Our motivation was [...]

Family & Friends, The very first Friesen Fortnightly went out over ten years ago on March 15, 2000. My friend Alex and I concocted the idea of a book It would select some of the best of these blogs for a book. Soon the idea grew and included art work from Cliff, an Imago Dei [...]

Family & Friends, World Magazine’s “Special Year-End Issue” always includes, “Departures”. This is a euphemism for “Deaths”, but has precedent in Simeon’s “Now let your servant depart in peace” (Luke 2:29). For me, these were the ones of note. They reminded me of Paul’s words, “Follow me where I follow Christ.” Or “Don’t follow me, [...]

Family and Friends, This was first sent Dec. 29, 2007, but it is perfect for the Advent season. This is our church’s sixth time for “Advent Conspiracy” The radio announcer asked, “Do you remember what you got last Christmas?” His answer was a bigger more expensive gift this year. Our church answered “Buy a well [...]