Christine Jeske (prof at Wheaton) sent me a prerelease copy of her book before the holidays. Since today is the actual release day, it seemed like a good day to get started with my afternoon coffee. After reading one chapter, I can say, “This is going to be a good one!”

Our multilingual God! ¡Nuestro Dios multilingüe! open.substack.com/pub/jamescha...

Kingdom Innovation open.substack.com/pub/jamescha...

I read a lot, but here are the authors that I've read 3 or more of their books (in alphabetical order): *Conn *Gladwell *Godin *Goheen *Grisham *Eswine *Ferguson *Frame *Keller *Kotter *Lewis *Newbigin *Perkins *Peterson *Sauls *Schein *Stott *C Wright *T Wright *Yancey

"A good system of government should be workable both if Christians are in the majority and if Christians are in the minority, so that Christians are free to practice their faith in either scenario." ~ Drew Martin, referencing the ideas of Francis J. Grimké

How are you celebrating?

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” ~ Mother Teresa

My charge to the 2025 Thirdmill Seminary graduates open.substack.com/pub/jamescha...

A visit to Orlando means a visit to BrightLight books

"There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue." ~ Eugene Peterson (A Long Obedience in the Same Direction)

~Rich McCaskill

My “Read Soon” stack of books 😂😂😂

It’s been years since I’ve been to #PCAGA - it was great to see so many old friends. As I reflect on the time, I was really encouraged by the MNA lunch and so thankful for the leadership of Irwyn Ince. Yes, there are serious problems in the PCA but God is at work!

“Good news is better than good arguments” ~ Anonymous

I picked this up again after several years and have been reading a couple of chapters each morning I find myself surprised by scripture again and again as Wright’s translation catches my attention It’s been a good change from my normal ESV/NIV/CSB rotation

Help your people dream!

"When a church looks diverse on the outside, it's often because the gospel is central."

"When we imagine love as directed toward us and yet hold back from loving others, we have failed to dwell in love."

UPDATE: More than 5,000 homes were impacted, and 38 people were injured after an EF3 tornado tore across St. Louis. via @stlpublicradio.bsky.social

New magazine came in the mail today. What magazines do you subscribe to?

I read Psalm 121 this morning which reminded me of Uncle Ken He was an Indian man in London whom I visited many times in the hospital before his passing. He always wanted me to read Ps 121 to him Thank you Uncle Ken for reminding me again that our help comes from the Lord (vs2)

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” ~ Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy

I’m going to miss Nairobi’s ChiQ Japanese Restaurant for the rest of 2025 😭😭😭

The local church should "become an academy where people throng from the surrounding community to learn how to live." ~ Dallas Willard, "The Spirit of the Disciplines"

Back in NBO!

From my perspective, you know who really let Pete Hegs*th down? His pastor, who did not advise him to decline a taking a position for which he was lucidly unqualified. Then again, if you know that denomination, no real surprise there.

"Knowledge devoid of love and of power to edify, when we look at it more nearly, is not even true knowledge." ~ Frédéric Louis Godet, 1889

If you're in Bujumbura, Burundi, please join us!

The newest issue of the "Journal of Sociology and Christianity" is out with several interesting articles. sociologyandchristianity.org/index.php/js...

I've been taking morning walks along the Kenyan railway line, which has been good for the body and the soul!

"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God." ~ John Stott

Absolute Cinema!

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight" ~ John 18:36a The Kingdom of God does impact this world, but the methods employed for advancement are vastly different from the ways of the world Don't fall for cheap counterfeit methodology!

Greg @gregoryrperry and I are at a pastors’ gathering in a community on the edge of Nairobi - Greg teaching now on the work of the church @thirdmill @ThirdmillSem

A reminder that if the government can send migrants to a prison camp without any due process, it can send U.S. citizens there, too. I know because this happened to me and my family in 1942.

Turkish tea in Nairobi? Yes, please!

It’s a reunion of MrsHatch’s Nairobi church youth group from the ‘80s - we’re now all in our ‘50s & ‘60s 😂😂😂

Christianity does not look like praying, singing, and giving money while ignoring the screams, unspeakable suffering, filth, and death of others. Christianity is not calling others *them*—somehow unlike us, not human, and deserving of their suffering.

Can someone point me to a "real economist" - not a talking head - who has written a positive article on Trump's new tariffs? All I'm reading is negative, and, as a non-economist, I'd like to read the other side

Today’s my final day of teaching in Tanzania - what a joyful two weeks it has been as the students have been hungry to understand the four Gospels on a deeper level