Taormina was our final stop on our two-week journey through Sicily. We had looked forward to visiting this beautiful town, especially the ancient Greek Theatre, Isola Bella, and the hilltop village of Castelmola. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. It rained much of the time, and we never made it to Isola Bella or Castelmola. … Continue reading A Prayer That Connected Two Continents (Matthew 5:16)

Just a month before we visited Mount Etna in Sicily, the volcano had erupted, with lava flowing down its slopes. I wondered what it would be like to stand on an active volcano so soon after an eruption. We took a cable car partway up the mountain and then continued in a specially equipped vehicle … Continue reading What Lies Beneath the Surface? (1 Samuel 16:7)

During our recent trip to Sicily, we spent a day visiting three beautiful towns: Noto, Ragusa, and Modica. Each had magnificent Baroque churches, ornate facades, towering columns, and beautifully decorated interiors. After visiting so many churches throughout Sicily, I wondered what made these three towns so special. I soon discovered that they shared something remarkable. … Continue reading When the Earth Shakes, Will You? (2 Corinthians 4:8–9)

We had not even boarded our flight to Sicily when our son had a seizure. We were sitting in the airport lounge. He had three previously documented episodes and had recently been diagnosed with a focal seizure disorder. He had been taking medication for about a month, but neither my wife nor I had ever … Continue reading Letting My Guard Down (Deuteronomy 8:10–11)