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Written by Ryan Showalter, director of Discipleship Ministries
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 I’m not sure how many of you are sports fans, but I am. I follow my regular teams and enjoy watching their games. Now it looks like the Philadelphia Eagles will be playing their rival, the New York Giants, without one of their star receivers from last year. Last November, according to news accounts, Plaxico Burress accidently shot himself in the leg while carrying a loaded gun in his pants. |
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Written by Ryan Showalter, director of Discipleship Ministries
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The rooster was still calling the sun as the man spread out his sheet in his favorite spot in the town square. He neatly placed his last fresh mangoes in perfect little pyramids and expectantly waited for the sales to begin. But after a few hours, his belly began to rumble and remind him that it was lunch time. With disappointment he realized he did not have money to buy even a meager lunch from his friend’s stand across the market, since not a single mango had sold. |
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Written by Ryan Showalter, director of Discipleship Ministries
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On December 2, 2006, Ryan’s wife, Jenni, suffered her first seizure of many. Since that time they have been on a long journey of uncertainties, medications, doctor visits, and hospital stays. During her last hospital stay this May, Jenni had two brain surgeries within a three-week period. A section of her brain that was thought to be causing her seizures was removed. Now the Showalters are in a waiting pattern to see if the surgery was successful. Read more from Ryan’s journal entry of May 28, 2008. |
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Written by Ryan Showalter, director of Discipleship Ministries
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Ryan remembers a time in college when he complained about the lack of spirituality he saw in some of his classmates. But his "judgement" was called into question by his professor.
Can spirituality be graded? Probably not. But a life of discipleship requires constant learning and growing. |
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Written by Ryan Showalter, director of Discipleship Ministries
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The sound of wind drowns out the radio, and gives Ryan a moment of realizing that his heart is full of angst.
Can we be honest with where we are, even in the midst of our struggles? Can we be honest about how difficult it is to be a servant? |
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