Field Notes from author and surgeon Harry Kraus

What gets you up in the morning?

2011-12-12T00:19:00.002-05:00

I've been meditating this week on a verse from John 4 where Jesus tells his disciples, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to do his work." This is my food? What did Jesus mean? This is what nourished Jesus. This is what fed him. This was his sustenance, what fueled his engine, what motivated, compelled, prodded and goaded him. To do his father's will was what turned

Security Concerns

2011-10-25T08:58:00.004-04:00

There has been a lot in the news about this place. My country of residence's army has invaded their neighbors to the north east to try to root out the religious extremist group that has been slipping across the border to spread their reign of terror. So, of course, there have been threats of reprisal. Two attacks in the capital yesterday. Warnings to stay away from public places such as

My Trip to Dadaab

2011-10-04T07:47:00.003-04:00

During the months leading up to our move back to Kenya, Dadaab was frequently in the news. Lately, it has fallen from the front pages, slipping from the attention of western media who are more concerned with Hollywood, which star was seen with whom, who was arrested, and what he or she was wearing. Dadaab. Yawn. Why should we care? Dadaab plays desert host to five camps, home for

That which is truly life.

2011-08-30T01:59:00.002-04:00

I love this phrase from 1Timothy 6:17-19: "that which is truly life." That's the life I want to live, the life that's mine because of my new position as a son of God. But what does it mean? Let's look at the context: "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with

Saying "Goodbye."

2011-08-28T04:07:00.002-04:00

We've just arrived back in Kenya and survived our first week of unpacking, sorting, arranging, and painting. But that's not what's on my mind. I'm thinking about saying, "Goodbye," something we who have chosen to serve far away from family and friends seem to have to do too often. This time around, I've left two sons, my father and two sisters in addition to our friends, those we

In Love's service, only the wounded soldier can serve.

2011-08-04T09:49:00.004-04:00

I want to be in Faith's Hall of Fame but I do not want to inherit the suffering that is my ticket in. Without pain there is no victory. I want to bring God glory, but I don't want to submit to the dizzying effect of the Potter's wheel, the heat of the furnace, or the Carpenter's chisel. I want to be God's voice. I want to laugh and sing. I want to be God's hands. I want to clap. I

Reading makes people happy!

2011-08-01T09:17:00.003-04:00

According to research done at the University of Maryland, reading makes people happy. This question appeared in a poll published in Parade magazine yesterday. 5. Question: If you're sad, which of the following is most likely to cheer you up?[a] Watching reruns of your favorite sitcom[b] Reading a novel[c] Tuning in to the newsAnswer: [b]. People who read often are happier than those who watch

God's BFF?

2011-07-21T22:09:00.003-04:00

I passed a local church with a sign out front today. On one side, it said, "You are God's BFF." On the other side, it said, "Accept God's friend request."Hmmm.I get the current social media references and it all may be true, but something about the messages seemed to trivialize something that's very precious to me. I am God's friend. But He is also Lord of the universe.Does God request our

What would you pack?

2011-07-10T09:32:00.002-04:00

I am leaving for Africa in less than six weeks. Not just for a two-week vacation, but moving back, taking up Kenyan residence and planning to stay for three years.So that means packing. My wife has put out an open action-packer (Rubbermaid container, the perfect maximum size for allowable plane luggage) to periodically add the things we think of that we want to take along....Must have books from

Are you a good liar?

2011-07-08T09:36:00.003-04:00

I ran across this post after an author-friend pointed it out.Take the test. It's fun and may be a little informative.My "Q" pointed to the right. How about yours? Do you think it works?Just a little fun for a Friday!HarryFollow the link to take the test: http://blog.eyesforlies.com/2008/12/friday-fun-q-test.html

The Great Creator of the Grand Canyon

2011-06-13T22:52:00.001-04:00

Why did I wait so long to visit the Grand Canyon? I finally went last month and took the pictures on a hike down from the south rim. I took lots of pictures, but as cliche as it sounds, it's true, "pictures don't do it justice." But they are all I have for illustration, so it will have to do. I get reflective when I'm surrounded by the awesomeness of nature. I think we all are wired this way

Lessons I learned from my mom.

2011-05-14T06:56:00.004-04:00

Picture adapted from "Everything's Coming Up Sock Monkeys!" by Bonnie Kraus Connellyhttp://www.amazon.com/Everythings-Coming-Up-Sock-Monkeys/dp/097903230X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305371031&sr=8-1Here are a few edited comments from the tribute I gave at my mom's memorial service yesterday. Mom was in failing health for some time and her passing, although a sorrow to us, is also a rejoicing

Have Skeleton; need muscle.

2011-04-19T08:26:00.003-04:00

I'm in the initial stages of a new novel. I call it the skeleton stage.I start with a central idea that will carry the meat of the project. The first idea comes with a protagonist, someone who I am determined to get into a lot of trouble before everything is done.The skeleton stage is all about research. I need to elaborate on the central conflict adding muscle (sub-plots, characters, troubled

Writing From the Heart

2011-04-02T20:13:00.001-04:00

Someone a lot smarter than me once said that we write non-fiction to convey information; we write fiction to elicit emotion. I’d like to suggest that the best non-fiction does both: it conveys information by stimulating an emotional response. So look back over the last scene you’ve written in your work in progress. Forget all the little pearls you’ve been taught about limiting

My favorite teachers.

2011-02-28T14:55:00.003-05:00

It was in the late 1990s when I had a humbling conversation with one of my writing heros, Frank Peretti. As an author publishing with the same publishing house (Crossway Books), Frank had been gracious with his time and critiqued a manuscript for me. I remember one of his comments like it was yesterday. "You're breaking the rules, Harry." I leaned forward. "What rules?" He smiled. "Don't

Characters that Resonate

2011-02-14T11:50:00.003-05:00

If you've ever been to music store you've likely seen rooms with dozens of guitars hanging along the walls for display. I love stores like that. A few years ago I bought my dream guitar, a Taylor made of koa wood. If you stand in a quiet room with guitars all around you and strum a chord on just one of the instruments, something interesting will happen. The strings of the guitars around

The Blind Men and the Elephant

2010-12-09T09:17:00.002-05:00

Today, our post-modern, post-Christian culture rejects the Christian's claim that Jesus is the only way to the God and they loudly disdain our views as narrow and exclusive. They argue, "All religions give us insight into some aspect of God. There are many paths, but all eventually lead to heaven."To illustrate this, the story of the blind men examining an elephant is often given. Remember the

Prayer of a Martyred Zimbabwe Pastor

2010-12-08T08:01:00.003-05:00

The picture above is of a mass gravesite in Zimbabwe, an attempt by a poor country to bury the dead from a cholera outbreak. I added the photo only because it helps provide some color to the prayer I've chosen as today's blog post.This prayer was found among the possessions of a Zimbabwe pastor who was martyredfor his faith:I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit

Haikus, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Oxygen, and GRACE!

2010-11-15T06:25:00.003-05:00

The picture is my son, Evan, standing on the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, East Africa, several November's ago. I'd like to tell you a little story about what the earth's tallest freestanding mountain taught me about grace. Teenage boys don’t typically spout Japanese poetry. So when Evan, my seventeen year-old son, started composing haiku, I looked up and laughed

FREE Kindle Kraus novel!!!!

2010-11-01T21:53:00.002-04:00

Hey Readers of this Blog,You can download my novel, Perfect, for FREE right now on Kindle!!!!Check it out. How can you lose? It's FREE.Thanks and tell your friends to try out a new author with no risk.Grace,Harry

Finishing the task of the Great Commission

2010-10-27T17:21:00.003-04:00

I am taking a great class at a local seminary: Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Some stats from my most recent class last night really made me think. Did you know that right now in the world we have 1000 churches for every one unreached people group? (An unreached people group is a population of people bound by the same ethnicity and commonly location who do not have an

Missions Conference this Weekend

2010-10-22T08:20:00.002-04:00

Anyone in the Harrisonburg, Virginia area this coming weekend, join me at Covenant Presbyterian Church for their missions conference. Here's the link:http://www.cov-pres.org/missionconf2010.phpHope to see you there!Harry Lee

Soul Resuscitation

2010-10-21T17:07:00.002-04:00

I often tell people that the non-fiction I write is what I need to read. I certainly don't write from a pedestal, letting all the small people around me in on some wonderful revelation I've had. I write about grace, because I'm a grace recipient and because I need grace every moment. For some time now, I've been talking about the ABCs of soul resuscitation, moving from a need

Meet me in Indiana!

2010-10-03T08:32:00.002-04:00

I'll be at Howard-Miami Mennonite church October 15-17 giving a series of talks on grace! Here's a link to the church. Please join me if you are in the area: http://www.howardmiami.orgHarry

Interview on 700 Club right after my car accident!

2010-10-01T18:58:00.002-04:00

I hydroplaned on the interstate yesterday and totalled my VW bug against the guardrail (I was going backwards down I 81!). I was on my way to do a TV interview on "Domesticated Jesus."Here's a link to the interview I did just a few short hours after my accident. By the way, I was uninjured!http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/vod/700Clubi_100110_WSGrace to you. I hope you enjoy the

Ask a general surgeon!

2010-09-30T21:03:00.003-04:00

If anyone has a question for a general surgeon (relating to surgery), now's your chance!Rules: Confidentiality has to be preserved. No names (of patients) allowed.I have general surgery experience in North America and in Africa. No surgery question is off limits, but I reserve the right to say, "I don't know."Just ask your question in the comment section below.Grace,Dr. Kraus

How much of you is in your characters?

2010-09-27T16:48:00.003-04:00

I'm often asked this question about my protagonists. How much of you is in this character?Hmmm. I have never modeled a character after myself, but a few similarities do exist.Many of my protagonists are surgeons. I'm a surgeon, so when I'm thinking of stories, it is natural for me to think about cutters.I find my characters drinking coffee. Often, they let the first cup drip straight into the mug

Turning 50

2010-09-08T12:20:00.002-04:00

It's almost official. I'm turning fifty tomorrow. Nope, I'm not going to hide it. In fact, I kind of like it. They say fifty is the new forty. Sounds like something someone who hates getting older would say. What I say is that it arrived too fast and that it kind of just snuck up on me and whereas fifty used to sound ancient, now that I'm here, it doesn't really sound that old at all.

What's in your best Bum Glue recipe?

2010-08-16T11:44:00.002-04:00

See my new blog on Bum Glue by following this link: http://internationalchristianfictionwriters.blogspot.com/Harry

Longing for home...but knowing I'm called to go.

2010-08-12T09:53:00.003-04:00

I love the New Living Translation's rendering of 1Peter 1:17: "...live your time as temporary residents on earth..." Moving. Change. Pulling up roots, breaking relationships, forming and reforming friendships. Setting up a household here, then packing it all up and starting over again in Africa. All of these things have been part of our lives in the past decade as we first gave up our

middle age mom rap for Christ

2010-08-07T09:06:00.001-04:00

Check this out. This sister has an amazing gift. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJI-gswqfuQEnjoy,Harry

comments

2010-07-22T08:44:00.002-04:00

So sorry to all of you who posted comments recently on this blog! I was being spammed by some program that would leave comments using an Asian language font and when you clicked on it, it would take you to some very undesirable internet sites. For this reason, I changed so I cold moderate the comments and publish only what I thought was acceptable. Unfortunately (not being the most

Writing from the heart.

2010-07-21T17:34:00.001-04:00

Read guest posting on Charlotte's blog:http://charlottehunt.wordpress.comHave a great day,Harry

How He Loves Us - Kim Walker / Jesus Culture

2010-07-10T10:46:00.000-04:00

Clay pots

2010-07-10T10:20:00.003-04:00

Summer is rolling on hot and moist in Virginia, a good excuse to stay by the air conditioner and read a good book. For those of you who have been with me for a while, you'll notice some common themes that come out over and over in this blog: God loves us in our imperfect state (in fact, wretched would be a better adjective here). Our imperfections can be celebrated (not our sin, but our

'Domesticated Jesus' by Harry L. Kraus Jr.

2010-06-20T19:37:00.000-04:00

A look back, a look ahead...

2010-06-13T10:12:00.003-04:00

For those of you who have been with me from the beginning, I'm reposting my first blog from June, 2008. I think it's fitting, to see how my ideas have been developed from that first blog. I spoke of domesticating Christ, of making him small, and this week, my newest book about that very topic is hitting the shelves. Here's a look back at where I started. Let's continue to remember that we are

What is happening to the youth in the American church?

2010-06-10T08:47:00.004-04:00

There is concerning new news about our "churched" youth. According to a recent survey by Lifeway Christian Resources, "...seven in 10 Protestants ages 18-30, both evangelical and mainline, who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23. And 34% of those had not returned, even by age 30." (USA Today, Tuesday, April 27, 2010)From a phone survey released in April,

"The Rules" of writing

2010-05-03T08:50:00.003-04:00

I was the published author of four novels when I had a conversation like this with a well-known author who had read one of my novels for endorsement. Published author with MILLIONS of books in print: "Harry, you're breaking the rules here a bit." I leaned a little closer and lowered my voice. I didn't want everyone to know about my ignorance. "What rules are you talking

Cover musing

2010-04-09T12:51:00.003-04:00

I forgot to ask. Who is this model? Michelle Obama? Phylicia Rashad? (Remember Claire Huxtable from the Cosby Show) What do you think? Who is this?

New Book this week!

2010-04-09T09:08:00.006-04:00

It is finally here. The Six-Liter Club released this week on April 6. This baby has been a long time coming. I wrote the original version in 2003 during my first year in Kenya. Written initially under a different pen name for the secular market, when my agent shopped my alter-ego around, alas, the novel had too much Christian content for the secular market. But my protagonist, who is an

Things I think about while weeding...

2010-04-05T09:04:00.003-04:00

I love the Spring. Warm weather has finally graced Virginia and after a record-setting winter, it is time to get outdoors again. But Spring means I need to tackle the outside projects that have been idle and ignored. So Saturday, I spent hours weeding the shrubbery bed at the end of my driveway. The temperature was just about perfect and so I honkered down for the hours it would take to pull

What do you have in your hand?

2010-03-12T08:44:00.002-05:00

I've been reading a great book lately, The Hole in our Gospel, by Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision. It is a challenging read, something I'd recommend to all Christians. Basically Stearn's premise is this: The Gospel is a lot bigger than a get-out-of-hell-free card; it is about redeeming us, and also helping us redeem culture around us, specifically by reaching out to those

What It's like To Be An Author

2010-02-26T07:39:00.002-05:00

I spent three hours yesterday (three different class periods) as the guest lecturer in a high school English class. It was their chance to talk to a real author and my chance to rub shoulders with some great young teens who have their own preconceived ideas about what being a writer of novels is all about. I showed them a slide of rhino grazing a few feet away from me, not bothered by my

Writing update

2010-02-17T20:21:00.002-05:00

What are you working on? Are you still writing? Any new books in the works?The answer, as it always has been since the early 1990s is the same. I'm always writing. Not always physically hitting the keyboard, but always thinking, always plotting. It's been a few years since I signed a new fiction contract, a two book deal with Howard (division of Simon and Schuster) for the books, Salty Like

LOST IN PARIS!

2010-02-03T11:16:00.004-05:00

I want to tell you about Bob. Bob isn't worth much in the eyes of a discerning public. He's never held a job, never wrote a poem, isn't much of a conversationalist and he can't bake a casserole for a church pot-luck. He doesn't come from money, he has a pot-belly and he has bad complexion and doesn't put much effort into personal hygiene. Nonetheless, Bob became quite precious to our

No faith? An excuse, but not a good one.

2010-01-08T08:59:00.003-05:00

Have you ever heard someone bemoan that they just didn't have any faith? Or not enough faith to do something they knew they needed to do, or to stop doing something they knew was wrong? Usually, it comes in the form of an excuse for bad behavior or an excuse for doubting. Or in the circumstance of a Christian who is struggling to believe he or she is loved by God or is forgiven for some past

What it's like being married to me

2009-11-22T13:57:00.002-05:00

OK, this is a blog that’s long overdue. Overdue, but appropriate on this day, a few days in front of a day of thanks, a day set apart to say “thank you” to God for his provision in our lives. How many times has my wife had to endure hearing questions from those of you not privy to an inside look at my life? Too many. The questions come in some variation of this

April Release: The Six-Liter Club

2009-11-18T20:22:00.003-05:00

I was sitting in a Sunday morning service listening to my pastor, Phil Smuland tell a story. Ever notice how everyone perks up when preachers do that? (OK, digressing early...) Anyway, he told a fascinating story about a missionary family living in the Congo during the Simba rebellion in 1964 (Simbas were revolting against the new government that had obtained freedom from Belgium not so long

Get to versus Have to

2009-11-15T14:01:00.002-05:00

Last week, I was in a "creative access" country. That's mission-speak for a Muslim country with laws against evangelism or conversion.Our involvement there began a few years ago when I visited with a director of a secular NGO and asked the dean of a small struggling medical school if he could use the help of a team of medical doctors who could give lectures, do operative cases and make rounds

What it takes to be a master writer

2009-10-17T08:35:00.003-04:00

Fellow writer Mary DeMuth has posted an interesting article @ http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/what-it-takes-to-become-a-master-writer.htmlIn her blog "What it Takes To Be A master Writer" Mary answers a question fielded by most published authors.And Mary tells the grinding truth about improving the craft, the answer listeners steeped in an instant-gratification world don't want to hear: 10,000

"I thought you were a woman!"

2009-10-09T20:53:00.002-04:00

OK, I'll admit to a little vanity. I often look at what people are reading in public places, like in airports when they are waiting around for a flight. I dream of someday seeing someone actually reading a Harry Kraus novel so I could sneak up and ask them what they are reading.Well, it actually happened to me....once. But the person's response wasn't what I was expecting.A few years ago, I was

If you want your evangelism program to fail, read this.

2009-09-25T12:04:00.003-04:00

If you want your evangelism program to fail, read this. Programs with a focus on converting the lost, however well-intended, are going to fail. In our post-modern culture (and all around the globe where pre-modernism and modernism is still in vogue for that matter), recipients of evangelistic efforts are savvy enough to know when they are being targeted for conversion. And the natural impulse

Never Forget!

2009-09-11T16:52:00.003-04:00

On the morning of September 10, 2001 my wife and oldest son discussed the plans for the day. Should they visit the twin towers on the 10th or the 11th? After some debate, they decided to visit on the 10th, never knowing that they would be some of the last tourists to ever set foot on the top of the towers. That evening, as we sat watching the pouring rain in Yankee stadium, we ate

Workin'!

2009-08-15T14:51:00.002-04:00

Is there anything more "Christian" than work? I'm not talking about the hum-drum 9 to 5 stuff, but old-fashioned work that we consider working for God. Teaching, preaching, volunteer work, disaster relief work, vacation Bible school, after school programs, nursery duty....the list could go on infinitum. And sometimes, especially for the foreign missionary, it seems it does! I've been thinking

God loves you-part 2

2009-08-08T18:17:00.002-04:00

God loves us. This is an explosive, life-altering message. But how human to not believe it, or to allow our thoughts to cascade into a thousand other self-demeaning directions. How dare we call unlovely what he has loved with the price of the cross! Yes, God loves us--unconditionally, totally, genuinely. But his love is not a wispy or wimpy "because I love you I will never hassle you about

God loves you.

2009-07-28T12:19:00.002-04:00

I've been rereading something I wrote a few years ago and wanted to share it with you. It comes from my book, "The Cure." Concerning the truth that God loves me.... The effect of the simple yet profound truth that God loves me is huge. Within the confidence of his love, there is no need for worry. I no longer need to impress anyone. There is no need for despair over my circumstances

A challenge by Francis Chan

2009-07-10T23:47:00.000-04:00

I would like three pounds of God.

2009-06-15T13:00:00.002-04:00

I ran across this poem:I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please.Not enough or explode my soul or disturb my sleep,But just enough to equal a cup of warm milk, or a snooze in the sunshine.I don’t want enough of Him to make me love a black man, or pick beets with a migrant worker.I want ecstasy, not transformation.I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth.I want a pound of the

The unforced rhythms of grace!

2009-05-30T10:43:00.000-04:00

What was it about Jesus that men were willing to follow him to their deaths? Was he harsh? Sometimes, yes, particularly to religious hypocrites. Was he honest? Brutally so. “You’ve had five husbands…” Did he expect sacrifice? Risk? “If anyone would follow me let him take up his cross…” But it was not these apparent hard things that defined him. We know

What happens when we see God?

2009-05-26T13:22:00.002-04:00

I heard Del Tackett (www.deltackett.com) expound Isaiah 6:1-8 and he makes three points in response to my question. I want to expound on them here. First, let's recap the first few verses from Isaiah 6: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings:

A Preposterous "Gospel"

2009-05-01T13:38:00.003-04:00

Maybe you've seen the ads on TV where a question is asked, "What if roadies ran the world?" or one of the variations on the theme. Well, today, I'm asking, "What if humans invented the gospel?" What would it look like if I got to make all the choices. Would I dare suggest qualities of a desired Savior in a personal ad?Wanted: One Savior, attractive, wind-blown hair, funny, personable,

Domesticated Jesus

2009-04-17T12:35:00.003-04:00

I'm excited about a new project. This week I received a contract offer for a new non-fiction book, "Domesticated Jesus." It will be published by P&R. Here's a sample, the introduction. Here's your chance to give me feedback in an early stage before it comes out in print. Thanks. Here's the intro:Introduction: Domesticating the Lord of the Universe “DJ.” I might as well call him this,

Coffee is good for you!

2009-04-10T09:35:00.002-04:00

OK, some of you would expect something very spiritual out of me this weekend. After all, Easter weekend is the pinnacle of our faith. And by posting this now, I am in no way making light of the awesomeness of the Easter holiday.But, I've just found out some great news about my favorite morning beverage....coffee.You might think that a missionary might be the most tolerant,

Decisions, decisions: Am I called to Africa?

2009-04-04T08:33:00.004-04:00

I never really thought I'd be at this place at this time in my life. Here I am, a few years shy of fifty, but feeling a bit unsettled, wondering about the proper direction in my professional life.The background: I finished surgery training and joined a very successful surgical practice in 1991. I worked that job, falling into step comfortably with the perks that go with it. I had the country

Salty Like Blood- Launch experiment

2009-03-30T07:51:00.002-04:00

OK, a HUGE thank you to those of you who purchased my new novel from amazon.com on the launch day, March 24. Did it work? Only time will tell if it has a lasting result. Over the short term, here's what happened. At five o'clock, "Salty Like Blood" was ranked over 11,000. By a little after six, it had climbed as high as 133! There are so many amazon categories. In the religious/mystery

Free book for your help!

2009-03-23T16:09:00.003-04:00

OK, I've never been much into the self-promotion scene. It has always felt a little greasy. That said, when you know something is a work of grace in your life (like the ability to write a good story), promoting it should bring glory to the ultimate source, that is, my loving Father. So, here's the deal: I want to give away a few free books. My new novel, "Salty Like Blood" launches

New Novel Q&A

2009-03-07T08:38:00.002-05:00

OK, I thought a new format for this blog might be fun. Below is a list of reader questions for my upcoming novel, Salty Like Blood which will be released on March 24, 2009.· How did you come up with the concept for this story? I was initially intrigued with the idea of whether a parent could forgive a man for abducting/killing his or her child. I envisioned a scene where the parent and

Facebook friends. So 2009!

2009-02-24T17:39:00.003-05:00

OK, I've finally relented to the pressure. Last week, I joined up. I actually made a facebook account. My editor at Howard has been telling me that I needed to do this to communicate with readers, other writers etc. So I've started. I even listed my relationship status: "Married to Kris". My oldest son sent me an email saying that he was glad that our relationship is now "official".

Salty Like Blood

2009-02-11T15:08:00.005-05:00

Readers often wonder about the ins and outs of the publishing business. What goes on behind the scenes? How did you get a book contract? Did you write the novel before or after the contract was signed? The process may be different for each novel. My upcoming release with Simon and Schuster (Howard Books), Salty Like Blood is the first of a two-book deal. For over a year, my agent,

Warren invocation: Inclusively exclusive!

2009-01-25T10:12:00.002-05:00

For those of you who watched Rick Warren's invocation at Obama's inauguration, I wanted to add my two cents. And publicly thank Pastor Warren for praying in the name of Jesus.Too often, Christians have shied away from praying in this way, not wanting to offend members of other faiths. While Christians believe it is proper to approach God in prayer in the name of Jesus, that concluding phrase is

Race you to the bottom!

2009-01-10T09:40:00.002-05:00

I read something today from the book, "Gospel Transformation." "Christianity is a race--to the bottom." There is a lot of depth (pardon the pun) in that statement. But what a great reminder for me as I start out in a new year. The kingdom that has captured me is a kingdom of paradoxes. My weakness is where I find his strength. In self-reliance, I find frustration and lack of fruit.

Walking in GRACE

2008-12-19T08:05:00.002-05:00

OK, I want to continue what I began the last time, contrasting walking in the spirit (WITS) with walking in the flesh (WITF). For brevity sake, I'll just use S for WITS and F for WITF. Thanks to Linda and Rosie who added their own versions!Here's a few more of mine:F: Wages S: GraceF: Works S: FaithF: Doing S: BeingF: I can S: I can'tF: Focus on sin S: Focus on the

I don't have any boots!

2008-12-13T15:40:00.003-05:00

Wow. My whirlwind trip to Kenya and back is over. In many ways, it felt like a homecoming. I was back in Kijabe, where I served as a missionary surgeon for four years. Seeing old friends and making a few new ones was an undeserved joy.Undeserved joy. The essence of grace. Which, of course, brings me back to the topic of my message series: GRACE!It was so much fun to nudge fellow believers

Update

2008-12-01T08:02:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone and my boys are heading back to school. I'm off on an adventure myself, leaving this morning for a quick trip to Kenya, back to Kijabe, my home for most of the last five years. I'm officially on a trip to give a series of talks on GRACE (based on my book, "Breathing Grace: What You Need More Than Your Next Breath"), but the fun will be reconnecting with so many

How to be thankful CONTINUOUSLY

2008-11-27T09:34:00.002-05:00

It's a great day for me, folks. I love this time of year. The leaves are changing. There is a briskness to the air that stirs body and soul. I particularly love this time of year because my sons and family are home for a short visit, and with them come friends and a full house, busting at the seams...an appropriate setting for thanksgiving. I awoke this morning to the wonderful smell of

Walking in the Spirit-2: Winning the battle over sin

2008-11-14T15:12:00.001-05:00

In reading Romans eight, we gain more insight into just what Paul means by walking according to the Spirit. He says,“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”Romans 8:5-6

Walking in the Spirit-1

2008-11-12T17:47:00.002-05:00

I've been preparing a series of lectures on grace and wanted to put a few of my thoughts out here on the net for my readers. Walking in grace is all about walking in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit: Oh great, another phrase that we’ve spiritualized until no one seems sure what Paul was talking about. What is walking by the Spirit? We envision a holy-man of sorts, eyes fixed on the clouds,

The Bridge...awesome!

2008-10-28T07:47:00.002-04:00

You have to watch this video. Be prepared to cry. Look at the faces of those who were saved....and they knew nothing of the sacrifice that bought their safety. Amazing and heart warming: http://www.maximumreferrals.com/videos/bridge/bridge.htm

Read this before voting for Mr. Obama

2008-10-27T08:09:00.003-04:00

OK, this election really seems to be whipping up the emotions, doesn't it? For many Christians, the issues surrounding the fundamental right to life is paramount. Yet I hear of Christians who are willing to cast a vote for Obama and I am puzzled. How can we compromise on this issue and sacrifice the innocent in the womb? It is clear that God knows us and loves us even before birth. When

Choosing death over life

2008-10-14T10:09:00.002-04:00

A drowning sailor claws at the surface of the water, gasping, fearful, crying out for help. A life line is deployed and is within easy reach, but the sailor turns away, preferring to fight on his own. Exhausted, he slips into the hungry darkness of the ocean. Starving, a man is escorted to a banquet table laden with food. With life-saving nutrition within easy reach, he willfully and

Check this out!

2008-10-02T11:38:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to let my readers know about an interview that has appeared on Crossway Books' blog site. It's all about my newest non-fiction book, "The Cure." Check out this address: http://www.crossway.org/blog/2008/10/interview-with-author-and-surgeon-dr-harry-kraus/Happy surfing!

Christian writers: What is our calling?

2008-10-01T14:27:00.003-04:00

I was listening to a Christian teacher a few weeks ago. "Why did Jesus come?" Many answers were given. "To save us." "To seek and save the lost." "To free those in bondage to sin." All of these answers and more were rejected. They were good answers, to be sure, but not exactly what the teacher was getting at. The specific answer is found in Jesus comment to Pilate recorded in John

Domesticated Jesus

2008-09-15T10:39:00.002-04:00

“DJ.” I might as well call him this, because effectively I’ve reduced the creator and master of the universe down into a concept so small I’ve nicknamed him. Domesticated Jesus. It’s a horrible name really, and my use of it hardly reflects his worth. But to say it, to write it here is so shocking that perhaps that’s the point after all. What we’re doing, unconsciously to a large part, is to

How will I be remembered?

2008-09-08T09:42:00.002-04:00

Mary DeMuth is a wonderful Christian writer and speaker. She recently told this story to our writer's group and I wanted to share it with you here. I've changed the names (other than Mary's) to preserve the family's privacy.A few hours ago, I heard of a friend's passing. He was a little over my age.From the time he was diagnosed with cancer until the time of his death was afew days shy of two

Politics unusual

2008-09-06T15:02:00.002-04:00

This week we've seen some politics as usual and also some of the unusual. Senator McCaine's surprise pick for his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin was little known outside Alaska, but is making a huge splash across the US.I'll let you make up your own mind, but I have been prompted to pray for Sarah Palin. I believe she is a Christian: please see this video of her speaking at the Assembly of God

Transition back from Kenya

2008-08-16T14:50:00.003-04:00

We're back in the US, but where do I belong?It's a tough question, but only one of the difficulties facing returning missionaries.We find few people who understood the world we came from. They mean well, but their questions reveal how little they know about Kenya and the people.And I find that even though I've made this transition a few times, some things strike me as so wonderful....and so

Jesus Vaccine

2008-08-11T08:22:00.002-04:00

Most of you are familiar with the concept of vaccination. You give an altered, maybe even dead version of a virus to a person so that they will develop immunity (virus protection) in the form of antibodies. That way when the person is exposed to the real virus, the antibodies attack and they repel the real invader. Well, I've been thinking about a new concept, the "Jesus Vaccine."Some people

worship with a Kleenex

2008-07-27T14:53:00.003-04:00

I attended a memorial service for Ben yesterday, a service that served both as a worship event and a time to reflect on the extraordinary life of young Ben Entwistle. I'm having trouble dislodging an image from the service from my mind. It's something that I will cherish for some time.As we sang, a woman a few rows ahead of me lifted her hand in a gesture of worship. In her hand was a crumpled

Tribute to Ben Entwistle

2008-07-16T08:24:00.002-04:00

I wrote about Ben in my book "Breathing Grace" telling the story of Ben's struggle with endocarditis in 2003. Ben was a rising junior at Covenant college, a member of the varsity soccer team. We remember Ben as a sensitive, caring young man with an infectious zeal for life. I watched him play rugby at the RVA alumni game two weekends ago and Ben never gave less than 100%. Ben died this week

Rift Valley Academy Commencement Message

2008-07-14T05:22:00.002-04:00

OK, I was invited to give a challenge to the graduating seniors at RVA on July 12 and this is what I said: I’d like to welcome our guests, RVA staff and administration, families of our graduates. Mortals from the class of 2008, congratulations. You made it. A story is told of two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and

How BIG is Jesus?

2008-07-04T01:22:00.002-04:00

I'm going to say something crazy. I think my Jesus is way too small. WHAT?? Offensive statement, I know, but hear me out. I'm not talking about the real Jesus when I say he's too small, just the inadequate image of him that I'm acting as if exists. Let's start with the facts. I know from John chapter one that Jesus ("the Word") was present from the beginning of time and was the

Blogging Ground Rules

2008-06-29T19:54:00.002-04:00

The time has come to write the first blog for my newly designed website, so I thought I'd lay down the ground rules so there are no misunderstandings about my intentions. Maybe if you see a little bit about who I am, you'll understand where I'm coming from in this ongoing narrative and I won't have to say, "I warned you."I'm a Christian. Might not be popular, but that's who I am. Called.