For years, my career revolved around sports teams, facilities, and contests. One of my favorite parts of that chapter was the early mornings at the outdoor facilities. As the sun rises, it bounces off the dew that clings to blades of grass on the meticulously manicured playing surface. A clean crisp breeze pushes across the field as the birds chirp in the background. What would later be filled with athletes and fans was now tranquil and peaceful. In these moments, I can recall being grateful for God’s creation. A feeling of awe would overtake me as I realize how small I am in this world. A feeling of gratitude followed as I realized that God intimately knows me and loves me. Even the hairs on our head are individually known to God (Matt 10:30). Those who love God are known by God (1 Cor 8:3). There is no place we can hide from God (Heb 4:13). We are known by our creator. Take a moment to pause. Soak in God’s beautiful creation surrounding you. In all of His majesty, yo
In this country, I think we take freedom for granted. Most of us have never known anything but freedom. We can typically come and go as we please. We can pursue the dreams we envision. We live in a country that provides us significant freedom. For the seafarers we serve at Anchor House, freedom takes on a life of its own. Freedom to leave the ship depends upon visas, shorepasses, duration of stay in port, and the decisions of ships owners, management, and captains. There are many factors that can impact a seafarer's ability to get off of a ship and have the freedom to move about. February 20, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The term freedom drastically changed for the Russian and Ukrainian seafarers we serve. They found themselves restricted and could no longer enjoy shoreleave at our port. Meanwhile their colleagues from other countries were able to visit Anchor House or travel to town for shopping while their ships were in port. While their countries waged war and live