Aug 19
It’s one thing to be given a cancer diagnosis. It’s another matter to be told there is no known cure for that cancer. And it’s a whole other ballgame to learn there’s no recognized effective treatment either. My oncologist, Dr. Marc Hirsh, has been smacked with this reality in the three months since he …
Jun 03
My cousin Jim knows from his years of soaring into hurricanes and typhoons that flying into a storm is extremely dangerous. But as part of a U.S. Air Force weather reconnaissance team, it was his job to help gather weather data so forecasters could better predict a storm’s strength. It was critical, Jim says, …
Mar 18
Why doesn’t God keep little children from getting cancer? Why didn’t God protect that family from the drunk driver? Why did my friend have to bury yet-another spouse? Why did God allow……………..you fill in the blanks. We sometimes struggle with not sensing God’s nearness, not feeling His presence or not seeing His power in the …
Sep 25
Have the trials of life caused you to doubt God? Are you wondering why He hasn’t shown up in answer to your fervent prayers? “Doubt rises up to obscure His presence and disillusionment settles into despair,” writes Dr. James Dobson in When God Doesn’t Make Sense. “The greatest frustration is knowing that (God) created the …
Sep 11
I distinctly remember the last time my family and I went tent camping…and why we never did again after that experience. It was the summer of 1983 and my pastor-husband convinced me that it would be fun for our daughters and me to join him on the youth group camping trip. So I packed up …
Aug 14
As I was reading in the book of Hosea about how God promised to “transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope,” I couldn’t help but think of my friend Lauren. His cancer journey has been an incredible roller coaster with hopes dashed one minute and unexpected new hopes found the next. I hope the …
Jul 31
In those nerve-wracking few days between my diagnosis and my surgery, I announced to my husband, “We need a pastor—and I don’t mean you!” I think he could tell by the distraught look on my face that I was serious, so he called our good friend David Dunn, pastor of a sister church in …
Jun 05
My husband has a serious problem. And what’s worse is the fact he doesn’t even think he has a problem. I have no doubt that when I tell you what his problem is, you’ll be pretty shocked. But perhaps my talking about it in front of hundreds and hundreds of people will help him see …
Mar 27
Tens of millions of people around the country filled out online brackets for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, including twelve in our family. We seven adults are true sports fans and the five grandkids in our group are being properly schooled in bracket lingo, including the art of choosing a cool team name. Heading into …
Nov 07
In honor of November being National Family Caregivers Month, I’d like to offer some special encouragement to all the weary folks who faithfully attend to the needs of loved ones. You’re physically tired. Probably emotionally exhausted. Maybe even running on spiritual fumes. Been there…done that. Way too many times. I’ve cared for relatives with dementia, others …
