Jul 11
There are certain “encouraging” phrases spoken to people going through difficulties which drive me nuts. “It’s all gonna work out.” (So you have a crystal ball and can see my future?) “I’m sure everything’s going to be fine.” (Because nothing bad ever happens to nice people?!) “Just take it one day at a time.” (Thanks, I’d rather …
Jun 20
It was the end of September 1960 and my family had recently moved from Mansfield, Ohio, to Riverside, California. I had loved first-grade in Ohio, but apparently was “bored’ in second grade in the Golden State. My mother said I usually came home after school, didn’t want to talk about anything and then threw …
Jun 06
I just needed to hang in there until May 31. I knew April and May would be ridiculously busy with extensive traveling, speaking engagements, ministering to cancer patients/caregivers, serving on faculty at writing conferences, milestone family celebrations, and teaching discipleship classes. But I just had to make it until May 31 and then my …
Mar 07
One of our church’s pastors, Matt, and his wife Carrie have been living in the shadow of cancer since December 2009, when their oldest child, Ian, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia at the age of 3 ½ . Matt vividly recalls the moment the doctor gave them the diagnosis. “Acute leukemia were not …
Jan 03
My 3-year-old granddaughter Abby is not the world’s best sleeper. She’s not the worst either, but definitely not as good as her brothers, ages 1 and 5. In fact she’s quite the master of “stalling” at bedtime and/or “needing” things in the middle of the night. You may be familiar with the toddlers’ universal …
Oct 05
The world is so stressful right now, I thought I would post a little humor coupled with a little encouragement today. Enjoy the hilarious Seinfeld clip, the challenging “revised” Serenity Prayer, the inspiring original version, the peaceful Serenity Prayer Project music video and experience some “Serenity Now!” The Original Prayer as …
Aug 30
I know those of you who read this blog have many prayers on your heart. Prayers for yourself and prayers for those you love. The song below is more than a wish–it’s my prayer for you, not just today, but every day. It’s an “old” song I love by …
Jul 12
A Cancer Patient’s Prayer for Healing (Ed. note–substitute any disease/trial for “cancer.”) Father God, I choose to believe that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. I believe that you healed people in the Bible, that you have healed people in history since then, and that you are still …
Jun 14
Everybody reacts differently to the diagnosis of cancer or any other life-threatening condition. Your reaction or your loved one’s reaction and mine probably had many things in common, but no doubt there were differences as well. You might have feared this illness for years because other relatives already had been …
May 24
Last week I wrote about finding the exact calm center in the middle of a hurricane—not just literally as my retired Air Force Major Jim Perkins knows well from his days on a weather reconnaissance team—but figuratively as we all face the storms of life. And the verse I suggested we …
