I recently traded in my wife’s perfectly good, functioning car for another one. Why? You’ll have to ask her if you ever get the chance. She wasn’t thrilled but fortunately has learned to live with my “issues”. Suffice to say that while my intentions were good, things didn’t work out exactly how I planned. Many […]
What’s That Smell? Read More »
Shock absorbers are amazing inventions. I know, sounds a bit dorky, but bear with me, it’ll be worth it, I promise! The purpose of a shock absorber in a car is pretty much what you’d think – they absorb bumps and road imperfections so that passengers experience a smoother ride. In addition to that, they
Children Aren’t Our Personal Shock Absorbers Read More »
So, you say you have problems, huh? That may be true. What kind of problems do you have then? Are they life-threatening, substantial, medium-grade, or just irritating little buggers that never seem to die off? Problems can run the gamut, and, in some ways, we are born for trouble. For affliction does not come from
So, You Say You Have Problems, Huh? Read More »
I was born with a tender heart. Contrary to this fact, many people in my life consider me prickly or overly intense at times, which is true in some ways. However, I’ll submit that such an outer shell is a protective covering, like a callous built up over years of absorbing the sorrows of others
Whenever I’ve asked my congregation to raise their hands if they’ve suffered this past week, month, or year, everyone raises their hands and there’s inevitably a collective sigh and usually a few chuckles. It’s a form of group commiseration, I suppose…a sort of, “Well, this is our life, and we don’t suspect it’s going to
Stop Playing the Victim Read More »
When people hear the word ‘discipline’ in a familial context, a certain kind of pain and suffering often percolates up in the soul. For example, when a child is disciplined, it typically involves some form of punishment, whether emotional or physical. In either case, said discipline implies discomfort. I think most of us would agree
What Is Biblical Discipline? Read More »
As you may already know, I am a physical therapist and work in skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The typical patient I treat is someone who has been hospitalized with illness or injury and deemed not yet safe to return home. My job, along with the occupational and speech therapists, is to
I’m the type of guy who spends a fair amount of time saddened by what I see in this world. The effects of sin on the lives of people are so prevalent that I often feel like I’m wading through a sea of despair (not even my own). I can only imagine how Jesus felt
What Right Do I Have to NOT Be Happy? Read More »
OUTLINE: No one is immune to loneliness. Heb 13:5b“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”1Pe 5:7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.Mt 28:20b“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Jesus Jas 5:13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.“jars of clay”This is a reference to
Part 21 – Proverbs 17 Wisdom Read More »
Two women, Sally and Maggie, meet in the waiting room before a Christian bereavement group meeting. They strike up a conversation and manage to forget their woes just long enough to crack a smile, albeit small ones with a tinge of guilt. Come to find out, they have similar stories. Each had played a part
When the Going Gets Tough Read More »