The best way to deal with suffering is not a new question. For one, we know that suffering is an inescapable part of the human condition. I think it is helpful to think of suffering as hardship, and hardship manifests in nearly all our human interactions. It might be in relationships, your occupation, financial burdens, or countless other issues. And there is little consolation in knowing that suffering happens to all of us. People thought they could walk away There... Read more
Do you want to hear a story about how I got into a crazy situation? Good! It was one of those times when I knew I should’ve listened to that still small voice. Instead, I jumped in and assumed everything would work out just fine; but it didn’t. It was 1995, and I received an invitation to sing and teach at the Pentecostal World Fellowship Conference in Jerusalem, Israel. I was thrilled! I immediately began making plans to go. The... Read more
The 3 roads of the prodigal son are something you need to consider. If you’re a church-going person, you know The Prodigal Son’s story. You can read it in Luke 15:11 – 31. It is universal in its message. Most of us know someone who left home at 18 to start a new life. Some want to follow their dream. Others just want to get away from their parents. Some have to leave because they’re kicked out. Still, others leave... Read more
When your trauma goes to church, things can sometimes get dicey. This is a picture of me and my sweet Maltese-Poodle mix named Aspen. She’s 12 years old and a rock-solid member of my family. When I leave the house, though, I leave her at home. She has a crate and a bed that is comfortable for her. I used to take her to the church office when she was a puppy, but I’ve never taken her to a church... Read more
6 Ways Jesus Wants To Help Our Trauma. Only 6? In my first article, I shared that an earlier Google search of the term trauma yielded 1,780,000 results. However, by reading from a highly-respected doctor, we’ll discover the 6 primary ways that trauma affects a person. We will also see God’s immense grace for those trying their best to cope. So far, in my previous articles, we examined trauma as an emotional pandemic. We also discussed the meaning of trauma... Read more
Jesus cares about your trauma and He offers valuable and timely information to help those in need. In my previous articles, we explored the meaning of trauma and PTSD. In addition, we discussed the battle between a person’s trauma and their faith in God’s ability to fix it. Finally, we introduced the need for the third agent; a pastoral counselor or professional therapist. Today, we’ll take a look at how Jesus viewed a traumatized person. What’s more, we’ll see how all... Read more
Can God fix your trauma? If so, how does that work? Inquiring minds want to know! I certainly did. When I was about 10 years old, a friend from church said he had a question for me. It was a riddle of sorts. I nodded for him to proceed and he asked me this question: “Can God make a rock so big that he cannot move it? I answered, “Yes!” Then, “No?” Then, “Maybe.” Finally, “I don’t know.” I had... Read more
Trauma -“an emotional response to a terrible event.” Pandemic – “An epidemic of disease, or other health condition, that occurs over a widespread area (multiple countries or continents) and usually affects a sizeable part of the population” “You scream, I scream, we all scream, for ice cream!” That was our rallying cry when we were kids and wanted our favorite summer treat. Later, we learned to leave off the ice cream part of the chant. Now it’s just, you scream, I scream,... Read more
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