Sustaining In Suffering: Drawing a Line In The Sand Of Retreat

Caring Christians throughout church history have recognized the tendencies toward isolation, escape, and retreat. To combat them, they have practiced sustaining. In sustaining, we refuse to allow one another to suffer alone. We come alongside one another to grieve together. We understand that shared sorrow is endurable sorrow. I picture sustaining with the rather macabre […]

IN MEMORY OF DR. LAURA HENDRICKSON

I only knew Dr. Laura through her writing, but greatly respected and admired how she wrote, taught, thought and love the Lord Jesus. Here are a few posts remembering her: From the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors From the Biblical Counseling Coalition From The Institute for Biblical Counseling  and Discipleship (IBCD) I was half way […]

Life Will Be Filled With Losses—John 16:33

There is an umbrella-word that we use to cover the countless variety of situations that have this character, namely suffering. Suffering… may conveniently be defined as getting what you do not want while wanting what you do not get. This definition covers all forms of loss, hurt, pain, grief, and weakness–all experiences of rejection, injustice, […]

Death wasn’t supposed to exist

Hi James, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I can’t imagine how things are going for you. My mother passed away a few years ago from a disease that she had had for a long time, so I know something about losing someone who is close to you. But your son’s death was […]