Words of Hope: No Grumbling

This is a strange time to be alive. There is a zeitgeist moving that is full of portent like a mighty storm brewing. I believe the Lord is near though I am not sure what that means. Billy Graham...

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Words of Hope: Envy Observed

It's basketball season. The starting lineups have been announced and I consider all the students who don't make the starting five. I think about the anger I have seen from parents and students who sit the bench and wonder...

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Basketball Healers

Dad was a basketball healer. He knew how to bring repair and healing to teams who were divided or despairing. Not many people describe someone as a basketball healer. Part of Dad’s skill was that he could quickly assess...

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Words of Hope: The Temptation of Pain

Pain is tricky. It makes people uncomfortable. Pain can cause us to make the wrong decisions. I love the training of Ignatius of Loyola who cautions never to make decisions in our pain. I can recognize the wisdom of...

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Words of Hope: Together

A passage of scripture blew my mind this week. The writer of Hebrews is describing so many beautiful men and women of the faith; some who changed the trajectory of nations, some who won miraculous victories, some who were...

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Words of Hope: Running the Race

I recently listened to the Pray as You Go app, and the scripture passage was from Hebrews. As I listened to the passage I thought, “I wonder what Dad would say or write to me if he could give me a...

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Words of Hope: Time Intolerable

Grief continues to surprise me. The other night I missed Dad so much I just lay on my bed crying for a while. The pain of his loss felt like a sharp dagger. Finally, I just groaned silently to...

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Words of Hope: Listen for the Blessing

I like to talk. Sadly, I often talk too much, and about the wrong thing. This hurts my relationship with my family. I say something that is judgmental, fearful, or just plain bothersome. It mostly happens when I am...

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Words of Hope: Delight in Difficulty

One of the hardest lessons I have learned is the discipline to delight in difficulty. Our NBC Central office team has been practicing this for almost 10 years, but it still is not easy or natural. When something difficult...

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Words of Hope: A Life of Peace or Fear

I have a dreadful notion that arises now and then of God as a punisher. As soon as it comes, I remember one of the most consistent messages in the Bible, “Do not fear.” There are many different forms...

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