Dear Tim,

When I said “Yes” to Jesus, I had a few miles on me. I was no boy when Barnabas took me in, but I was new, and nobody trusted me. Barnabas stepped in and stood with me in the early days of my work for the Lord. I want to do the same for you, and I wish I were there to do it in person. You are starting in the ministry life as a young man, and I keep hearing that you are offering devoted service to the Christians there.

I guess it is only human, but some people are going to resent your commanding and teaching God’s word because of your age. I know that’s not fair, Tim. But it is within your ability to overcome their words of jealousy and contempt by doing what they least expect—staying committed to Jesus! This is necessary because both old and young people there need to see an example of the Jesus-life being demonstrated in front of them. You see, they are going through hard times also.

So, watch how you talk to others—especially your critics. Believe me, I know how tempting it is to just give it right back to them. Maybe in my next letter I can share some things I’ve learned about getting along with difficult people. Some of my fiercest critics have been my Jewish brothers. They didn’t despise my age, Tim. They despised my looks and my way of speaking. I know that sting. My heart desires that they would be saved, so I couldn’t lash out at them and expect to have any influence. Same with you, son.

Not just how you talk, but how you live in general. People watch, and people talk. So, if you give them something to talk about, let it be something good! In demonstrating the life of faith, you give others hope that they can do the same.

Tim, pay attention to purity. Some of the young sisters may be attracted to you (how could they not be!). Most of them will be committed to Jesus, and that will guide their behavior. But there will be others who could appeal to you sensually. Like the rest of the world, you may find it easy to just relax your restraint and give in. That will destroy your work there for the Lord, though. Your attention will need to be redirected to your duties. (Just read through Judges and see how Samson’s own appetites steered him in the wrong direction. Or even King Solomon—now that’s a case study in lack of restraint!) You may have to run away in times of passion, like Joseph did in Genesis!

Primarily, love others with the love of Christ. That’s the guiding principle. Focus on your teaching and point others to follow Christ in love also. You have the gift, Tim. I’ve known it for so many years as I watched you grow in your faith and ability. God is your source of strength. Lean on Him.

When the critics whisper, you just keep on living in faith, love, and service. The most important thing of all is that you are saved and beloved by God, and your service to Him means others also may be saved. That’s what counts.

Paul

1 Timothy 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; 2:22; Acts 9:26-27; Romans 10:1; Judges 14-16; 1 Kings 11:1-4; Genesis 39:12

There are many things about Autumn that I love, and I know I’m not alone. As we shift slowly into darker, colder days and the leaves finally let go, a reflective spirit settles over our hearts. For my family, October has reminders of the great sadness we experience at the loss of John Robert, remembered especially on his birthday (the 23rd). Sadness is not our only experience as we contemplate his memory. He brought so much joy and laughter into the lives of many. But that loss remains the undercurrent of so much of our thoughts and lives.

That’s the way it is as we move into November and December, isn’t it? The memories of what could have been are mixed with the happiness of gatherings, giving gifts, eating delicious food, and knowing we are loved. In the shadow of an approaching new year, it feels like we are coming to an important transition. It doesn’t have anything to do with the weather or the names of the months. I think it has to do with our faith in renewal and hope.

When October goes, a winding-down has been set into motion and it cannot be reversed. At the end of this year, take time to silently reflect on what has been, and what could be. Don’t rush through, filling your days with so much busyness that you miss the blessing of the evenings that come too soon, the temperatures that fall too low, and the winter that tests our fortitude.

The beginning of that transition is in October. I am thankful for October. And I agree with the lyric of the song below. It doesn’t matter much how old I grow, I hate to see October go.

When October Goes by Barry Manilow

And when October goes
The snow begins to fly
Above the smokey roofs
I watch the planes go by

The children running home
Beneath a twilight sky
Oh, for the fun of then
When I was one of them

And when October goes
The same old dream appears
And you are in my arms
To share the happy years

I turn my head away
To hide the helpless tears
Oh how I hate to see October go

I should be over it now I know
It doesn’t matter much
How old I grow
I hate to see October go

THANK YOU!

If you read this far, bless you! Feel free to like and share with friends and family! This night owl has done his work. Take care, friends. Work hard, smile often, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you now more than ever! Until next time!

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Greetings Friends! I hope your weekend was a great one and that you are looking forward to the opportunities that God has placed before you in the coming days! Today marks four years of my little space on Substack. I’ve been so happy with the community I have been a part of on this place. I’m grateful to have 801 subscribers (now if only 801 would actually read and like the posts- hey, a guy can dream!).

Thanks to everyone who helps make this an enjoyable project. During the four years, I have used posts to produce several books. Most enjoyably, there were collaborations in books such as A Holy Lens, where over a dozen excellent writers (most of them on Substack) contributed to a great book of devotionals. I have so much for which to be thankful. One of those authors was GeorgeAnn Dingus, who has recently published two books. You should go to her website and check them out (and purchase them!).

Thanks for the response to my post on John Robert’s birthday. I appreciate the opportunity to share something from my heart on that special day. (The Two Days)

FORSYTHE

This morning at Forsythe Church of Christ, my message was from Jeremiah 18, the time when God told Jeremiah to go down to the Potter’s House (Notes & Audio Here). There were many encouraging remarks, and I hope it was a blessing to the congregation.

Wednesday night at 6, we have our Trick-R-Trunk event. Kids, candy, costumes, hot dogs, chili & fun. If you’re local, you’re invited!

Next Sunday, we look forward to having Jon Mark Smith of EEM come and tell us about their mission. Following class, we will have a fellowship meal. If you are local, it would be a great Sunday to come see what we are about.

Next Saturday night, when you go to bed, set your clocks back an hour!

READING

This week I finished The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by Wm. Paul Young. I read it many years ago, and it impacted me this month as much as it did before. I posted some quotes from it in my previous post. Now I am ready to read Return to the Shack! I also read Ted Galdi’s An American Cage, described as a prison-break psychological thriller. I always enjoy Ted’s books. They are no-nonsense get-to-the-point thrill-rides! I thought An American Cage was an unpredictable page-turner! He spends a lot of time helping authors find ways to get the word out about their books via his email list and his WEBSITE. My to-read stack is getting out of control. My friend Pita suggested Theo of Golden. I bought it, and my wife read it and gave it a good review. I bought a copy of The Hobbit. After enjoying Chronicles of Narnia so much earlier this year, I thought I might give LOTR a run. If I enjoy The Hobbit, I will proceed!

In our Bible reading program, we are finishing Ezekiel soon. That’s another reason to be thankful!

THANKFUL!

Thanks to Rosie Meadow for mentioning my writings and Hope Remains in a recent post. You can find that post below, and you should certainly subscribe to R Meadow Garden! Thanks for restacking several of my posts!

R Meadow Garden

R Meadow Substack Highlights - Highlighting John E. Dobbs

Writers are readers first. We may relate to specific words or topics, but judge content by whether it lives up to what caught the eye. R Meadow Highlights was launched to highlight word seed treasures worth exploring and a second read. Each highlight here grabbed attention and then resonated in some way. I hope you fin…

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6 days ago · 5 likes · 3 comments

Thanks also to Christian Book Finder for recently featuring my book, A Sinner’s Guide to Grace! Read what they had to say and buy the book through that link to help support this great work. They are focused on Christian independent authors. Thomas, Constance, and Adrian have been a great encouragement to me.

Christian Book Finder

A Sinner's Guide to Grace: Good News for the Broken and Wayward

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8 days ago · 4 likes · 1 comment · Constance Hadley, Thomas M. Hamilton 📚 ✔️, and Dr Adrian Warnock

WHAT’S AHEAD?

• More entries in the Dear Tim series. Thank you for your interest and comments on those. I have enjoyed writing them.

• My traditional end-of-October post.

• One of my books will be FREE for five days in November; I’ll let you know!

THANK YOU!

If you read this far, bless you! Thanks for four years of encouragement and interactions! Feel free to share that with friends and family! This night owl has done his work. Take care, friends. Work hard, smile often, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you now more than ever! Until next time!

The grief of a bereaved parent may have many times and seasons, but two days stand out above them all. A day of birth and a day of death. Those are the two dates on most grave markers. Those are the times that are the most jubilant and the most crushing. The beginning and end of a life are when we are bombarded with our most existential questions. At one moment, we glorify and give thanks to God. At the other, we contemplate that He didn’t step in to prevent this loss.

Although those two dates bring these emotions and thoughts to the forefront, we carry them with us throughout the years. In the early years, they are unbearably heavy. We wonder if we will survive the crushing weight of grief. For us, it has been over eighteen years. Some days it still seems heavy. Other days, we smile, finding some joy in the memories we carry with us.

So, today is John Robert’s birthday. He was born 37 years ago, catching us by surprise, deciding he was ready to come about a month earlier than he was projected to make his appearance! I was out of town. Otis and Sandra Bowman took Maggy to the hospital. Nicole awaited her baby brother. By the time I arrived, he had been born, and they were taking Maggy to her room. She cried when she saw me and worried that we had not settled on a name yet. His first few weeks were spent in NICU. He was eighteen on his last day in this life, too short in my estimation.

We will celebrate with a meal at the Waffle House. John Robert loved Waffle House. I’m not sure it was the food. I think it was mostly being there with friends and the sassy repartee with the servers. We will bless our server with an extra nice tip in honor and memory of our boy. And I will probably eat a waffle!

I recently purchased William Paul Young’s Return to The Shack: A Journey into Redemption. But it’s been seventeen years since I read The Shack, so I decided to re-read it in preparation for the follow-up.

As I read, I knew that chapter eleven was going to wreck me. It did the first time, and it did this time as well. But I read anyway. The main character, Mackenzie, grieves the kidnapping and murder of his precious little girl, which brings about The Great Sadness. I was grateful for that label for this kind of grief. In talking with the personification of wisdom, Mack asks the question so many of us ask: Why didn’t God step in and stop this death from happening?

The Shack doesn’t offer any easy answers, and I’m glad. There are no easy answers.

I know this is not a loud, cheerful happy birthday post. But I do believe John Robert is having a marvelous birthday in the presence of Jesus. And I do believe we will celebrate with him in the regeneration of all things. So, I do have something to smile about, because of Jesus. He arose from the dead, and that gives all believers a sure hope.

One of my favorite scenes in The Shack was when Mack and Jesus were lying out on the dock looking at the stars at night. It was an amazing sight, and they laughed at something Mack had said earlier.

The comfort I receive from Jesus on the two days, the beginning and the end, has carried me through each of the eighteen years. You can read more about his life HERE.

If you read this far, thanks for thinking about a special birthday with me today. The other day is coming next May, if we’re all still here. I can bear up under this because I know ONE DAY the King is coming back and all things will be set right.

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Dear Tim,

I think you know that I enjoy sporting events. To watch runners in a race is to see the results of many hours of training and intense fitness. The Olympians have their games, and they crown the victors in celebration. They work hard for a crown that will ultimately decay and disappear. It means a lot to them, I know.

Tim, do what you can to be in good physical shape. I want you to be around for a long time to serve the Lord. You’re going to need stamina and strength to thrive as you serve and love others. You are already a winner, as I see it! But no matter how fit you are physically, there’s something that also needs your attention. Like the crown won by athletes, you have a crown to wear. What about your crown of victory in Christ?

Your physical fitness is important, but the fitness of our soul is of ultimate importance. Spiritual exercise benefits you today, and it also benefits you for the life to come. Why am I so concerned about your fitness? I’ll tell you.

Not everyone is going to stay firm in the faith. As I told you before, some are going to drift away. The teachings of the Enemy are too strong for weak and unprepared people to resist. It’s hard to believe that they can gain any ground with their teachings that forbid marriage and that tell people that they cannot enjoy food that God has so graciously provided. Those who are leading others away have a conscience that is so scarred that they cannot even feel guilt over their destructive ways. And you will have to deal with them.

Some of your Christian friends may be drawn away. It’s going to be hard. So you have to be in shape, Tim. You remember when I was stoned and left for dead back in your hometown? I had to get up and walk back into the city. I give God glory for my strength, but I also had to be prepared for hard days like that.

If you want to work out for what matters most, let the hope of Christ drive you to exercise your spiritual life. Please don’t ignore your body, either. But pay attention to the way you grow in strength and perseverance as you contemplate the life to which the Savior has called you.

I’m on a downward spiral physically. I’m in prison without any hope of getting out this time, so my opportunities to exercise are limited. But inside I am a champion of faith! OK, maybe I don’t feel that way every day. I do have my days when I feel weak. I gain strength, however, when I refocus my thoughts on the One who gives me all the strength I need. I know then that I can do everything I need to do until that great day when all will be made new.

Work out regularly, Tim. Inside and out. Put your hope in the living God, the Savior of all who believe.

Paul

1 Timothy 4:1-10; 1 Corinthians 9:24; 2 Timothy 2:5, 4:8; Philippians 3:13-14, 4:13; Galatians 5:7; Acts 14:19-20.

Dear Tim,

Ephesus is such an exciting place with so much going on. The travelers coming through have their tales, the commerce there is amazing, and even the church is made up of so many diverse believers.

My three years there were filled with memorable experiences. I remember well the night the silversmiths turned the whole city against us. They were making money from the idols associated with the Temple of Artemis! As I look back on it now, it is a wonder that I survived that. God had his hand on me! Working alongside Priscilla and Aquila gave me great strength. They were wonderful encouragers. Later, it broke my heart to say goodbye to the elders from there. I tell you, this tough old man shed many tears that day. I was sure that I would never see them again.

With the thousands of people milling around from all over the Empire, it might be hard for a young believer to remember to pay attention to the most important things. You will have to make every effort to stay focused, Tim.

You need to know that even in the church, people do not always act as they should. It is just part of our constant struggle between flesh and spirit. I feel it, and I know you do too. A guiding principle to remember is that the church is a glorious manifestation of the will of God in Jesus Christ. It is bigger and more important than you or me.

The people who claim Christ as Lord are not perfect (and neither are we). When you talk to them, help them think of the church as God’s household. You grew up in a household of faith, Tim. I think about your mother and grandmother often and smile. Eunice and Lois were so special to me. What a blessing to have them in your life. The church is God’s household, and we should honor his will as his children.

We have to remember that God is alive! Our living God has given us the church—a body of believers committed to living The Way. One of the greatest privileges we can experience is to be a part of that forever Family.

I really want to come and see you, but I realize it may not be possible. Some days I feel the weight of that. I have so much I want to share with you. More than that, I really just want to see you at least one more time. But so much of my life is being decided for me right now, and that may never change.

Even so, I wanted to remind you to stay focused on Jesus. Here are some words the Spirit gave me to write down. Use them as a prayer of praise if that helps. We sometimes sing them!

Jesus was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit,
seen by angels,
preached among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

That’s where you center your heart, Tim. On Jesus. I hope to write to you again soon.

1 Timothy 3:14-16; Acts 19:23–41; Acts 20:36-38; 2 Timothy 1:5.

Dear Tim,

In my last letter, I told you about some of the challenges that will come from the unfaithfulness of false friends and deceptive people. I am going to guess that might have caused you some anxiety about who to trust.

As you face difficult times, don’t forget that you are not alone in this. There are strong and faithful Christians nearby. You can draw encouragement from them. I wish I were there to work alongside you. Tim, I want to remind you of a truth that has strengthened me in every struggle. Your greatest strength is on your knees. Prayer is the essential link between your heart and Abba’s power.

So much of what we experience is not from our own doing, but at the hands of others. We may be powerless to change things, but God is able. So pray for everyone. Please remember me in your prayers; I am counting on that! Remember some of the ways I taught you to pray: asking God for what you need, praying for the welfare of other people, and always, always, always being thankful. Sometimes that is difficult, especially when we are praying for those in authority.

I want you to know that when I appealed to Caesar, I knew exactly what I was doing. I had two reasons, Tim. I wanted to stay alive, and the Lord had already told me I would testify in Rome. It was my hope to be able to witness about Christ to the man in the highest office. I didn’t have any insight as to how it would be received, but I hoped to use my Roman citizenship to put myself in a position of influence. The Emperor doesn’t seem very interested or receptive to spiritual things, but I have been able to talk to many others. Pray for the Emperor; perhaps his heart can be touched in some way.

When we pray for our worldly leaders, we are not necessarily agreeing with the things they do. I have seen some awful and wicked acts being perpetrated by government leaders here. They do not seem to believe that they will ever be accountabile to God. I think it will take God’s intervention for things to change, so that is exactly what I pray for.

Remember when Jeremiah the prophet sent a letter to the elders in Babylonian exile? He wrote, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” That’s what I’m encouraging us to do. Rome is our Babylon, Tim. By praying for those in authority, we may help create a place where we can continue to teach others the Gospel without interference. The closer we can get to a quiet life lived in godliness and dignity, the better.

Praying for everyone recognizes what we know about our Abba: He wants everyone to be saved. As we teach the truth to the world around us, salvation can be found in one God, one mediator, Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.

Reach up to God in your prayers, Tim. Jesus helps us in our prayers and even prays for us. He already gave so much to save us. His love is amazing. I love to tell others about him—and I know you do too.

The only way we are going to make it is with God’s help. As you fight for your faith, find your greatest strength on your knees.

Paul

1 Timothy 2; Acts 23:11, 25:11; Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV); Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34

Previous Letters

• Grace Came to Find Me

• Wrong Direction

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Dear Tim,

When I think about the wonderful way you are living for Jesus, I am so thankful for your heart. You know how I feel about you; you are like a son to me. Knowing you so well and for so long, I have seen the way you struggled to be confident in your faith. My heart hurts for you. I have had the opposite problem. I was boastful and arrogant. I finally learned to just boast in the cross, but God used many hard circumstances to rub the rough edges off of my pride.

There is something powerful about your humble spirit, Tim. But there is also a danger. I wish every person who claimed to be a believer was a genuine disciple, but I have discovered the hard way that this just isn’t true. There are those who will present themselves as your friend, but they are attempting to use you—or worse—entrap you. It is hard to find the balance between being a trusting brother and knowing when to keep your guard up.

I was hurt badly by many over the years who, at first, were my friends. Sometimes they were moved by jealousy. Sometimes they were drawn back into the world. That hurt the worst. I wish I could have saved Demas, but he went his own way. Maybe before it is too late, he will turn back to the Lord. I can only hope.

Some of the people I have had to deal with belonged to the Enemy. We couldn’t allow them to continue in the church; they were leading people away. Hymenaeus and Alexander were such men, and that was hard to deal with. They took such wrong roads that their whole lives ended up looking like a shipwreck. I know something about shipwrecks, Tim. I’ve been in one!

I wish I could tell you that there won’t be any difficult encounters to handle. You will remember that I have told you that staying the course is a fight—a good fight. The fight is not only with others, but with ourselves.

We have to fight the temptations that never go away. I’m sure you realize that I deal with temptation like everyone else. Sometimes I give in, Tim. I end up doing something I actually hate. Many times I came back to Jesus, ashamed but knowing that he would forgive and strengthen me. I just share this with you so you won’t feel alone in the struggle. Keep leaning on the power of Jesus, our only hope.

To follow Jesus is to wage war, and sometimes the enemy is ourselves.

You’re young, Tim. Some people will try to use that against you. Some may try to tempt you. Remember that it’s a fight, son. The Lord will provide you with the victory. He has stood with me through some rough times, and he will stand with you. I just wanted you to know that it will not be easy. Don’t feel alone in the battle. Trust in God with all your heart.

When it comes to others, don’t let anyone steer you in the wrong direction. They will try.

Paul

1 Timothy 1:18-20; Romans 7:15; Acts 27; 2 Timothy 4:17; Philippians 1:12-20

Dear Tim,

I wanted to share with you some of the thoughts that are going through my mind as I face the end. When it comes, I know my death will be sad for you to hear about, but believe me, I’m ready. I see the work you are doing for Jesus, and I am so thankful. You are a good preacher, and I have confidence in your work of ministry.

Tim, everything we do for the Lord is because of grace. It is hard for me to look back on my journey and see the man I was. I blasphemed the name of Jesus, rejecting him and doing all I could to stamp out his mission. I regarded the people who were following him and calling him “Messiah” as delusional. It did not bother me at all to cart them off to jail or even to see them killed.

I’m sorry that some of my tears have stained this paper. I was just thinking about Stephen, who was so convicted that Jesus was the Messiah. I watched as my mentors and teachers dragged him to the outskirts of town and started to throw stones at him. I held their coats so they wouldn’t get dirty! I yelled obscenely at him as rocks hit him in the face and blood began to flow. I was so sure that we were doing the right thing, especially when he called out and said he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God! The frenzy of the crowd intensified, and I was certain that we were doing the right thing.

In my youthful arrogance, I took it upon myself to carry on that kind of persecution whenever I had a chance. Tim, we can be so convinced that we are right that we do not allow ourselves to hear the truth all around us. I even had official permission to destroy The Way. I didn’t believe Jesus, and I certainly didn’t believe his ragged disciples.

God knows, Tim, I hate to even acknowledge this, but there is a point to sharing this with you (though I know you’ve heard me talk about it).

But then that moment came when a light from heaven blinded me, and that voice, the voice I could not deny, asked me why I was persecuting him. There are no words for the way that crushed my self-assured zeal, and at the same time awakened something new in my heart.

I’ve told you before about Ananias coming to me to heal my blindness and tell me what Jesus needed from me now. He told me to be baptized—which I would have rejected before that light. But now, whatever Jesus wanted, I would give.

I tell this story so often, Tim, because I want people to remember that I don’t want any credit for how God used a sinner like me. He gets all the glory. And I tell it because I want to remember how far grace had to come to find me and bring me home. My tears fall down my face because I was the worst of sinners, but Jesus saved me anyway, and in many ways I still know my need for grace.

Not just me, Tim, but you too. And everyone you talk to about the Lord.

Never forget that your mistakes, failures, and problems are no match for the saving grace of Christ. As I have prayed before, with you, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

I have more to share, but this is the key to everything. Grace came running and found us. I’m so grateful.

Paul

1 Timothy 1:12-17; Acts 7:54-60; Acts 22:1-21

NEW SERIES * BOOKS * MUSIC * REFLECTIONS

Greetings Friends! Hope you’ve had a good weekend full of God’s greatest gifts. The beginning of October sets in motion my favorite time of year. This Sunday afternoon, as I write this, a gentle rain falls from an overcast sky. I’m not sure when we last saw rain, but it is welcome. I’m not presumptuous enough to assume you have noticed that the Sunday Night Check-In has been less frequent these days. I decided to let it be less scheduled and more purposeful.

At Forsythe Church today, I brought a message called Amazingly True Fish Stories. After Bible classes, we had a fish fry for the congregation. In the afternoon, our GriefShare class met. We had a lot of guests in worship today. I enjoyed gathering with the Family to worship the King!

Sermons and Studies From Forsythe

Amazingly True Fish Stories

Introduction…

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a month ago · 4 likes · John E. Dobbs

Did you know that the first Stillwell Crossing mystery is available for free for a few more days? I’d love for you to get it! Even better, to read it! It is short and fast-paced. If you do read it and can leave a review, that would be all the better!

READING

This week I finished NINE YEARS LOST by Joshua Powell. Joshua Powell keeps writing books that touch the heart, make us think, and point us to Jesus! Nine Years Lost will make you think about your priorities in life as you follow the main character, a modern-day Rip Van Winkle, who awakens to find that his kids are grown and the world has changed. It is an encouragement for all of us to wake up to the real life we are living right now! I enjoyed this significant journey. Now I await the next book from Mr. Powell! If you haven’t read any of Joshua’s books, I encourage you to read all of them!

NEW SERIES!

I have a new series of posts beginning tomorrow called “Dear Tim.” It is a biblically inspired series of letters from an aging apostle Paul to his young protoge Timothy. Yes, I know we have 1 and 2 Timothy to read, but I wondered, as Paul wrote those letters, what episodes from his life came to mind. I hope you’ll enjoy them as we explore Paul’s wisdom for our lives today. Watch for the first one Monday morning, and the rest will come every couple of days.

LISTENING

Don’t miss Brandon Lake’s reflective song WHY WOULD I.

A Little Humor…Who’s Up For It?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…Some Recent Posts

That Kind of Love

Your Pain is Worse

Substackery

Saying Goodbye

THANK YOU

Though we are to be content always, I’m more content in the Autumn with darker skies, cooler temps, and cozy nights.

If you read this far, bless you! Feel free to share that with friends and family! This night owl has done his work. Take care, friends. Work hard, smile often, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you now more than ever! Until next time!

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When you hear the word “friend,” who do you think about? Maybe a childhood friend. Perhaps someone who is close to you now. Do you think about Jesus?

I’ve been listening to Cory Asbury’s new song, My Closest Friend, on repeat. Sometimes this is a missing element in our relationship with the Lord—His friendship with us. It might sound like we are diminishing His Lordship or His reign in our hearts. Far from diminishing His Lordship, His friendship deepens our appreciation for it. We depend on the friendship of Jesus.

• He never leaves us behind, but always sticks with us.

• He wants the best for us and isn’t afraid to tell us what we need to hear.

• When we wander away and cause him pain, He forgives and invites us back into relationship.

• He has given completely of himself for our benefit.

• In our joys and in our heartache, our friend is near.

That’s the kind of love our truest friend offers.

Even though they were spoken as slurs and criticisms, the friend of sinners is a precious description of the One who gave all to save us. John the Baptist said, “But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete” (John 3:29). And we do rejoice at His voice in our lives.

The chorus in Asbury’s song has the words…

And after all this time
You're still holding me
You've proven all of my life
You're watching over me
When I was stumbling in the dark
You're the one who took the scars
And I could try, but I would never comprehend
This kind of love that goes to hell and back again
My closest friend, My closest friend.

Jesus is not merely a distant Savior or a King we know only from afar. I’m so thankful that Jesus is my friend. He is our closest friend, for He knows everything in our hearts, and still wants to live with us forever. What a friend we have in Jesus. Amen.

Just a note that my first mystery novella is free for a few days for Kindle! Check it out!

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Grief - Illness - Struggle - Hurt - Loss - Fear

A few months ago, I had a “minor” outpatient surgery, a placement of two stents in my femoral artery. Someone said something to me that I think is common, but it meant more to me at this time. Surgery is never “minor” when it’s yours to endure. The truth is, I hesitated to talk about my surgery because I knew that there were many people who had endured much more significant procedures. On the other hand, I haven’t had this experience before. For me, it wasn’t minor or small. There was a great deal of anxiety attached to this. I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel afterwards. It was a big deal. To me.

I use this as an example because sometimes we do not feel we can talk about our struggles because we believe others are suffering more. That could be true, but it does not diminish our own experience.

In grief groups, occasionally, someone will try to make the case that their loss is worse than someone else’s (even if they do not say it in those words). I’m not critical. It might just be a natural plea for someone to hear the pain they are going through. Maybe they do not have anyone in their life who really listens. But still, we emphasize that we do not compare griefs. Someone may have had multiple losses that caused extreme pain and sorrow. But the one who had a single loss is just as hurt and left to face life without their loved one.

Whether you are dealing with grief, traumatic situations in life, or any kind of struggle, your pain is real, and it deserves to be heard. It doesn’t matter if someone else has a more catastrophic loss or experience. You are the one dealing with your pain. When we hurt, it doesn’t matter if someone else hurts worse (as we perceive it).

When You are in Pain …

• Pray and ask God to address the issue you are facing in the moment.

• Search the Psalms to find expressions that you identify with, and that can be helpful in your prayers.

• Search out a support group that can identify with what you are going through.

• Seek professional help if needed: a doctor, a therapist, or a mental health professional (call or text 988 if you are considering ending your life).

• Find a listening friend to talk to. You know which friends you have who will listen without judgment or instruction.

When Your Friend is in Pain…

• Listen without judgment.

• Listen with empathy. Sympathy is a feeling of care, sorrow, or pity for someone else who is experiencing a hard time or misfortune. Empathy means putting yourself in someone else's shoes and imagining what they experience.

• Listen without advice. Most of the time, unless it is requested, advice is not being sought from your hurting friend.

• Listen without being a one-upper. So often we are tempted to indicate that their pain isn’t as bad as yours or someone else’s.

When Job faced his devastating losses, his friends came to see him. They spent seven days in silence. These are the kinds of friends everyone needs. They then began to speak and judge Job; these are not the kinds of friends everyone needs.

Your pain is the worst because it’s yours. God knows, and you know. That’s the extent of it. Comparing levels of pain, loss, grief, suffering, or disease is of no value. Saying “other people have it worse” denies the heartache you are experiencing.

I just wanted to encourage you to be real about your own experience and to know you are seen, heard, and loved by God and by your truest friends.

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This is just a post of posts …. but I hope you’ll check out some of them. I can’t keep up with all of my subscriptions. Every once in a while I pilfer through all of them and find some jewels. That’s what I’m sharing in this post!

Life UnCorked

Dispatches From The Road: Fowler’s Folly: A Question of the Heart

Series Collection…

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a month ago · 11 likes · 2 comments · Cork Hutson

Enjoying Life With God

You Have More To Offer Than You Realize

I saw Griffin Gooch’s Note tonight and I thought I’d share my own thoughts on this topic of discipleship…

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2 months ago · 7 likes · 1 comment · Brandon Moore

Life More Abundantly

Paul Counted Everything He Had Achieved As Loss

“But what things were gain to me…

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a month ago · 12 likes · P Maillet

A Sinners Guide To Christ

The Shame Game

My view of God — for the longest time was judgement — watching my every thought, every action, and judging how I lived my life…

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2 months ago · 12 likes · 2 comments · Stephen Miranda

Never Forsaken

Horizontal Lumps

Last week, after a very long summer with extreme temperatures here in Southern Oregon and barely a drop of rain, we had a sudden rainstorm, and a precipitous drop in temperature which resulted in . . . this poem. It is hyperbole run amuck…

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2 months ago · 9 likes · 3 comments · Debi Hassler-Never Forsaken

THE BIBLE VERSE JOURNAL

What Happens to the World While You Sleep?

What happens when the most powerful person in the world goes to bed…

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a month ago · 6 likes

Coffee with Kirk

When Leading Looks Like Leaving

When my children were small, bedtime usually meant a song. Poor kids. But they looked forward to me singing before they went to sleep. One song I remember well, Rich Mullins’ Sometimes by Step, which I often sang to my daughters…

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a month ago · 4 likes · Kirk Walden

The Courage to Live It

the loneliest place on earth

the loneliest place on earth could be…

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a month ago · 76 likes · 24 comments · Shawn Smucker

The Daily Pulse of Immanuel

The Tears of Jesus

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35…

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a month ago · 9 likes · 1 comment · Barnabas Piper

Feel free to share meaningful posts in the comments! I have a few things lined up to share soon! Hope you’re having a great week! - John

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Hello from The Natural State, Arkansas. Welcome to new subscribers! Glad you’re here. I’m writing from Searcy, the home of Harding University. Inspire (the current name of the Harding Lectures) is going on this week. It’s a good time to connect with old friends, make new friends, and hear some high quality presentations. This year the theme circulates around the Psalms, and I’ve already been enriched by the presentations. The program runs through Wednesday night.

Sunday at Forsythe church we had a message on being Devoted To Prayer. We have several exciting things coming soon. Grady Lewis begins a class on Romans 1-8 this Wednesday night. We have a fish-fry following class on October 4th. Then we have a men’s prayer breakfast on October 18th. DivorceCare and GriefShare are in full swing. If you are local, you are always invited to come and visit and see what we are about.

I’m reading some really great books right now and will share them when I am through. In our Bible reading plan we are reading the weeping prophet, Jeremiah.

I finished watching ALONE, the season ended. THE TRAITORS on Peacock began a new season and we have a friend as one of the contestants. That makes it fun! Currently watching MAYDAY on AppleTv, it’s pretty entertaining!

I’ve been listening to some podcatsts by Nicholas John. I have found them encouraging and informative.

Thanks to those who bought Hope Travels last week for .99. It’s back to the regular price but I believe it’s worth it (I may be prejudiced)! For guests to Forsythe over the next few months, a free copy will be provided.

I’m not ready to preview them yet, but a new series of posts is coming that I think will be encouraging and a blessing to you. I’m working on them now.

If you read this far, bless you! This night owl has done his work. A short post this week, but maybe that’s best! Take care, friends. Work hard, smile often, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you now more than ever! Until next time!

Hope Travels is the story of a Bible that had been around for a long time, and all the people who had owned it and written notes in it. Then a little boy found it and started reading it with his family, bringing about some amazing life changes. For a few days, my book called Hope Travels: The Story of a Forty Dollar Bible is on sale for .99 (ebook). I’d love for you to read it and let me know what you think! Here’s chapter one…

“Hey, Dad, I want this one!”

The father watched his sandy-haired, ten-year-old son reach for the dusty book on the table.

On a lazy, sunny Saturday afternoon, Kent wanted to visit one of the antique stores in town. Cottonwood had plenty of them on Main Street, even though it was a small Arizona town. These were not the kind of antiques that cost a fortune, but rather a store where a variety of people had booths with all kinds of items.

They walked in, and immediately, the familiar smell hit him. It was a mixture of dust, pine, and a faint, mildewy odor that naturally occurred in a warehouse of old stuff. Right away, Kent started sizing up which direction he wanted to visit first. A booth with some old golf clubs had his attention!

Kent, whose dark hair and mustache made him look younger than his late thirties, heard his son ask a question. His wife, Judy, was at home busy with a pressing work deadline, so he brought little Jon with him.

“But, son, toys are over there,” he pointed, “and children’s books over here.”

The boy would not be put off. He reached for the dusty book to hold it.

“Be careful, it’s really old,” the father warned. “And it looks like it’s about to fall to pieces.”

Kent could not understand why this raggedy book so enchanted his son. It was not pretty. It was not a children’s book. It had a tattered leather cover, and the edges of the pages were red, or they were once upon a time. This book had been through some tough times for sure.

Kent reached for the book. “Let me see, son, I don’t even know how much it is.”

Little Jon reluctantly handed it to his father.

Kent opened the front cover gingerly, not wanting to damage the volume further. The inscription was faded but legible.

Turning a few pages, Kent arrived at the first actual pages of the text, under the heading of Genesis.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

This mystified Kent even more. Why was this dusty Bible so enchanting to Jon? They were not a church-going family, and Jon had likely never seen a Bible.

“Jon, why are you so intent on having this Bible?”

“What’s a Bible?”

Kent felt a little sting of shame. His parents had made sure the church was part of his upbringing, and now his son asked what a Bible was.

His search for an answer was interrupted when he turned the book over and noticed the price.

“Jon, this book is FORTY dollars! I don’t know why these people think anyone would pay that for this piece of junk.”

Kent noticed the look on his son’s face. Maybe this was God’s way of pointing out that he had not led his child in a way that he could know the Lord.

He remembered the opportunities he enjoyed as a child and young person at church. He still had good memories of Vacation Bible School and, later, youth group trips. Jon didn’t know about any of that. Over the years, somehow, those memories had as much dust as this old Bible.

“Ok, son, we can get it. But you need to take good care of it. I think it’s about on its last legs.”

Kent took the Bible to the front register. There, behind the desk, were a man and a woman talking. Kent recognized the store’s owner. She was older and a motherly figure, typically in blue jeans and T-shirts with crafty designs. The woman smiled. “Can I help you, hon?”

Kent showed her the Bible. “For some reason, my son wants this old Bible, but forty dollars sounds a bit high. Is there any way the owner could come down on it?”

The woman looked at the man. “Micah, it’s up to you.” Micah looked at Kent, then at little Jon, and shrugged. “It’s a treasure. I’m going to stick with forty bucks.”

Kent turned red and looked down at his son. He sighed and gave in.

So, Kent, Jon, and the dusty Bible went home. When Jon showed the Bible to his mom, Judy, she gave Kent a questioning look. He grinned at her, knowing he was going to have to explain the dusty, forty-dollar, tattered book that Jon was carrying to his room.

Jon carefully wiped away the dust and opened his new treasure. He read the inscription again. Jon thought to himself, “I wonder who Matthias was?”

A couple of reviews…

In “Hope Travels”, John Dobbs writes a wonderfully inspiring book about the life of an old, tattered Bible and the lives it touches and changes.

The Bible, an outdated language version, is not always easy to understand, but each owner is able to find scripture that speaks to his or her specific need.

John includes questions and situations to aid in group discussions: a great resource for all believers. However, individual readers will enjoy reading “Hope Travels” as a heartwarming journey. -Valerie Matejowski

* * *

John Dobbs has written a delightful story that begins with a young boy finding a unique treasure in a bookstore. You never know how one thing will bring change to so many lives. Hop on board the unfolding story found in the pages of Hope Travels. -Debi Hassler

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It has been a season of saying goodbye to friends who are making the transition from this life to the next. Today I attended the funeral of a friend’s sister. Though I had never met her sister, I was blessed to hear about her from the testimonials and the strong presence of worship she requested to be in her service. Recently, we have had some deaths in our congregation, each affecting all of us but especially their families.

Death is common—we seldom go a day without hearing of the end of someone’s life, whether through old age, crime, disease, or accident. Still, we never get used to it. And we shouldn’t. In 1 Corinthians 15:26, Paul declares, “The last enemy to be abolished is death.” Until our own exit from this life, this is the reality we live with.

My friend Donna Kirkbride died this week. Her funeral is tomorrow (Saturday), and I regret that I cannot be there. When I was a brilliant 20-year-old, I became the youth and campus minister at Delta State University. Lowell and Donna worked closely with those programs. Their children, Lisa and David, were teenagers, and the Kirkbride family was at the center of all activity. Lowell was one of the men in my life who served as a father. The first lawnmower I ever owned was a used mower that Lowell gave to me so I could keep the grass mowed at my rental house. At Christmas time, Donna would make me a “mmm cake,” making a hilarious face as if she were on a secret mission. It was the conservative Mississippi Delta, and rum cakes might be looked down upon by some! Donna lived in the center of a heritage of faith, a longtime teacher of the Bible and servant of all. Lowell was an elder in the church until his passing. Her parents were longtime leaders in the church. Her brother, Bob Neal, served as an elder before his untimely death. David and Lisa both married Christians and continue to live in the faith. I have immense respect for the Neal / Kirkbride families.

But even faith-filled people must face the finality of the end of life. I heard this evening of another death in a family that held great influence in my early life as a student at Magnolia Bible College.

This Sunday, a team of us will begin leading a GriefShare support group. We will meet with a dozen or so hurting hearts and try to offer some hope and help for the days ahead. It’s a long road. I wish there were three steps to take that would alleviate the pain of loss, or a medicine that would wipe out all hurt, or even a place to go where one could escape the heartache. But all we can do is make our way through it one day at a time until one day the hurt is lessened, and our tears are replaced by smiles when memories come. While you anticipate that time…

• Spend time in the Scriptures. The Bible does not shy away from the pain of death and God’s compassion for those who are brokenhearted.

• Pray and tell God how you feel; give all your pain to him. He is the Shepherd of our souls.

• Find a friend or a support group, someone that you can talk about your loss without judgment. Good listeners are hard to come by.

• Lower your expectations. The world may expect us to have a funeral and get back to work. This loss will be with us the rest of our lives. Give yourself time to heal.

• Don’t try to numb the pain with substances or relationships or spending. It is supposed to hurt, and we cannot just undo the natural experience of grief by covering it up.

• If you feel desperate, or maybe planning a way to hurry death in your own life, please reach out to someone. Call 988, a national suicide hotline, and talk to a professional.

Three Resources:

• At the top of the page on my Substack HERE, there is a tab called Grief Resources. There you will find an internet library of writings about grief.

• Through Your Tears: Sorrow From Loss, Hope for Healing is my book about grief. It is not long, but it has been an encouragement to many. It is free for Kindle Unlimited readers.

• Support groups like Compassionate Friends and GriefShare meet around the world. Look at their websites or ask a minister or doctor for grief support groups meeting in your area.

God bless you if you are going through a season of grief. Thanks for reading.

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Hello friends! It’s time for the Sunday Night Check-In. Thanks for spending a few minutes with me. It feels like things have been extra busy lately (thus no Check-In last week!). This seems like a season of medical tests and follow-ups for both Maggy and me. Everything seems to be going along ok so far, but just taking care of some issues that have arisen for both of us. Many people have far worse health issues. I will be taking a week of vacation (staycation) this coming week. I guess you’re getting old if you are taking time off to go see doctors in specialty clinics out of town! Still, we are thankful for your prayers.

A new series of devotional posts is coming before long. I don’t want to say too much about it, but I’m looking forward to sharing those. They will come a couple of times a week during the series.

The whole world is talking about the loss of Dolly Parton. Always one of my favorites. Many people have written in profound ways about her compassion, the way she used her gifts to bless others. I can’t really add to that. I have a CD of old hymns recorded by Dolly, and I have enjoyed that over the years since I bought it at Dollywood. She was as comfortable with a rock cover, a country standard, a movie soundtrack, or a song about Jesus.

STILLWELL CROSSING - A NEW STORY!

For those who have been following my stories from Stillwell Crossing, a short story is going live on Amazon HERE. Just to let you know, it is short (I’m charging the lowest price Amazon will allow. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read all of my books for free!). In addition, a compendium paperback/hardcover will be available with all three Stillwell Crossing novellas and the short story as a bonus! I will send out a notice when those become available. But if you’re anxious to know what Mason and Jeremy are up to, the short story is available as an ebook. I hope you enjoy it!

That makes 20 books! I’m so thankful to everyone who has read and encouraged me. My latest book, Hope Travels, will be given to all of our guests in the welcome bag at Forsythe. I hope that many will read it and hear the gospel within the story! I don’t think there will be another book this year. I’m working on a few, but they’re not nearly complete. I’m looking forward to a new full-length Stillwell Crossing book, maybe by Summer 2027 if the Lord wills!

There are some great September songs. I’ll share a few of them along the way in this post! If you have a favorite September song that I don’t mention, share it in the comments!

AT FORSYTHE CHURCH this morning, we presented a message on the topic of stewardship. If you’d like to read the notes, they are available HERE. Or you could just subscribe and get the sermon notes each week! We have had new friends become a part of our church in the past few weeks. I’m grateful and look forward to partnerships in the Kingdom. Next Sunday, Daniel Kirkendall will be preaching. He always does a great job and is a gift to our congregation. Next Sunday, being a 1st Sunday, we have a fellowship meal following Bible Class. If you’re local, come join us and see what we are about!

READING lately has mostly been limited to the Chronicles of Narnia, aside from my Bible reading. I’m reading The Silver Chair now. Yes, I’m Johnny-come-lately on these, but every book has been fantastic! After The Silver Chair, The Last Battle is the final one in the series. Aslan is on the move! I’m waiting anxiously for a few books to become available. Joshua Powell is one of my favorite authors! His new book, Nine Years Lost: A Christian Novel About Legacy, Contentment, and Lost Time, will be out mid-September. William Paul Young’s sequel is on the horizon: Return to the Shack: A Journey into Redemption. And Louise Penny’s Miss Wolcott’s Ghost: A Novel (Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Book 21) - coming in October - and which I pre-ordered in March if that tells you anything. So, I need to get busy with the books I have so I can dive into those when they arrive!

“They say Aslan is on the move- perhaps has already landed.”
And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different.”

LISTENING. Well, I’m listening to songs about September, aren’t you? Sirius XM has a channel I never noticed before. The Message Worship plays mostly worship songs instead of just contemporary Christian music. Enjoying that a lot. It’s on channel 79 if you are a subscriber to that service.

WATCHING. I’m awaiting the return of my favorite shows. I’ve tried to pick out some interesting series on Netflix and other services. My daughter says I am officially banned from picking shows (I didn’t like them either! ha!). Watching anything great?

I got overwhelmed with Substack. There are fabulous writers here, but I can’t keep up with the flood of posts and notes … and I just kind of chilled on it for a bit. I miss a lot of the writers and am going to have to try to find a way to at least peek in … and I’m going to have to cull down the number of subscriptions… but I hate to … just torn about that. I don’t want to discourage anyone. I see some complaining about the service, but I still find it a great place to hang out, learn, be inspired, and enjoy. I do want to get back to recommending posts that I liked. To do that, I have to get back to reading them.

Of course, the best September song…

If you read this far, bless you! This night owl has done his work. Take care, friends. Work hard, smile often, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you now more than ever! Until next time!

Greetings from North Louisiana, where we are setting records daily with the heat and trying to stay hydrated and cool! Welcome to new subscribers. The Check-In is just that—a moment where I share what’s going on with me. I invite you to share what’s happening in your world in the comments. This usually comes out on Sunday night, but I’ve missed the past two weeks. It’s been a flurry of activity, and I just couldn’t make myself sit down to write. Maybe the “end” of summer is supposed to be like that.

Last Sunday afternoon I enjoyed spending a few hours at the Sterlington Church of Christ talking about grief. We had four sessions: Getting Acquainted with Grief, The Journey Through Grief, Grief and the Holidays, and How to Help My Grieving Friends. I appreciate the privilege of speaking into the deep hurts that we carry in our losses. I was especially appreciative of the kind words of their preacher, Don DeLukie, and the receptive audience gathered.

Wednesday, August 19th, I’ll be speaking at the Ruston Church of Christ on the subject, “Stewardship that Glorifies God.” Little did I know months ago that I would be speaking two days after surgery (more on that in a minute!). If you are in the area and would like to visit the Ruston church, services begin at 6:30. I know they will welcome you. Their minister, Casey Clement, is doing an outstanding job.

Monday morning, I had outpatient surgery at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Two stents were placed in my left femoral artery. I felt pretty rugged for about 24 hours afterward, but started to feel better this afternoon. I appreciate the many prayers for my health—and for Maggy who is a superstar at taking care of me.

FORSYTHE

At Forsythe Church of Christ this past Sunday, we concluded our series through the letter to the Colossians. Connected to that, we will study Philemon this coming Sunday, Lord willing. It’s a Third Wednesday at Forsythe this week, so we will be enjoying a meal together. If you’re local, come enjoy some good food and conversation. This month, we are collecting for Grace Place Ministries. We are gathering underwear for children and deodorant. Our Amazon wish list is HERE if you’d like to participate.

READING

After reading The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, I have completed the next two books in The Chronicles of Narnia. The Horse and His Boy and Prince Caspian were as engaging as the first two books. I am looking forward to starting The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. What a gift C. S. Lewis was to the world. This week I picked up Casey Clement’s new book Raising Faithful Generations: Building a Biblical Foundation for Children in a Changing World. I look forward to getting his other new book, Running the Field: Guarding the Heart of the Preacher. Another new book that I acquired is Your Labor Is Not in Vain: 30 Christ-Centered Meditations Throughout Scripture by Luke Dockery.

LISTENING

Right now I’m listening to Integrity’s Still Worship & Andrew Osenga. This is ambient worship guitar music that is engaging enough to enjoy but not distracting when one is reading or thinking.

WATCHING

We watched the popular Ride or Die on Amazon Prime. Great story, great cast, terrible language (seems to be the description of most shows these days). This season of Alone is, I think, about to come to an end. This is the 13th season, and I have enjoyed them all, but this season is pretty boring. I think the participants are extra good at what they do, and there haven’t been any harrowing mistakes or scary episodes. But I know I couldn’t be a survivalist like this. It will be interesting to see who walks away with the cash. We had never watched Rob Lowe’s trivia-driven game show called The Floor, but we watched the first season, and I would say it was pretty entertaining! Finally, in desperation to find anything fun to watch, we watched two Bond films. Sean Connery in Goldfinger and From Russia With Love, followed by The Spy Who Loved Me with Roger Moore. We didn’t watch all of that this week, of course. What are you watching that you really enjoy?

If you read this far, bless you! This night owl has done his work. Take care, friends. Work hard, smile often, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you now more than ever! Until next time!

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This coming Sunday, August 16th, I am going to be speaking about grief recovery at the Sterlington, LA Church of Christ from 2-4 in the afternoon. Everyone is invited to attend.

I decided to make my book of reflections about the grief journey FREE for a few days. Through Your Tears: Sorrow From Loss, Hope for Healing is available for you. (Also available in Spanish, translated by Bart Stewart: A Través de Tus Lágrimas: Duelo por la Pérdida, Esperanza de Sanación)

Inside the book:

• Reflection questions at the end of each chapter make for good discussion in groups or journal prompts

• Practical action steps to work through grief

• How to approach special days and anniversaries

• Intersection of faith and grief. How do I relate to God as a bereaved person?

• Pertinent Scriptures from the Bible that encourage us in our struggle with grief.

• The author's own grief story

• Access to a large list of online resources to help with grief

I’m grateful for the reviews received about this short but meaningful book.

If you are in the area, we would love for you to come spend a few hours considering the experience of grief.

Also…

GriefShare at Forsythe begins September 13th. (Link to Register)

The book is always free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. But for all the rest, it is free for a few days. I pray that it is a blessing to you - especially to those walking through the sorrow of grief. There is healing ahead.

Hey friends, it’s time for the Sunday Night Check-In! Thanks for dropping by for a few minutes. Welcome new subscribers! It’s no surprise that it’s hot in Louisiana - it’s August! What I like most about August is that it serves as a gateway to September, and then my favorite months of the year follow. But for now, we roast.

I enjoyed so much our time in Mississippi last week. We enjoyed our lodging at The Inn on Whitworth. It was our third time staying there, and it never disappoints. OK, this time, the elevator was out…but… it was still a super place to stay.

It was enjoyable in many ways, but it was still nice to get home to Louisiana. I was happy to be back with my church family at Forsythe.

I received a first review of my newest book, Hope Travels! I’m very grateful!

FORSYTHE

This morning, I continued the series through Colossians called The Heavenward Trail. We talked about Colossians 3:1-11 (Notes HERE). We had a great fellowship meal following Bible class. There was such a good spirit and, of course, great food! This month, we are collecting for Grace Place Ministries. We are gathering underwear for children and deodorant. Our Amazon wish list is HERE if you’d like to participate.

LISTENING

Micah Christopher sings Grace Happened!

THANK YOU

If you read this far, bless you! Not a long read tonight. I haven’t felt like getting out and taking pictures. Feel free to share that with friends and family! This night owl has done his work. Take care, friends. Work hard, smile often, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you now more than ever! Until next time!

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