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Tuesday, June 17th, 2025
Unbroken Faith by Diane Dokko Kim has been a wealth of information and help when considering the effect of autism on families. While I have never personally experienced it, I know others who have and do. Understanding their struggle is essential to me so I can properly minister to them. I’d like to continue passing along some thoughts to you so that you might understand a little bit better.
In a chapter entitled “Trapped by the Impossible” Mrs. Kim makes reference to the oft used complaint of the Hebrew children as Moses led them from captivity in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. In Exodus 14, after Moses has led them out of Egypt, they find themselves looking into the rearview mirror and seeing Pharaoh fast approaching with his chariots and army. As they look ahead of them they see the seemingly uncrossable Red Sea. When thinking they were hemmed in, they screamed at Moses saying, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!'”
All they saw was an impossible situation. Die in a sea or die at the hands of Pharaoh and his henchmen. Little did they know that what seemed like an impossible situation in their eyes was just a mere bump in the road to a God who thrives in seemingly impossible situations. If you follow the story to its conclusion, you will find God bringing a heavy cloud between the Israelites and the Egyptians-so thick the Egyptians were paralyzed. Meanwhile, God is parting the Red Sea and the people of Israel are crossing over on dry ground. To further emphasize God’s power, pharaoh and his men think they will cross over just like the Egyptians. Aaaah no.
God led His people through the “impossible” situation. That same God still operates today. We are all faced from time to time with impossible situations. We wonder what we are going to do. What our next step will be. How in the world will we ever make it? We have a God who offers us hope. We have a God who still makes the impossible possible. He leads. He protects. He guides. Mrs. Kim wrote this:
“Whatever diagnosis or disaster threatens to overtake us, know that He did not lead us out here to die.” (p.56)
Moses told the children of Israel, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Ex. 14:13-14 NLT)
What are you navigating these days that seems impossible? Remember He is the God who specializes in making the impossible possible.
Posted in InTheShadow | 4 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Story, Suffering
Monday, June 16th, 2025
Where do I start this morning? So much happened and is happening. So much to say but not sure how to or what to. I’ll start with the great, go to the good, and then finish with the heartbreak.
First, the great. Today, June 16th, is my 52nd anniversary. In June of 1973 we were two soon-to-be-seniors in college. I pursuing and B.S. in Pastoral Ministry and Jo pursuing (so her mother jokingly said) her Mrs Degree. It wasn’t true, of course. Jo had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. She has stayed out a year after graduating from high school and worked at McDonald’s in Sandusky, OH. It was at the beginning of the causeway entrance to Cedar Point and there were no seats for inside dining. Yeah…it was that long ago. 🙂 We had our first date as freshman near the end of the school year after spending that whole school year with about 8 others exploring caves, eating pizza, and just hanging out together. I wish I could say that date turned out well. It didn’t. But eventually the ship was righted and we got married between our junior and senior year. We have been to a lot of churches (8 in all), with the one I’m currently serving for the last 19+ years. We have also seen a lot of water under the bridge-both good and bad. She recently said she would do it all again. Guess I must have done something right. 🙂
Second, the good. Last week we had a chance to watch our grandson play baseball and have 2 exceptional games. The third game he pinch ran for someone because the coach wanted to give some other guys a chance to play. We have one more chance to watch him play in July before he attends Ohio State this Fall.
Third, is the heartbreak. We were sleeping Friday night when I got a phone call about someone who was thought to be in an accident. After making a call to the local Sheriff (I am the chaplain for the department) it was confirmed that she did, in fact, lose her life in a two-car head on collision. The young lady’s family is like family to us and so after a fitful night’s sleep, we made our way home on Saturday. Nothing prepares you for the heartache of losing someone you love-whether sudden like this or slowly. No cliches are fitting (or should be said). The hope I and others have is she was a follower of Christ. Her mom sent a poem she wrote (I don’t know when) where she talked about the better eternity (heaven). It was a moving poem, one I wish others could hear. Maybe some day, with her mom’s permission, I can post it here. No witnesses. No survivors. We may never know what happened. But the ONE who knows all, and the ONE who held her hand at the end, welcomed her into His presence. I kept thinking: “Man knows not his time.”
Life is like a box of chocolates, as Forrest Gump used to say. Full of surprises, twists and turns. I experienced that this weekend. Thanks for listening.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Anniversary, Christian Living, Death, Family, God's Plan, Life's surprises, Love, Opinion, Reflection, Story, Suffering
Friday, June 13th, 2025
Father’s Day ahead! That’s right folks. In case you forgot… Funny (not ha-ha funny) how we don’t dare forget Mother’s Day, but Father’s Day? 🙂 I, for one, don’t really care whether something special happens on that day or not. We get Good Ranchers products and they even offered a special Father’s Day package. They aren’t alone. Thanks, but no thanks.
There is no question there is a crisis of manhood in today’s culture. Thankfully, there has been a uptick of men who are wanting to be counted on. Men who want to be seen as real men (even without all the hunting and camo gear). One political party just revealed they paid thousands of dollars to learn how to “Manspeak” and “Be a man.” I’m shaking my head at that.
A better question for us is what is a godly man? For Mother’s Day I took the week’s reading from the Everyday Gospel Devotional and delineated 7 characteristics of a godly woman and found a woman in the Bible who depicted that. I decided to take that same approach with Father’s Day. Here are the qualities I came up with describing a godly man and his biblical counterpart:
- A godly man listens (Elijah)
- A godly man seeks justice (Amos)
- A godly man prays (Elisha)
- A godly man trusts (Jehoshaphat)
- A godly man has a real faith (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego)
- A godly man experiences forgiveness (Peter)
- A godly man learns patience (Psalm 37:1-9)
I would like to invite you to worship with us this Sunday-in person or online via our live stream. We meet at 9:00 and 10:45. Send a request to join our Facebook Group at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship or view our public page at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship-Spencer, In. Or you can watch via YouTube at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. I look forward to seeing you or hearing from you online. And let me ask you to do me a favor: please let us know you are watching and then feel free to comment-yay or nay. If you have any questions, please ask and I will get back to you. Thanks. And thanks for praying for us.
Posted in InTheShadow | 4 Responses »
Tags: Family, Fathers, Opinion, Reflection, Sermon Series, Story
Wednesday, June 11th, 2025
As I continue reading Unbroken Faith by Diane Dokko Kim- her book on having an autistic child who was also diagnosed with ADHD/ADD at the age of 2 and the crisis it brought personally, professionally, and spiritually- my eyes are continually being opened wider. Here is one example why:
“A rogue wave called autism had struck, leaving me sputtering with shock and indignity. In its wake, I was swept along into a career change I never signed up for: full-time caregiver, case manager, disability advocate, and traffic controller. Now my days were spent floundering amidst the waves of therapeutic professionals who cycled in and out of our home, specialists I’d never heard of before with a dizzying array of acronyms: LSW, ABA, OT, SLP, BCBA. Daily, for forty hours a week, as soon as one wave rolled out, another rolled in.”
“Dipping into the reserves of a faith bottomed out, I sagely accepted my new calling: Help the Poor Child. A forced perma-smile betrayed clenched teeth that gritted out my new mantra. “I’m trusting God. I’m trusting God. I’m trusting God…” But inside, I was wrecked. Our son was cognitively disabled; I was now spiritually crippled. Both of us needed urgent and intensive intervention. But therapists only came for him.” (pp.39-40)
It was that latter phrase which struck me: They both needed intervention but therapists only came for him. That is a common problem I have encountered when I have talked with people of special-needs children. The child gets the attention, but what about the parent, the caregiver? It is sort of like the pastor who gives and gives without taking time off and then finally finds himself burned out, having an affair, or needing a therapist because of depression. Many parents of special-needs children are forgotten amidst the difficulty of their lives. Diane is not afraid to admit it led to a real crisis in her faith and she hit rock bottom. The sad part is there will be those “Christians” who will chide her or condemn her or think less of her because she is willing to admit that. IMHO that is one of the first steps needed to be taken for healing to begin.
My takeaway: instead of condemning or even opening our mouth, perhaps a listening ear or a sympathetic “Here, let me carry that load with you for awhile” is what is needed. While the attention is rightfully on the child, let’s not lose sight of the parent(s) who are also struggling and often feeling abandoned. I personally believe that is exactly what Jesus would have done.
Jo, Tami and I are leaving for Ohio today and will be back in town on Saturday after watching Braden (grandson/nephew) play a few games of baseball. I’m not sure about posting tomorrow but your prayers for safe travel sure would be appreciated.
Posted in InTheShadow | 12 Responses »
Tags: Christian Living, Faith/Feelings, God, God's Plan, Love, Mercy, Ministry, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Story, Suffering, Trials
Tuesday, June 10th, 2025
I’ve been reading some more from Unbroken Faith by Diane Dokko Kim. I’d like to pass along some thoughts she had that I highlighted in my reading (she has a special needs son diagnosed with autism):
“We grieve the loss of what could have been. Our Father understands and grieves with us. Yet for every parent who mourns, the ultimate Abba is also at work to exchange beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning (Isaiah 61:3). God understands our heartache, but He does far more than that. He redeems it.” (p.17)
When visiting a place of amusement, the clashing of sounds, the odors of french fries, perfume, and diesel fuel proved to be too much for their son. Fifty feet past the entrance their son began to gag and his body revolted, thrashing him against the concrete. Gone was the chance for a good time at the park and her husband dragged their son back to the minivan where he lashed out at his dad, and dad lashed out at his Father. Her description of that scene was followed by a quote: “Nobody gets through a broken world unbroken.” (p.35. Spoken by Dr. Ed Stetzer)
Finally: “When grief depletes us of reason and we lash out blindly, our Father enfolds us in safety. When we push and pull away in bitterness and blame, He endures our outbursts with longsuffering. He suffers and grieves our losses with us. He is strong enough to contain our rage, compassionate enough to quell it, and magnanimous enough to overlook it. He is big enough to handle our meltdowns without taking offense and does not treat us as our sins deserve. He forgive us, for He knows we know not what we do.” (p.37)
Mrs. Kim has said a lot in the pages I have read, but those are just 3 highlights. I’m looking forward to reading more and hopefully sharing it with you. What I have written here today I pray will help you in some way. It did me. Was there any one quote that spoke to your heart this morning?
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Christian Living, God, God's Plan, Ministry, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Story, Suffering, Trials
Monday, June 9th, 2025
Last night I picked up a book to begin reading entitled Unbroken Faith by Diane Dokko Kim. I confess of never having heard of her before but the subject of the book intrigued me. It is subtitled “Spiritual Recovery for the special-needs parent.” I have only read the foreword by Joni Eareckson Tada, a quad since she had a swimming accident as a teenager. And I have read the Introduction by Mrs. Kim. What drew me to the book were several things: First, we have several who have special-needs kids, some of them on the spectrum. In fact, one recently found out both her twin boys are on the spectrum. Second, I would like to know some answers as to how I can help them. Since I have had two girls who have not had special needs, my hands are tied in understanding and helping. But I want to learn how I can help these parents as their pastor. This book comes highly recommended so I look forward to learning.
I was struck by an opening quote used between the foreword and the introduction. Just one simple line:
The world breaks everyone and afterward some are strong at the broken places. Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms.
Hemingway definitely had his demons, as do we all. Sadly, his demons led him to take his own life. He was broken but failed to take his own advice and get stronger. That is not a put-down of Mr. Hemingway, but an observation based on knowing others like him. I suspect if not for my faith, I may have felt like that a time or two myself. I never, ever had the urge to end my life, but I have been down in the dumps from time to time. Fortunately, my extroverted, positive personality hasn’t let me stay in the shadows for very long. Even when I lost my job a couple of times, I never fell that low.
My faith tells me that I am being tested to come out stronger. The Apostle Peter wrote, “There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious that mere gold.” (I Peter 1:6-7 NLT) What Mr. Hemingway wrote is true: people can become stronger at the broken places. That is never more true than for the one who follows Christ. Let’s use our challenges, our broken places, as places to fortify ourselves and to build our faith.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Christian Living, God's Plan, Ministry, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Special Needs, Story, Suffering, Trials
Friday, June 6th, 2025
The truth is that no one is exempt from problems. Anyone who tells you that is either a kook, a liar, a false teacher, or all the above. When it come to problems there are three types of people:
- Those facing problems now
- Those who have just faced problems
- Those about to face problems
The question is not “if” but “when.” Think about your own life or those of friends or people you love. Trouble is only a phone call or an x-ray away. Job’s story seems like it might be over the top, and perhaps it is compared to many of our lives. And while we may not lose everything like he did, what we go through or are now going through is big in our eyes. That leaves us all with one common question that crops up more than you can imagine:
WHY?
My message this week will try to tackle that question. I’m going to try to look at it from an earthly perspective and also from a heavenly perspective. I certainly don’t have, won’t have, nor will be able to give all the answers, (in fact, will just touch the hem of the garment), but I am going to try to tackle the question of “Why?” I would love to have you join us in person if possible. If not, please join us via live stream. Whether in person or via live stream, we meet at 9:00 and 10:45. Send a request to join our Facebook Group at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship or view our public page at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship-Spencer, In. Or you can watch via YouTube at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. I look forward to seeing you or hearing from you online. And let me ask you to do me a favor: please let us know you are watching and then feel free to comment-yay or nay. If you have any questions, please ask and I will get back to you. Thanks. And thanks for praying for us.
Posted in InTheShadow | 4 Responses »
Tags: God's Plan, Reflection, Sermon Series, Suffering, Trials, Why?
Thursday, June 5th, 2025
Lance McCullers, Jr is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He has been unable to pitch for the past two years because of injury. I apologize that I cannot elaborate on that more since I heard of him but did not follow him. He has recently been in the news. He was able to start pitching again this season and has had a tough way to go his first 5 outings. (He won his first game in almost two years when he defeated my Pittsburgh Pirates by outpitching Pirate sensation, Paul Skenes). Let’s just say I am not happy about that!! 🙂
Anyway, he has been in the news recently because after losing his fifth straight game, he began receiving death threats. They were especially distressing because they were directed to his wife and two daughters. An adult can somewhat understand that, but how does one explain that to a daughter that there is someone angry enough to make threats against your life? Long story short they were able to track the threat to a man who was a drunken bettor from overseas and upset at losing money. Notice the two words: drunken bettor. They don’t go very well together and this time was one way it was proven. He has apologized to Lance and his family and asked forgiveness. Now…here come the gem of this story. When Lance heard of this man’s willingness to apologize face-to-face to him, Lance responded by saying, “As a follower of Christ, I’m called to love our neighbor and to forgive. I would be open to that, but for me, I’m just happy it’s behind us and thankful to everyone that was involved in this in keeping us safe.”
I highlighted the point I want to make. “As a follower of Christ.” Forgiveness is sometimes one of the hardest things we are called on to do as followers of Christ. Jesus addressed that by saying numerous times that as we have been forgiven we must also forgive. He was our perfect example and simply said to follow in His footsteps. He once told a parable with that point in mind about a slave thrown in prison. He begs to be forgiven and released so the king grants his request. He then goes out and finds a man who owes him much less, throws him and his family in prison, until the debt is paid. Does anyone else see the idiocy of those actions and expectation? The king finds out about it and confronts the man with the stupidity of his actions and throws the man and his family back into jail. (I bet that was a happy jail cell). The point of the parable is easy to see: as you have been forgiven, so you should forgive.
Even though Lance is a Houston Astro, I will be a fan because he followed Jesus’ actions. But please, Lance, don’t pitch so well against the Pirates next time!! 🙂
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Forgiveness, God's Plan, God's Word, Humility, Jesus, Leadership, Reflection, Story
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
One of the tenets of the faith is (or should be if not) is to allow Scripture to explain Scripture. That is, IMHO, one of the dangers of group Bible study that needs to be passionately avoided. I’ve heard it and I’m sure you have also: “What does this verse mean to you?” In our effort to personalize Scripture and make it meaningful in our lives, we fall into the trap of often misusing Scripture or misapplying it. So when we ask, “What does this Scripture mean to me?” it is easy to make it mean something it doesn’t. After reading Psalm 147 this morning I decided that I would simply record it here and then allow it to tell us what it needs to tell us. No “this means this to me” but “This is what the Scripture says.” Here you go: Psalm 147:1-11.
How good to sing praises to our God!
How delightful and how fitting!
The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars and calls them all by name.
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understand is beyond comprehension!
The Lord supports the humble, but brings the wicked down into the dust.
Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God with a harp.
He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.
He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might.
No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. (New Living Translation)
Take your time and read it slowly. Okay…now read it again and meditate on it. See what it says about God, who God is, and what God does. You won’t have to ask, “What does this Scripture mean to me?” You can sit back and see who God is and know that the God who is described here is in your corner. What more do you need to know than that?
Posted in InTheShadow | 6 Responses »
Tags: God, God's Character, God's Word, Reflection, Scripture, Scripture look
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025
Well…I definitely feel like an old man today. My oldest daughter, Tami, reaches the big 5-0 mark today. She has been a real joy and blessing to have, raise, and watch grow into a godly woman. She has a heart as big as the ocean, especially for kids. Even though she has never had any of her own; never been married; she oozes love for kids. She has taught Kindergarten for almost all of her 25 years teaching. The last 3 have been spent teaching in our local Spencer-Owen School System. Due to a heart attack (SCAD) 4 years ago, she lives with us (her apartment had 25 steps almost straight up and the doctor said, “No way”). So after living on her own for 3-4 years, enduring COVID, leaving in the dark and coming home in the dark, having almost zero friends due to said schedule, she moved in with us and has stayed. Plus, affordable housing in Spencer is almost non-existent these days due to expansion. She is enjoying a vacation of sorts to Tennessee where she lived for the first 15 years of her teaching career. We encouraged it, especially after the rough teaching year she had. Happy Birthday #1 daughter (birth order). 🙂
I finished reading Proverbs on May 31 so I just continued reading the book which is next: Ecclesiastes. If you haven’t read it, you must. I challenge you to do so. I read Chapter 2 this morning and there is NO WAY someone can read this book and say the Bible is irrelevant. Ecclesiastes is as relevant a book in the Bible as you will read just about anywhere. In 1:9 it says, “History repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is new.” Hmmm sounds vaguely familiar to “Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
In Chapter 2 there is more “pull-no-punches” stuff. “I tried pleasure and found it was meaningless.” (2:1) “I tried to cheer myself with laughter and wine and found it was foolishness.” (2:2-3) “I built and made gardens and planted trees. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure…it was meaningless, like chasing the wind.” (2:5-11) His conclusion? “So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless-like chasing the wind.” (2:17)
What a sad state of affairs for the wisest man on earth. Solomon was given so much and he threw it all away. Ecclesiastes is his story of endless and meaningless pursuits. It is sobering. It is raw. It is honest. It is relevant. People today are no different than they were in Solomon’s day. Pursuing pleasure, temporary answers, and a salve to an empty life that will never be satisfied, except in a relationship with Christ. Stop pursuing that which does not last and pursue the ONE who loves you more than you know.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Empty pursuits, Fulfillment, God's Word, Lifestyle, Meaning in Life, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Seeking, Sin, Story
