We constantly pray for you. — 2 Thessalonians 1:11 When Jesus was preparing to face the cross, He prayed. He told His disciples to pray too. My heart is full of sorrow, to the point of death, He said. Stay here and watch with me… Stay awake and pray for strength. — Matthew 26:38, Matthew…
Fear Gone Wild: Myths About Suicide
Editor’s note: Kayla Stoecklein is a voice of compassion and hope for those oppressed with the mostly-taboo topic of suicide. It’s a delicate issue, one haunted by shame and fear, and one that needs to be brought into the light of God’s grace. In Fear Gone Wild, Kayla shares her and Andrew’s story but…
Mental Health: This Is Not a Drill
We all have a lot of work to do. Most medical professionals agree that we are less than a generation away from turning the corner on cancer. But when it comes to mental health, the car is still parked in the garage. It’s a well-accepted embarrassment that twenty years have passed since psychiatry’s last major…
Prayer: The Garden of Gethsemane
“Not My Will, but Yours” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” — Luke 22:41-42 Gethsemane means “oil press.” The Garden of Gethsemane is mentioned in Matthew 26:36: Then Jesus went…
Jesus: Our Example for Living
For the longest time in my life, I (John) didn’t know where to put Jesus. As a child I can remember seeing God the Father as someone who could help me with things such as good grades, getting me out of trouble with my parents, and having my team win in baseball. In college, I learned about…
People Fuel: God’s Energy Source for Life
Life places many demands on us: the demands of navigating our careers, marriages, parenting, dating lives, friendships, self care and service, to name a few. The demands aren’t bad things, they are simply the way life works. The reality is that we all have our responsibilities. Our demands require us to have energy, positivity, and…
Depression: Jesus Understands Deep Sorrow
I was thirteen, working on some homework at the kitchen table when the yellow crank-dial phone that hung on the wall rang. My mom was washing dishes at the time, and I remember her gently drying off her hands before she answered it. “Oh no!” was her response. I watched as her shoulders sank and…