Category: mental health
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No Fear
The text read, “Are you watching the news? Trump is talking. We bombed Iran.” No fear. No trepidation. No move to watch the live broadcast. Later that night, just before bedtime, I briefly changed the channel to catch the highlights. The newscaster reports, “America is at war.” Really? Has it gone that far already? Still,…
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What Does it Mean to be Holy?
John 17:17-19 Sermon I prepared for Ordinary Community Church (OCC), May 25, 2025. Introduction I had pages of notes on holiness and perfection – notes from books, Bible commentaries, and sermons by other pastors. But none of it felt right. The message was spot on, but the delivery style was all wrong. So, I set…
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Emotional Hangover | FaithFacts
I received an email yesterday thanking me for my contribution to an online forum depicting real stories of chaplain experience. To be honest, the email threw me because I had no recollection of submitting any stories to any forum. I had to look back through the email to see the date I sent the original…
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The Great Awakening
*This is the longhand version of the sermon I preached on Sunday, March 16, 2025. I first write it out in longhand to organize and memorize my thoughts. I then create an outline from which to preach, backward from how most people write. I refer to my actual sermon as the cliff notes version. It…
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Gethsemani Journal
After cancer, I made a new birthday rule for myself. Every year, I would celebrate by either doing something I have never done before or something I fear. Post COVID, I expanded this to include taking a trip by myself, something reminiscent of trips I used to take to the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky.…
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Advent Hope
(Longhand sermon notes for the first week of Advent: December 1, 2024) I scrapped my sermon twice, once because it started to feel more like I was gathering research for one of my seminary theology courses, and again after I heard a new song. As I prayed about it, God gave me very clear guidance:…
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Suicide?
Disclaimer: this post is about my personal mental health journey. It is not intended to be an in-depth or all-inclusive summation of suicide. If you or someone you love has an immediate need, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 9-8-8 or visit https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/immediate-help. The tragic death of a young celebrity recently ignited rumors about what may…
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Audio Versions Now Available
I finally did it! All three of my completed works of fiction are now available in audio formats. The process was quite fun once I figured out what I was doing. I greatly enjoyed working with the producers. I loved listening to Life Before Me and One Step Away as Sawyer completed each chapter. I…
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I Promise. I Am Fine
I write this for those with whom I love who got understandably stuck on the first portion of my previous post – especially those who have experienced the grief and trauma of losing a loved one to suicide. I hope this post sets their mind at ease. I hope those reading with mental health issues…
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Revival
I suppose it began on my birthday during my Galveston retreat with God when He revealed to me the extent of my unhappiness. It has lingered even in my safe place – work. Click HERE to read the post mentioned above. There is a long underground walkway connecting the building where the main chaplain offices…
TRA.Perspective 