June 5, 2024
The Gift of Pain
Micah Odor writes, "Every meaningful period of growth in my life has been a time of tremendous pain" . . .
Articles for tag: Pain
September 4, 2019
Key Lay Leaders of First Christian, Evansville, Die in Plane Crash
First Christian Church in Evansville, Ind., suffered the loss of three key lay leaders in a plane crash last week in Montana. Tim Arnold, Grant Weythman, and Allen Eicher were flying in a small plane toward Pinehaven Christian Children’s Ranch in Montana as part of a volunteer missions team when they struck a power line and crashed. According to the Courier & Press, Weythman and Eicher were elders at First Christian, and Arnold was a former elder. They were headed to the children’s ranch to repair broken machinery. “They were very much what we call shepherds—trying to make sure everybody
October 16, 2018
My Heart Pounds within Me
By Vince Antonucci When our kids were younger my wife and I took them to a big waterpark. Our son was 5 and our daughter was almost 3, so we spent the day in the kiddie pools. Each pool had slides and all kinds of fun stuff. We played in one for a while, then walked about 100 yards to a second kiddie pool where we let the kids splash around. We then walked another 100 yards to the next one, where my kids repeatedly slid down one big slide. My wife walked over to the other side of the
February 12, 2016
My Theology and My Approach to Pain
By Mandy Smith There are many ways we can horrify our dentists. I horrified mine last month by saying, “It”s OK if I have to live with the pain.” It was unthinkable for him, but in spite of his best efforts, I”m still left with a dull ache when I bite into an apple. I”m OK with that. We have become intolerant of pain””physical, emotional, and spiritual. Does that deny the opportunity God sees in pain? As a pastor, I often walk with people along the edge of emotional and spiritual pain. As they see it coming, it”s natural to
May 1, 2015
Grace Notes
By Marybeth Bittel As Christians, we often remind each other a key challenge of life is to trust and obey. We acknowledge God is in control, and we know our job is to accept whatever happens with faith, hope, and conviction. Implicit in all of this is the fundamental recognition that life can change at any time, in any way, for any one of us. I”ve spent the majority of my adult life as a lay minister, a small group facilitator, and a worship leader. Music, in particular, has been a cherished part of my life. As a longtime vocalist
April 19, 2015
God Had Other Plans
By T.R. Robertson In the summer of 2012, Nathan and Amy Tuley publicly announced they felt God was calling them to full-time ministry. Over the preceding months, all the details had begun falling into place for Nathan to put his information technology training to work for Pioneer Bible Translators. And then, that September, they heard the words that rearranged their lives, “Your son has a brain tumor.” The Tuleys were taking back-to-school pictures, with all four of their kids lined up. Looking at the photos, they noticed 10-month-old Josiah was always tilting his head slightly and looking up at an
April 17, 2015
Helping Through the Hurt
By Susan Lawrence “Let me know if I can do anything to help.” We commonly extend the offer with a genuine desire to help. However, many times, people don”t know what they need, or they”re hesitant to ask. Through many difficult deaths and trials among our church family, I”ve learned a few things that help. Reach out to others even when they”re not reaching out. “¢ Simply be present. You don”t need to have the perfect words. You don”t need to have answers to every question. Sit with someone. Hold a hand. Give a hug through the sobs. “¢ Be
April 17, 2015
10 Tips for People Dealing with Pain
By Phil Kendon One person walks with dignity and peace through a severe trial that comes upon his life, while another seems to fall apart at the seams. One grows stronger in his faith through the experience, another abandons the faith in anger and disappointment. One exhibits a joy in God despite his circumstances, while another sinks into the dark mists of depression and grief. Death, sickness, financial hardship, or a suffering child””any of these could send us spiraling downwards in a cycle of questions, doubts, anger, and depression. But trials can also draw us upwards in faith, hope, and
April 13, 2015
Life Lessons Among the Dying
By Karen Diefendorf I”ve served as a chaplain with Hospice Care of South Carolina for almost a year now. I”ve been privileged to be invited into the lives of patients and their families. I”m not a novice in pastoral care, but I”m still learning from my patients. I have been surprised at why people who are eligible for hospice care never take advantage of it, and I have learned that all hospices are not the same. I have also learned some very important life lessons. Pain Is a Given, Suffering Is Optional Most of the people I serve know about Job,
March 31, 2015
Resurrection Promise, Hope in Our Pain
By Mark A. Taylor Some preachers choose Mary as the subject for a Christmas sermon, but I”m guessing we”ve never heard an Easter sermon about the mother of Jesus. There”s good reason for this, I suppose, because Scripture barely mentions her in one crucifixion account, and omits her by name altogether in the resurrection stories. But the certain fact that she was there when Jesus died (John 19:25-27) is enough for painters and storytellers and moviemakers to include her, watching and weeping, in their crucifixion portrayals. The Scripture doesn”t describe her anguish or her tears, but we have no trouble
January 21, 2015
The Ultimate Question
By Jim Tune When life delivers pain or confusion, our first response is often to look at God and shout, “Why is this happening?” This is what we are really asking, “Why did you let this happen?” Sooner or later we will all end up sitting in a hospital waiting room, funeral home, or lawyer”s office, asking ourselves, “Is God still in all of this?” When shaken by tragedy, we do well to ask ourselves if we can still believe in a God who lets bad things happen. I”ve had a few personal bouts of what Philip Yancey calls “disappointment
July 16, 2013
Interview with Joni Eareckson Tada
Joni Earekson Tada talks with CHRISTIAN STANDARD Editor Mark Taylor about coping with pain, confession in marriage, and her international ministry. Click here to see the interview.
August 20, 2006
How Can You Claim That God Is Good and Loving . . . ? (Part 2)
Conversations With Skeptics features Jeff Vines responding to three major questions about evil, suffering, and Hell. Includes download details and a short sample excerpt from the first article.
