One Sunday morning in March, Glorie Christos (who was formerly known as Little Wife) sat down in her usual place in the church auditorium. She looked around at the gathered congregation wishing she could somehow connect. She noticed there was a guest speaker, actually the former pastor of the church. After a good time of…
I was recently asked, “What New Year’s Resolutions are you going to make?” I quickly answered “none.” I find it more fruitful to reflect on my “stones of remembrances” of God’s faithfulness to me and the ministry throughout the year. This year has been one of those challenging years personally and in ministry. In my…
These are certainly perilous times, just as the Bible told us they would be. (2nd Timothy 3:1) And those of us who have experienced domestic abuse and violence in our homes and lives understand and believe that very much. It does seem like the world has gone “off the rails”. As lawlessness abounds all around…
What does it mean to be loved by God? I mean truly loved by God. I grew up singing Jesus Loves Me. I believe it, but is it just a fact that I know to be true, or a radical truth that actually changes my life? Shouldn’t it be the latter? What impression does the…
I’ve been thinking much about justice this week. I’ve encountered the justice system in two separate counties of Illinois and found great differences in how abused women were heard and helped. There does not seem to be a standard of justice when it comes to domestic abuse. Often it comes down to “he said, she…
FOCUS Ministries is blessed to announce Chaplain Natalie Frame has joined the staff. I am honored to be the first FOCUS Ministries chaplain, and it is truly a joy and a privilege to serve in this way. Please allow me to introduce myself and answer a few FAQ’s. First of all, I am so thankful…
My son and I enjoy an ongoing debate. He prefers a movie with a dark side that concludes in an unexpected way, avoiding an unrealistic wrap-up with a happy ending. His rationale? That’s life! Those movies are a better reflection of our reality here on earth. I don’t argue, but if I’m going to spend…
I’m guessing we’ve all had times in our lives when problems feel like unmovable mountains. I know I have. Yet, Jesus told his disciples “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” (Matthew 17:20; NIV) I thought about…
What an effective picture of the view of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day. Glowing lights lined the mall representing lives lost due to COVID-19. It was an impressive memorial to loved ones that were no longer with us. Only a vaccine could eradicate this killer. Millions of dollars have been spent…
Isabel’s voice revealed pain and fatigue from the ongoing struggle with her husband. As a new convert, she wanted to learn how to respond to the emotional and verbal attacks of her unbelieving spouse, Carlos. I listened with empathy. “It’s so frustrating. He says he’s the man of the house, but won’t make a decision…