Author Archives: Don Follis

This is the week where we stop and give thanks for what we have.  Right? It’s a good week for me to take a big breath and give a listen to to these words of I Peter: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of himContinueContinue reading “It’s Thanksgiving Monday & Black Friday is barreling down full bore!”

The rest of the men’s soccer season for this Fall (2016) at Harvard University has been cancelled after Harvard’s office of general counsel review found that the team continued to produce vulgar and explicit documents rating women on their perceived sexual appeal and physical appearance. The young men on the men’s team referred to this practiceContinueContinue reading “Not “locker room talk” at Harvard”

I read faces pretty well.  No, not always, but I watch people’s expressions.  You can learn a lot by watching someone’s face.  Are they relaxed? Tense?  Confused? Sad?  Nervous? Angry? Resigned? Joyful? Of course, in my ministry with Pastor-to-Pastor Initiatives I meet with lots of pastors during the week.  As I look them in theContinueContinue reading “Reading faces”

In the last few weeks, I’ve thought a lot about this picture of the dove with an olive branch in its beak. In late August when I was in Israel, I  saw this dove in Bethlehem painted on the dividing wall between Israel and the West Bank.  What makes the painting so stark is thatContinueContinue reading “Practicing a kind of holy ambivalence”

Nearly every single day I meet with a pastor who tells me of an overwhelming challenge.  A sermon needs to be written. The ideas are not coming. … A parishioner in the hospital is very ill.  … A leader in the church has a child who is in big, big trouble. There are no goodContinueContinue reading “Always a challenge — one I’m up to”

Is there ever a day when you don’t need to be on your knees crying out to the Lord for wisdom?  Here’s a situation from my recent travels where I felt a great need for wisdom as I tried to take in and process what I was hearing… Pondering my constant need for wisdom, IContinueContinue reading “When don’t we pray for deep wisdom?”

I love Jesus’ answer about the most important commandment… Matthew 22:34-40  The Greatest Commandment 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God withContinueContinue reading “Reconciliation starts here”

In the next couple of days I will quit using Feedblitz to send out my blog posts from blogger.  I am changing to WordPress.NOW mailchimp will send out my new posts.However, to receive my new posts in your email, you have to subscribe in the subscription link to the left found under the Welcome onContinueContinue reading “Changing the way my blog is delivered to you!!”