Author Archives: Don Follis

Matthew 24:38-39 (English Standard Version) 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. THEContinueContinue reading “Behind the Scenes at the World Cup”

The graduation party invitations have rolled in the last few weeks.  Buying graduation cards is not easy.  Not with these messages inside cards:  "Your accomplishments are wonderful."  "Continue to reach for the stars."  "You are the best of the best."I’ve been reading Bernard Bangley’s modern retelling of The Imitation of Christ, the 500-year-old spiritual classicContinueContinue reading “Graduation advice from “The Imitation of Christ””

St. Augustine admited that his self-image as a seeker after spiritual truth was not match by his indulgent life style.Augustine and his friends fancied themselves on an untiring search for truth.  But he wrote: "It never occurred to us to stop doing the things that contradicted our search for truth or that a connection mightContinueContinue reading “Are you honest about your motives?”

Among the prayers that I try and pray each morning is this one: Almighty and eternal God, so draw my heart to you, so guide my mind, so fill my imagination, and so control my will, that I may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use me, as you will, and alwaysContinueContinue reading “A prayer of Self-dedication”

With more and more people choosing to be cremated, people increasingly will get a chance to see what humans are made of — Dust!  This morning one of the interns from the Vineyard accompanied me as I drove to a cemetery near Mansfield, Illinois, where I performed a graveside service for an 85-year-0ld woman IContinueContinue reading “From Dust to Dust”

As you know, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was created to provide greater security for the U.S. citizenry.  This week Brian Doyle, 55, a deputy press secretary for the department was charged with using a computer to seduce a child after authorities said he struck up sexual conversations with an undercover detective posing asContinueContinue reading “The villain is from what country?”

Missionary Fred Mitchell said, "We live our lives under the discipline of uncertainty.  We never know the emergencies, temptations and opportunities ready to spring unawares."So I will keep hanging my hat with the prayer of Moses in Psalm 90:12: "Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom."

I appreciate my education.  The ability to read books, which I so enjoy, and to even be able to write these words, is of incalculable worth to me.Education, though wonderful, is limited.  Quite frankly, the older I get the more I realize how little I know about anything.  That may sound trite to you, butContinueContinue reading “Oh the value of being at peace!”