Author Archives: Don Follis

People often talk with me about spiritual disciplines.  Which ones are the best ones to practice, they ask?  “Hmm…, I say. There are so many.”In fact, just this morning my friend John Stanford, a retired physics professor from Iowa State University in Ames, IA, wrote about a spiritual discipline that I suggest more of usContinueContinue reading “The spiritual discipline of being content to be hidden”

“Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” Genesis 25:28I never read this verse without thinking, “Whew!  Not good.” It “appears” that Isaac principally loved Esau for his hunting skills.  As the story rolls along there is plenty of conflict and what looks like dad and mom playing favorites.ContinueContinue reading “Giving love or withholding love…”

When Abraham was old and wanting a wife for his son Isaac, he knew just what he wanted.   He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you willContinueContinue reading “Sometimes we stand firm; sometimes we collaborate … May God give us wisdom!”

In today’s column for the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, I argue that conflict has the best chance of being resolved and reconciliation actually happening when one or both of the parties embroiled in the conflict admits to perhaps being wrong and even starts exhibiting a teachable spirit.

On my very first day of campus ministry at the University of Illinois more than 35 years ago, I wish someone had said to me: “Don, your spiritual health and your emotional health are very closely connected.  Pay attention to this your whole career! There are positive and painful emotions.  Jesus had them both.  HeContinueContinue reading “Never be afraid to feel the full force of joy and sorrow…”

The Apostle Paul said he had learned the secret of being content all the time.  Rich Nathan, pastor of Columbus Vineyard Church in Columbus, OH, says he thinks he knows the formula for contentment, and I think he’s 100 percent on target.Here is Rich in his own words: (Christ’s Strength + Gratitude) – (Grumbling +ContinueContinue reading “The formula for true contentment … especially with the coming holidays!”

I did it again yesterday, and again today.  I was talking with pastors and I made what I know are valuable noises.  Principally “Hmmm,” “uh-huh,” and “Yea.” I can tell that when I talk with pastors and others that these little wordless responses actually nudge a person to say more and to keep talking.  WithoutContinueContinue reading “Hmmm… and other powerful utterances”

Years ago when I was a young campus minister at the University of Illinois, I got tangled up with a few older pastors who wanted me out of that particular ministry (These pastors probably were about 45, which now seems young to me; I was barely 25, which at the time seemed quite mature! …ContinueContinue reading “Yes, it has occurred to me that I may be wrong”