Author Archives: Don Follis

Today’s column in the News-Gazette — Empathy is the great deterrent to Shame –will give you lots to think about as Holy week begins!

The Gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke each mention the Roman Centurion guarding and overseeing theThe confession of the Centurion … James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum, oil on canvascrucifixion of Jesus. (A centurion was a Roman commander of 80-100 soldiers.) … 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and allContinueContinue reading “A heart of stone becomes a heart of flesh…”

Scripture: Luke 23:39-4339 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this manContinueContinue reading “Jesus remembers us now, and in the age to come!”

One thing I’ve discovered in talking with hundreds of pastors over the last few years…  Fixing doesn’t work!  The problem wasn’t what I was telling them; the problem was that I was telling at all!  Most people do not want to be told what to do.  Just like me…I see over and over that when I askContinueContinue reading “People love to discover their own answers…”

Luke 2:34-35 reads:And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed  (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”These verses from LukeContinueContinue reading “The man of sorrow and acquainted with grief is the first-born from the dead”

  7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do notContinueContinue reading “Abandoning the temporary for the permanent…”

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mineContinueContinue reading “High enough standard for you?”