Author Archives: Don Follis

Late yesterday afternoon I attended the memorial service for a 17-year-old young man from Champaign who lost his battle with mental illness.  Late last week in a tragic act of desperation he ended his life.About 500 friends quietly gathered to hear the young man memorialized.  He was remembered as a person who was brilliant inContinueContinue reading “Losing the battle at such a young age”

In late September when the cool nights come to east-central Illinois, and I breathe deeply from the air wafting from the corn and bean fields waiting to be harvested, I think of the last novel by C.S. Lewis called Till we have Faces: a myth retold.  Lewis said he thought this book was his mostContinueContinue reading “Some days we long so much …”

If you read the history of God’s people, especially as, say, recorded in many of the Psalms, you will see contrasting periods of blessings and barrenness, advance and retreat.The writer of Psalm 44 describes how God helped His people in the past, “But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.” (vs 9).My physics professorContinueContinue reading “Don’t kick yourself for, or be surprised at, your battle scars…”

Here’s my column in the Sunday News-Gazette (September 23, 2013).  I explored why, when I decide to hold and nurse a grudge, I really believe that I am morally superior.  … Not pretty.

My friend Pastor John Piippo (who will be in Champaign-Urbana this Friday & Saturday) says this about prayer:Prayer is talking with God about what we are doing together. OK. But is it possible to hear God speak to us? How can we discern whether what we are hearing is really God, or not? My 3-step suggestionContinueContinue reading “What are you and God doing together … Prayer according to Pastor John Piippo”

Oh boy, “Lord help us.”

May God give us all the beautiful and innocent part of self-confidence!I love Lucy’s self-confidence.  Reading from the book of Hebrews this morning, I pondered this thought:  God wants people to know they can approach his throne of grace with confidence. Hebrews 4:14-16 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,ContinueContinue reading “God, full of mercy & grace, gives us the confidence to approach him boldly”

This afternoon I called a meeting with 7 pastors from my city — Urbana, IL — who have a heart for the city, especially the poor and disfranchised.  Each of them briefly told their story…and how Jesus and his call gives form and shape to their ministry…* A pastor from the Evangelical Covenant Church* AContinueContinue reading “Listening to pastors tell their stories…”