Don Follis

Put these 4 in your pocket … believe me, you’ll need them!

[This religion column appears in section B-3 of today’s (2/03/13) Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette. Currently, the paper does not include their local columnists pieces on their website. With their permission, here it is.] —– At my dad’s 80th birthday party a few years ago on a cold January day, more than 100 friends gathered to wishContinueContinue reading “Put these 4 in your pocket … believe me, you’ll need them!”

Dare you to insert your own name

Marching through Luke’s Gospel in my morning reading, I got stopped cold in my tracks this morning. It happened about 5am as I read Luke 22:54-62 in the English Standard Version…—–54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when theyContinueContinue reading “Dare you to insert your own name”

There is a road that leads to true peace … prayer

“A peacemaker,” writes Henri Nouwen in The Road to Peace, “prays. Peace is a gift we receive in prayer. … Prayer is the beginning and the end, the source and the fruit, the core and the content, the basis and the goal for all peacemaking. I say this without apology, because it allows me toContinueContinue reading “There is a road that leads to true peace … prayer”

Be careful about putting your leaders on a high pedestal

Working with pastors and leaders, I see things. Do I ever. Such as: * People being jealous of them. Sometimes they are. Well, don’t be. I got stories. Let me tell you.* People thinking they don’t blow it. Have you ever met a human who didn’t blow it? Come one. Everybody blows it. In caseContinueContinue reading “Be careful about putting your leaders on a high pedestal”

Visiting Mazatlan, Mexico (a few more pics!)

The front of Kyle and Ellen Benefield’s houseHere are a couple more pictures from my trip to Mazatlan, Mexico, in Mid-January, where I visited Kyle, Ellen, Ethan and August Benefield. Benefields have lived in Mazatlan five-and-a-half years … This was my 6th trip to Mazatlan.Looking from the Benefield driveway to the bus stop about aContinueContinue reading “Visiting Mazatlan, Mexico (a few more pics!)”

Thinking about changing something?

Dave Jacobs (davejacobs.net) coaches pastors. The man knows how to ask great questions, regardless of what you do. Like these 10 to ask yourself before implementing change:What problem am I hoping this change will address?Am I sure that the above problem is the real problem and not merely a symptom of the real problem?Why doContinueContinue reading “Thinking about changing something?”

Will things really change?

That’s the question, isn’t it?You probably pray the Serenity prayer, don’t you?”Grant me the serenity [peace] to accept the things I cannot change,courage to change the things I can,and wisdom to know the difference.”It’s a powerful prayer. You long ago memorized it. I pray it most days — often several times. But it’s not anContinueContinue reading “Will things really change?”

This is why not many should be teachers … (James 3)

Today pastor John Piper tweeted: “First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” Matt. 23:26. The great war is within.* He’s right. Makes you think of what Jesus said: “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” The other day a pastor I coachContinueContinue reading “This is why not many should be teachers … (James 3)”