Author Archives: Don Follis

64 years ago today Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged for his part in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler.  Most people who know of him know him only for one famous sentence.  The Cost of Discipleship is one of the most influential books I have ever read.  I first read it while still a college student butContinueContinue reading “When Jesus calls a man…Words for Holy Week”

The Nicene Creed adopted in 325 A.D. countered false teachings that Jesus is not fully man and fully God.  Some of the questions here come from a third-century poet known as St. Ephrem the Syrian (~306-373) …If he was not Flesh, whose garments were stripped from Him and divided among the soldiers?  And if heContinueContinue reading “Jesus, the Savior and Lord, is both God and Man”

In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples.  As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me."Greatly distressed, each one of asked in turn, "Am I the one?"He replied, "It is one of you twelve who is eating fromContinueContinue reading “Choices”

French painter Gustave Dore (1832-1883) depicts the Dream of Pilate's wife with beautiful, haunting images.  Notice Jesus in the painting with the halo around his head.  But then look at the many other people, perhaps some of them martyrs for their faith (said one art critic I read), but all … judging from the way Gustave Dore paints them … seemContinueContinue reading “Fully God, Fully Man”

As you ponder Holy Week, consider these poignant thoughts from the Irish Jesuits and the Sacred Space prayer site. Holy Week, as it is called, marked the steepest learning curve in the lives of Jesus' disciples, and we might gear our prayer to the events and lessons of each day. It seemed to start well,ContinueContinue reading “Tasting pain as Holy Week begins”

As we stand at the door of Holy Week and prepare to walk with Jesus toward Golgatha, I think back to that day near the beginning of his ministry. Jesus encountered a paralyzed man we read about in Matthew chapter 9 …"Be encouraged, my child!  Your sins are forgiven."  But some of the teachers of religiousContinueContinue reading “The day Jesus signed his death warrant…”

I am coaching you and I appreciate our time together.  As a pastor, my temptation is to listen to you, think of what I would do and then blurt it out.  But that's not what I want to do here.  As your coach, I am more of a bouncing board and want to listen andContinueContinue reading “Good Coaching questions…”

I'm up at the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin, this week at a conference called Introduction and Foundations to coaching.  I'm with pastors and missionaries from denominations such as the Evangelical Free Church, Brethren in Christ and American Baptist denominations.Our trainer, Sandra Wimpelberg from Nashville, is focusing on developing and understanding theContinueContinue reading “Unlocking your potential…by using a coach”