"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies,do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28).Man of peace making Ken Sande says it so well:Even when we say, "I forgive you," many of us have a difficult time not thinking about what othersContinue reading "Striving to forgive completely is worth the work, however long it takes!"

The prayer from Colossians 1:9-14 that we must never stop praying for others (for our family members, for our spouse, for our children, for our friends, for our pastors):Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his willContinue reading "Don’t ever stop praying this prayer…"

I often say the key to good pastoral work, the key to life coaching, the key to mentoring, the key to counseling, indeed, the key to good communication, is listening.Because a person truly listened to will be a person who feels loved.  Indeed they hardly will know the difference between being listening to and feelingContinue reading "There are times when you quit listening … Of Course!"

[This religion column appeared in section B-3 of the Easter Sunday Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette (3/31/2013).  Currently, the paper does not include the columns of their local columnists on their website.  With their permission, here it is.] -----Don Follis March 31 column:  “In spite of what we see this Easter we keep living by faith”     At age 14Continue reading "At Easter especially we have to keep living by faith"

 Isaiah 29:16New Living Translation (New Living Translation)16 How foolish can you be?    He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay!Should the created thing say of the one who made it,    “He didn’t make me”?Does a jar ever say,    “The potter who made me is stupid”?I like how writer Ken Sande thinks about this intriguingContinue reading "God exercising his control"

A while back a pastor said to me, somewhat playfully, but quite seriously, too:  "I need to figure out the secret to life this year.  Talk to me, Don."Oh great.  I just love easy assignments.  Don't you?Actually, I do.  🙂 I.  First of all.  This guy is the expert on his life.  I'm not.  IContinue reading "5 great questions"

My 70-year-old friend told me his health issues started when he was born.The mystery, the wonder of life..."I was born dead," he told me, "and that didn't do me any good.""I guess not," I said.  "Not a particularly great way to start.""I was born at home and the country doctor eventually just covered my bodyContinue reading "Sometimes you just have to bake a little bit longer"