Pastor Jenkins welcomed Henry to his office for their second visit. “Hello, Henry. I am glad to see you again. How are you doing?” “That assignment you gave me was pretty tough. You said to study the Scripture. I realized after I started reading it, I wasn’t… Read More

As Pastor Jenkins was leaving his office on a late Thursday afternoon, he saw Henry Jacobson sitting in the front of the sanctuary. Henry’s head was bowed, cupped in his hands. Pastor Jenkins heard muffled sobs. As he walked slowly forward, he saw Henry was dressed in fatigues, reminding the… Read More

Research has shown that among the common fears of death are the fear of dying in pain, the fear of being a burden to others, and the fear of dying alone. At some point many people approaching death also wonder about what lies beyond death for them. Is God… Read More

We all have a natural fear of pain, and a profound fear of prolonged pain. Pain without meaning is weakening. Pain with meaning, such as giving birth to a child, can be borne with a sense of purpose. Though we fear pain, pain is one experience that unites us… Read More

As death approaches we can feel like a child in the dark. Shadows are scary, becoming imaginary monsters. Sounds seem to signal an intruder in our midst. Familiar bedroom objects are transformed into dangerous phantoms. If we have experienced trauma, combat, or abuse, approaching death may jerk us… Read More

Dying is never easy, especially when we feel that we are a burden to those who care for us. Often we maintain our sense of control by being caretakers. When we become the one who is to be taken care of, our roles are reversed and we lose a… Read More

Are you afraid of dying? Fear of death comes in many forms. Are you afraid of being a burden, dying alone, or dying in pain? Do you fear what comes after death? The Scriptures speak to each of these concerns. Find out more. Sign Up… Read More

Medicine cannot perform blood tests to tell us where our death will lead us. There is no x-ray or CAT scan that will penetrate the unknown to reveal what our future holds. What comes after death is a mystery. Yet, people of faith have expressed a vision that provides… Read More

A nurse spoke to a chaplain quietly in the hospital hallway. “Chaplain, I want you to see Mr. O’Brien in bed 6. His mood is not consistent with what he is dealing with. I think he may be in major denial. Would you see him and give me your impression?”… Read More

In this chapter, we will look at two more steps toward healing from the wounds of unfair blows that come our way. One step is to examine our assumptions. Another step is to accept help. We have been taught that life is supposed to be fair. Read More