When I began radiation treatment for my cancer, I discovered what it was like to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. As I spent weeks without eating solid food, I began to realize that the physical and emotional trauma coming my way could only be met by taking the hand of the Lord and walking with Him. Even so, being led through the valley of the shadow is frightening. Its uncertainties keep you alert to every changing scenario. I began to cling to every nuance of the doctors' (continued)...

Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation.

It was fear - the suffocating, heart - racing fear of a man who has no way out - that propelled Peter out of the boat.

If Peter had seen Jesus walking on the water during a calm, peaceful day, do you think that he would have walked out to him?

Nor do I.

Had the lake been carpet smooth and the journey pleasant, do you think that Peter would have begged Jesus to take him on a stroll across the top of t (continued)...

We were rapidly descending through a night of thick fog at 200 miles per hour, but the seasoned pilot of the twin-engine Aero Commander was loving every dip, roll and lurch. At one point he looked over at me, smiled and exclaimed, "Hey, Chuck, isn't this great?" I didn't answer. I was sweating it out on my knees.

As the lonely plane knifed through the overcast pre-dawn sky, I was reviewing every Bible verse I'd ever known and re-confessing every wrong I'd ever done. It was like hurtli (continued)...

Twenty-six years of pastoral ministry did not prepare me for what was about to happen. After five months of tests and treatment for cancer, I was in complete remission, and I thought, Now life is going to return to normal.

My euphoria was replaced with a growing uneasiness. It was the beginning of a struggle for my emotional and spiritual well-being like no other struggle I had ever fought. I found myself postponing personal decisions about buying new furniture, clothes, and (continued)...

There is great truth and hope in the statement, "Life is a dream and heaven is reality." Unfortunately, when we are facing our own mortality, we may have a hard time looking at it that way. We may be more likely to say, "Life is reality and heaven is a dream!"

This is understandable. As we journey through pain and suffering, our families and friends become a major focus.We think about leaving them behind and worry about who will take care of them.We may become so concerned about and f (continued)...

Those who ride the emotional roller coaster of life with cancer unanimously agree on the worst section of the track. It's that long, downhill, out-of-control, white-knuckled, hang-on-for-dear-life, when-will-this-ever-end ride with fear. Even the stout-hearted find themselves braced against the seat, clenching their jaws and squinting their eyes tightly shut. While all of us careen down that section of track at one time or another, many cancer patients and their families are detoured onto tha (continued)...

Several thousand years ago, a man named Job endured terrible personal suffering. In one devastating blow after another he lost his children, his wealth, and finally his health. As he sat on an ash heap and scraped the sores on his diseased body with bits of broken pottery, some friends came to visit. Job's condition was so appalling that at first his friends sat with him in silent comfort. But after a time, they each felt compelled to offer an explanation for Job's personal torment. Although (continued)...

There is virtually no end to the things about which we can feel guilty (and subsequently miserable). And if we feel guilty, most of us automatically assume that we are guilty. But like every part of our human nature, our consciences are flawed and imperfect. Sometimes we will feel guilty when we aren't. So it is important that we learn to distinguish between true guilt and false guilt:

True guilt says, I've done something wrong that I am responsible to make right."
False guilt say (continued)...

We all know them. They live next door, go to our church, work in our office, or are part of our family. These would-be encouragers seem to know exactly what to say to push our guilt buttons. Disguised as advice or clothed in concern, their remarks cross over the line that separates mercy from manipulation.

Who are they? They are the guilt producers. And people who are suffering seem to be their favorite targets. Every day at the Outreach of Hope we hear the cries of their wounded vic (continued)...

Like so many others who have fought the battle against cancer, Dave and I discovered that when you go through suffering, you come to the end of yourself. You have more decisions to make that affect your future, but you don't know what the future holds. You need more time to rest and regroup, but you have even less time to do so. You need more money to pay the bills, but cancer may have taken away your ability to earn an income. Your children may need more security and assurance, but you may f (continued)...

Some of us, by virtue of our temperament or life experiences, tend toward shouldering the burden of false guilt. A disapproving look, a harsh word, a loved one's unmet expectations, or an unresolved conflict-any of these can slam our guilt response into overdrive. Although the following quiz is not intended to provide an in-depth analysis, it may help you identify a tendency toward assuming false guilt.

Answer "true" or "false" to each of the following statements.

1. I assume re (continued)...

Ever since she was eight years old, Hannah was terrified of death.  The images of an accident victim dying on the street in front of her house were indelibly etched in her memory.  Then, years later, she experienced the losses of death firsthand.  One by one, within thr (continued)...

When my children were small, I remember the excitement of their first steps. I met each wobbly lurch forward with enthusiastic hurrahs and hugs. They went from heavily padded bottoms to reinforced knees-shock absorbers for their anticipated tumbles and tears. I expected them to fall, to cry. I knew they were learning and delighted in each stage of their progress. That's what parents do. It's effortless to love our children, to nurture them, to delight in their growth.

We quickly forget (continued)...