The Gift of Pain
Pain and affliction in this fallen world are the two things that we all try to avoid most. But some how they always find a way to invade our lives in the form of relational conflict and emotional distress. Just as pain in the body signifies that something could be seriously wrong, so it is that pain in the soul signifies that we need healing for affliction. When our soul is in distress, the affliction we experience is a cry for that healing. > read more...
If Anything Were Possible
If anything were possible and I could make one wish, my wish would be that I can go back in time with the will power, proper tools, and knowledge needed to be the very best father I could be. My name is Joe. I am serving a seven year sentence at Allenwood Federal Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania. I was arrested when my daughter just turned 9 years old. She is now becoming a teen and I feel as if I let her down by not being there for her during these very important and shape-shifting years.
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The Five-Fold Purpose of Christ’s Ministry to Man on Earth
“The Sprit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” > read more…
A Time to Reevaluate our Relationships?
In II Corinthians 5:18, the Lord gives to those who trust him the "Ministry of Reconciliation." This is the promise of restoring a once broken relationship with those who have offended us or with those we have offended. However, the hope of restoration is only possible to the extent that we have willing hearts. > read more…
Fathers…turn your hearts…
When earthly fathers come up short (and they will), there is a Heavenly Father who promises to stand in the gap…. > read more…
Pain Concealed is Pain Unhealed
Many people who have been offended often fail to express pain through their emotions. This behavior eventually leads to interpersonal conflict and antisocial behavior patterns. > read more...
Self Esteem and Dignity
The concept of self-esteem is one of the most controversial issues when discussing the mental or emotional health of an individual. If you ask ten different people to define self-esteem, you will probably get ten different answers. It would appear that one’s personal dignity is directly connected with one’s level of healthy self-esteem or lack thereof. In other words give a person dignity and he will develop a confident and productive life. Strip that same person’s dignity and he lives out the failure that was laid upon him. > read more…
The Communion of Intimacy
If you desire true intimate communion with those you love the most, it will be found only when you are willing to meet them at the depth of their greatest pain. If you are willing to go there with them and let them come there with you in your woundedness, your highest level of intimacy will be achieved. > read more…
Time cannot heal ALL wounds…
There is an old cliché, "Time heals all wounds." Unfortunately, this is simply not true for most of the physical and emotional wounds that hurt us. While it is true that some wounds are superficial and heal without medical attention, there are wounds that penetrate so deeply in the flesh that they eventually become infected. The same is true for emotional wounds in the soul. > read more…