Today is an auspicious day for my blog. I have my first guest post – so exciting. Even more exciting is that this post is from one of my favorite young authors. My son Jonathon Woodhall-Driscoll. Jonathon is a junior in high school with a dramatic flair. He enjoys theatre arts and music, and …
When my Teacher was Dead Wrong
Update: My mom read this story and added some more detail which I had forgotten. I have put it into the narrative now. It was a Wednesday afternoon in my sixth grade class, about twenty minutes before school got out. I went up to Ms. Strauss and said, “I really don’t feel good. Can I go to the …
When Encouragement Saved a Marriage
As my wife and I walked in Dairy Queen, we smelled trouble. Not from the food, but from the couple we were meeting to mentor in their marriage. Let’s call them Suzie and Tim. Suzie was scowling at her husband, and Tim was texting on his phone, clearly irritated. Our fears were soon realized. Three …
Epilepsy and Guilt
Everyone in my family feels guilty because of my epilepsy. Often the first thing I hear from someone once I begin to recover from a seizure is, “I’m sorry.” They apologize for not catching me in time when I fall. For not noticing more quickly I was seizing. For the embarrassment I must feel over the …
Why I’m Proud to Wear My Superman Shirt
Photo Credit: Klobetime (Creative Commons) It was a hot summer Arizona day. The smell of barbecue burgers was making everyone wish it was lunchtime already. The joyful screams of children playing in the swimming pool filled the air as the adults lounged twenty feet away, enjoying the respite and the …
Graffiti & Family Fun Time For the Win?
I declared 2013 the year to overcome, but what does it mean to overcome? The truth is, I don’t really know, but I will share as I learn, and I hope you will do the same. Yesterday I learned that overcoming means facing multiple fears at the same time: fear of extreme dirtiness, fear of 5K …
There is No Plan Q, Not Even a Plan B
I have been dealing with epilepsy for 4 months, averaging 2 seizures a day. I expend energy every day trying to find the imaginary pattern to my seizures. Do I have a seizure when I sleep less? Does it happen when I sleep in too late? What if I drink too much milk? What about coffee in the …
Ghosts of Christmas Past, Hope For Christmases Future
I was probably eight years old, and we were at my uncle’s house for Christmas. All of us kids were in my cousin’s room. I wish I could say we were having a great time, anticipating who would get what presents, or when the hot chocolate would be ready, or if we were going to get a visit from Santa …
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Then God said, “Go to this 10-Hour Meeting?” “Ummm….God….I Don’t Mean to Complain, But….Are You Sure This is What You Meant By Full Time Ministry?”
Sometimes, following God’s plans for our life does not turn out exactly like we imagined. I remember being in Bible college over a decade ago and hearing someone in chapel say this: “In 15 years, less than 75% of you will still be in full-time ministry. So think of your 3 closest friends. If you …
Then She Started to Hula
One of my college buddies recently found this blog and commented on it. As I read his words of wisdom to me, I realized something about the short life of this blog: it has definitely been written in the minor key of pain and sorrow. Certainly this has been due to the recent challenges we’ve faced as …
Do YOU Believe in Back-Handed Grace?
Have you ever found yourself grateful to God that things aren’t worse? I used to think of that as back handed grace, and almost offensive to the goodness of God. It just never seemed like I was operating from a place of strength when I said something like, “Well, it could always be worse. Thanks …