

Stubborn Bellies & Strong Christians
I’ve often joked with my family that when I die, they should dig me up 10 years later to see if my stomach is still there. I’ve lost 50-60 pounds on a couple of occasions and, while my face and other body parts get smaller/thinner, the gut is the last thing to go. Oh, I’ll lose a couple of inches, but I’ve got pictures of myself looking like I had just escaped from a horrific labor camp—all except for the stubborn belly fat that just holds on…no matter what! I wish other part


My Electronic Albatross...
Medicare and corporate hospice organizations require massive documentation of care for each visit to every patient. To accomplish this, many use software on a tablet or cell phone. Honestly, it takes about a minute of documenting for every minute of visitation. Furthermore, most of the software features aren’t conducive to chaplain issues. For example, it prompts chaplains to enter vital signs--something we're not even allowed to measure, let alone report on. All of this make


Back-up Singer for Jesus
I’ve sung in choirs, quartets, and even duets for years. My favorite role is singing harmony for a strong lead singer. Solos, on the other hand, are a different matter. I find my voice cracks or I waver—perhaps even going off-key when asked to sing solo. I know it’s probably psychological to some degree. Still, I like backing-up others. I’ve noticed the same thing in ministry or other situations as well. I like being second-in-charge with a strong leader I can support. This i


A Moment of Lucidity
I was visiting a patient with severe Dementia. Her husband had cared for her for a total of 10 years. She was now emaciated, a tiny fraction of herself who sat curled up on the couch chatting in a nonsensical stream of consciousness. Non-Stop, that is, until I prayed for her. I put a hand on her shoulder and said, "You are special, you know. God loves you and He made you that way." She suddenly sat still and quiet. I said, "It's true, God loves you so much than you know.""Yea