Dearest Rachel – For a moment, I actually thought this could be a possibility, too. I mean, it made sense in the moment. So there’s this girl who was essentially working as a greeter at church this weekend. We’ve spoken before – in fact, she’s come up to me, rather than the other way aroundContinue reading “So There’s This Girl…”
Tag Archives: fear
Not Sure We’re Gonna Make It
Dearest Rachel – I have this sneaking suspicion that you’d be so disappointed in us all… Tomorrow, as you may or may not know (since I have no idea how time works on your side of the veil, and whether you even keep track of it, when there’s no point to in the middle ofContinue reading “Not Sure We’re Gonna Make It”
Can’t Bring Myself to Worry
Dearest Rachel – I never got into it with you – you used to watch them while I was at work and Daniel at school – but I know you were into certain varieties of horror for entertainment. I think it reminded you of those days when your Mom was away with one seminar orContinue reading “Can’t Bring Myself to Worry”
Blame it On the Rain
Dearest Rachel – Friday morning in Ginosar – yes, somewhere along the way, I seem to have lost a day – and while I keep hoping to be able to wander about the hotel campus (and maybe find the duplex we stayed in back in 2018), I’m still short on time to do so. The hourContinue reading “Blame it On the Rain”
from Rachel: A Man Dressed in Linen
I can’t wait. So without delay, please read Daniel 10:4-12 very carefully. How is Daniel’s riverbank encounter described in verses 4-6? “It sounds like a man too painfully bright to look at and painfully loud to listen to.” Who saw the vision? “Daniel only, not those with him” The original Hebrew is extremely emphatic: “IContinue reading “from Rachel: A Man Dressed in Linen”
When the Camera Doesn’t Do it Justice
Dearest Rachel – So our second day in Iceland had us on an actual excursion. While I’d considered a horseback ride as a option, Daniel’s lack of enthusiasm for the possibility (to be fair, he hasn’t ridden a horse since we visited Disney World with Ellen some twenty-three years ago) caused me to decide againstContinue reading “When the Camera Doesn’t Do it Justice “
from Rachel: Break Off
Which part of the interpretation recorded in verses 20-27 do you imagine was most disturbing to King Nebuchadnezzar? “I would imagine the living with wild animals, eating grass like cattle, and sleeping outside every night.” Glance back at Daniel 2:48-49. What had Nebuchadnezzar done for Daniel after he interpreted the first dream? “He had madeContinue reading “from Rachel: Break Off”
What Scares You?
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been up long enough already today that I can barely remember my dream last night. All that comes to mind is that I was one of maybe the last twelve or twenty humans left on the planet. It wasn’t a case of having to deal with tons of dead bodies everywhereContinue reading “What Scares You?”
from Rachel: Like a Weaned Child
What do you think Peterson meant by ‘neurotic dependency’? “Maybe whiny insecurity, coming to God as our therapist (??)” Offer a scenario depicting a way this could happen: “An idea, plan, event, etc. that really feels like God’s will fizzles, gets canceled, causes controversy, etc.” God‘s goal is not children scared into silence, but thoseContinue reading “from Rachel: Like a Weaned Child”
We’re On the Pavement, Thinkin’ ’Bout the Gov’ment
Dearest Rachel – Our individual news feeds aside, honey, Daniel and I aren’t like the Bob Dylan of old; we aren’t “thinkin’ ’bout the gov’ment” twenty-four seven. At least I hope not; I can’t speak for Daniel, and I don’t know what he does or listens to while I’m across town, ‘working’ at my ‘office.’Continue reading “We’re On the Pavement, Thinkin’ ’Bout the Gov’ment”
Lullaby of the Sirens
Dearest Rachel – Last night found me home from the first night of VBS, watching videos in the bedroom, when I realized that there was a sound that didn’t quite mesh with the video I was watching. Sure, it was a compilation of creepy stories, and the sound was similarly unsettling, but it didn’t “go”Continue reading “Lullaby of the Sirens”
from Rachel: Praise the Lord
Has Satan effectively tempted you to oppose your own best interests? “yes” If so, did you did you get fed up with being your own worst earthly enemy and decide to let God bring you some healing? “yes and no – lots of times – never permanently” In our introductory session, we talked about threeContinue reading “from Rachel: Praise the Lord”
Not All Sweetness and Light
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a while since I talked to you about earworms; frankly, it’s been a while since I focused much on any topic other than my travels. Let’s face it, on a trip like this, there’s rather a lot of that to talk about, to the exclusion of almost everything else. EvenContinue reading “Not All Sweetness and Light”
from Rachel: The Lord Your Keeper
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. “I depend on him so often for so much.” The Lord protects you/Yahweh is your keeper, the Lord is a shelter right by your side  The Lord will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life. The Lord will protectContinue reading “from Rachel: The Lord Your Keeper”
Preparing To Be Overwhelmed
Dearest Rachel – I suppose you can tell from my last letter that I’m taking most of the advice from the stepsisters from Into The Woods: When going to hide… know how to get there… and how to get back… and eat first. Now, I may not be all that concerned about eating first –Continue reading “Preparing To Be Overwhelmed”
Does it Count When You’re Already There?
Dearest Rachel – Mom and Dad would often talk about our first family cruise that we took back in 1999. Dad and his cousin Dennis had helped organize a trip with the entire extended family, a few years prior, and for arranging that much business, when we got to Vancouver, we were upgraded to roomsContinue reading “Does it Count When You’re Already There?”
Preparing For Takeoff
Dearest Rachel – It’s not like I haven’t been to an airport – or told you about it – since you had to go. In fact, I’ve done a lot of traveling since your departure, and consequently seen a lot of airports: Denver International, Amsterdam/Schiphol, EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International, Istanbul, Ben Gurion (Tel Aviv),Continue reading “Preparing For Takeoff”
Obeying Whose Orders?
Dearest Rachel – In retrospect, it probably wasn’t the best choice for me to be watching while I was waiting for the girls to show up last night. For all intents and purposes, I really should be talking to you mostly about the dinner we had last night; one last get-together before I ship out. AboutContinue reading “Obeying Whose Orders?”
from Rachel: Finding Unfailing Love
Read Psalm 136. What is the obvious point of the chapter? “His love endures forever.” Write a phrase and reference from each of the 26 verses of Psalm 136. For example, verse 1, “He is good,” shows His compassion. 1. God the Creator“4 – does great wonders“5 – made the heavens“6 – [made] the earth“7 – madeContinue reading “from Rachel: Finding Unfailing Love”
Work Stories Lost: the Empathy of Experience
Dearest Rachel – I forget whether your folks ever insisted you get a job during the summer when you still lived with them. When I was in high school, mine never did; they understood that the regular practice for marching band was more than enough to keep me occupied. Never mind that I wouldn’t beContinue reading “Work Stories Lost: the Empathy of Experience”
To Fear the Day Ahead
Dearest Rachel – It’s not yet four in the morning; while, being Friday, I have every intention in my mind to head out and exercise, I’m not ready to do so. And it’s not just because the facility won’t be open for an hour an a half, or that I’m dealing with the usual squabblesContinue reading “To Fear the Day Ahead”
Fear of Being Trusted
Dearest Rachel – You’re probably looking at that title with some bemusement at this point; it would be so much more in character for me to look up the Greek equivalent to this phrase, and express the concept as a ‘phobia.’ For the record, there is a term for fear of trust – pistanthrophobia –Continue reading “Fear of Being Trusted”
from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Betrayal
Write your own paraphrase of Psalm 119:92. “If I hadn’t had Your Word to cling to, my troubles would’ve been the death of me.” Read Psalm 55:1-11. How would you describe David’s frame of mind at this point in his life? “Beleaguered; overwhelmed by feelings of fear and of castigation by everyone around him” WithoutContinue reading “from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Betrayal”
Paging Doctor Howard…
Dearest Rachel – Far be it from me to consider the members of the medical profession as a group of ‘stooges.’ As much as we enjoyed that slapstick trio (you every bit as much as myself – how many females are like you in that way?), we recognized the absurdist humor when they were inContinue reading “Paging Doctor Howard…”
Words Before the Battle
Dearest Rachel – Last night’s dream, as far as I can recall, appeared to have me in the role of Neville Longbottom, giving a St. Crispian’s style speech before the Battle of Hogwarts. Most of what I can remember is starting from the top of a table in the Great Hall, and continuing to moveContinue reading “Words Before the Battle”
Irritating Dreams
Dearest Rachel – You know, honey, not all bad dreams are nightmares. You don’t spend all your unconscious moments being chased by a monster or a psychopath (which I guess is the same thing in humanoid form), or otherwise in the midst of mortal terror from one danger or another. Nor do you necessarily findContinue reading “Irritating Dreams”
The Fear of Possible Patterns
Dearest Rachel – So… now it’s 2023. Soon, it will have been two years since the accident that took you from us… and in a couple of months, it will have been another two years since your mom’s passing… and yet another two years since your dad, when this all started. I don’t know aboutContinue reading “The Fear of Possible Patterns”
The Things I Can’t Relate
Dearest Rachel – For all the times recently that I’ve gone into detail about this or that dream, there are those that I can’t relate to you – at least, not here. Sometimes, like this morning, it’s simply because the moment I open my eyes, everything pops like an enormous soap bubble. The only thingContinue reading “The Things I Can’t Relate”
from Rachel: Made for a Mission
Question to consider: What fears have kept me from fulfilling the mission God made me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the Good News? “5/25 “My fears when I consider discussing my faith start with a panicky nervousness that makes my throat feel tight like I may not be able to speak atContinue reading “from Rachel: Made for a Mission”
from Rachel: How Real Servants Act
Question to consider: Real servants make themselves available to serve; pay attention to needs; do their best with what they have; do every task with equal dedication; and are faithful to the tax they have been given. Which of the five characteristics of real servants is the most challenging for me? “(six – maintain aContinue reading “from Rachel: How Real Servants Act”
Untethered
Dearest Rachel – Well, that was terrifying. Imagine being in a capsule out in the space, you are on your way to link up with another unit (for the sake of argument, let’s say it’s the international space station). You’re looking at the viewing window as a member of the team from the other vehicleContinue reading “Untethered”
What Am I Becoming?
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know how you did it, honey. And I don’t know how I’m going to be able to continue doing this. Or for how much longer. It may well be simply because this is a night when I need to wake up early; I’ve got to shower, change and be outContinue reading “What Am I Becoming?”
This Is Only A Test
Dearest Rachel – So this morning, as I finally set out to walk across town to the ‘office’ at my folks’ place, I was mildly startled by the slowly rising wail of klaxons in the air, eventually surrounding me on all sides until I was very nearly at the (all but deserted) downtown area. It’sContinue reading “This Is Only A Test”
Letters to Rachel 