It feels unprecedented: a major public health crisis for which there is no known treatment; people being quarantined; travel restrictions; border closings; panic.  It is unprecedented in my lifetime, and it is creating challenges for ministry.  Recently, we asked our deacons to temporarily suspend hospital visits, our congregational worship service was conducted online, and our support groups are not currently meeting.  I am guessing that these will not be the only adjustments that we will have to make in the days ahead.  These decisions have not been made lightly and are following the recommendation of the health experts. In...more

The current Coronavirus pandemic reminds us how quickly life can change.  Two weeks ago, we were giving little thought to the Coronavirus and now that is about all that we think about.  The news is constantly changing: sporting events are being cancelled; travel is being curtailed; groups are no longer meeting; colleges are extending breaks and offering to complete courses online; businesses are limiting hours; churches are suspending services.   How long will this last?   What will be the economic damage be?  Am I and my family at risk?  Will I lose my job?   The possibilities are frightening and the...more

Some years ago, I attended an annual C.O.R.E. conference (Clinical Overview of the Recovery Experience) and heard a researcher talk about the effectiveness of 12 Step programs in the recovery process.  He said that there were two factors that made this type of therapy successful:  community and spirituality.  When I heard his conclusion, I immediately thought, “Church.” I have worked with 12 Step groups and I know how powerful and life giving community can be.  I have also worked with Life Groups in churches and have seen how they can be life giving too, but often fall short.  It...more

If you are having surgery, or suffering with chronic illness, or undergoing chemotherapy treatment, or have had a heart attack, the church can be a resource of support and help.  People rally around these individuals with prayer, food, cards, and visits.  But if you suffer from chronic mental illness, or have a family member who is struggling with addiction, or have a child with depression, the church has often been strangely silent.   And yet, these individuals and families need the same kind of support as any individual or family who struggles with illness.  What is the reason for the...more

We have just concluded our quarterly seminar for premarital counseling.  It is always fun to work with engaged couples and to see their enthusiasm for each other.  Young love is a cocktail rush of brain chemicals:  dopamine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin all get released and the result is a flood of loving feelings.  Unfortunately, some of these same couples who are so in love and enthused will be back in my office within three years needing marriage therapy.  What happens to that initial passionate love? In her book, Love Sense, Sue Johnson describes a reality that she calls, “Relationship Fatigue.” ...more