This week marks a change of seasons in the life of the church. With Ash Wednesday, Christians worldwide enter a time of Lent, a season of 40 days before Easter, to contemplate and discover the story of hope and how we find deliverance from the darkest parts of our…
In the Twinkling of an Eye - a Column by Joe MacDonald
I will never forget the years when my youngest son lived in the hospital more than he did at home. The stress that we felt as a family threatened to break us and wear us down. Date nights with my wife gave way to tending to emergency medical…
I knew that I wanted to teach theology at the university level. I prepared a great résumé and felt academically equipped, having received my doctorate in ministry. I applied to dozens of schools, but no one offered to hire me. I questioned my abilities and couldn’t understand why I…
Last Sunday, my oldest son came to town for a photoshoot. He hopes to build a strong website presence so that directors and casting agents consider him for future projects in musical theater. We made plans to eat lunch before meeting with the photographer. My youngest son joined me, and…
The Sacramento Christian Camp and Conference Center lies in New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains at an elevation of 9,500 feet. It offers fresh air and magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. I’ve been visiting the camp for over 15 years and still get caught up in the extraordinary…
We find ourselves in a delightful spot regarding hemophilia. My youngest boy’s last internal bleeding episode occurred nearly eight years ago. Using prophylactic treatment, we’re managing his bleeding disorder well. My older son, who struggled with breakthrough bleeding episodes despite using a recombinant factor VIII product, now finds…
Last weekend, I met with some of my pastoral colleagues at a restaurant in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The food was terrific and we dined with the mountains behind us. I looked out the window to see several ski runs etched in the slopes and thought, “My goodness, it doesn’t…
Next week, my youngest son will celebrate his 16th birthday. It’s hard to believe that so much has occurred in his young life. He has experienced the heartache of living with a bleeding disorder, and has often been paralyzed by his fear of needles. He has undergone 16…
I will never forget the day my wife told me that she was pregnant with our first child. I stood there, unable to process her announcement of our boy’s impending entry into the world. I couldn’t fathom how my life would change. I struggled to figure out how I might…
I start every year by promising to make meaningful changes in my life. I hope to lose weight, exercise more, live a healthier life, and be a better parent to my children during their bleeding episodes. These New Year’s resolutions sound great, and when I am in my “safety…
