Free book

Making New Connections

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 1 Corinthians 12:20-21

One of the greatest challenges that many people face today is isolation. We as a society find ourselves separated by age, wealth, education and race. Sadly, this kind of segmentation is common even in the church. Our church announcements end up sounding something like this,

“The eyebrows will be meeting in room 112b on Wednesday nights, the feet are having a luncheon at noon on Saturday, and a short-term mission trip for the toes and fingers will be leaving next Sunday afternoon.”

This sort of dissection of the body of Christ seems completely natural to us because that is what we have experienced everywhere else all our lives. And though some of these specialized get-togethers are sometimes helpful, the dangers of isolation and segmentation are nowhere more pronounced than among the elderly who often find themselves in long-term care. And even in long-term care facilities the specialization that drives further isolation has been accelerating over the last ten or fifteen years. For example, those with memory issues are locked in their own ward, others no longer able to walk are placed in a separate wing, and the list goes on. Worst of all is that these people are not only isolated, but they are also usually soon forgotten by family, friends and neighbors, and even by the church. The parts of the body of Christ that God had designed to be connected to them don’t miss them because they are busy meeting with the other toes and fingers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today God is calling the church to do more than hold worship conferences, youth rallies and women’s conventions. God’s heart is to go out into the highways and byways, which includes the long-term care facilities in our community. For those who sense God’s calling, I am making a short book called, “New Frontiers in Nursing Home Ministry,” available for free in its Kindle format all this week.

Walking With Lambs – Preview

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

I will be beginning again posting my nursing home ministry content on my other website and reposting it here. If you are interested, you may want to subscribe over there, as its content is focused exclusively in that area. You also may be interested in the free eBook offer for this month called Grace For the Road – Devotions for Caregivers. The give away starts on Thursday 6/9 and runs through Sunday 6/12. Have a blessed day all.

https://wouldyoudoitforone.wordpress.com/2022/06/08/walking-with-lambs-preview/

pastorpete51's avatarWalking With Lambs

Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. Genesis 33:14 KJV

When I first wrote the poem Softly With The Lambs ; little did I know how this picture of Jacob gently leading his sheep would grow in my heart. That thought of Jacob, who was still limping along from his wrestling match with God, reminded me of the many years I have limped alongside my friends at nursing homes.

Ater writing a follow up post to the poem, and a change of the title to Walking With Lambs, I realized that I needed to do much more. But first, I want to express my gratitude for the support of my wife who worked together with me…

View original post 393 more words

Free Devotional – My Mother’s Day Gift

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

Almost ten years ago, after several decades of volunteering in nursing homes I wrote my first book on the subject. This is a bit of a specialized area, and no commercial publishing house was interested (understandably) so with the help of coworkers, my pastor and friends we published “Would You Do It For One?” through Kindle Direct Publishing. With various tweaks over the years and a few follow up volumes I thought I had preserved to the best of my ability the many experiences and lessons I had learned. Though I often floundered through the months and years of ministry, I came to depend more and more on God, as well as learn from plenty of mistakes!

The years from 2015-19 felt like smooth sailing, and then the Covid-19 pandemic came along and turned everything on its head. Thankfully after 15 months of complete shutdown, one by one the facilities reopened, but to a brand-new world, where much has changed. Though I procrastinated and listed lots of good excuses about why I shouldn’t write anything more, God continued to stir my heart, to get off my duff and get started on a new volume! So recently I began work on a new book and I would so appreciate your prayers for God’s inspiration, organization and grace. In the meantime, just in time for Mother’s Day, I am offering for free an eBook version of my 30-day devotional written for people living in long-term care as well as those still living home, with the assistance of friends and family. 31 Days of Hope will be available for free starting on Sunday (Mother’s Day) and the promotion will run through Tuesday of next week. (Just in case you are busy honoring a mom tomorrow!) There is also a Large Print Soft Cover Available. Have a Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mothers, both biological and spiritual and a blessed weekend to all.