Remembering the Forgotten

This past Wednesday was my last service at Allied Nursing Home after 23 years as volunteer chaplain. I was deeply moved by the expression of love and thoughtfulness of so many. I want to thank each of you who have liked, loved or commented on this special moment. While I deeply appreciate all the good wishes I would most of all love to see others step up to get involved in some way, because these years have been all about remembering the residents who are often forgotten by others. To help anyone who is interested in getting involved , I am running a free book promotion over labor day week-end of all my books dealing with nursing home ministry. Here are the links to two of them. Reflections is a daily reader devoted to residents, family members, staff or anyone else touched by the challenges of long term care.

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Reflections of Hope

There are also 4 other books that concentrate on training and inspiring volunteers, but I will just post the link to the most comprehensive of these:

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Nursing Home Ministry -The Heart of Jesus Christ

True Revival

True revival is not about emotions or even miracles but about a real place on earth where the Father’s will is done. That being said I would ask for prayer for myself and our ministry team this Wednesday. We will be sharing the hope of the gospel in five different nursing home meetings tomorrow. There is no where more needing of transformation encouragement and restoring revival than in these places. People face discrimination, neglect, physical suffering and depression. Only Jesus can and will untie the knots, draw close and bring real spiritual healing. Pray that we will display clearly the amazing love of Jesus Christ and be His hands and feet in these places.

Listening to the Question

Did you ever notice that people weren’t afraid to ask Jesus questions. Both his friends and enemies felt free to ask. Even though people sometimes didn’t much like the answers they were willing to ask because Jesus was always ready to listen.

In nursing home ministry I am learning that the real ministry of change only happens when people begin to ask questions. For that to happen my prayers as of late are that God will help me to slow down and listen more. Are we ready to hear uncomfortable questions? When we listen to the question then God will be able to give people His answers through us. Have a blessed week!

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Matthew 18:1 NIV