A Blind Date—with God

jbloustein — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:30:59 -0600

“God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” She smiled at me, holding a small pamphlet in her hand as she read these words.

“You’re kidding,” I remember saying.

“No,” she said, “I’m actually quite serious. May I continue?”

Remembering the Creator

jbloustein — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:44:59 -0600

The early days of my adult faith were happy and uncomplicated.

Noticing God in those days took little effort. Indeed, it was difficult not to notice God’s meddling in my life. I saw God everywhere. I spoke of God all the time. I bored and alarmed others with my preoccupation with matters of the spirit.

Findings: Holy Smoke!

jbloustein — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:58:48 -0600

Did you know that in the Bible, there are 139 references to the healing power of God’s love?

Indeed, when Jesus walked on earth, he brought a two-pronged message of good news. First, he preached the message of forgiveness, offering imperfect people reconciliation to God and the promise of eternal life.

Secondly, he healed people. Physically, emotionally, relationally and spiritually, Jesus healed people.

Robert: Trusting in God

mcherkezian — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:56:39 -0600

When I left Hawaii in search of the proof of God's existence, everyone thought I had lost it. I was leaving paradise, a successful company I had built and rebuilt, friends, and a great lifestyle. On top of that, I was taking Kim with me.

Deep down, I suspected my friends were right: I was nuts.

Part of me agreed with them because I really did not know what I was looking for. I did not know what "proof of God" would look like or how I would recognize it.

Quilt of Many Promises

admin — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:29:04 -0600

The handmade quilt that hangs on a wall in our home tells a special story. On it 12 Bible verses are stitched in clear delicate lines on raw linen. Surrounding them is a pattern of hunter green and burgundy.

Back to the Basics

msteiger — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:25:50 -0600

One of the most comforting, hopeful reasons I know to be an active part of a church community is the reassurance that when times get tough someone will be there to support you. Most of us have experienced that.

The Healer

jbloustein — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:17:44 -0600

I was trying to pray when it happened. Desperately.

Dark feelings I’d been holding back for days like some terrible tide, feelings of worthlessness and exhaustion, overcame me.

I forced myself to keep reading the Psalm I had in front of me, but all I really wanted to do was give up. Just close my eyes and never open them again. Anything to make this unnameable despair, this sadness beyond sadness I couldn’t seem to shake, go away.

F.R.O.G.

jbloustein — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:29:06 -0500

Send a virtual frog to a friend!

A Dog Named Cheeseburger

jbloustein — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:26:53 -0500

I couldn’t put my finger on why, exactly, but I had been feeling far away from God lately, like he wasn’t really hearing me.

A case of the spiritual blues, I guess.

The sweltering heat didn’t help—August here in Georgia can get pretty unbearable. It was 100 degrees today, and really sticky. I turned up the air conditioner in my car full blast, ready to head home from my errands.

That’s when I saw the dog.

In Harmony

jbloustein — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:09:51 -0500

Not long before the terrible visit to my doctor, my husband, Michael, and I bought a farm.

The farm was in Tennessee, 2,000 miles from Los Angeles and a world away from the music industry Michael and I had spent most of our lives in.

We’d lived the proverbial rock ’n’ roll lifestyle, the endless cycle of touring, recording, more touring. But we longed to settle down.