Encouragement – A contemporary log of fragmentary pleasures

Remember the Youth

Remember the youth, they are the future of our God’s kingdom. Remember your own youth, so you can be patient, understanding, and strong with the students of today. Be the adult today you wish you’d had in your life back then, but knowing what you know today. Be the support that holds up the bridgesContinue reading “Remember the Youth”

Single and Secure – week 1

I’m leading a small group Thursdays based on Rick Wilkerson Jr’s book, Single and Secure. I thought I’d post here the first handout. Quotes are from his book. Single and Secure – Week 1: Single and “Stuck?” Not Everyone Goes Through the Same Stages in Life, nor in the Same Order My path in lifeContinue reading “Single and Secure – week 1”

Waiting between Patients

The time between patients can be so short I barely have enough time to hit “send” on the prescriptions page. Other time, there’s a long lull, like there is right now. This is when I start wondering if I’m making a difference in people’s lives. I don’t think about that when I’m in the zoneContinue reading “Waiting between Patients”

I finally got around to putting away the Christmas tree and decorations. I tend to celebrate till Epiphany but it’s always sad for me to put them away. The living room feels empty now. Maybe I’ll put up the tree again in July, though. Speaking of Christmas in July, I’ve started the sequel to myContinue reading

Midweek Post

The first week of the year is halfway over. If you’re still doing your fitness resolution, congratulate yourself, because so many people didn’t even start! Push through those reps, eat those fruits, run that extra kilometer! It’ll be worth it when this time next year you look in the mirror and realize it’s no longerContinue reading “Midweek Post”

It’s Time to get Back and be Persistent

My word of the year for 2023 will be “persistent.” I have started to turn around my life these past few months, from work to health, when for a long time I couldn’t take the first step. I didn’t want to drive to the gym after work. I didn’t want to clean the kitchen. IContinue reading “It’s Time to get Back and be Persistent”

Relaxation: What is it? Part 1

I’ve always found it difficult to relax. Sure, I can lay back and doze off, but taking a nap is both cheating and unfulfilling since I’m unconscious during it. I’ve never been one to meditate either, since my mind never stops moving. What’s bothersome is that the movement is aimless, not a useful kind ofContinue reading “Relaxation: What is it? Part 1”

Flexibility

I didn’t think of myself as uptight. I didn’t think of myself as perfectionist. I can point to my living space as proof against it: I don’t care about crooked pictures, crumbs on the floor, or dust on the decor. But as I look around the apartment, I see that the imperfections are skin deep,Continue reading “Flexibility”

Hyperconquerors

In the eternal game of good versus evil, Jesus has curb stomped satan. Our side is so ahead, we are playing from a place of victory—we have the guaranteed win because this late in the game, there’s no way the enemy could ever score enough to catch up. The enemy just tries to do asContinue reading “Hyperconquerors”

Becoming a Real Author

Since I was a child, I dreamed of writing and publishing a book. I wanted to tell a story that would entertain, edify, and be memorable for decades. I had many false starts throughout the years, from my first attempt at a novel (which I still work on, by the way) to segues into theContinue reading “Becoming a Real Author”