Category Archives: discouragement

No bad parts?

The body is a unit made up of many parts. The bible uses this truth to explain how followers of Christ should function together using the truth that the human body is made up of many parts as a given. … Continue reading

Posted in anxiety, burnout, counseling, depression, discouragement, imposter syndrome, mental health, ministry, pastor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rewriting my internal dialogue

This week’s assignment feels weird. I haven’t been able to do it yet. I get started and then think, “this is stupid” and then I give up. I like to write encouragement cards and send texts to others saying stuff … Continue reading

Posted in anxiety, counseling, depression, discouragement, imposter syndrome, mental health, ministry, pastor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

How long will this take?

I finished my brain book. I think it was helpful but the last section with the practical tips seemed a bit too simplistic. Maybe “simplistic” is the wrong word. I don’t know what the right word is. Perhaps the practical … Continue reading

Posted in anxiety, burnout, counseling, depression, discouragement, hope, hopeless, leadership, mental health, ministry, pastor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shaking off the dropped balls.

I really could use some beta-endorphin and beta-lipotrophin from pedaling my bike today. The last I knew today’s forecast was for warmth and sun. Now it’s calling for rain and 48°. The endorphin thing is brain talk I’m learning from … Continue reading

Posted in anxiety, burnout, Christianity, counseling, depression, discouragement, exercise, hope, hopeless, mental health, ministry, pastor, peace | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Seeing a counselor?

On Sunday, March 12, I stood up in front of the church family I love and said, “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t continue like I am.” For the next 30-40 minutes I opened myself up and let everyone … Continue reading

Posted in burnout, depression, direction, discouragement, hope, Liver disease, mental health, pastor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Is it okay for a pastor to feel these feelings?

By Scott Linscott Life has thrown a number of curveballs of uncertainty at me of late. Added to that, internals and externals have overwhelmed my calendar with dates and deadlines and people needing something from me at every turn. Added … Continue reading

Posted in burnout, depression, discouragement, leadership, ministry, pastor, time management | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Finding Beauty in the Rain

Some people are the “glass half empty” type. Others are “glass half full.”  Me? I try to be happy that I have a glass at all. Even an empty glass has potential. It’s easy to focus on the negatives in … Continue reading

Posted in chronic illness, depression, discouragement, facing death, Liver disease, transplant recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Life: have you tried turning it off and on?

Reboot. It’s the first word used by technology nerds in answer to a multitude of questions: “Why is my phone doing …?” “Why is my TV not …?” “Why is my computer so …?” “Why is my toaster …?” Have … Continue reading

Posted in burnout, change, depression, discouragement, exercise, Find God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

May I sit next to you, forever? These seats are spectacular!

Seats. Good seats are expensive. Cheaper seats don’t provide as good an experience. Some seats are soft and comfortable and others are rock hard and a pain to sit on. Some seats are narrow and constricting and others are roomy enough for … Continue reading

Posted in discouragement, facing death, recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Where do you find peace? Where do you soak it in?

Think of a favorite place; a place where you feel peace saturate your soul. Do you have such a place? I have friends who will think of the vast view at the top of a mountain trail while others will … Continue reading

Posted in chronic illness, depression, discouragement, End Stage Liver Disease, facing death, Find God, hope, Liver disease, organ donation, Organ transplant, transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The bullies in your life are wrong

So, yeah, I’m writing a book. It’s a book about me. My journey. My story. It started out being a blend of my blog and reflections on the past two years. It was going to be about liver disease, transplants … Continue reading

Posted in chronic illness, depression, discouragement, End Stage Liver Disease, facing death, hopeless, Jesus, Liver disease | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Rust, bust, turn to dust and break up in the end?

Just over a year ago we moved into our new little Westbrook house. It was a bittersweet time. It was bitter because we could no longer afford the house we built in 2000, but sweet in that our new home … Continue reading

Posted in change, chronic illness, church planting, community, Country music, depression, discouragement, End Stage Liver Disease, facing death, handicapped, Liver disease, organ donation, Organ transplant, Tim McGraw, transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Words fall like snow

Snow falling lightly. Pajama’s all day. A long chat with mom. Coffee pot decreasing. Dancing orange flames in the stove. Warm. Comfortable. Content. Silly text messages with my wife. Moments with my God. New life for a transplant friend, Smiling … Continue reading

Posted in chronic illness, direction, discouragement, Organ transplant, peace, simple, transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You are so pushy! Thank you.

Do you remember back almost about a year ago? One of the first fundraisers to help with my transplant was a rubber bracelet that said “P U S H.” It was an acronym for “pray until something happens” or some … Continue reading

Posted in discouragement, End Stage Liver Disease, facing death, Fatty liver, Fatty Liver Disease, Find God, Jesus, Liver disease, NASH, organ donation, Organ transplant, pain | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments