Tag Archives: focus

When the good part of life hits you hard

What do you do when good stuff hits you hard? Have you ever had moments when you just sit back and think, “holy smokes, I have it good?” There are piles of crap pulling for my attention. Gross, right? Crass, … Continue reading

Posted in Liver disease | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wasting my bonus days

I think I’m wasting my bonus days. Or, at least, I think I’m wasting too much of them. Imagine you have a giant bowl of mashed potatoes and are a huge spud fan. If you have a gallon of mashed potatoes, you … Continue reading

Posted in burnout, change, diet, direction, recovery, transplant recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Do you pray? How do you pray? When? Why?

When I was at my lowest, my prayers seemed intimate and somehow powerful. They seemed like a two-way interaction, I often sensed God’s presence and comfort like a sudden, warm, summer downpour – the type that makes you throw out … Continue reading

Posted in burnout, Christianity, hope, peace, recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How should I shepherd this flock? Where do I begin?

“I have something for you,” Jen said. Her face wore her father’s half-smirk-half-smile that always made me wonder what he was up to. She stood facing me close enough that I could see the same spark that I used to … Continue reading

Posted in Christianity, church planting, direction, Liver disease, ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Why I am so sure God is there for you

I’m not sure I can communicate how I’m feeling about a milestone I hit today but I’ll give it a shot. It feels kind of like I’m bragging or saying, “Look at me! I’m a big deal” but that’s not … Continue reading

Posted in Liver disease | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

How is your eyesight? Your hearing? What do you see? What do you hear?

Have you ever sat and listened to the birds? I mean, really listened, not just, “woah, listen to those birds.” This afternoon I sat and listened. That’s not like me. Or, at least, it’s not like the me I used … Continue reading

Posted in change, Find God, Liver disease, relationship, religion, transplant, transplant recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I’ve got the green light … Now what?

A week ago Josh and I walked through the doors at Lahey Hospital and headed to the transplant wing. When we walk around Lahey we do it like we built the place. We know where everything is because we’ve spent … Continue reading

Posted in change, Christianity, hope, Lahey Clinic, Liver disease, pastor, transplant, transplant recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Why do I get to live while others die?

I’ve had a few experiences in the last week that I don’t really know how to process. I’m feeling kind of down. Okay, I’ll spill it. I met a few organ donor families who are filled with grief. I feel … Continue reading

Posted in anger, chronic illness, depression, Liver disease, love, organ donation, Organ transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Four months ago yesterday the storm came to a head

Yesterday was my four month anniversary of my life-saving liver transplant. That’s old news, right? I mean, you might be thinking, “Okay already! Move on.” I get it. I really do. We get sick of hearing something repeatedly. I remember … Continue reading

Posted in Liver disease | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Am I out of the woods?

I love vanilla soft serve ice cream. My wife hates it. Since most soft serve places don’t offer hard ice cream we usually end up at shops with pretty teenage scooper girls digging into ice cream buckets. While I prefer … Continue reading

Posted in change, chronic illness, depression, discouragement, End Stage Liver Disease, Lahey Clinic, Liver disease, organ donation, Organ transplant, transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

I was supposed to get a liver transplant but I got new eyes too.

Okay, now this is weird. It’s good weird. I mean, I like it but it was just very unexpected. I had half of my son’s liver stitched into me on May 7 and, for some reason, I immediately started seeing … Continue reading

Posted in Liver disease | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cribbage, wheezes, new hat and, oh yeah, A TRANSPLANT DATE!

Picture this, on one side of an antique trunk sits an 80 year old Korean War vet who is a whiz with numbers. On the other side sits someone whom you are sure is a pregnant man with his giant … Continue reading

Posted in chronic illness, discouragement, End Stage Liver Disease, facing death, Find God, hope, Jesus, Liver disease, NASH, organ donation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Liver disease may take my life but it will not take my LIFE

New life. Today I felt well enough to hold newborn Stephen Willette. Apart from a concentrated effort to keep my emotions in check, I breathed deep. There’s something about a newborn baby that gives hope and renewal. I felt his … Continue reading

Posted in discouragement, facing death, Fatty liver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What is it really all about?

Christianity, what is it really all about? I’ve heard worship leaders say it’s all about worship. Preachers say it’s all about preaching. Small group leaders say it’s all about sharing life. Missionaries tell me it’s all about missions. Burlap purse-toating … Continue reading

Posted in change, Christianity, church planting, Jesus, leadership, love, ministry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dumptruck loads of doctrine

I’m about as deep as a puddle. What you see is what you get. I had a conversation with a guy this morning who told me he likes my preaching style. As a complement, he told me the difference between … Continue reading

Posted in Christianity, church planting, Jesus, leadership, ministry, pastor, religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment