Laughter In The Mountains

A few weekends ago my wife and I were driving in the mountains. I popped a CD of Ellie Lofaro’s message into the player, and we were instantly engaged by her humor. What a great storyteller! She is very effective in making timeless truths relevant to everyday life.

I love to laugh with my wife. That time in the truck, going through the snow-covered Rockies, will be a precious memory. Thanks, Ellie!

Autism: More On Causes, Treatments

I’ve made mention of our son’s disability. He is making great progress in learning how to cope and compensate for autism. We’re pleased, and very grateful for the prayers and support of so many. Still, there are lots of times when we ask questions. While there remain precious few answers, there is a steady stream of research into autism.

US News and World Report has an update about the lack of a causal link between vaccinations and autism. Included are several good perspectives about effective treatment approaches. It is an easy read, not overly clinical nor terribly in-depth. A good look at autism, though.

No doubt some will disagree with some or all of the article, but I thought it was a helpful perspective.

I suggest reading this article, as autism incidences are on the increase. Sooner or later you’ll know a person with autism, and knowing more about it can only help you – and them.

New Podcast Launched

boundless-logo.jpg

Focus on the Family’s “Boundless” team has a new podcast! Here’s more on the content and approach.

Easy To Implement: S.L.E.D.

His acronym is “SLED.” His passion is obvious. His expertise is apparent. Go here to see more about a provocative speaker and his powerful (yet simple) approach to defending preborn children.

Bill Cosby Is Right

He has been speaking out pretty frankly – brutally, even – about families. In a recent speech, he observed,

“People don’t know how to parent, and they don’t care,” Cosby said. “Babies are having babies.”

I think he’s right – to a point.

What do you think?

Intervening For Life

There are many gifted writers and speakers defending the sanctity of life. One of the most intelligent and articulate of these is Professor Robert P. George. His analysis of the landscape is insightful and his arguments on behalf of life are compelling. He shared his insights with us on this broadcast, a fast-paced interview about the cultural shift toward life and away from death. Also joining us for this powerful conversation was Carrie Gordon Earll, another particularly engaging and thoughtful pro-life advocate.

And if you haven’t yet done so, stop by and participate in the “Roe I.Q. Test” – you might be surprised by how little most folks really know about the landmark Supreme Court decision.  To date, over 40,000 have taken the quiz. Eye-opening!

Incredible

This has to be one of the most remarkable conversations we’ve aired. It is almost surreal listening to Bernard Nathanson, M.D., on our program. Formerly the director of a large abortion clinic in New York City, he personally performed thousands of abortions. He also co-founded NARAL (the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League). What happened to him is nothing short of miraculous, and he is now a voice for the pro-life movement.

If you haven’t yet heard him tell about why he performed abortions and what changed his mind, listen in.

Inspiring

On the way home tonight I heard a significant portion of Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous speech. What a gifted man, and an extraordinary orator! He eloquently conveyed the essence of his struggle – the struggle against racism – and offered hope to the audience.

When he delivered that message, I was a preschooler. I have no idea of how difficult life was for African Americans in our culture, but from what I can gather, it certainly was a shameful situation in many communities. The changes that have taken hold since are rooted in Dr. King’s passion and clarion call. We rightly honor the vision, the heart, the courage and the sacrifice of Dr. King on this day.

It seems pretty fitting to me, too, that the week’s emphasis on “sanctity of human life” begins on this day – I rather think Dr. King would have supported the call to recognize that all life is made in God’s image and bears His imprint; all life is worthy of celebration and respect, regardless of race or gifts or condition.

Lessons From Katie

It was a cold and wintery Colorado afternoon, although the sun did hang in the partly cloudy sky. Traffic on the interstate buzzed by, oblivious to the proceeding inside the church. The only odd thing someone might have noticed was the crowded parking lot – not typical for a Monday.

There were more people present for this memorial service than usually occupy the sanctuary. The number of folks gathered spoke something to me of how her life had touched so many in just a few short years.

We came together to…what? Pay tribute to a life well lived? Celebrate the “home going” of a saint? Honor the family? Share their grief? It wasn’t apparent, even as we entered the great room. There was a somber tone, a conspicuous quiet, a lack of the usual laughter and conversation that takes place before a service.

The video screen at the front showed pictures of the girl, at various stages of life. Shots of her at the hospital, obviously physically afflicted in some way. There she is with her doting mother. Now she is a toddler being hugged by a relative. And the wheelchair…an ever-present part of her life. She spent all her years confined to a bed or in that wheelchair.

Katie suffered a particularly cruel sort of physical condition. Severely affected, she was very small and most fragile. Her head fell to one side, her eyesight unfocused on anything close…she seemed to be gazing off at something, someone in the far distance. She communicated with a simple smile, or by an utterance in an unknown dialect…sometimes grunting or groaning in such a way as to seem in agony. Those close to Katie knew her communications. They could tell in some way what it was she wanted them to know: her joy at someone’s kindness, or her displeasure at the country music being played on the radio.

Unable to do anything on her own, she was caught in a body that wouldn’t work the way God intended. Not in a way our society understands or values. It would be easy to look away, to ignore the figure there in the chair, to wish she would not intrude into one’s comfort zone. Katie’s humanness pushed through her broken frame and confronted everyone with the courage to look closely at her, to talk to her, to stroke her. This much was clear by the dozen or more who shared in the memorial service.

The pastor opened up the time together, indicating that this was to be a time of reflection upon who she was and what Katie meant to us. As individuals shared, it was apparent that this girl who lived into her teens, about 15 years longer than doctors predicted at her birth, possessed the fullness of humanity, and of God’s beautiful design. She had touched many, many people. Tears were shed, some smiles and even a bit of laughter.

Many paid homage to her parents, who with undying hope and fathomless love tended to her needs and refused to hide her away. They included Katie in their family routines and events, which included trips to the store shopping, church services and even the burrito place. They deserved the kind words, the affirmation. They have been examples of how to parent a special child, how to offer unconditional love, how to honor the Lord’s handiwork, even when we don’t understand it.

One comment that stood out, which sounded out a loud and eternal truth to me, was something to the effect of, “God shined through her helplessness.” Oh yes. That seems so True to me. My soul said, “Learn a lesson here. Don’t regale in your accomplishments, your abilities, your successes. Take a good hard look at your values and see what God considers valuable…a life of helplessness, a life which can be used to reflect His glory and His love. Don’t think for a moment that He needs anything you can offer in order to bring glory to Himself. On the contrary, He is best honored in our weakness and helplessness.”

Another thing that struck me. “She didn’t own anything.” Of course not. Few 15 year-olds have much in the way of material things. But this girl had even less than most. She couldn’t hold onto a book, a special blanket of coat, a prized stuffed animal. She had nothing to speak of. And yet, look around the sanctuary and see how God took her lack of possessions and touched so many through her. How often do I feel a need for things – things to signal my success, or my belonging, or my desire for earthly security and well-being.

And then we sang. And the thoughts became clearer.
“Though Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well with my soul…”

I cried at the truth of that lyric, newly embraced by my heart and mind. Lord, let me not shy away from my helplessness, let me not get stuck in my own distorted priorities, let me not get sucked into a world which is upside down in its values. Let me instead consider all that You have done for me, all that You seek to do – and all You already do, in spite of my interferences and protestations. Your ways are not my ways, they are higher and more noble than anything I might dare to think of or embrace. Lord, let me say, with the saint of so long ago, “it is well with my soul” – even when my flesh struggles and refuses to see or believe it to be so.

And the overriding thought that melancholy Monday: life is sacred. All life is given by God and deserves our respect and love, from the cradle to the grave.

Not only the strong are made in God’s image, the weak are as well. That’s what Katie would have said.

Actually, that IS what Katie said for her entire 15 years.

My First Program As Co-Host

Back in 2001 I was unexpectedly sitting in the studio with Dr. Dobson. While I had worked with and for him in various capacities for 10 years, I never thought I’d find myself talking with him as co-host. Perhaps because of those experience, I wasn’t terribly nervous about the work. Or maybe it was because there was no pressure – it was a summer experiment, not expected to result in a permanent assignment. Of course, “the rest is history,” and it has been quite a privilege and supreme pleasure to continue on in this role since then.

The very first program we worked on was this three-day series featuring a hilarious and highly practical message from parenting expert Dr. Kevin Leman. As we’re fond of saying, “Good stuff.” And it is re-airing because it is classic, nuts-n-bolts advice for families.

Next Page →