Reverend Robert Phillips: Speaking the Unspeakable | Open To Hope Radio
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Reverend Robert Phillips shares the grief experience through poetry and the bible.
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Questioning Faith
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Frank Lewis: Remembering Our Siblings | Open To Hope Radio
Since the death of his brother, Frank Lewis has led a sibling chapter of The Compassionate Friends. Through his work as a pastor he has been able to help others navigate their grief.
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Webinar-Easter; Where is God After Loss? | Open To Hope TV
Pastor Dennis Apple speaks with Dr. Gloria Horsley about death and wondering where God is? Dennis Apple is the bereaved dad of Denny, age 18, who died in 1991 after a brief illness. Dennis counsels couples and individuals who are Continue reading
Who Will We Be In Our Grief? | Post
I start thinking about Thanksgiving on the first day of November. Who will be at my table and what delicious foods will be served. But yesterday was All Saints Sunday. We remembered those we love who have left this life … Continue reading
Faith is Like Insurance When a Loved One Dies | Post
“Faith is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to go on when fear is present.” The summer of 2011 will be remembered as a season of violent storms and will be marked by many lives that were turned … Continue reading
Healing Journey: Things Are Looking Up (And So Am I) | Post
Some of you are far enough along the grief journey to believe that there is life with grief. Please notice I did not say “life AFTER grief.” There is no “after”; there is only understanding and healing. You don’t stop … Continue reading
Discovering Something Greater than the Answer to “Why?” | Post
“Why me?” “Why now?” They are questions that many bereaved ask when they come to our support groups. I’m sure many wish that Gary and I could gaze into a crystal ball, and assure them there is a reason to … Continue reading
A Question of Faith for Those who Mourn | Post
Faith is an important asset for those who mourn, and yet for some it is not enough. At a bereavement conference, a father described the loss of his son and admitted that he had lost his faith and did not … Continue reading
What Happens When You Lose Your Religion? | Post
When we speak of grief and loss, we think in terms of people, places, events and tragedies. Yet, there are other losses that are present in our lives that occur on a more corporate level. At times, these losses are … Continue reading
A Skeptic’s Journey Through Grief | Post
As a physician with a strong science background, I used to regard all things spiritual with a jaded eye—until the recent suicide of my young son, Erik. Since then, my life has been cleaved into two parts: The Before and … Continue reading
Yearning for Certainty in an Uncertain World | Post
A woman was walking down the hallway past my counseling office after she had seen Linda, the massage therapist. My office door was open so I heard the lady remark, “Everything happens for a reason, my friend.” The certainty built … Continue reading
An Uncertain Truth | Post
She stood on the railroad tracks listening for the train when another sound started in the distance, soft at first then growing louder, closer. She recognized the sound, knew in a moment that the siren was coming closer, coming for … Continue reading
Did My Cat Go to Heaven? | Post
Question from a reader: I have been grieving the loss of my cat for some time now, and the pain does not go away. I am still very sad and wondering what kind of help you can give me. I … Continue reading
Can I Believe My Mother is in Heaven? | Post
I love going to psychics. I’m not sure if it’s my impetuous nature to know what is to come, the comforting assertions like “Great fortune is headed your way” or its mother-memory connection. I became loosely associated with the magic … Continue reading
Embracing Grief Does Not Mean Rejecting Faith | Post
Prior to my fiancé Greg’s accident in March 2010, my walk with Christ included daily quiet time and prayer, weekly women’s bible study, weekly young adult’s small group, weekly church service, and I served in ministry as a greeter, prayer … Continue reading
Psalm 23 Creates Healing Connection | Post
Grief is the price we pay for love. —Queen Elizabeth II My best friend was dead. My faith was shattered. It was too much for me. I felt that I, too, was dying. I desperately needed a breakthrough—a sign, if … Continue reading
Why Ask Questions About Your Grief Journey? | Post
I recently had the honor of being the opening keynote speaker for this year’s national gathering of the Bereaved Parents of the USA. I spoke about the evolution of my grief and observations and lessons learned during the past eight-plus years … Continue reading
Does Your Faith Condemn You or Sustain You? | Post
When someone we love dies, especially at a young age or by violent means, our whole belief system often gets a massive shake up. The certainty that we once knew has gone. That foundation we depended on is no longer … Continue reading
Turning Over a New Faith | Post
Today, some have seriously thought of exchanging a theology once handed down to them by family members for another belief system that in their minds can better tackle the questions that accompany pain. God, as they understand God, just doesn’t … Continue reading
Life is What You Make It | Featured Books
Carl Mathis’ book, Life is What You Make It, is available on Amazon.com.
Soul Pain, Grief and Transformation | Post
Between tearful sobs, Mary confides the painful story of how her life has become meaningless and of how parenting issues and marital problems have escalated since the suicide death of her teenage son, four years before. Listening to her as … Continue reading
Webinar-Easter; Where is God After Loss? | Open To Hope TV
Pastor Dennis Apple speaks with Dr. Gloria Horsley about death and wondering where God is? Dennis Apple is the bereaved dad of Denny, age 18, who died in 1991 after a brief illness. Dennis counsels couples and individuals who are … Continue reading
The Response of the Human Spirit to Loss | Post
When we experience significant loss, every aspect of our humanness responds in agony. As the initial physical effects dissipate, they leave in their wake an accumulation of emotional and spiritual responses to the loss. Some of these responses begin to … Continue reading
Hope Eternal: Miscarriage Doesn’t End Mother-Daughter Bond | Post
We call her Hope. Our baby, lost to us in late January 2003, was with us only briefly. Eight weeks to be exact. Not long enough to take her first breath, but long enough to be a reality in my … Continue reading
Grief Leads to Deeper Understanding of God | Post
Every day, we and those around us experience loss, change, and transitions that we must grieve. Grief is intense emotional suffering caused by loss, and while it is normal, it involves hard work. Does that surprise you – that grief … Continue reading
‘Arms of God’: Bereaved Mom Questions, Affirms Faith | Post
Having just experienced the miracle birth of my daughter, followed by the devastating blow of her death, I found myself unable to pray. Prayer had sustained me during the difficult pregnancy wrought with uncertainties. Early in the pregnancy, we discovered … Continue reading
Walking Wounded at the Holidays | Post
I am one of the walking wounded. On most days, you can’t see my scars. During the holidays, as families gather, plan and celebrate, my scar begins to show. It begins to deepen in color and intensity, kind of like … Continue reading
Death at Center of her Life | Post
Sometimes I wonder if our lives are predestined or if we really have choice. Often it seems the universe conspires to lead us in a particular direction, and no matter how hard we fight it, we are going there whether … Continue reading