by Elaine Olsen | Jun 5, 2014 | church life, conviction, courage, friendship, living God's truth, ministry life
My heart is tender toward her tonight – the new girl who showed up at our summer kick-off, Wednesday night fellowships at the pool. She was easy to spot, stuck there at a table of men who out-aged her by at least fifty years. Talk about awkward. When I asked...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 24, 2014 | a quick word, discipleship, friendship, kingdom, living God's truth, ministry life, peace, peace for the journey, pilgrimage
A few things occur to me this morning while reading Luke’s account of “Jesus sending out the seventy-two” (Luke 10:1-24). In particular, I’m focusing on two sentiments/phrases that Jesus instructed his disciples to use in their evangelism campaigns. What...
by Elaine Olsen | Aug 27, 2013 | cancer volume 4, friendship, grace, living God's truth, peace, peace for the journey, pilgrimage, rest, writing
We sat on his front porch talking about this-and-that while relishing Saturday’s break in temperature. The wind kindly caressed our conversation. It was a beautiful gift—the weather and the fellowship. I haven’t always been good at my relishing, especially when life...
by Elaine Olsen | Jul 25, 2013 | friendship, heaven, kingdom, living God's truth, ministry life, pilgrimage
“Well hello, Asa. Nice to meet you. Welcome to my home.” Her voice radiated joy from the front porch where she welcomed her guests. It spilled over onto the street where I was walking. Joy does that. When a heart is filled to overflow, it spills over into the...
by Elaine Olsen | Jun 6, 2013 | family fun, friendship, grace, hunger, kingdom, letting go, packing up, parenting, pilgrimage
It’s not much. Just an old table with two even older chairs. I spied them alongside Hwy. 70 while winding my way home from my annual run to the eye doctor. My U-turn came as no surprise to my eldest son who made the trek with me; after twenty-four years of being my...
by Elaine Olsen | Mar 23, 2013 | alicia chole, Easter, friendship, grace, knowing God, pilgrimage, the seventh year
“It’s the people . . . all about the people for me. They are where I find God.” So I told my new friend from the 7th year, both of us participants in Alicia Chole’s Leadership Investment Intensive. Half-way between her house and mine rests Bellamy Manor and Gardens...
