by Elaine Olsen | May 21, 2013 | confessions of a reluctant juror, freedom, knowing God, living God's truth, ministry life, truth, words
Truth exists. Truth isn’t relative. Sometimes, however, truth gets buried beneath the details—layer upon layer of story that muddy up the process of discovery. Why conceal it? To quote Jack Nicholson’s famous line from the movie A Few Good Men . . . “You can’t handle...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 22, 2013 | calling, cancer, cancer volume 4, dad, grace, ministry life, obedience, speaking
Safe . . . protected under the shelter of God’s wings. Those were the phrases that surfaced in my mind and the feelings that settled deeply within my soul when I awoke at my parents’ home yesterday morning – a Sabbath morning. Certainly the fact that I was with...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 11, 2013 | courage, desert dwelling, evil, faith, living God's truth, ministry life, packing up, right words; right timing, strength, trust
A couple of nights ago, I called my older boys and offered them this caution: “Be on guard, sons. Apparently our family is now Satan’s new, favorite chew-toy.” The next morning, my mother called with a similar warning: “Elaine, I’ve been standing here in front of the...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 7, 2013 | faith, living God's truth, ministry life, packing up, pilgrimage, surrender, trust
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” –Psalm 84:5 Her heart spilled over into mine as I read the struggle in her words. Another pastor’s wife, just like me, living the itinerant lifestyle—a nomadic calling...
by Elaine Olsen | Jan 30, 2013 | Beyond Cancer's Scars (the story behind the story), cancer, cancer video, freedom, ministry life, rest, video
Because sometimes we need the witness and strength of an earlier season . . . To read more about Jacob’s night stay in Bethel, check out Genesis 27-28. To learn more about Beyond Cancer’s Scars, click...
by Elaine Olsen | Jan 12, 2013 | faith, ministry life, pilgrimage, speaking, video
Every now and again, you find something you weren’t looking for—a surprise tucked into routine. Sometimes the discovery proffers pain; sometimes promise. Today I straddle the fence between both of them, pain and promise. Let me explain. For over a week now, we’ve been...
