Invisible Illness Week

A Virtual Online Conference for anyone living with Chronic Illness!

Find out more HERE

There will be speakers online throughout each day on a variety of topics.

A list of speakers & topics is listed below.  You can listen here:   Blog Radio Show All times are Pacific Time.   Sessions will be archived and available on iTunes.

SEPT 14

MONDAY – 9 AM
Understanding How we Uniquely Deal with Difficulties in Life
Georgia Shaffer

MONDAY – 12 PM
Finding Health Insurance Coverage with a Pre-existing Condition
Jennifer Jaff

MONDAY – 3 PM
Super Foods for Super-Natural Health
Joanna Faillace

MONDAY – 5:30 PM
Hearts of Gratitude and Joy
Maureen Pratt

SEPT 15

TUESDAY 9 AM
Coping with Chronic Illness in Your Marriage
Bill & Pam Farrell

TUESDAY 12 PM
Coping with Crises on Top of Chronic
Jennifer Saake & Lisa Copen

TUESDAY 3 PM
How to Start a Business When You are Chronically Ill
Kirsten Borrink

TUESDAY 5:30 PM
To to Be Announced
Kelly Rouba

SEPT 16

WEDNESDAY 9 AM
It’s OK to say NO: Building Healthy Boundaries
Jenni Prokopy

WEDNESDAY 12 PM
Parenting When You are Chronically Ill – Chaos and Confessions
Dena Dyer, talking with Lisa Copen

WEDNESDAY 3 PM
Simplifying Your Home and Housework
Marcia Ramsland

WEDNESDAY 5:30 PM
Real Talk About Men and Chronic Illness
Jeff Kenyon

SEPT 17

THURSDAY 9 AM
Find the Job You Desire and Can Do
Rosalind Joffe

THURSDAY 12 PM
When Your Child is Chronically Ill
Jolene Philo

THURSDAY 3 PM
Managing College with a Chronic Illness
Lynn Royster

THURSDAY 5:30 PM
Helping Others Understand Your Pain
Karen Richards

SEPT 18

FRIDAY 9 AM
Applying and Winning Disability Assistance When You Are Chronically Ill
Scott Davis

FRIDAY 12 PM
Being a Teenager with a Chronic Illness
Naomi Kingery

FRIDAY 3 PM
Surgery Preparation
Curtis Dean Hall

FRIDAY 5:30 PM
Closing workshop
Lisa Copen and guests

Abby’s Worship Dance

This is the dance that Abby did for the 2009 AOG National Fine Arts Competition in Orlando, FL. Out of 92 entries, she is one of 16 who received the highest ranking, but even more important — she had a great time!

Waiting

I’ve been going through a season of learning, specifically in the area of obedience & trust.  This song is good medicine!  Like some medicines, it’s tough to swallow, but it’s worth it!!  Take (listen) as needed for “pain”….

Bible Reading

I’ve been using a new format to guide my reading of the Bible, and I’m truly enjoying it! Based on the acronym S.O.A.P, this is how it works:

Read a passage of scripture: a daily bible reading or a chapter from a book. Use the acronym, explained below, to record your thoughts in your journal.

S: The S stands for Scripture.  When a single verse or two “stands out” from the passage, write the complete verse down in your journal.

O: stands for Observation.  What did you observe about this verse? Who is speaking and to whom? What is it communicating and why? Is there an historical context, is it a prayer or a promise? Does it make you wonder about something?

A: stands for Apply.  How can you apply your observations to yourself or your life? What is required or expected of you? What is your personal response to this verse?

P: stands for Prayer.  Pray about whatever you have observed and tried to apply, including your questions or concerns,  and write as you pray.

I have found this simple practice to be very enlightening. My one struggle is that I often get my observations and applications mixed up, but it’s all good…

Give it a try!

HopeKeeper Celebration

Fourth of July
is a HopeKeeper meeting day.

Since we never cancel, we’re having a PICNIC at our house.
4PM – ??
Dinner around 5:30 and we’ll provide hot dogs & hamburgers
You can bring another grilling item, a sidedish, a dessert, a drink or any blend of the above.

Bring friends & family or just bring yourself!

Or just stop by to say “Hi”!

Fireworks are available to watch in the town of Mars, which is 5 minutes away.

HOPE to see you there!

Bible Reading

I must admit, I have often convinced myself that I didn’t have time to read the bible during a busy period of time.   According to the chart below, published by a man named Wes Allen, it is possible to read it entirely in one Summer.  Wes must  not go off onto “bunny trails” like I do, but it is a “timely” challenge.

OLD TESTAMENT
Books – number of chapters – Reading Time
1. Genesis- 50- 3hrs. 46min.
2. Exodus- 40- 2hrs. 40min.
3. Leviticus- 27- 2hrs. 16min.
4. Numbers- 36- 2hrs. 55min.
5. Deut.- 34- 2hrs. 32min.
6. Joshua- 24- 01hr. 50min.
7. Judges- 21- 01hr. 37min.
8. Ruth- 04- 0hrs. 12min.
9. I Samuel- 31- 2hrs. 00min.
10. II Samuel- 24- 01hr. 59min.
11. I Kings- 22- 2hrs. 13min.
12. II Kings- 25- 2hrs. 13min.
13. I Chron.- 29- 2hrs. 18min.
14. II Chron.- 36- 2hrs. 20min.
15. Ezra- 10- 0hrs. 40min.
16. Nehemiah-13- 01hr. 04min.
17. Esther- 10- 0hrs. 30min.
18. Job- 42- 01hr. 33min.
19. Psalms- 150- 4hrs. 02min.
20. Proverbs- 31- 01hr. 30min.
21. Eccles.- 12- 0hrs. 31min.
22. Song Sol- 08- 0hrs. 16min.
23. Isaiah- 66- 3hrs. 37min.
24. Jeremiah- 52- 3hrs. 54min.
25. Lament.- 05- 0hrs. 18min.
26. Ezekiel- 48- 3hrs. 24min.
27. Daniel- 12- 1hr. 08min.
28. Hosea- 14- 0hrs. 30min.
29. Joel- 03- 0hrs. 10min.
30. Amos- 09- 0hrs. 23min.
31. Obadiah- 01- 0hrs. 02min.
32. Jonah- 04- 0hrs. 07min.
33. Micah- 07- 0hrs. 15min.
34. Nahum- 03- 0hrs. 07min.
35. Habakkuk- 03- 0hrs. 09min.
36. Zephaniah-03- 0hrs. 09min.
37. Haggai- 02- 0hrs. 06min.
38. Zechariah- 14- 0hrs. 33min.
39. Malachi- 04- 0hrs. 08min.
Total Old Testament 55hrs. 57min.
NEW TESTAMENT
Books – number of chapters – Reading Time
1. Matthew- 28- 1hr. 56min.
2. Mark- 16- 1hr. 16min.
3. Luke- 24- 2hrs. 18min.
4. John- 21- 01hr. 44min.
5. Acts- 28- 2hrs. 10min.
6. Romans- 16- 0hrs. 47min.
7. I Corinth.- 16- 0hrs. 41min.
8. II Corinth.-13- 0hrs. 35min.
9. Galatians- 06- 0hrs. 20min.
10. Ephesians- 06- 0hrs. 17min.
11. Philippians-04- 0hrs. 10min.
12. Colossians-04- 0hrs. 10min.
13. I Thess.- 05- 0hrs. 09min.
14. II Thess.- 03- 0hrs. 06min.
15. I Timothy- 06- 0hrs. 14min.
16. II Timothy-04- 0hrs. 11min.
17. Titus- 03- 0hrs. 06min.
18. Philemon- 01- 0hrs. 01min.
19. Hebrews- 13- 0hrs. 45min.
20. James- 05- 0hrs. 13min.
21. I Peter- 05- 0hrs. 17min.
22. II Peter- 03- 0hrs. 10min.
23. I John- 05- 0hrs. 11min.
24. II John- 01- 0hrs. 01min.
25. III John- 01- 0hrs. 01min.
26. Jude- 01- 0hrs. 04min.
27. Revelation-22- 01hr. 03min.
Total New Testament 15hrs. 56min.

inspiration

When you haven’t updated your blog in a long time, and don’t even know where to begin, always go with an inspirational video. I don’t like the title though. It’s more like “One Inspirational Speech out of Many!”

Psalm 139 personalized

During the March HopeKeepers meeting we took a passage from the scripture and “amplified” it or paraphrased it. This process involves substituting synonyms or personal applications to key words and phrases throughout the passage. The exercise makes the scriptures more “real” and personal.  What follows is the result from the HopeKeepers meeting using one of my favorite passages that talks about how God “knows” us:

Psalm 139:1-6
Dear God,
you have all the facts about me, your creation, your masterpiece.
You are fully aware of when I surrender, want to quit, or feel condemned, and when I dance with joy or stomp my feet in anger;
you interpret and sift through my dreams, questions, ranting & ravings no matter how wild and crazy they may be.
You prepare and plan each one of my days, joys, and trials – my itinerary — as well as my rest stops, and you are familiar and interested in every one of my thoughts, habits, successes and failures.
Even before a spoken, or unspoken, word is on my tongue, you know what it is and you understand me – fully and completely.
You give me boundaries and grace to learn from my past and equip me for my future, and you lay your hand of guidance, support and comfort upon me — your self-centered, scared, and silly child.
Such understanding and acceptance is too hard to comprehend; it is amazing, mind-boggling and often inconceivable; I need your help to believe it.

Perhaps you’d like to try this exercise and continue with the next several verses.  Allow yourself to “Get Real”, don’t get all caught up in proper religious responses.  Share your results in the “Comments” if you’d like, or just keep it for yourself.  I hope you have fun, and that God reveals himself to you in a very personal way.

Tongue-in-cheek Truth

This guy thinks like I do!  Luv it.

Everything is amazing, but nobody’s happy

timeless presidential wisdom

I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.”
—Abraham Lincoln