Category Archives: Facing death

Lazarus comes alive

Posted on September 15, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.) by John Shirk Our guest writer for the next 3 Catches will be our Director of Discipleship, John Shirk. John lives with his wife Amy and their 4 daughters in Chicago, … Continue reading →

Posted in discipleship, Facing death, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Death to life

Posted on August 25, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading tis Catch.) “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest … Continue reading →

Posted in Depressionj, Facing death | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Called to failure

Posted on August 2, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.) by Marti Fischer I had a call to a mission,           Signed in my heart and sealed, And I felt my success was certain,           And the end seemed already … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing death, fear | Tagged | 3 Comments

Send angels

Posted on April 4, 2022 by jwfisch

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.) War sucks. I thought the picture of two corpses on the side of a suburban street with their roller luggage intact and the only thing standing after trying to escape, … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing death, revolution, war | Tagged | 6 Comments

Traveling on

Posted on January 18, 2022 by jwfisch

There’s no two ways about it: Death sucks. And death has visited our Catch community at least twice in the last few weeks.  Priscilla, our longtime MemberPartner from Rochester, New York, just recently moved into a new home, and before … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing death, relationships | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Never alone

Posted on October 30, 2020 by jwfisch

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) These are truly the most comforting words I can think of right now, and I offer them to you for your consideration. One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing death, pandemic | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Are we living in a ghost town?

Posted on August 10, 2020 by jwfisch

When it comes to road trips, I like to make plans. I love maps — the kind you get at gas stations that you can unfold and spread out in front of you where you can see the whole state … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing death, pandemic | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘If I perish, I perish’

Posted on July 23, 2020 by jwfisch

In the story of Esther, King Xerxes decides to honor one of his officials, Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, “elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles” (Esther 3:1). So … Continue reading →

Posted in diversity, Esther, Facing death, grace turned outward, the gospel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

‘Till we meet again’

Posted on May 18, 2020 by jwfisch

First the title caught my eye. It came in an email I receive through an online Christianity Today subscription. “Died: Joyce Lin, Missionary Pilot Transporting Coronavirus Supplies: The American crashed just months after she started flying in Indonesia.” Then I … Continue reading →

Posted in diversity, Facing death, pandemic | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Spiritual first responders

Posted on May 6, 2020 by jwfisch

Empathy: to step into someone else’s shoes and feel what they feel. If you missed our BlogTalkRadio interview with Doug Stevens last night, I urge you, if your boots are on the ground anywhere, to listen to the podcast at … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing death, pandemic | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments