Linda Norlien - Chaplain, U.S. Army

Sci-Fi has nothing on God

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Fascination with science fiction crosses all generational lines. Whether it is browsing the Sci-Fi shelves in the local bookstore or checking out what movies are being shown, Sci-Fi seems to be alive and well. I am not a historian of such things, but a quick Internet search yields science fiction books, still available, dated in the early 1900’s and I am confident I could drop by our local cinema and watch some sort of “other world” matinee today if I so desired....

Dying with Jesus at Easter

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 06:00:00 GMT

C.S. Lewis describes Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection and the role of our repentance...

Defeating Deadly Thoughts

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Human struggles and temptations are amazingly common in every era. In fact, Evagrius of Ponticus, who lived from 345 to 399 AD, as described by Richard Foster and Gayle Beebe in their book, Longing For God, gives us at least two gifts for our spiritual journey in our time.

Understanding what happens to us in light of God’s will

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The Apostle Paul assures us of God’s providential care over the events of our lives in Romans 8:28 when he says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” And, in 8:38 he goes further, guaranteeing...

Structuring Listening "Retreats" Into our Day

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Structuring our lives to remain available to God for His nurture at all times is another part of the quest for “silence” in the midst of ongoing ministry demands. (Silence as “Social Sabotage,” posted February 12th)

Silence as “Social Sabotage”

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

“It is more and more difficult for us to choose silence when communication is possible,” writes Barbara Brown Taylor.[1]

Work as God's Gift to Us

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Human creativity, ingenuity and productivity are all gifts to us by God. They are, no doubt, some of the sweet fruitfulness we enjoy from being made in God’s image as each of those traits originate in our Creator God.

Instead of getting my way

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

It is probably part of the human condition to want each circumstance we encounter to go well for us and to result in a personally favorable outcome. I know I have to admit that as I proceed through any given day of my week, I often pray for the Lord to help things go well for me. Recently, the Lord has been challenging me to pray that, instead, God would make me into the kind of person who can handle well any “unfavorable” outcomes that come in the circumstances of my life.

That water, too.

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

When you are in transition between churches or applying for some particular position within the ministry, how do you describe your strengths and accomplishments? I am not thinking of the routine parts of an application; but, specifically, those parts that really matter. It is easy to give the demographics of where you have been and what programs you have been responsible for. What I find harder is describing the real “God moments” when I knew God had done something special.

Training to Recognize my Shepherd’s Voice

lnorlien@reachone.com — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

In the Gospel of John, chapter 10, Jesus used a sheep and shepherd analogy, saying He was both the “gate” by which people “enter” to be saved; and He was the “good shepherd,” who lays down His life to protect His sheep. He also said, “My sheep listen to my voice: I know them and they follow me.”