Eileen, I'm truly humbled. Thank you for the kind words! I'm so glad we found each other. CCV is a wonderful community of genuinely kind and loving people, and now that you're "one of us" we get to benefit from your gifts and experience. Thank you.
Brian; September 2025 my husband and I were on our way to divorce - struggling from the constant noise around us. Life - work - opinions - responsibility. I begged and prayed to my βarmyβ my Angels that support me daily. I have suffered many tragedies, lived my lives and walked through storms in order to rise above and never give up. I used to think - why me? Again? Why do these awful life changing tragedies happen to me? Then I heard it - clear as a friend talking in another room off in a distant , I heard βWhy not Me?β I immediately cried and realized Iβm here as one of Gods chosen to endure - feel - fight - and rise again. In this chaos of life Iβm blessed to have such empathy for suffering, loss, pain in those around me. We must lose the chatter - close the noise from opinions, gossip, hate and be still. I knew in my heart there was something .. something missing β¦ we both without really talking about it at length decided maybe we need church .. I visited CCV around 15-17 years ago with my kids and friends and it has stayed with me because it made sense .. YOU make sense! Itβs joyful , friendly , and doesnβt threaten or intimidate. September 28th 2025 @ 10:30 we walked in to service - weβve never walked in to a church with intention before this day. I was physically moved throughout the music - the service - the baptism - the prayer. YOU spoke to us that day - Dave and I both left the building & said βwas he talking to us?β Thank you Brian! We have not missed a service since we first came there and enjoyed our homework in The Way Out series - enjoyed your humor βno complaining for 2 daysβ was a household joke and we continue to say βnot complaining but β¦..β God is leaving his fingerprints & Iβm going to keep Dave and I looking up! You inspire and make the Bible make sense for us, your new book is everything we already know but the chatter gets loud sometimes - Be still, Surrender .. just for 3 mins - I then ask myself - What Would Jesus Do?
Eileen and Dave Hannum are your biggest fans and we are thankful for you, Lisa & CCV!
Another thank you for working on this book. A a single Mom working full time as the boss so caring for everyone at work and caring for my two young kids at home, at times I feel the kind of exhaustion that I fear I will simply never recover from. And like Becky, I then feel the additional stress and sense of failure that I'm not able to more consistently uphold the empathy, kindness and patience that I want to demonstrate to everyone, especially as a Christian. I fear for my children growing up in this world and also want to learn ways to make them resilient and strong in their faith. Long-winded way of saying thank you for taking this on, it is a true problem that many people don't want to admit as it looks like failure. But I know so many of us are just so weary.
Pastor Brian, I relate to all of this SO MUCH and downloaded this app SOLELY so I could respond to you :)
I am a full time working parent and have three young kids. My parents are deceased, my in laws are very old (over 80), and my local family has their own small children. Itβs easy to feel very alone and somehow like Iβm the only one struggling. Then I feel guilty for feeling that way because Iβm a Christian so Iβm supposed to live better and be an example of how Jesus changed my life. But I still only have 24 hours in a day, 8+ are work, the rest is travel, kids, cooking, cleaning, laundry, kid activities, etc, etc. I have everything in life I ever wanted and sometimes feel purely miserable. I very much look forward to the book youβre going to write!
Hi Becky. Thank you for sharing this. What you wrote is so honest, and I think it captures what so many parents quietly carry but rarely say out loud. The truth is, youβre not alone. Youβre not failing as a Christian because you feel stretched thinβyouβre human. And Jesus never promised us superhuman strength; He promised His presence in the middle of exhaustion, dishes, and late-night laundry.
I want you to hear this clearly: the very fact that youβre holding it all together for your kids, showing up to work, and still hungering for God in the midst of itβthat is a testimony. That is being an example. Sometimes the most powerful witness isnβt living above the struggle, but clinging to Jesus inside of it.
Iβm so glad youβre here. Iβll keep writing for you, and I hope the book will feel like a hand on your shoulder saying, βYouβre not crazy. Youβre not alone. And God is with you right here.β
Itβs seems like Eastern religions and secular psychology get the credit for originating ideas and practices that have been a part of Judeo-Christian traditions since antiquity -life changing ideas that you encourage and endorse in your letters and sermons, like mindfulness and minimalism. Blessings! Congratulations on your anniversary! Blessings!
I think age adds a perspective which i had never considered. I'm75 and heading north,still leading an urban ministry. I wrestle with the urgent, the necessary, the immediate, and the mandate to love people. For me,it's about honoring God, not missing an opportunity to do that, ad always constructing bridges to hearts hoping they will follow Christ. While i don't think those are "worries," i do believe they are ministry opportunities that must be seized. Wish i had this fully grasped,but i doubt i will, not in this life.thank you.
Robert, this is so thoughtfulβand honestly, deeply moving. βConstructing bridges to heartsβ is such a powerful phrase. The fact that youβre still wrestling, still reaching, still loving in Jesusβ name at 75 is incredible. You may not feel like youβve fully grasped it, but Iβd say youβre living itβand that speaks volumes.
Jesus retreated, daily-with-drew to pray.
Jesus knew he had βso many daysβ
Jesus definitively knew what his commission for living was.
Jesus daily healed the sick, the blind, the lame, and raised the dead.
Jesus=daily fled for his life.
Jesus βswapped out his bed, his breakfast and his bathroom.
Yet, and yet, βplease Jesus, let me walk one more mile with youβ.
Thank you sir.
Congratulations on the 37th anniversary!
Thank you Alexandra.
Eileen, I'm truly humbled. Thank you for the kind words! I'm so glad we found each other. CCV is a wonderful community of genuinely kind and loving people, and now that you're "one of us" we get to benefit from your gifts and experience. Thank you.
Thank you for your very kind comments. CCV is such a meaningful community to be a part of. We're glad you're here.
Brian; September 2025 my husband and I were on our way to divorce - struggling from the constant noise around us. Life - work - opinions - responsibility. I begged and prayed to my βarmyβ my Angels that support me daily. I have suffered many tragedies, lived my lives and walked through storms in order to rise above and never give up. I used to think - why me? Again? Why do these awful life changing tragedies happen to me? Then I heard it - clear as a friend talking in another room off in a distant , I heard βWhy not Me?β I immediately cried and realized Iβm here as one of Gods chosen to endure - feel - fight - and rise again. In this chaos of life Iβm blessed to have such empathy for suffering, loss, pain in those around me. We must lose the chatter - close the noise from opinions, gossip, hate and be still. I knew in my heart there was something .. something missing β¦ we both without really talking about it at length decided maybe we need church .. I visited CCV around 15-17 years ago with my kids and friends and it has stayed with me because it made sense .. YOU make sense! Itβs joyful , friendly , and doesnβt threaten or intimidate. September 28th 2025 @ 10:30 we walked in to service - weβve never walked in to a church with intention before this day. I was physically moved throughout the music - the service - the baptism - the prayer. YOU spoke to us that day - Dave and I both left the building & said βwas he talking to us?β Thank you Brian! We have not missed a service since we first came there and enjoyed our homework in The Way Out series - enjoyed your humor βno complaining for 2 daysβ was a household joke and we continue to say βnot complaining but β¦..β God is leaving his fingerprints & Iβm going to keep Dave and I looking up! You inspire and make the Bible make sense for us, your new book is everything we already know but the chatter gets loud sometimes - Be still, Surrender .. just for 3 mins - I then ask myself - What Would Jesus Do?
Eileen and Dave Hannum are your biggest fans and we are thankful for you, Lisa & CCV!
Another thank you for working on this book. A a single Mom working full time as the boss so caring for everyone at work and caring for my two young kids at home, at times I feel the kind of exhaustion that I fear I will simply never recover from. And like Becky, I then feel the additional stress and sense of failure that I'm not able to more consistently uphold the empathy, kindness and patience that I want to demonstrate to everyone, especially as a Christian. I fear for my children growing up in this world and also want to learn ways to make them resilient and strong in their faith. Long-winded way of saying thank you for taking this on, it is a true problem that many people don't want to admit as it looks like failure. But I know so many of us are just so weary.
Pastor Brian, I relate to all of this SO MUCH and downloaded this app SOLELY so I could respond to you :)
I am a full time working parent and have three young kids. My parents are deceased, my in laws are very old (over 80), and my local family has their own small children. Itβs easy to feel very alone and somehow like Iβm the only one struggling. Then I feel guilty for feeling that way because Iβm a Christian so Iβm supposed to live better and be an example of how Jesus changed my life. But I still only have 24 hours in a day, 8+ are work, the rest is travel, kids, cooking, cleaning, laundry, kid activities, etc, etc. I have everything in life I ever wanted and sometimes feel purely miserable. I very much look forward to the book youβre going to write!
Hi Becky. Thank you for sharing this. What you wrote is so honest, and I think it captures what so many parents quietly carry but rarely say out loud. The truth is, youβre not alone. Youβre not failing as a Christian because you feel stretched thinβyouβre human. And Jesus never promised us superhuman strength; He promised His presence in the middle of exhaustion, dishes, and late-night laundry.
I want you to hear this clearly: the very fact that youβre holding it all together for your kids, showing up to work, and still hungering for God in the midst of itβthat is a testimony. That is being an example. Sometimes the most powerful witness isnβt living above the struggle, but clinging to Jesus inside of it.
Iβm so glad youβre here. Iβll keep writing for you, and I hope the book will feel like a hand on your shoulder saying, βYouβre not crazy. Youβre not alone. And God is with you right here.β
Itβs seems like Eastern religions and secular psychology get the credit for originating ideas and practices that have been a part of Judeo-Christian traditions since antiquity -life changing ideas that you encourage and endorse in your letters and sermons, like mindfulness and minimalism. Blessings! Congratulations on your anniversary! Blessings!
Agreed. They do get the credit for sure.
I think age adds a perspective which i had never considered. I'm75 and heading north,still leading an urban ministry. I wrestle with the urgent, the necessary, the immediate, and the mandate to love people. For me,it's about honoring God, not missing an opportunity to do that, ad always constructing bridges to hearts hoping they will follow Christ. While i don't think those are "worries," i do believe they are ministry opportunities that must be seized. Wish i had this fully grasped,but i doubt i will, not in this life.thank you.
Robert, this is so thoughtfulβand honestly, deeply moving. βConstructing bridges to heartsβ is such a powerful phrase. The fact that youβre still wrestling, still reaching, still loving in Jesusβ name at 75 is incredible. You may not feel like youβve fully grasped it, but Iβd say youβre living itβand that speaks volumes.