The most familiar biblical image is most likely from Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan. Helping the hurting. I cannot begin to estimate the number of people my wife, Michelle, and I have counseled since the suicide of our son, Jordan. Countless people who have, themselves, suffered the loss of a loved one due to … Continue reading The Joy of Helping the Hurting
Hope
After Suicide: What We Needed; What They Need
My name is Nick Watts. On May 13, 2013, my son, Jordan, took his own life. He was 19. NOTE: Should you be unfamiliar with my family's history with suicide you can click here. My public school presentation on Suicide Intervention lasts approximately 45 minutes and includes, among other points, everything from "becoming aware of … Continue reading After Suicide: What We Needed; What They Need
The Gospel According to Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”
"I wear the chain I forged in life.... I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it." Jacob Marley The quote cited above, of course, is from Charles Dickens' beloved story, A Christmas Carol - a story … Continue reading The Gospel According to Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”
Hope on the Rock(s)
My spirit is crushed,….Where then is my hope?” Job 17:1, 15 “My spirit is crushed,….Where then is my hope?” Honest statement. Honest question. It’s one of the reasons I love reading the Bible. It’s unsanitized, unedited, raw, and brutally honest. When Job made his statement, and asked his question, he had recently buried all ten … Continue reading Hope on the Rock(s)
Suicide and the Bible – Part 2 of 2
After recently reading my original blog, Suicide and the Bible, a reader kindly asked a common question: I was reading your "Suicide and the Bible"..and I just have a question. I'm genuinely curious to know what you think about this. So you're saying nowhere in the Bible does it say suicide will send you to … Continue reading Suicide and the Bible – Part 2 of 2
The Frightening Thought of Being Used by God
Have you ever believed in something so strongly, so passionately, you wanted the entire world to know about it? I told my wife, Michelle, "You know - when you have a cause you strongly believe in, you want to get the word out to the masses. But, when it does begin to get out to … Continue reading The Frightening Thought of Being Used by God
Christ, Christmas & the Loss of a Child
Christmas, 2012, was the last time I helped decorate our tree. Since our 19 year old son, Jordan, died the following May, decorating the tree is something I/we have simply been unable to do. Our tree is not a "decorative showpiece" like you see so beautifully decorated in some homes. Almost every ornament on our … Continue reading Christ, Christmas & the Loss of a Child
He’s All You Need: The Sufficiency of Christ
So sufficient and complete is Christ that there is no other God besides him (Isa. 45:5); he is the only begotten Son (John 1:14, 18); all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in him (Col. 2:3); the fullness of deity dwells bodily in him (Col. 2:9); he is heir of all things (Heb. 1:2); … Continue reading He’s All You Need: The Sufficiency of Christ
Lean On Me
Only hours remained until Jesus would endure a level of stress so severe he sweat blood, be forced to endure an illegal kangaroo-court, falsely accused (and convicted) of crimes he did not commit, beaten within an inch of his life, executed by crucifixion, taking upon Himself the sins of the entire world, thereby incurring the … Continue reading Lean On Me
Good Friday – Twenty Centuries Ago…
By Good Friday morning, the rooster has crowed, alerting Simon Peter to the fact that, just as Jesus predicted, he would deny Jesus not once, but three times. The other disciples have scattered in fear. Jesus has spent the entire night facing a very illegal, very hostile, kangaroo court designed to railroad him into a … Continue reading Good Friday – Twenty Centuries Ago…