Dr. Carolyn Coon

I suspect all of us, Christian and non, do not want our living to have been in vain. We all want to ‘make our mark’ and, I would argue, all want that mark to be an important one, a positive one. And I would suggest that while there is a part in us that wants […]

I would strongly suggest that the problem many of us face is asking the right question. ‘Why me?’ is not the right question. I’m not saying that it isn’t a question that shouldn’t be asked, but it isn’t the first question. Actually the first question needs to be, ‘Now what?’ If (when) you find yourself

When you hear the word, accomplish/accomplishment what springs into your mind? I always think of ‘victory’ – gaining victory over something, not someone. For me, accomplishment is typically defined in terms of self success. Webster says that accomplish means, “to succeed in doing” and then stops at defining ‘doing’. I like that because I can

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2). As you can see from this scripture we have 2 statements – to not be conformed and to be transformed. However, this is what we do. A magic wand is not waved over our heads so

(This is typically said with an exclamation mark and a spoken, or not, ‘whew’.) It struck me anew how quickly we are to say, ‘Thank you Lord’, when we’ve suddenly emerged or escaped from a difficult situation. Or, how we use those words when things are going well and we are happy and pleased and

We all get angry, period. The difference lies in how we handle it. There are basically two ways: inward, which is extremely self-destructive and outward, which can also be self-destructive but can be resolved more quickly (apology). When anger is coped with internally the resultant behavior is typically passive aggressive in order to get what

If ever there was a word that created nearly instantaneous warm feelings it’s the word, ‘holiday’. It can conjure up all sorts of reactions, mostly positive. The word evokes a change from the normal everyday activities and a great deal of joy. Often the word is related to thoughts of great food and in great

Friends are important. But how do you define the word? What makes a good friend? And… according to your own definition, are you a good friend?According to Webster, a friend is: “a person whom one knows well and is fond of, an ally, supporter, sympathizer”. This definition provides 5 essential qualities – known, fond of,

It really is quite uncomfortable being a fence sitter. Plus, no one can count on you because you are constantly trying to shift your position to still stay on the fence but be in a more comfortable position. Not going to happen. And with all the shifting going on – do you know where you

Are you presumptuous? The answer is that we all are, in some fashion, and especially so with God. Presumptuous in my world of definitions is: typically overt, expectation not based in hope but based in a more demanding sense. We expect, underlined, that God will do what we are wanting. There is no, or little,