Emily Parke Chase
In Matthew 1:20-31, Jesus’ father Joseph had just learned his wife-to-be was pregnant, and this child, Joseph knew, was not his. After thirty years of counseling people facing crisis pregnancies, I can easily imagine some of the emotions he may have experienced in those first hours: shock, anger, betrayal, grief.
Read More Advent 2015: Day 2Advent 2015 is here and offers us once more an opportunity to set aside the distractions of holiday shopping, gift wrapping and tree decorating and to focus instead on the arrival of God’s Son. Our family has a long-standing tradition of celebrating this season starting on the first of the month and ending on …
Read More Advent 2015, Day 1My toddler woke up with small red blotches covering his chest. Measles? An allergic reaction to a food? Poison ivy? What caused this mysterious rash? I wasn’t sure but my son was scratching vigorously. We headed to the doctor’s office in search of answers. Entering the room, wearing his white lab coat, the …
Read More Mysterious MaladiesLast month I headed off to the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. I’ve lost track of how many different writers conferences I have attended over the years, but I will never forget the first one. Arriving at the conference as a newbie, I felt overwhelmed by all those attending. There were over …
Read More Conference FeverThe following skit is one I prepared for my church fellowship group this week as we studied the topic of “God is Just.” The topic seemed to expand ever larger to include retribution and vengeance and retaliation and wrath.The topic loomed over me as impossible to grasp in a single brief class period. Finally, …
Read More We stand in God’s courtroom“Long time, no see.” It is an expression that we often use for people we have failed to keep in touch with. And it is an expression that too often describes me. “Out of sight, out of mind” is another apt description of my ability to shut off a relationship when the other person is …
Read More Long time, no seeAs this new year started, I began pursuing a personal Bible study on the topic of compassion. Professional counselors have always emphasized the need for empathy. But what was the difference between the two terms? What did the word “compassion” truly mean? Webster told me that compassion referred to “suffering with another, having sympathy or …
Read More Compassion and EmpathyIn June, I learned that my newest book, Standing Tall After Falling Short, was chosen as a finalist for non-fiction book of the year 2013 at the Golden Scroll Awards ceremony. These awards are sponsored by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA). The honor is especially cherished because the judges are my fellow authors …
Read More Golden Scroll AwardsAs of May 31st, I retired from my role as pregnancy counselor with Bethany Christian Services. I loved working with my fellow staff and serving my clients, but the stress of dealing with administrative work became overwhelming. The time came for someone younger to step into my position. So now I am watching the …
Read More Transition and ChangeAfter over twenty years of working with the local pregnancy resource center, I retired several years ago. Then I began working half time as a pregnancy counselor with Bethany Christian Services, adding a few more years of service there. But in May I plan to retire for the second time. There are still more books …
Read More Retirement Reflection