This blog began November 30, 2011. Devotions before that and since 1998 are archived at https://www.christiancounselingservice.com/devotions.php
Christian counselor, spiritual director, Grace Covenant Church in Austin, Ruth Haley Barton’s Transforming Communities #6, 10 and 14, spiritual direction training at Springfield, IL Chiara Center with Jesse Vicha and Fr. Albert Haase. 30 years in Vineyard Christian Fellowship, ordained in Christian Church-Church of Christ, former Unification Church member (Moonies), childhood member of Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. History and humanities from Valparaiso University and counseling from Illinois State University. Former Lincoln, Illinois dairy farm kid, hot air balloonist, newspaper reporter.
Margaret and I were born in 1949 and married in 1979. Chris and Melissa Sandel have a son Jack 2009 and daughter Aly 2012. They are pastors at West Side Christian Church in Springfield, Illinois. Marc Sandel lives in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. We split our time between Illinois and Austin, Texas, where our daughter Andrea (Andi) lives and is married to Aki Tomita. They have two sons, Miles 2016 and Jasper 2019.
Books: Finding My Way 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014. Finding My Way Toward Easter. Finding My Way Toward Christmas I and II. Finding Her Way Toward Healing (Margaret’s medical ordeal in 2021). These books are all available on Amazon in kindle and paperback editions. Each is a compilation of devotions, most of which are also posted on this site.
Find me online at christiancounselingservice.com. Contact me via email at [email protected]
Here is a list of spiritual directors certified by the Transforming Center (including me, listed under Texas)
Here is a list of spiritual directors from Moments of Grace and Prayer in St. Louis, including Margaret and me
