Gerald Rodgers pastors a church in Fredericksburg, Virginia three days a week. The rest of week he oversees a group of chaplains serving in a corporate environment.

Rodgers is part of growing group of chaplains who contract out to companies seeking to add a religious component to their employee assistance programs.

The chaplains offer spiritually based counseling and guidance to workers dealing with everything from divorce and depression to illness or death. Employers say they believe providing workers with spiritual guidance and limiting their stress through a chaplancy program increases productivity. John Fisher, plant manage of 400 workers at Macsteel says, “They say you need to leave problems at work at work and problems at home at home, but realistically you can’t do it. If they come to work and aren’t thinking about making steel, we’re in trouble.”

Chaplains walk a fine line ministering to others while trying to avoid offending an employee’s spiritual sensibilities or breaking religious harassment laws. Rodgers makes the rounds at a company of 700 employees, He says, “The neat thing about what we do is that we get to build relationships with people before they have a crisis. Everyone who has worked here for a length of time knows us.” He believes the workplace is a good place to counsel people, because many do not have a close relationship with a pastor.

Kitty Hayden who first met Rodgers when her mother was seriously ill says, “Everyday he’s here, I talk to him. He’s such a comfort.”

—www.washingtontimes.com, Contract chaplains aid employee productivity, by Tim Lemke, June 1, 2003. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

Time Magazine named New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani their person of the year for 2001. They chose him largely due to the terrorist attack September 11th. Oddly, the same date was the day many expected Giuliani to fade from view. September 11 was primary election day in New York City. Giuliani had served two terms, and could not run again. The contest between those vying for his job was expected to overshadow Giuliani's remaining days in office. Many New Yorkers believed history would paint Giuliani as a great mayor, but a not-so-great guy because of his temper and constant battles with political enemies.

Since President Bush was out of sight for much of September 11 due to security concerns, Giuliani became the voice of the nation that day. His voice was filled with grief and strength, inspiring New York to inspire the nation. He said, "Tomorrow New York is going to be here. And we're going to rebuild, and we're going to be stronger than we were before … I want the people of New York to be an example to the rest of the country, and the rest of the world, that terrorism can't stop us."

He was the gutsy decision maker, balancing security against symbolism, overruling those who wanted to keep the city closed down. The mayor pushed key institutions—from the New York Stock Exchange to Major League Baseball—to reopen and prove that New Yorkers were going on with life. He was the crisis manager, bringing together major players from city, state and federal governments for daily meetings that got everyone working together. Giuliani filled the role of "consoler-in-chief," as his voice brimmed with pain, compassion and love. When he said "the number of casualties will be more than we can bear," he showed a side of himself most people had never seen.

The most interesting thing about Time magazine's choice of Giuliani was the field of possibilities for the honor. The magazine admitted they were considering Osama Bin Laden as person of the year. Those two men stand in stark contrast after the events of September 11th. We wonder who has the greatest impact on the lives of others? Those who inflict great pain and suffering, or those who offer comfort and strength in trying times?

No one knows what the future might hold for Rudolph Giuliani. We do know he offered what was needed in a time of crisis. He was not motivated by a desire to succeed politically, but instead by the needs of the people. On the other hand, Osama Bin Laden was motivated by hate, malice, and a lust for power.

None of us are likely to named "Person of the Year," anytime soon, but God does require us to minister to the needs of others. He provides comfort to enable us to comfort others.

Corinthians 1:3-5 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God, For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over in our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."

E-mail users tired of being inundated with unsolicited "spam" messages can find encouragement from the fact the man who made much of today's computing possible receives more junk e-mail than anyone else. Chief Executive Officer for Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, says Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates receives 4 million e-mails each day, and is probably the most "spammed" person in the world.

Speaking at a conference in Singapore, Ballmer added that only a few of the junk messages get through thanks to technology that filters Gate's messages.Ballmer said Microsoft is developing better tools to tackle the growing problem of unwanted e-mail messages. The unwanted electronic solicitations represent roughly 80 percent of all Internet traffic today.

—Reuters, Microsoft's Gates is World's Most "Spammed" Person, November 18, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

The fact that even Bill Gates has to deal with junk e-mail should be comforting to us because he can lead his company to develop new ways of fighting "spam" that benefits everyone who uses the Internet.

2 Cor. 1:3 (NIV) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort."

In a recent Frazier episode Niles goes into the hospital for open-heart surgery. His wife Daphne is distressed and afraid. Throughout the episode the audience is shown different vignettes of hospital visits by Niles in his past. The last vignette takes place right after Niles has come out of surgery and Daphne is waiting for him to wake up. This one is different. It is a glimpse into the future. In it Niles is visiting Daphne in the same hospital. He is holding a child and Daphne is holding a newborn infant, and she says to the child that Niles is holding, "Meet your new sister." For all of the viewers the message is clear: Niles is going to be OK, and there is much happiness awaiting Daphne just around the corner.

The Bible repeatedly urges us to look into the future during our times of darkness as well. The gospel message is that everything is going to be okay, and there is much happiness awaiting us just around the corner.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

When a person is diagnosed with cancer, they often ask questions, such as "Why me?" When doctors diagnosed Geraldine Singleton with cancer for the second time, she decided God had chosen to "lift her up." Singleton survived breast cancer in 1994. Eight years later, the disease returned as a brain tumor and later spread to her bones. Since then, Singleton has gone through a car accident, a house fire, three small strokes, and the death of a brother and two sisters. Singleton says God has allowed her to suffer because she has the courage to endure suffering. She feels called to give hope to people without strength.

Singleton serves as an unofficial counselor at an Atlanta Hospital. She meets fellow patients at their bedsides, or lends a listening ear to those in the waiting room. Experts have noticed that cancer patients do not always welcome unsolicited advice from strangers, but the words of cancer veterans carry a special weight. Singleton wants cancer patients to know they are not alone. She says she knows God will never leave her or forsake her. She knows what it's like for fear to paralyze her and remembers the pain and humiliation of losing control of her body and being dependent on others. Singleton adds, "I choose to believe I'm a flower that has received the rain, and I get to blossom and bloom. I'm just grateful, and I want to share it with people."

—USA TODAY, Cancer's higher calling, November 23, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

2 Corinthians 1:5-6 (NLT) "You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. [6] So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer."

Sometimes comfort needs to be more than words. “The New York Times reports that touch is its own complicated, highly accurate, highly effective signaling system.” They interpret that to mean that high fives and sympathetic touches can say more than words.

--Reader’s Digest, May 2010, p24 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Part of our responsibility as believers to one another is to provide comfort. Sometimes words might help, but more often, a touch is very useful. We have known for years that sometimes people just need a hug.

2 Corinthians 1:3-6 (NIV) (3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, (4) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (5) For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. (6) If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

Firefighters in Bayton, Texas responded to a 911 call for a man who suffered a heart attack while mowing his lawn. After taking the man to the hospital, several members of the Department’s crew returned to the home to finish mowing the yard. Afterward, they put the mower away and locked the garage too. The crew left a note for the victim’s wife saying they were sorry her husband had become ill, and telling her to let them know if she needed anything. The man later died at the hospital, but the when other members of the community heard of the firefighters kindness, they issued a statement saying, “All of our City employees are proud to serve the citizens of Baytown, but this is truly special. We couldn’t be prouder of our guys from Station 4. Our prayers are with the family at this sad time.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Texas firefighters comfort grieving widow with act of kindness, By Geetika Rudra,

http://www.whas11.com/home/talkers/Texas-firefighters-comfort-grieving-widow-with-act-of-kindness-273312251.html, Accessed August 30, 2014

2 Corinthians 1:4 (HCSB) He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

In Shattered Dreams, Patrick Mead writes, “Life is not about you and your dreams, shattered or otherwise. It is about God’s plan of redemption. A plan you get to be a part of when you accepted His precious gift of salvation. And a plan you get to participate in as you submit your shattered dreams to Him. He redeems them for His purposes. While your shattered dreams may never be fulfilled—your life can be fulfilled. Not because you get to have everything you want, but because you have Him and He has you. Whether you walk on the mountaintops of desire, or the valley of the shadow of death, you will not be alone, because He is with you.” --Jim L. Wilson

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.’

For more information on Shattered Dreams, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1505351596/fm082-20

Many people have a hard time knowing what to say when they discover a friend has a serious illness. To help them find the right words, greeting card writer and designer Emily McDowell has created a new line of card she calls empathy cards. McDowell’s cards as so popular that she has had to hire ten new employees to keep up with demand. McDowell says her cards do not offer platitudes or false cheer, instead they are funny, honest, and even poke fun at the platitudes that people often reach for. She writes from experience because when she was diagnosed with cancer 20 years ago, many of friends disappeared. McDowell said that when people did say things, they often made her feel worse. She feels our culture does a poor job of preparing anyone to talk about illness or death, so she decided to help. She is honored that she has found a way to help people during trying times, and says, “I’m getting so much feedback from people that these are actually making a difference in their lives. And that is incredibly humbling and incredibly emotional for me.”— Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Greeting Card Designer Provides New Comfort With 'Empathy Cards, By Anne Thompson, http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/cards-n359786, Accessed May 27, 2015

Job 21:34 (HCSB) (34) So how can you offer me such futile comfort? Your answers are deceptive.

Comfort

Federal and local authorities responded to the need when excessive amounts of lead were discovered in the drinking water in Flint Michigan. They were a joined by Baptists from the area. Most residents were only able to one case of water per day, but many families need more due to cooking and drinking. The Baptist group brought an additional truckload of water and gave up to three and four cases of water to those in need. Ed Emmerling is pastor at Westside Baptist Church were the distribution took place. Emmerling said as volunteers handed out the water, they prayed with residents, invited them to church, and told them about Jesus. He said the church would not have been able to buy that much water, but when churches across the country pooled their resources, the need was met. He added, “We had many opportunities to tell people that we doing this as a way to show our love for them, because Christ loves us and He loves them too –and we’d love to tell them more about that love.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

http://www.bpnews.net/46210/flint-water-crisis-draws-southern-baptists-response, Accessed January 27, 2016.

2 Corinthians 1:4 (HCSB)⁴ He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

When Tene Tucker returned from her vacation there was a pile of mail waiting for her. Most of it was the usual collection of bills and junk mail, but one letter caught her attention. The letter was addressed to her home, but it was marked “Return to Sender” and postmarked in 1967. Instead, Tucker found a letter written by a woman who had lived in the house 52 years earlier. It was a note to her son, asked how he was. Since the woman’s letter was never received, Tucker checked to see if she might still be alive. She found the woman and delivered the letter. Then she leaned that the woman and the young man she had written it to, her biological nephew, both have Alzheimer’s disease. She learned that the man had disappeared ten years ago and had not been heard from. Tucker said she hopes the letter and the awareness it raised might help locate the man. She said, “It’s like opening a time capsule. It just floored me, so I opened it and read it. It was pretty sweet.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/dekalb-county-woman-receives-letter-in-mail-written-more-than-50-years-ago/973172363

2 Corinthians 1:4 (CSB) “He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Traveling with her son gave Kendra Robins an idea to minster to homeless children around the country. Robins noticed that her son slept better away from home when he had a familiar item to snuggle with. She realized children spending an evening in a homeless shelter might be afraid to sleep because they did not have comfort items with them. Robins began collecting and assembling tote bags filled a stuffed animal, an age appropriate book, and a blanket and donating them to local homeless shelters. The project quickly spread nationwide and now, involves thousands of volunteers. Robins said more than a million young children are expected to spend at least one night in a homeless shelter this year. She welcomes help and insists that items be unused. She said new items assure children, “that you are special, that someone values you…you are worth something new.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

First responders in Bulgaria used cheerful face masks to combat fears over the spread of the coronvirus. The masks were printed with owls, dinosaurs, llamas, and monkeys and were given to hundreds of doctors and police officers at no cost. The company that made the special masks normally produced sleeping bags for babies and have been recognized for social responsibility campaigns. The company said they stopped normal production for a week and made about 3,000 masks to send to hospitals and police stations. They warned that the masks were not medically certified and recommended washing and ironing them daily. They advised the masks were designed for those who dealt with large numbers of people on a daily basis. Co-owner of the company Desislava Yankova said, “The idea came to us spontaneously as we got calls from friends asking us to sew the masks.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

When Lexi Longstreet of Junction City. Oregon heard that families with children fleeing wildfires had come to a high school in their area in search of necessities, she invited some friends to bring comfort and companionship to the children. Longstreet owns a party shop and took the role of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She invited superheroes Batman and Superman to join her. The trio played games, read books, and gave hugs to the children. Longstreet said she and her friends thought it was important that everyone have a hero to look up to in hard times. She added, “It’s a mission to ‘bring hope back to our community.’”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

In early December 2020, four-year old twins Luna and Gianella Gonzales released helium filled balloons containing five holiday wishes. The girls included a list of presents they hoped to receive for Christmas. Weeks later, the girl’s mother learned that someone had shared a picture of Luna’s pink, star-shaped balloon on social media. Alvin Bamburg of Shreveport, Louisiana found the balloon while hunting near Grand Cane, Louisiana, about 650 miles away from the Gonzales’ home in Kansas. Gonzales said if anyone responded by sending the gifts the girls requested, they would be donated because the twins had a good holiday season. In a television interview she said, “It was something different for the girls – a memory they could keep after a rough 2020.” She added, “It was just so cold and windy. I didn’t expect them to go that far.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/year-olds-balloon-wishes-found-stranger-650-miles-75054556