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- Chris Fabry
- Married to Andrea since 1982. We have 9 children together and none apart. Our dog's name is Tebow.
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Where We Are Now
After finding and remediating mold twice in our Colorado home, we abandoned ship in October 2008. Because of the high levels of exposure, our entire family was affected. After months of seeing different specialists for all of the problems, we came to Arizona to begin comprehensive treatment to rid our bodies of the toxic buildup. In August 2009 we moved into a larger home, four bedrooms, south of Tucson, north of Mexico. I am doing my daily radio program/ writing from that location. Thanks for praying for us. We really feel it.
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Sunday, June 24, 2012
He paid $25 for it in January, this leather holder for his Kindle. My son, the voracious reader. It broke because the holder was plastic and he kept taking it out and then putting it back. To his defense, the thing wasn't designed well and I figured the plastic thing would snap a long time ago.
“You shouldn’t have taken it out so much,” I scolded.
“I know,” he said, his eyes downcast.
“We can tape it,” I said. "That'll hold it."
He looked at me like I had five heads. “Put tape on my Kindle?”
“I’ll see if I can return it.”
I went to the store where he bought it, a big box store. They get returns every day. There was a young girl working there, younger than most of my daughters. I had witnessed a scene at the counter the week before with people returning something. The process didn’t go well. There was yelling and accusations and hands thrown in the air. I decided I would not act that way.
“My son bought this here a while ago and I don’t have the receipt.”
“How long ago?” she said.
“Like, January.” I was trying to speak her language, with the “like” at the front of the sentence. She looked 12. Seriously. I was returning a broken Kindle holder to a 12 year old.
“Well, our return policy is usually 90 days, but if you can find the same thing over there we could switch it out by using your driver’s license.”
“Okay, I’ll go look for it.”
“The only problem is, we clearanced those holders. You have to find the exact same one.”
The most knowledgeable 12 year old I have ever met.
I went to the Kindle holder department and found them. She was right. They now made them without the plastic thing at the top and with a sleeve you slide your reader into because, I deduced, a lot of people broke that plastic thing at the top. It was flimsy.
I returned with the sleeve kind and showed it to her. She opened it, compared the two, and said, “Yeah, this is different.”
Then she looked up at me, looked me in the eye with something akin to the little Who girl who got out of bed and asked the Grinch for a drink of water. I think it was Cindy Lou.
“I’m sorry. I can’t switch these out.” She frowned, as if I had a disease she couldn't cure.
I could have stomped and fumed and fussed, and if I had, and offered to pay the difference, I probably could have gotten my way. The customer is always right and all that. But there was something pure and innocent and righteous about those eyes and her honest attempt to help me. And it's not fair that a store should replace something after 90 days that broke because it was used too much.
“I understand. I thought I’d give it a try. Thank you for helping me.”
She smiled and looked as if I’d just offered her tickets to see (insert whatever pop star Cindy Lou likes). Taylor Swift? Coldplay?
I went home, got out the Super Glue, and went to work. I had saved the plastic thing just in case. I glued it, then popped my Kindle out of its cover, which is exactly like the one my son bought but is in better shape, and clicked his device into my holder.
“There, good as new,” I said, handing it to him.
“I won’t take it out so much, Dad,” he said.
After the glue dried, I took my e-reader, gingerly pushed it into my son's holder, expecting it to crack...expecting the glue to give, but instead I head "SNAP."
Good as new.
Friday, June 15, 2012
As heard on Chris Fabry Live! on Friday, 6/15--here is a good list of films for dads and families. Viewer discretion advised. Thanks to Bob Waliszewski of pluggedinonline.com for many on the list, as well as listeners!
Ben Hur
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
UP
Father-ish movies:
Courageous (fatherhood is a calling)
The Rookie (Morris as good dad, tensions with own father)
Finding Nemo (overprotectiveness, passionate pursuit of a prodigal)
Searching for Bobby Fischer (support vs. competitive pressure)
Fiddler on the Roof (traditional dad and three dating daughters)
Mr. Holland’s Opus (musical dad trying to connect with deaf son)
October Sky (not a model dad, but father-son issues are core)
Fiddler on the Roof
The Lion King
To Kill a Mockingbird
Life is Beautiful
Field of Dreams
Hoosiers
Father Goose
The Sound of Music
Superman 1978
Swiss Family Robinson
Father of the Bride
Faith Like Potatoes
Summer Movies for the Family (check age-appropriate ratings):
Akeelah and the Bee
Because of Wynn-Dixie
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Charlotte’s Web
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
Dolphin Tale
How to Train Your Dragon
March of the Penguins
The Mighty Macs
Miss Potter
Nancy Drew
Nim’s Island
One Night with the King
Prince of Egypt
Sarah’s Choice
Secretariat
Soul Surfer
That Thing You Do
To Save a Life
The Ultimate Gift
War Horse
What If…
Ben Hur
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
UP
Father-ish movies:
Courageous (fatherhood is a calling)
The Rookie (Morris as good dad, tensions with own father)
Finding Nemo (overprotectiveness, passionate pursuit of a prodigal)
Searching for Bobby Fischer (support vs. competitive pressure)
Fiddler on the Roof (traditional dad and three dating daughters)
Mr. Holland’s Opus (musical dad trying to connect with deaf son)
October Sky (not a model dad, but father-son issues are core)
Fiddler on the Roof
The Lion King
To Kill a Mockingbird
Life is Beautiful
Field of Dreams
Hoosiers
Father Goose
The Sound of Music
Superman 1978
Swiss Family Robinson
Father of the Bride
Faith Like Potatoes
Summer Movies for the Family (check age-appropriate ratings):
Akeelah and the Bee
Because of Wynn-Dixie
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Charlotte’s Web
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
Dolphin Tale
How to Train Your Dragon
March of the Penguins
The Mighty Macs
Miss Potter
Nancy Drew
Nim’s Island
One Night with the King
Prince of Egypt
Sarah’s Choice
Secretariat
Soul Surfer
That Thing You Do
To Save a Life
The Ultimate Gift
War Horse
What If…
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Steve Saint was on the radio program two weeks ago. On Tuesday, 6/12, he was in an accident that left him paralyzed. For the Christianity Today article click here.
I’ve been praying for him and wondering what God is doing in his life. Hasn’t he suffered enough? He lost his father, he lost a daughter, he’s gone through health challenges, and now this?
Then I looked at Romans 5 today and envied Steve Saint. Not envying what he is going through, no one begs for this kind of suffering. But envying what God is still doing. That God counts Steve worthy to go through yet another trial.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Steve can’t stand, though I’m praying he will soon. But he is standing in the grace that God has poured out through his Son. He was justified and given peace with God. This puts Steve in a place of perfect contentment because of what God has done and is still doing.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Really? Rejoice? When you’re paralyzed? When you don’t know if you will be able to regain movement in your arms and legs? Yes, because the rejoicing doesn’t come in circumstances, it's revealed by the hope given by God.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
The hope God gives comes to life when we embrace the suffering we go through. The suffering can turn us away from God, but it can also turn us toward him. And this difficulty can be used to produce perseverance and a deep character that trusts even when it can’t see. And that character leads us to real hope. That hope is available to everyone, no matter our difficulty or struggle. That hope is available for Steve Saint, and I’m praying—no, I know he embraces it today, even with arms that can’t move.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
I can't help but think of my grandfather on Sunday mornings like this. He died when I was a boy, but I still remember him staying with us at our home, in one of the back bedrooms. He had pared his life down to only a few possessions, clothes, his tobacco pipe, and a black and white TV.
He watched Walter Cronkite on that TV and while my brothers watched "The Invaders" and other spooky shows, I would go into his room and watch Red Skelton.
My grandfather had a farm with chickens and apple trees and pigs and rows of sweet corn and other vegetables. What I remember most about that house is two rooms: the kitchen and the sun room at the front. The sun room had a checker board and other games and I spent time there playing with things and taking in the aged smells of old trunks. I imagined they were filled with letters from famous dead people or maybe gold. There were pictures of my grandmother, long gone, and other relatives who were distant memories.
In the kitchen was his iron skillet. It seemed to fill the room. He would cook on a gas stove and get the skillet scalding hot, then cook eggs and onions. Though I can't remember much interaction with him, I imagine him telling me to sit down and eat. He had a heavy German accent. My brother was skinny and had to jump around in the shower to get wet. My grandfather would say, "Eat! Eat! You vill dry up and blow avay!"
He cooked a lot of eggs in that skillet. And this morning, when I put the butter in the pan and smelled the onions, I thought of him again.
He watched Walter Cronkite on that TV and while my brothers watched "The Invaders" and other spooky shows, I would go into his room and watch Red Skelton.
My grandfather had a farm with chickens and apple trees and pigs and rows of sweet corn and other vegetables. What I remember most about that house is two rooms: the kitchen and the sun room at the front. The sun room had a checker board and other games and I spent time there playing with things and taking in the aged smells of old trunks. I imagined they were filled with letters from famous dead people or maybe gold. There were pictures of my grandmother, long gone, and other relatives who were distant memories.
In the kitchen was his iron skillet. It seemed to fill the room. He would cook on a gas stove and get the skillet scalding hot, then cook eggs and onions. Though I can't remember much interaction with him, I imagine him telling me to sit down and eat. He had a heavy German accent. My brother was skinny and had to jump around in the shower to get wet. My grandfather would say, "Eat! Eat! You vill dry up and blow avay!"
He cooked a lot of eggs in that skillet. And this morning, when I put the butter in the pan and smelled the onions, I thought of him again.
Friday, June 8, 2012
As heard on the program 6/8/2012, here is a list of books recommended by guests, callers, emailers, and some on Facebook. Also, at the bottom, is a list of classic non-fiction books provided by Dr. Rosalie DeRosset of the faculty at Moody Bible Institute. Happy Reading!!!
Mark Buchanan, Your God is Too Safe, Your Church is Too Safe
Thomas Watson, All Things Work Together for Good
Martin Lloyd Jones, The Sermon on the Mount
Richard Sibbs, The Bruised Reed
Surprised by Oxford, Carolyn Weber
Prayers for Today, Kurt Bjorklund
Mark, The Gospel of Passion, Michael Card
Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer, Amazing Grace
Dynamics of Spiritual Life, Richard Lovelace
All Is Grace, Brennan Manning
Beautiful Outlaw, John Eldredge
Kendra Smiley, Do Your Kids A Favor, Love Your Spouse, The Journey of a Strong-Willed Child (Live FREE coming this summer!)
Dwelling with Philippians: A Conversation with Scripture through Image and Word
by Elizabeth Steele Halstead, Paul Detterman, Joyce Borger and John D. Witvliet
Philip Yancey, Finding God in Unexpected Places
Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts
Foolproofing Your Life – Jan Silvious
Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young
Radical and Radical Together by David Platt
I Never Thought I'd See the Day by David Jeremiah
The Meaning of Marriage - Tim and Kathy Keller
Mercy Rising, Amber Robinson
The Truth About the Lordship of Christ by John MacArthur
Mere Churchianity by Michael Spencer
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
I Really Want to Change...So Help Me God by James MacDonald
Life without Limits by Nick Vujicic
The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions by Arthur G. Bennett
Ravi Zacharias, Deliver Us from Evil
Alistair Begg, Pathway to Freedom
Tramp for the Lord, Corrie ten Boom
Resolution for Women - Priscilla Shirer
Indivisible - James Robison and J.W. Richards
Driven by Eternity - John Bevere
The 5th Diamond - Irene Weisberg Zisblatt and Gail Ann Webb
Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick
Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy
The Emancipation of Robert Sadler by Robert Sadler with Marie Chapian
OTHER BOOKS FROM FACEBOOK AND NOT MENTIONED ON AIR
Bold Spirit: Helga Estby by Linda L. Hunt
House Calls and Hitching Posts by Dorcas Hoover
The Pink Pagoda by Dr. James Garrow
Jack Burbridge, From Crime to Christ
Unplugging from Religion: Connection with God by Greg Albrecht
Being God's Friend by Oswald Chambers
Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk and Melanie D. Lewis
Jen Hatmaker, "7"
Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper.
Slave - John MacArthur
The Lord Our Righteousness by Obadiah Grew
The Everlasting Righteousness by Horatius Bonar
Like a Mighty Wind by Mel Tari
66 Love Letters, Larry Crabb
A Path Through Suffering, Elisabeth Elliot
Choosing Gratitude, Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Heaven Proclaims His Glory: A Spectacular View of Creation Through the Lens of the NASA Hubble
Bringing Up Girls, James Dobson
Called To Controversy, Ruth Rosen
Secondhand Jesus, Glen Packiam
Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit, Charles Swindoll
Pike , Kenneth
Mark Buchanan, Your God is Too Safe, Your Church is Too Safe
Thomas Watson, All Things Work Together for Good
Martin Lloyd Jones, The Sermon on the Mount
Richard Sibbs, The Bruised Reed
Surprised by Oxford, Carolyn Weber
Prayers for Today, Kurt Bjorklund
Mark, The Gospel of Passion, Michael Card
Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer, Amazing Grace
Dynamics of Spiritual Life, Richard Lovelace
All Is Grace, Brennan Manning
Beautiful Outlaw, John Eldredge
Kendra Smiley, Do Your Kids A Favor, Love Your Spouse, The Journey of a Strong-Willed Child (Live FREE coming this summer!)
Dwelling with Philippians: A Conversation with Scripture through Image and Word
by Elizabeth Steele Halstead, Paul Detterman, Joyce Borger and John D. Witvliet
Philip Yancey, Finding God in Unexpected Places
Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts
Foolproofing Your Life – Jan Silvious
Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young
Radical and Radical Together by David Platt
I Never Thought I'd See the Day by David Jeremiah
The Meaning of Marriage - Tim and Kathy Keller
Mercy Rising, Amber Robinson
The Truth About the Lordship of Christ by John MacArthur
Mere Churchianity by Michael Spencer
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
I Really Want to Change...So Help Me God by James MacDonald
Life without Limits by Nick Vujicic
The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions by Arthur G. Bennett
Ravi Zacharias, Deliver Us from Evil
Alistair Begg, Pathway to Freedom
Tramp for the Lord, Corrie ten Boom
Resolution for Women - Priscilla Shirer
Indivisible - James Robison and J.W. Richards
Driven by Eternity - John Bevere
The 5th Diamond - Irene Weisberg Zisblatt and Gail Ann Webb
Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick
Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy
The Emancipation of Robert Sadler by Robert Sadler with Marie Chapian
OTHER BOOKS FROM FACEBOOK AND NOT MENTIONED ON AIR
Bold Spirit: Helga Estby by Linda L. Hunt
House Calls and Hitching Posts by Dorcas Hoover
The Pink Pagoda by Dr. James Garrow
Jack Burbridge, From Crime to Christ
Unplugging from Religion: Connection with God by Greg Albrecht
Being God's Friend by Oswald Chambers
Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk and Melanie D. Lewis
Jen Hatmaker, "7"
Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper.
Slave - John MacArthur
The Lord Our Righteousness by Obadiah Grew
The Everlasting Righteousness by Horatius Bonar
Like a Mighty Wind by Mel Tari
66 Love Letters, Larry Crabb
A Path Through Suffering, Elisabeth Elliot
Choosing Gratitude, Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Heaven Proclaims His Glory: A Spectacular View of Creation Through the Lens of the NASA Hubble
Bringing Up Girls, James Dobson
Called To Controversy, Ruth Rosen
Secondhand Jesus, Glen Packiam
Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit, Charles Swindoll
GOOD QUALITY CHRISTIAN NON-FICTION LIST FROM Dr. Rosalie DeRosset
Augustine. The Confessions
Anselm. Cur Deus Homo (Why the God Man)
Athanasius. De Incarnacione (The Incarnation: note forward by C.S. Lewis
Barnes, Craig. Yearning (wonderful book on longing)
Baxter, Sidlow J. Awake My Heart
Blamires, Harry. The Christian Mind
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship; Life Together
Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding (spiritual biography)
Carmichael, Amy. Edges of His Ways; Rose from Brier; etc. (India
Calvin, John. The Institutes (Ford Lewis Battles edition)
Campbell, Will. Brother to a Dragonfly
Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest
Charnock, Steven. The Existence and Attributes of Man
Chesterton, G.K. Orthodoxy; The Everlasting Man
Colson, Chuck. Loving God; How Now Shall We Live
Curtis, Brent and John Eldredge. The Sacred Romance (a must read on longing)
Dark, David. Everyday Apocalypse:The Sacred Revealed in Radiohead, the Simpsons, and other Pop Culture Icons
Dawn, Marva. Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down (anything she has written)
Demarest, Bruce. Satisfy Your Soul
Dobson, James. Love Must Be Tough
Downs, Tim. Finding Common Ground (on art and preaching in evangelism)
Dunlop, Cheryl. Follow Me As I Follow Christ. wonderful guide to teaching children in the church)
Eliot, Elizabeth
Ellul, Jacques. Propaganda; Money; etc.
Fee,Gordon and Douglas Stuart. How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth.
Forsythe, P.T. The Soul of Prayer
Foxes Book of Martyrs
Frankl, Victor. Man’s Search for Meaning
Gire, Ken. Windows to the Soul (very inspiring about the personal effects of literature in life)
Guiness, Oz. Doubt; The Dust of Death
Gundry, Stanley. Love Them In (the theology of Dwight Lyman Moody)
Guroian, Vigen. Tending the Heart of Virtue (a wonderful treatment of capturing a child’s imagination)
Holmes, Arthur. All Truth is God’s Truth*
Hovestal, Tom. Extreme Righteousness: Seeing Ourselves in the Pharisees
Hunt, Gladys. Honey from a Child’s Heart
James, Carolyn Custis. When Life and Beliefs Collide
Koessler, John. Stranger in the House of God (very poignant well-written contemporary memoir)
Larsen, Scott and Philip Yancey. Indelible Ink (well-known people give their favorite books)
Laurence, Brother. The Practice of the Presence of God
Lewis, C.S. The Problem of Pain; The Four Loves; Mere Christianity; A Grief Observed
Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. Of Preaching and Preachers; Spiritual Depression; Sermon on the Mount; etc.
McCullough Donald. The Trivialization of God
Muggeridge, Malcolm. Christ and the Media; Jesus Rediscovered; Trumpeter for God; Something Beautiful for God (on Mother Theresa)
Nouwen, Henri. Genesse Diary; etc.
O’Connor, Flannery. The Habit of Being (her collected letters); Mystery and Manners (lectures on writing and Christianity)
Packer, J.I. Fundamentalislm and the Word of God; Knowing God
Plantinga, Cornelius. Not the Way It’s Supposed To Be
Roseveare, Helen. Living Sacrifice
Ryken, Leland. Windows to the World*; Triumphs of the Imagination*; Realms of Gold*
Ryle, J.C. Holiness
Sayers, Dorothy. The Mind of the Maker; Are Women Human?
Sire, James. How to Read Slowly*
Stott, John R. Your Mind Matters; etc.
Stott, John R. Your Mind Matters; etc.
Schaeffer, Francis. The Christian Manifesto; etc.
Sibbs, Richard. Works of Richard Sibbs
Tozer, A.W. The Pursuit of God; The Knowledge of the Holy
Veith, Gene Edward Jr. Reading
Weil, Simone. Waiting on God
Wiersbe, Warren, ed. Treasury of the World’s Greatest Sermons; Preaching With Imagination
Woolman, John. Journal
Zylstra, Henry. Testament of Vision
* = books on how to interpret what you're reading
Sunday, June 3, 2012
I let her out at Target. Just to run in and find something.
“I’ll be right here,” I said.
I’ve been saying that for thirty years. “I’ll be right here.”
Except in the past week or so that hasn’t been as comforting. I’m writing another story and living with someone who’s writing a story is like living with a person who has one foot in reality and another in Narnia.
I pulled to the side of the building where I thought there would be shade and parked. I turned on the book I’m listening to, something to cleanse the mental palate.
Wait a minute. If she comes out and I’m not in front, she won’t be able to find me. And it’s 110 in the parking lot.
Relax. She’ll call me. She has a cell…
The phone was next to me. She’d left it in the car.
A few years into our marriage I acquired this ability to finish her sentences, read her mind, figure out exactly what she’d be doing at any point of the day. Now I can’t even figure out what I’m doing half the time. And reading her mind? It was an illusion at best.
I pulled to the front of the store but didn’t have a good line of sight. I pulled into another row of parked cars, then a third. I backed up so I could see the front door better.
I used to be able to anticipate when she’d be done with a task, shopping, going into the school, whatever it was. I would have the kids in the car, sleeping, and I’d pull up just as she walked out the door and she would get in like I was the prince and she was the princess and our timing was perfect.
I looked at the store. People coming and going. Nobody was waiting in the car for them.
I took a breath. It just felt right. I could see her going through the checkout line, signing her name, getting 5% back and feeling good about it. Walking past the Starbucks to the automatic doors.
I put the car in reverse.
And I swear I’m not making this up, on a stack of whatever you want me to swear on, I swear she was coming through the crosswalk with that white bag and the red circles.
She got in.
“Told you I’d be here,” I said.
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