Tag Archives | suffering

Reflections From a Hospital Bed

By Bob Kauflin on March 23, 2026 in —Family

When I turned 70 in January of last year, I was filled with fresh faith for what God wanted me to do in the coming decade. My thoughts involved writing books, leading music at conferences, working on songs, pastoring in my local church, investing in my kids and grandkids, discipleship, and raising up my replacements. “I want my 70s to be my most productive decade yet!” I told a few friends. But in early December, I slipped on ice while on a mini-tour in Harrisburg, PA and ended up in the ER. I found out later I had partially torn my quadratic tendon above the left kneecap. After some physical therapy, I was walking somewhat normally, if …

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Drabbles from the Depths

By Bob Kauflin on April 29, 2009 in —Songs of Lament, —Sovereign Grace Music, —Worship and Life

I didn’t know what a “drabble” was until just recently. It’s an extremely short work of fiction of exactly 100 words in length. Nicole McLernon, 21 year old daughter of my good friends Mike and Patty McLernon, recently wrote a “super-drabble” – ten drabbles in a row. She based it on some of the lyrics to my song, Out of the Depths, from our Psalms CD. Nicole unpacks what it might mean to “wait on the Lord” when you find out your daughter has cancer. Although her piece is fictional, the situation is all too familiar. I was affected by her portrayal of a struggling heart learning to submit to God’s wisdom and truth revealed in the gospel. This …

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Why Theology in Songs is Important

By Bob Kauflin on September 29, 2008 in —Friends, —Funerals, —Songwriting, —Worship and Life

I don’t know Terry Stauffer personally, but he attended the Together for the Gospel conference in 2006 and blogged on a hymn we sang there, How Sweet and Aweful is the Place. He’s a pastor in Alberta, Canada. That was all I knew. Until yesterday. Yesterday, someone left a comment on the post where I referenced Terry and passed on some very sad news. Emily Stauffer, Terry’s daughter, was murdered this past Saturday afternoon while taking a walk. She was 14 years old. Providentially, Terry has been studying the book of Job, and recently wrote a post on the Sovereign Grace CD, Come Weary Saints, a CD we put together for those going through …

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Come Weary Saints CD Almost Ready

By Bob Kauflin on March 19, 2008 in —Sovereign Grace Music

Next month we’ll be releasing our next CD, Come Weary Saints. The project is an invitation to each of us, whatever season we find ourselves in, to redirect our focus to the God whose love has been forever demonstrated at the cross of Calvary. Whether you’re going through trials or know someone who is, these songs are a reminder of the Father’s sovereign, loving care. Contributing song writers include myself along with Mark Altrogge, Steve and Vikki Cook, Pete Gagnon, Todd Twining, Joel Sczebel, and Stephen Altrogge. Ryan Baird, from Sovereign Grace Church of Pasadena, CA sang half the tracks. He was joined by Kyle Davis, who has sung on other …

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Using Cancer to Worship God

By Bob Kauflin on February 15, 2006 in Devotions

I received my weekly “Fresh Words” e-mail from pastor-theologian-author John Piper today. He had surgery for cancer this morning, and appears to be doing well after surgery. Last night, on the eve of his surgery, he wrote down ten ways we can benefit from cancer, if God chooses not to heal us. Here’s a portion: You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God. The design of God in your cancer is not to train you in the rationalistic, human calculation of odds. The world gets comfort from their odds. Not Christians. Some count their chariots (percentages of survival) and some count their horses (side effects …