About Karen Thomas Olsen
Born and raised in Ohio, I attended college and graduate school in Indiana, moved to Scotts Valley, California south of San Jose to teach, back to Ohio for many years, to Arizona for 11 years with my husband, and finally to Ft. Wayne, Indiana to be near family. (Leaving Prescott Valley, Arizona in 2018 was very hard. Sigh. But for family? Worth it.)
I have taught in three Christian high schools and one community college. My first teaching position was in Scotts Valley, California. In the summer of 1980, a tall, dark, and handsome 26 year old California boy, who had recently completed his degree in Aeronautical Operations from San Jose State University, followed me to Columbus, Ohio where I had accepted a new teaching position at Worthington Christian High School.
There in Worthington we were married. Paul became an Air Traffic Controller, and we raised two beautiful girls in Piqua and Troy, Ohio. We now also have a son-in-law and two precious grandsons born in 2009 and 2012. In 2007, Lockheed Martin transferred my husband to Prescott Valley, Arizona, which was a great adventure for us. Arizona was a good place for my health and great for Paul, a California boy who loves the sunny southwest! However, being far from family is not easy. So, in July of 2018 we moved to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where we are near relatives and just hours from each of our daughters, one near Chicago and one north of Cincinnati.
For years, I worked in Christian school curriculum design and development, which was challenging, exciting, and satisfying. After retiring in the summer of 2012, I focused on completing a doctorate, pursuing some writing projects, and being involved in Christian education at our church. Maintaining this blog continues to be important to me. With great gratitude to the Lord who carried me through the process, I graduated from Trinity Theological Seminary in August, 2016, earning a DRS (Doctor of Religious Studies) with an emphasis in theology. My dissertation is entitled "A Taxonomic Theology of Suffering and Joy Designed to Assist in Christian Growth."
Besides reading, learning, teaching, and writing, I love to swim, stroll around the neighborhood on my bike, take Water Aerobics classes, mingle with neighbors, and participate in our local church. As my health permits, I love to travel and see God’s amazing creation.
I’m wearing my eye glasses or “life lenses” which instruct me to “Look for the Lord in every page of Scripture, in every corner of nature, and in every chapter of my life." No matter the direction of my life, it's a journey north.
What possibly could be more needed this Christmas season than the voice of comfort?
Needed. Can all of us admit this year that we are needy? There is no exception. We are not strong. We are not wise. We are broken. We are weak. We cannot fix ourselves, let alone our neighbors, family, friends, country, or world.
God speaks: “Comfort, O comfort My people. Speak kindly to Jerusalem” (Isaiah 40:1). How do we hear this? What does it mean to us and for us? “A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness….”
If you remember the great oratorio by G. F. Handel, entitled Messiah, your memory may bring to you the majestic sound of these words ringing through your head: “Comfort Ye….” “Ye” is the archaic plural pronoun for “you all,” you plural. You are not you singular, but you plural. We are not alone.
It has been hard for me to figure out what to write about that would be of any good to you this December. Personally, I’ve been very sick and haven’t been able to think and hear clearly. Then when I hear the news of violence, death, destruction, and demonic forces, I feel inwardly paralyzed. I cry out to God with the psalmist, “How Long, O Lord?”
And we wait. Isaiah 40 begins with God’s call for us to comfort others and the chapter ends with the encouragement that the Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary, as we do. Instead, He gives strength to the weary. Isaiah 41 expands God’s comfort. II Corinthians 1:3-5 tells us that God is a comforting God who wants us to comfort others in their sorrows with the comfort God gives to us in our troubles. Pass it on.
I want to pass on to you two comforts. The first one is one I wrote years ago. The second one is from a source I want to recommend to you for your long-term encouragement which you then can pass on to others.
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I opened an email recently from a dear friend, Brenda, who is traveling through breast cancer. She’s had surgery. Currently, she is following a regimen of chemotherapy which will be followed by radiation.
I met Brenda back in 1978 when I was a thoroughly green, new teacher, smack out of college. Brenda was the young mama of one bubbling, blond bundle, two year old Rebecca. Brenda’s husband was the head of the English department at Baymonte Christian High School. I had been hired to fill an opening in the English department after a young teacher had been killed in a driving accident on highway 17 between San Jose and Scotts Valley, California. The school was in Scotts Valley. I had never heard of this California town before Mr. Wallace, the school’s superintendent, came to Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, looking for a teacher to fill Carol’s roll.
I had recently graduated from Grace. Mr. Wallace talked me into accepting the teaching position he needed to fill. No, this is not true. He did not talk me into it. He could not convince me. I had no interest. I was looking for a teaching position in either Ohio or Indiana. No. I was not interested in moving across country. Not one cell in my body was willing to trek across the country to some place I had never heard of to take on my first, full-time career position, all by myself. No.
One month later I found myself in Mr. Wallace’s office in Scotts Valley, California. Hmm. Continue reading →
I have come to realize that I hear differently, often far differently, from others.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” (Matthew 11:15).
So, what is hearing?
It is auditory sensation.
It is listening.
It is understanding.
It can involve response and obedience.
But it can be painful.
This is my problem. Hearing can be painful, isolating, and confusing. Of course, hearing can be lovely, soothing, encouraging, exciting, and delightful. Moreover, hearing can be faith-building. “Faith comes from hearing…the word of Christ/God” (the “rhema” or spoken word of “Theos”; Romans 10:17). Is your faith weak? Hear more Word. Is hearing like eating? Nourishing?
It seems that Christians “digest” what they hear differently. Here is where hearing becomes confusing. Let me explain my current “hearing” dilemma.
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I presented two great opportunities to you in my August 14 post. Here’s an update.
My Bible study, A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy, is still on sale, but the price has risen, so now you can buy 2 books for the price of one rather than three. Still a great deal.
My second opportunity presented was about an online class I planned to start this fall. It is being delayed. Here is what’s up:
I am working with a tech man to help me update my website, hoping to add some printable resources and video recordings. I think that’s all I’ll be able to handle this fall, and I will let you know when they are uploaded on my website for you to use and share. I will also let you know when we’ll be ready to proceed with the online class/community in which we’ll travel through the Bible study. Please pray over all of this! Thank you!!
New Season Of Prayer
Is there ever a time not to pray? No! The time is always now (I Thes. 5:17). There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit is wooing and moving, as He did over the formless void of the watery, deep darkness in Genesis 1:2. Let us pray in agreement with the Spirit.
Lord, through the darkness of Charlie Kirk’s martyrdom, we hear Your voice exclaiming, “Let there be light,” and You are banishing darkness from hearts now softened through the light of the gospel proclaimed by Charlie and by Christ-followers around the globe. Here we are, Lord! Send us. Use us. Connect us. Bring healing through Christ’s death for us and His resurrection, as one, two, tens, thousands, and millions call to You.
“All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13), for “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that
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Consider two September days, separated by twenty-four years. September 11, 2001 (9/11) with the loss of some 3000 people. Then, the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025.
Charlie wanted to be remembered first for his faith in Jesus Christ. On this foundation he built his life as well as his work as a conservative influencer, founding Turning Point USA at the age of 18. Lethally shot, Charlie (a mere 31) left a beautiful wife and two little ones, the ages of my youngest grandchildren. His life’s race is completed.
I have heard people refer to these tragedies as senseless. I think they mean they are acts of injustice. The 3,000 lives lost were innocent victims. Charlie was an innocent victim. Thus, terrorism is senseless, but of course, we know there is some sense (logic, reason, however unhinged or demonic) behind the violence. So, we ask, “Why?” We ask, “How do I make sense of the senseless?”
This reminds me of an ancient story, providing us a wider perspective plus some balm for grieving hearts. Continue reading →
Have you heard this? Maybe you’ve said this?
“Human!”
It’s a response to being called out for error, forgetfulness, and even wrong doing.
Sam came home with the groceries but bought the wrong kind of gluten free flour. His wife, Sue, had listed the exact one she needed for the dessert she was making to take to the family reunion for those members with dietary restrictions. Sam made an error. Sue was irritated.
“Human!” Sam defended himself.
Sam and Sue drove eighty miles to get to this family reunion. They remembered their lawn chairs, cooler filled with food and drinks, gifts for the grandparents, but they forgot the rare, old newspaper articles! Everyone was to contribute old family photos and newspaper clippings about Grandpa and Grandma from decades ago which cousin Martha was going to have digitalized to make into a family book. Sue was the only one in the family who had possession of the newspaper articles about Grandpa as a local baseball champion in his youth. Her cousin was counting on her. The articles were still where she placed them on her kitchen table. Sigh.
“Human!” Sue was mad at herself.
Cousin Martha lied. She’d been lying about it for years! Lying to herself, lying to her family and friends. Why? She did not want to face her financial reality. She did not want to change her lifestyle, so she borrowed and borrowed and borrowed money. Now, she was losing her house. She had to move. Martha unloaded her burden on Sue as they sat away from the rest of the family, near the old weeping willow tree they once played under as girls. The tree wept with them. There was so much to say, so much to face, so much to do, but what should Martha do?
“Human!” claimed Martha. “So true!” consoled Sue.
But really? Is it really human nature to make errors, to forget, and to do wrong? Can we sort this out?
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I have two great opportunities to present to you before I report to you about the podcast interview I was preparing for when I last posted. Some have asked how it went. I’ll tell you a bit at the end of this post and then more another time. For now, let me share some emerging possibilities that could bless you and some of your friends.
First, we’ve been given an opportunity. What opportunity? Well, check out the Amazon page on my book. The link is near the bottom of this post.
The price has greatly dropped on Amazon (but not on Barnes & Noble), so now is the time to buy some copies for friends and family. (Currently, you can buy three copies for the price of one.) These copies are the first printing of the first edition. Some charts have been added and edits have been made which will be found in copies after all of these first printings are sold. I can send you the added charts and changes if you order soon, if you send me a request via email. I’ll give you contact information below.
Second, here’s an opportunity that I’m offering: an online class/community traveling through this Bible study, A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy. Would you like to be a part of this? I’m hoping to start the group study in mid-September, trekking through the book in eight to nine sessions, finishing before Thanksgiving. We’ll meet online (GoogleMeets or something like this) once a week for live gatherings which will be recorded so you can listen to them later if you can’t always join us. (I’ll get back with you on the time schedule, but if you want to let me know your preferences, please do so. We’ll see what we can do.)
Buy your cheap copies of my book now. Look through the book, and ask God to lead you to a partner or group to do this with you. You can gather your own little group of friends and relatives to journey together!
Be encouraged and inspired by the book description on the back of the book (which you can read on the Amazon page or on my website). Use that description to encourage others to join you.
There’s more:
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Have you ever been asked the question, “What advice would you give to your younger self?” Hmm. How would you answer?
Recently, I was sent this question in a short list of questions I was given to prepare for an upcoming podcast interview. I’m wanting to discuss my book, A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy, but first I’ll be asked some questions about my life. Actually, the interviewers are looking to hear interesting life stories of faith more than they are interested in discussing the contents of a book. I agreed to the interview, hoping that telling some of my story will be a platform to tell about my book, which will be the last topic of our conversation. I don’t think that I can answer their questions about my life without referring to themes in my book. The last of the provided questions before discussing the book is about giving advice to one’s younger self.
This sounds like a currently popular and clever way to offer advice to others while revealing something of the arc of your own growth. So I’ve been simmering on possible replies.
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Do you like to have someone read to you? Do you like to read aloud for others?
Paul is reading aloud to me a series that we’ve read numerous times. We’ve read this series on our own. We’ve read these books to our children. We’ve read them to our grandchildren. Why read them again? And why now?
Again? Because these stories engage our minds and comfort our spirits. Now? Because as my health has further limited me this year, Paul and I are further limited in our ability to do things together that would be either normal or desirable for a couple to do together. Paul is very physically active and I am not. Reading aloud offers a pleasant experience we can share together.
Paul is reading The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis to me.
We are finishing tonight our fourth book, Prince Caspian. Reliving the Narnia stories takes us on adventures that cost little physical energy. Attention is needed, which does require some energy, and attention opens the mental door of imagination. Even at the age of 70, we imbibe biblical and virtuous lessons from these tales. We smile, laugh, and discuss.
Oh, did I write 70?
Today Paul turns 71!
Happy Birthday, my Sweetheart!
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Speaking of adventures through books:
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What makes you persevere?
We’re still here, so apparently, we have persevered through the winter, and now spring unfolds upon us. Thank You, Lord! “We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord….” *
What makes you persevere? This question can take us in many directions, and no matter the direction (personal, psychological, spiritual, relational, or theological), it will take us deep into its own country.
I could story-tell about my winter in Florida, and I’d rather like to do so. I’d also like to delve into the biblical challenge to persevere as explained in Romans chapter 5. “Having been justified by faith… we exult in hope…”(Romans 5:1). Biblical hope empowers me to persevere. The Holy Spirit can use this chapter to motivate us. Before I say anymore about hope-induced perseverance, let me update you on some activity regarding my book, A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy.
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Journey North Character 