If you were arrested or being a Christian...?..

This is a reminder that evangelical Christians across the world are being beaten, tortued, and killed because,they own  the gospel,and will not hesitate to lose their livesor go to prison  for their faith. Let me ask  you a question; "if you were arrested because you were a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you)?" Do you follow the command found in Hebrews 13:3 (see the picture).








Dec. 27, 2018 | Iran

Two Christian converts, in Mashhad and Karaj, were arrested recently ,as a result of what appears to have been tight government surveillance. Both Christian converts from Islam, had arranged by phone to meet in Mashhad. Behnam was already in Mashhad, staying with a friend, when six security agents burst in and arrested him. Davood was arrested at his home, where officials confiscated some books and other personal belongings, before he could leave for Mashhad. Based on the quickness and obvious coordination of their arrests, other Christians think Iranian intelligence officials had learned of their planned meeting by intercepting their phone calls. Christians in Iran ask us to pray that Behnam and Davood will know God’s strengthening power and wisdom during their interrogations. Pray also for them mens’release.   https://www.icommittopray.com/request/1814/behnam-and-davood/

Steve Bloem's podcast. with Radio hostChrst Arnzen.

I was so happy to be on Live Stream, with Chris. This basically is a show that takes questions from anyone in the world. The questions asked were mostly, what most Christians ask, as they seek to understand their mental illness, or someone, who is a loved one,  I will give you a link  to the discussion.
If you would like  to purchase the book, please go to my web site
https://www.heartfeltmin.org/copy-of-about-us If you live some where. besides the United States, or Canada, you should contact Kregel Publications to see where you can purchase it in your own country.

Here is the link to the podcast.
http://www.ironsharpensironradio.com/podcast/december-17-2018-show-with-steve-bloem-on-the-pastoral-handbook-of-mental-illness-a-guide-for-training-reference/?fbclid=IwAR2fwvSEU7a2pHh4CW08RkWC1fifUdrNGITUxb74KSAFP0rhfCMKyPWrUvA

How and why to give a donation to Heart felt Counseling Minstries

My wife, Robyn, and I founded Heartfelt Ccounseling Ministries for a number of reasons.

One of those reasons is to offer help and support through CAMI (Christians Afflicted with Mental Illness). We have started many support groups in the United States and Canada. CAMI support groups use The CAMI Leaders Guide, and Student Guides, which we wrote and published. The groups are free, and can be accessed through being in the group in person, or joining a group through Skype, wha sap or some other software application. We have received great feedback from these community groups.

The pastors of local churches must be able to address those in the church,who are as Warren Wiersbe called them, sanctified obstructionists. These people either willfully or in ignorance, discourage the care of the mentally ill. The pastor has a duty to protect his flock and comfort the weak. Many times these are the depressed, the anxious, the sick He also needs to exhort and comfort the caregivers in the congregation, and the mentally ill. This will involve comforting the weak of mind and warning the unruly. See I Thessalonians 5:14.

Heartfelt Ministries also has a ministry to the persecuted church across the world.  Blogs are viewed by many thousands of people from other countries. Many of my readers live in hostile countries, which can only be reached through the Internet.

The counseling fees we charge have always been based on a sliding scale according to one’s income. No one has ever been turned away, and this includes the many seminars that we do. Many of our contacts cannot afford counseling. Heartfelt reaches out to them, and provides counseling free of charge.

To learn more about our ministry, please visit our web site, heartfeltmin.org.

If you would like to support a ministry that helps the hurting, encourages the weak, trains pastors to shepherd their flailing sheep, and does the work of the Lord, we would appreciate your support. It is through your gifts that the ministry continues. When we bring someone through a depressive episode with skill and caring, it is to your credit and God who cares, will bless you when you care, too.

Thank you! God bless your holiday season and love others like He loves us!

 The Link to donations is https://www.heartfeltmin.org/join-us

 The link to our books is https://www.heartfeltmin.org/copy-of-about-us

Steve Bloem, will be on Live with Chris Arzen from 4pm-6 pm. discussion of The Pastoral Handbok of Mental ILlness

http://www.ironsharpensironradio.com/
Hi friend
Sorry about the late notice. I am going to be on she show Iron versus Iron,

What does God think of suicide? Part 2 of a series.

Sometime back, Outreach Magazine, posted on their website information from my latest book , The Pastoral Handbook of Mental Illness:  A Guide for Training and Reference. I was published by Ke gel Publications, June of 2018. I thought that they did such a good job, that I would share it with you. Our book can be used for an outreach to those who do not know the Savior. I remember, while talking with a large number of Jewish people about our previous, book called Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It. A Jewish woman, who sat next to me, said she was interested in our book because it talked about many Jewish figures in Broken Minds, because it talked about so many people, who we re depressed in the Old Testament.

You would be doing something to win people to Christ, if you try to promote our book. We need people , who will spread the news about The Pastoral Handbook and Broken Minds.  Here are some things from the Outreach Magazine. which explain our books and ministry.

Excerpted From
The Pastoral Handbook of Mental Illness
By Steve Bloem

Suicide is often the result of, but not limited to the following affective disorders: bipolar mania and bipolar depression; major depression, perinatal (sometimes called postpartum depression disorder) and schizoaffective disorder and we find it especially present in borderline personality disorder.

Suicide in the United States has surged to the highest levels in nearly 30 years, with increases in every age group except older adults. The rise was particularly steep for women. It was also substantial among middle-aged Americans, sending a signal of deep anguish from a group whose suicide rates had been stable or falling since the 1950s. The suicide rate for middle-aged women, ages 45 to 64, jumped by 63 percent over the period of the study, while it rose by 43 percent for men in that age range, the sharpest increase for males of any age. The overall suicide rate rose by 24 percent from 1999 to 2014, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The increases were so widespread that they lifted the nation’s suicide rate to 13 per 100,000 people, the highest since 1986. The rate rose by 2 percent a year starting in 2006, double the annual rise in the earlier period of the study. In all, 42,773 people died from suicide in 2014. The current suicide rate for veterans is more than 20 per day.

I am no stranger to the temptation of suicide. In a previous book, Broken Minds: Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You’re Losing It, which I co-authored with my wife Robyn, I tell the story of my own suicidal ideation and plans. I was spared that heinous act by God, and by his grace alone I didn’t attempt it. But the psychic pain of my deep depression was so severe that I must say, I considered it. I was on a self-imposed suicide watch with my family and friends. I walked and prayed short, desperate prayers while I began the exhausting search for an antidepressant that would take away my depression.

My sister, Cindy, who also inherited the bipolar gene, bought 20 of our books and gave them to some of her friends and our cousins. She read it and knew that she and I both suffered from this mental affliction. Yet, in 2006, she took her own life in the midst of a depressive episode.

The Elephant in the Room

Suicide is a subject about which very few speak. It is also the hidden death in the obituary. So and so “died suddenly” or “unexpected” are usually the terms that cloak the painful truth.

It happens all the time. If you don’t believe that, just look at the statistics that opened this chapter. Some people shrink from discussing it, feeling almost superstitiously afraid of the topic or believing that they will put the idea into someone’s head. Believe me, if your loved one or church member is suffering from a depressive illness, he has already thought of suicide and probably has a plan. If you broach the subject, you will not be leading him to that end. You will have the opportunity to tell him you will find him help and you will support him until he gets well again.

Suicide is like a plague that moves through communities killing its victims one by one and those who seem immune to it ignore the possibility of death until it takes someone they love. Then it becomes a dangerous adversary. But instead of attacking it head-on, we hide it from the others who are susceptible. Why do we continue to disguise ourselves or our friends and family members as cheery and buoyant when they are woefully depressed? Because we believe it is a character flaw to be depressed? Because we don’t honestly believe it is a biological disease? Well, it is, and it is happening to our sons and daughters, to our children and our parents. We need to talk about it, stop the shaming and blaming, and get help for anyone who is experiencing this illness before it is too late.

Tell me more about this book »

https://outreachmagazine.com/resources/books/counseling/33398-need-know-suicide.html
Order this book from Amazon.com »

My sister Cyndi killed herself in an episode of Bipolar Disorderr - Suicide Part 1

My wife Robyn came to me in my office,while I was writing a blog.
 She said, "you have to see this." She pressed rewind, on the remote.
  I stood watching, the subject was suicide, and the news anchor was
 saying, that the  rate of suicides, from the year two thousand  had gone
 up thirty five percent. I quit working on my blog. and  started a new one.
 One which would help the suicide rate go down.

My wife Robyn and I wrote a book called;, Broken Minds, Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Like You're Losing It  (Kregel Publications2005). Our longest chapter is about suicide. My older sister Cyndi Liked  the book so much, that she ordered fifteen copies, and gave them away to her friends and relatives.

 We were stunned,when my  brother -in-law, called us in the early morning, and told us,that Cyndi  had killed herself.  I had to drive to my parent's house, and tell them about her death. 

She left behind three children, who were  under the age of 15. About ten years later, one of my best friends, who was a pastor. took his own life. He was on our board, and had been to many of our seminars. He left behind a wife and five children.

 Many times, even at the funerals of those who have committed suicide, the  pastor does not mention it. But surely this is a mistake on his part.  Here is an excerpt from Broken Minds ;Cyndi had welcomed the book,  and ordered about fifteen copies of it for her friends.

Ssuicide.

It had never before entered my mind. Suicide claimed weak people—surely far weaker than I, people. who came to their wits’ end .and gave in to a sudden fatal impulse. How could a Christi entertain the thought, let alone be seriously tempted?

Perhaps the temptation might overtake someone in an impossible home situation or ,someone whose business had gone sour. In my mind maybe a weak Christian might do it to avoid going through divorce, terminal illness, poverty, or an intensely bitter disappointment.

But Christians,who had thoughts of suicide were among the “weak minded” and stunted spiritually. Suddenly the temptation to end my life and its pain assaulted my theology-driven abhorrence against murder of a being created by God in His image. 

We must not be “ignorant of [Satan’s] devices” (2 Cor. 2:11 kjv). One of Satan’s most cunning devices is to whisper to the depressed believer,  the thought that all the pain could stop in a moment. He will insinuate that there is  a fix, for all that is broken.You  could have it right now. the  wanted rest from the unrelenting pain. It is immediate. 

The Devil is crafty. One moment he’s a quiet serpent sunning in the grass, the next he is a roaring lion. Jesus Christ said;  that, Satan “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him." Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar, and the father of lies” (John 8:44)." Murderer Satan surely delights to lure Christians to physical death, since he cannot touch their souls.

The rationalist finds it silly superstition to speak of attacks from the spiritual realm. That, of course, doesn’t stop Satan from attacking the rationalist, but rationalism has no lens through which to see him ,and unmask his intentions. Christians have the lens of Scripture. We can see and know the attacks for what they are. That doesn’t make their allure any less potent, but there is an ever-present help in the Holy Spirit.

Don['t believe that others would not mind that you killed yourself.. Suicide is always a horrible act ,which rips family's apart, and the children of suicide are more likely to kill themselves. There is hope,, you can get through this episode. You must make sure your armor is on (Ephesians 6).

Please go to our website and see our resources that are available.
https://www.heartfeltmin.org/copy-of-about-us

Why did the Son of God visit planet earth?

What is is the true Christmas spirit?  It is a person  looking intently at the person of Christ, and realizing,that He came, through the Holy Spirit,, to offer Himself, as a sacrifice for sin. One of the greatest statements about the incarnation of Christ was said by the Apostle Paul;

 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,  that though he was rich, yet for your sake's he became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich  ( 2 Corinthians 8:9).

 He was rich in all of his glorious attributes but put aside the independent use of them.  He was rich in righteousness  and He died for us ,and in our place.

 2 Corinthians 5:21. says, He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (NASB). 

The Hymn writer, Issac Watts, says about this: Was it for crimes that I have done,  He groaned upon the tree?  Amazing pity! Grace unknown!  And love beyond degree!  Well might the sun in darkness hide,  And shut its glories in,  When God, the mighty maker, died  For His own creature's sin. 

3. It recognizing that Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and the LORD of LORDS.  He  now sits at the right hand of God and will some day rule from His throne in Jerusalem.. .See Philippians 2:9-11.

Charles Wesley said:
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
 Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

 The United States is fast becoming a nation who wants the spirit of Christmas, without the Christ. of Christmas.?What can we do this season to honor Christ?  We can share the gospel with our neighbors, our friends and even those we barely know. We can share the good news that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins in our place. 

The apostle John tells us in His epistle:Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;  and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; This is the spirit of the Antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world(1 John4:1-4).

It is probable that your pastor would appreciate a gift, which includes, The Pastoral Handbook of Mental Illness , and or Broken Minds Hope for Healing Like You're Losing It. You can give on line or send us a check. https://www.heartfeltmin.org/copy-of-about-us

 Today, take a moment to bring the Christmas spirit alive in your household. Ask each family member, over dinner, to define the Christmas spirit. Then post their answers on your refrigerator as your personal family-reminder of what this season is all about.

Mental Illness -Shepherding God's Flock

Shepherding the mentally ill can be troublesome and exhausting. Many homeless people are mentally ill.  What is our responsibility toward this population? Do we even have a responsibility? We have seen individuals who have families who live less than ten miles away.

Maybe their families have been burned out and over time have lost track of their cousin, brother or even mother. These lost relatives are sometimes violent and we understand that.  That is why pastors and leaders need training.

At Heartfelt Counseling Ministries, we have a number of programs in place to reach out and stabilize the mentally ill. This type of advocacy should be familiar to those, who are acquainted with the Old Testament.  The Hebrew word anah and other related words tell us about God’s view of helping those, who are oppressed, bruised,and poor in spirit.  The mentally ill are certainly part of this populace.  The study of this word, and related words in the Old Testament .is a wonderful way to prepare your heart, and the hearts of your people to minister to the mentally i;ll. Someone, who was once a baby boy or girl,, lives as a vagabond



But not all mentally people are homeless.

There are iindividuals, who sit in your church every week, teach your Bible study classes .and sing in the choir.  There are days they miss because of illness. The true reason they are not available is that they are in a depressive episode or experiencing a panic attack and, they cannot get out of bed. The stigma and the judgmental attitudes they have encountered over the months, and years of sickness have caused them to go into deep hiding.   There are also people who have stopped going to church completely because they feel no one understands and they don’t have the energy or resources to educate everyone. This is a major problem in our churches right now!

This quote is from The Pastoral Handbook of Mental Illness: A Guide for Training and Review.

---

Anah, to be put down, become low, to be depressed, to be downcast, to be afflicted, to stoop. Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gessenius Lexicon; this is keyed to the “Theological Word  Book of the Old Testament.”

heartfeltmin.org

A great story about neglecting Christ at Christmas

This is a repost

We all talk about Christmas being a time for friends and family, a time for gifts, choice desserts and even new cars. Have you ever complained about Christmas being too materialistic? I know I have.  But we still spend too much money for presents (and sometimes even go into credit card debt) in spite of resolutions to cut back on the craziness.


I would like to briefly share what the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ means.  
The Bible is the place to look for who really is the Christ of Christmas. Christmas is about the birth of the Son of God.  As a nation drifts from what the Bible says Christ becomes more and more neglected. 

Luis Palau tells this illustrative story of this very problem:
"Many years ago a wealthy family decided to have their newborn baby baptized in their enormous mansion. Dozens of guests were invited to the elaborate affair, and they all arrived dressed in the latest fashion. After depositing their elegant wraps on a bed in an upstairs room, the guests were entertained royally. Soon the time came for the main purpose of their gathering, the infant’s baptismal ceremony. But where was the child? No one seemed to know.

The child’s governess ran upstairs, only to return with a desperate look on her face. Everyone searched frantically for the baby. Then, someone recalled having seen the child sleeping on one of the beds. The baby was on a bed, all right-buried underneath a pile of coats, jackets and furs. The very object of that day’s celebration had been forgotten, neglected, and nearly smothered!"

Truths about Jesus Christ Birth.

 
1. It was a Messianic birth; Matthew 18:21 tells us, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: He was the Logos, the Son of God who was born of a woman, and born under the law. As the God/Man, Jesus was the promised Messiah. The term Messiah translates as the "Anointed One."  Jesus was and is the anointed Prophet, Priest and King.  As a prophet He preached the gospel, As the Priest He offered Himself through the Spirit as a sacrifice for sin; As the Son of David He will reign  during the Millennial period      He now is on His Father's Throne.

2. It was a Virgin birth; when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child  by the Holy Spirit. Joseph had nothing to do with the birth of Christ except to help Mary during her pregnancy. The virgin birth is miraculous and to deny it is blasphemy. The apostle John tells us that Christ was the Word of God (second person of the trinity) who became flesh and revealed God to mankind (John 1:1-18).


3. It was a birth that was accompanied by angels; we know that angels are beyond numbering (Hebrews 12:22). The special angel called Gabriel appeared to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist in the Holy of Ho lies. Gabriel  also appeared to Mary and told her that she would give birth to the Messiah (Luke 1:19).



4. It was a birth that made it possible for the God/Man to preserve the honor of womanhood that was lost in the fall. His birth was also the conduit where the Son of God could shed His blood for the sins of the world.

Lessons from the Civil War

It is a known fact that the Union Army was able to defeat the Southern Confederate state , because their K-rations (food that was prepared and given to the Union troops) enabled them to fight stronger and longer. We know that good solid food causes an increase in energy and strength. I remember reading that the Confederates were fighting the Union forces and the battle moved to a large Apple Orchard.  It was one of the few times, the South,was not lacking strength and vigor.  Why was this so? It was  because, they continually ate big red apples right off the trees 

The Apostle Peter tells us   in Peter 2:2,-3

Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to your salvation, if you have indeed tasted the kindness of the Lord.

If you want to grow.in grace, you must have this longing for Scripture. As one man  said, "either sin will keep you from this book, or this book will keep you from sin."

Paul said to the struggling Corinthians ;I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,If you want  fight the battles of the Lord you must eat "solid food" But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil"(Hebrews 5:14, NIV).

.

The story of John Huss, imprisoned and burned at the Stake

New post on The Reformed Reader

If Thou Drawest Me Not (Huss) by Reformed Reader   In 1415 John Huss was in prison for "heresies" such as saying that belief in the Pope is not necessary for salvation, that laypeople should be able to drink the wine in the Lord's Supper, and for pointing out other inconsistencies and immorality in the Church.  Huss also faced many false accusations, such as the one where he supposedly called himself the fourth person of the Trinity. Although Huss was suffering terribly in prison (headaches, toothaches, vomiting, [kidney or gall] stones, and horrific nightmares), he would not recant.  Some thought he should just admit to the false accusations - since they were obviously false, everyone would understand.  Others even tried to sort of trick Huss into recanting.  But he continually said he would not recant of anything he taught that agreed with the truth of Scripture.  "I would not for a chapel full of gold recede from the truth," he wrote.  Huss said that if he did recant, he would be breaking the 9th commandment and scandalizing God's people who had heard his sermons. The last letters Huss wrote from prison are very much worth reading.  He knew he was going to die, and at times he was afraid that he would waver in his faith.  Here's one moving prayer he wrote in a letter to his friends at Constance in 1415: O loving Christ, draw me, a weakling, after Thyself; for if Thou drawest me not, I cannot follow Thee. Grant me a brave spirit that it may be ready. If the flesh is weak, let Thy grace prevent, come in the middle, and follow; for without Thee I can do nothing, and, especially, for Thy sake I cannot go to a cruel death. Grant me a ready spirit, a fearless heart, a right faith, a firm hope, and a perfect love, that for Thy sake I may lay down my life with patience and joy. Amen. Although many of us reading this are not in prison for the sake of the gospel, the attitude and ethos of this prayer is one we all should share as we call on the name of the Lord.  Indeed, we are weak, but he is strong! [The above info and quote is found in  Herbert B. Workman and R. Martin Pope, The Letters of John Huss: With Introductions and Explanatory Notes (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1904), 253.] Shane Lems Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) Hammond, WI, 54015 This post is ad-supported