Are you a born again Christian who is contemplating suicide?.

Many things have happened ,since my wife Robyn and, I wrote the book, Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It. The year  it was published by Kregel Publications, 2005,   Our largest chapter was the fourth one, which, covered the subject of suicide.  We have had some success in stopping suicide, but the numbers are telling, it is a big problem.

My sister Cyndi, who loved Broken Minds, and gave copies to many people, committed suicide in the year 2006. This blog is dedicated to her and to all the loved ones, who have had to suffer the horror of losing a precious one in this way.




What are some of the reason's why I would not commit suicide?

    •  It is a sin and would bring shame to Christ and His church.

    •  It would please the Devil and would weaken greatly those who are trying to fight him.

    •  It would devastate family members and friends, and you may be responsible for them following your example if they come up against intense suffering.

    •  It may not work, and you could end up severely disabled but still trying to fight depression.

    •  It is true—our God is a refuge, “and those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You” (Ps. 9:10). God, your Father, will deliver you through what you are facing. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:10 that God “delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us.”

    •  Help is available. If you push hard enough, someone can assist you to find the help you need.

    •  If you are unsaved, you will go to hell. This is not because of the act of suicide but because all who die apart from knowing Christ personally will face an eternity in a far worse situation than depression.

    •  If you are a Christian, then Jesus Christ is interceding for you before the Father, that your faith will not fail. He shares your afflictions. Psalm 56:8 says, “Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?”

    •  God will keep you until you reach a day when your pain will truly be over. Wait for God’s time for that, not your own. According to Revelation7:17, “God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” After going through some awful things, Paul was still able to say, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18). 

You can order Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It  from the authors, Robyn and Steve Bloem. Our sale of brand new, copies from the publisher, beats anyone when it comes to buying, Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It,
http://heartfeltmin.org/resources.html

Steve Bloem's new book will be able to be purchased on June 26,2018

Here is  a Kregel Publications synopsis of Bloem's new book.

Christians dealing with mental illness often first look to their pastors for help. Few pastors, however, are trained to recognize and deal with mental illness, and they can unintentionally give advice that is ineffective or even dangerous.

Counselor Steve Bloem fills this void by equipping pastors and other church leaders to identify the symptoms of common mental disorders, to offer biblical encouragement and comfort to those suffering from them, and to decide when to refer them to mental-health professionals.

Bloem makes a foundational biblical case for the reality and treatment of mental illnesses, and he dispels a number of myths about those who suffer from them. Drawing on extensive counseling and pastoral experience, he provides essential tools and advice for those in ministry to help people battling depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia, and other mental illnesses. Pastors, counselors, and seminary students will find this handbook to be an indispensable guide for these important issues. 
If you would like to purchase a copy of The Pastoral Handbook of Mental Illness, A Guide for Training and Review. please go to our website and use the email, pathema@msn.com to say you want to be alerted of what the price of the author is charging and when it will be available from the author and other bookstores.

May. 24, 2018 | Indonesia Coordinated Attacked by six family members on Three Churches

Security guard Bayu lost his life in the attack, leaving behind his wife and child.

May. 24, 2018 | Indonesia

Coordinated Attack on Three Churches

Facebo 

And upon this rock I will build My church;   and ...the 

will not overpower it (NASB).

http://heartfeltmin.org/resources.htmlTwitter

Three churches in Surabaya, Indonesia, were attacked by suicide bombers from a single family (ED. six family members) on Sunday, May 13, resulting in at least 13 deaths. Two teenage boys from the family rode motorcycles into the Santa Maria Catholic Church and detonated explosives at 7:30 a.m., five minutes before their father drove a car packed with explosives into the Surabaya Center Pentecostal Church. Shortly afterward, the man’s wife and two daughters, ages 9 and 12, approached the Diponegoro Indonesian Christian Church and detonated a bomb when they were stopped by a security guard. At least 13 people died, not including the attackers. “We are sad and grieving because of the terrorism act in Surabaya,” Pastor Yosua Nugraha said. “What they expect is that we will suspect each other, hate [each] other and close ourselves so they can easily do more terror. ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’” Pray that Christians in Indonesia will remain united."

We have both student and copy guides of  

our CAMI (Christians Afflicted with Mental Illness.) support groups curriculum. If you purchase them for your own reading, (especially the Leader's Guide. or you wish to start a CAMI support group we will help you with the nuts and bolts and provide you with on the  go training. http://heartfeltmin.org/resources.html

Please visit us on our web site:
http://heartfeltmin.org/resources.html
This book has been proven to be a great help to individuals, college students, and whole families. As far as price for a new one we will beat anyone.  Both Robyn and I will sign a copy for you.
We offer this on the above website.

This will come out on June 26, 2018/. It is published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids MI. If you want to be on a book alert, please send an email to me.  pathema@msn.com. 

 We are also working on teaching  classes on line. Please consider becoming a member of my blog.  We have friends all over the world. 

The Devil wants demoralize you and swallow you up!

Copy right Steve Bloem, 2016. Some of this blog is in the book, The Pastoral Handbook of Mental Illness, A Guide for Training and Review  and is copyright by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids,. Michigan,2018.

Have you ever felt like giving up the Christian life? I mean, have you gotten so discouraged and so much in despair that you feel swallowed up by doubts, depression and fear? You can be sure that the devil is trying to have you for dinner and that you need the armor of God. Now, obviously, an extensive study of the subject of spiritual 0warfare and the armor of God would take too many blogs.  So I will say a few words about the "devil wanting to eat you for dinner." As you probably guessed, I am using a metaphor to describe the devil's attack on your life. .





 But the Bible uses the same metaphor, and that is where we will find the answer to detecting and defeating the evil one's powerful schemes.When I say he wants you for dinner I mean, Satan wants to overwhelm you with sorrow. This is one of his foremost goals. I am not saying that the devil wants to actually eat you. But since the beginning of time, he has been devouring those who have believed in God and Messiah- Jesus. In order to develop a biblical theology of the devil and his aims and methods we must go to the Bible.






Genesis 3:16 - God's provision for defeating death is spoken of very early in Biblical Revelation. The verse is also known by theologians as the proto-evangelium- ,

 It was on the cross that the seed of woman, the Son of David, the God-man, Jesus Christ by died in our place and for our sins. He destroyed the devil's power over death and because of this mankind can have victory over death. Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14).

Satan and his demons are very active throughout today's world. Ephesians 6:10-12, demonstrates this activity; finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.The Greek word for schemes is methodia. 

He uses methods which involve: cunning arts, deceit, craft,  and trickery. Satan is a highly intelligent being and actually, like a commander, he and his army (demons), formulate many different strategies to cause God's people to sin. And his fighting is up-close and personal. He wants you to be swallowed up by fear and panic so that you will give up on living the Christian life the way it should be lived. You have to put on the full armor of God (Please see image above.. You must read your Bible prayerfully. You must take up the shield of faith. If you are not aware of his schemes then he has already defeated you.

If you would like to view a short description by Kregel  Publications of the new book, which Steve
has done please go to the link belowhttp://www.kregel.com/ministry/the-pastoral-handbook-of-mental-illness/

Borderline Personality Disorder, What is it?

Rev. Steve Bloem, B.A. M.M. is a certified DBT therapist.  He and his team were trained by Dr. Marsha Linehan at the University of  Washington in the years 1996 and 1997.  Steve and another team member started and administered one of the first DBT programs in the Community Mental Health System. in the U.S.A.He is now in private practice in Palm Beach County, Florida.

In the past, people thought that someone with borderline personality disorder (BPD) was “on the borderline” between psychosis and neurosis (anxiety/depression). Today, we know much more about BPD, and there is more research on BPD than any other personality disorder.

But there is a lot of stigma around personality disorders. People living with borderline personality disorder may be given hurtful labels. But no one is ever just their diagnosis, whether they’re living with a personality disorder or any other mental illness. There is hope and there is help

Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that affects the way to relate to other people and the way you relate to yourself. If you’re living with borderline personality disorder, you might feel like there’s something fundamentally wrong with who you are or you might feel ‘flawed’ or worthless, or you might not even have a good sense of who you are as a person. Your moods might be extreme and change all the time, and you might have a hard time controlling impulses or urges. You may have a hard time trusting others and you may be very scared of being abandoned or alone.

BPD is made up of five groups of symptoms: unstable behavior, unstable emotions, unstable relationships, unstable sense of identity and awareness problems.

Unstable behavior means that you often act on impulses or urges, even when they hurt you or other people. Some examples of impulse control problems are:

• Thinking about or attempting suicide
• Hurting yourself on purpose, such as cutting or burning your skin (self-harm)
• Risky behaviors like spending a lot of money, binge eating or problematic substance use

Unstable emotions mean that your moods can be extreme and change very quickly. Some examples of unstable emotions are:

• Extreme depression, anxiety or irritability that might last for only a few hours or days, usually in response to a stressful event
• Intense anger or difficulty controlling anger
• Intense boredom

Unstable relationships mean that you have a hard time maintaining relationships with other people. Some example of relationship problems are:

• Doing anything you can to avoid being abandoned or alone
• Feeling like you don’t know yourself or having very unstable sense of who you are and how you feel about yourself
• Intense relationships where you often impulsively shift between seeing the other person as ‘all good’ or ‘all bad’

Unstable sense of identity means that you don’t have a good sense of who you are as a person. Some examples of an unstable sense of identity include:

• Feeling like you don’t know yourself
• Having a very unstable sense of who you are and how you feel about yourself
• Feeling “empty” much of the time

Awareness problems mean that, from time to time only and often in response to a stressful event, you experience sensations or feelings that aren’t based in reality. Some examples of awareness problems are:

• Feeling like you’re separated from your mind or body (dissociative symptoms) or losing track of time.

There are many different combinations of symptoms, so BPD can look very different among people with the illness. To diagnose BPD, mental health clinicians look for patterns of behavior that last for a long time and have caused distress or problems with relationships or other areas of life, such as work.

From Kregel Publications

Christians dealing with mental illness often first look to their pastors for help. Few pastors, however, are trained to recognize and deal with mental illness, and they can unintentionally give advice that is ineffective or even dangerous.

Counselor Steve Bloem fills this void by equipping pastors and other church leaders to identify the symptoms of common mental disorders, to offer biblical encouragement and comfort to those suffering from them, and to decide when to refer them to mental-health professionals.

Bloem makes a foundational biblical case for the reality and treatment of mental illnesses, and he dispels a number of myths about those who suffer from them. Drawing on extensive counseling and pastoral experience, he provides essential tools and advice for those in ministry to help people battling depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia, and other mental illnesses. Pastors, counselors, and seminary students will find this handbook to be an indispensable guide for these important issues. Please contact me by phone or email. You need only to go to:http://heartfeltmin.org/join-us.html

Pastor is beheaded, many more killed in the Central African Republic

The story of Daniel's three friends is quite popular especially with children in Sunday School.The story has proven to be highly instructive for the  persecuted church. Born again, Christians across the globe are ordered to stop living for Christ.  This was the case with Daniel's friends!

Daniel 3 states , "There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."  

Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego;      before him   Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach an

 Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?  "Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?" 

 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter."If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king."

"But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up" (Daniel 3:12-16, NASB).

The Holy Record tells us that a miracle happened.  They did not die. The LORD God of Israel performed a miracle. However, these godly Jews were ready to give their lives  for His glory. 

Please read the story below

r

May. 10, 2018 | India
.

Pastor Abraham leaves behind a wife and children. (Credit: World Watch Monitor)

A pastor serving one of India’s minority tribal groups was murdered last week by suspected Maoists. On the evening of May 2, about 25 masked men abducted Pastor Abraham Topno from a taxi he was riding in, and the pastor’s beheaded body was found hours later along with a note signed by a communist rebel group operating in nearby Odisha state. According to a longtime friend of the pastor, he specifically chose to serve among the minority tribal group, despite the dangerous and challenging environment. His church had recently grown in number to about 60 believers. Pray for the pastor’s family and for Christians in the area

About 60,000 Christians in southeastern Central African Republic (CAR) have been forced to flee their towns after a series of attacks by local Muslims. 
Sseveral months after joint U.S. and Ugandan forces pulled out of the region last year, area Muslims launched a campaign to drive 
Christians out by razing Christian-majority towns and villages. On Nov. 20, villagers in Dembia were awakened by gunfire at 4 a.m. as local Muslims attacked without warning. The Christians ran from their village in a heavy downpour, wearing only the clothes in which they were sleeping, and took cover in the bush. Their village was completely destroyed over the next three days. During the attack, village elderly were reportedly gathered in a building and burned alive. Although the total number of killed is unknown, since villagers dispersed and have been unable to return, one believer who survived the attack knew of at    least forty six people who were killed. The Christian towns that were attacked have either been destroyed completely or remain under the  control of local Muslims and jihadist allies. Pray that these Christians 
 will be able to return to their villages.This is  from The Voice of Martyrs.

, 

My  new book is coming out soon. The Pastoral Handbook of Mental Illness

A Guide for Training & Reference. Kregel Publications, June, 2018

Depression is nothing new. Consider the English poet William Cowper

Steve Bloem, Broken Minds, my pictures copyright- Kregel publications  2005

Cowper and Providence

S.B. As the dark veil descended over my mind the second time, I knew my ideas of how I would serve the Lord were beyond my reach for the time being. At this moment, the Holy Spirit applied the truths of William Cowper’s poetry to help me persevere.

Some historians delight to use available evidence to psychoanalyze historical figures. They argue endlessly over their conclusions. About Cowper, though, there is seldom disagreement. The English poet demonstrated classic symptoms of bipolar disorder. So I have taken great comfort, and I have
 learned much about the dark Providences of God about which Cowper's poems and songs.

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.

Cowper was a timid and fearful individual, with a nervous constitution. That gives poignant meaning to the second verse of this favorite hymn of the church:

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.

The clouds here are dark, frowning Providences. Cowper knew fear. He knew that when he was in the grip of his melancholy he should not interpret God’s present workings as anger toward him.

At one of my lowest moments, when concentration on anything seemed impossible, the third verse still was able to hold my attention:

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace,

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

Finally, he says;

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan His work in vain,

God is His own interpreter

And He will make it plain.

S.B.  My circumstances and disappointments, my very brain storm , were saying to me, “God is frowning on you.” The day was dark . . . very dark. But God was working out His plan, His sovereign will. As Jacob said when he could not be comforted over the reported death of his son Joseph, “All these things are against me” (Gen. 42:36). His heart and his circumstances gave him this analysis of his situation. Like many saints through the ages, Jacob was learning an important lesson about God as our Comfort in the midst of pain we cannot understand.



Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.




God Delays: God’s Power

Again the Word of the Lord states in 1 Peter 5:10–11: “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen” (emphasis added).

Suffering seems to go on forever, but when it is over, God often gives us some view of the purposes He has accomplished. The words of A. B. Simpson (1843–1919) have been very instructive:

The pressure of hard places makes us value life. Every time our life is given back to us from such a trial, it is like a new beginning, and we learn better how much it is worth and make more of it for God and man. The pressure helps us to understand the trials of others, and fits us to help and sympathize with them.

There is a shallow, superficial nature, that gets hold of a theory or a promise lightly, and talks very glibly about the distrust of those who shrink from every trial; but the man or woman who has suffered much never does this, but is very tender and gentle, and knows what suffering really means. This is what Paul meant when he said “Death worketh in you.”

 d


 My weakness . . . my feelings of panic and depression . . . my bewilderment at what I was becoming and what was to become of us. . . . Somehow, in a way I could not appreciate, all of it was part of the plan of a loving almighty Father. I praise Him every day!