Sudan pastors in trouble, they need your prayer!

 

















Many people around the world are being persecuted, tortured and killed because they are born again Christians. I hope and pray that you will follow their difficulties, trials and hurts. Please pray for the pastors in the Sudan that are mentioned in the link below. http://aclj.org/persecuted-church/jihadist-sham-trial-of-2-christian-pastors-facing-possible-death-in-sudan-continues?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=newsletter  Please also pray for a family of Christiansin Lahore, Pakistan, who have been locked up in prison because of their faith.
 Would you like to hear more about Heartfelt Counseling Ministries?  You can go to our website, heartfeltmin.org
 If you would like to read about modern day persecution, please go to persecution.org
Here is an exposition of Romans 8:35,36 from Jamison, Fawcett and Brown. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?--This does not mean "our love to Christ," as if, Who shall hinder us from loving Christ? but "Christ's love to us," as is clear from the closing words of the chapter, which refer to the same subject. Nor would the other sense harmonize with the scope of the chapter, which is to exhibit the ample ground of the believer's confidence in Christ. "It is no ground of confidence to assert, or even to feel, that we will never forsake Christ; but it is the strongest ground of assurance to be convinced that His love will never change" [HODGE].
shall tribulation, --"None of these, nor all together, , are tokens of God's wrath, or the least ground for doubt of His love. From whom could such a question come better than from one who had himself for Christ's sake endured so much? (See 2 Corinthians 11:11-33 , 1 Corinthians 4:10-13 ). The apostle says not (remarks CALVIN nobly) "What," but "Who," just as if all creatures and all afflictions were so many gladiators taking arms against the Christians [THOLUCK].

Does Bruce Jenner have a mental illness? Is mental illness a sin?

,

 

 Hello friends

I asked Robyn if she would allow me to do a blog on a recent  conversation that she had with a pastor and a godly man.  His name will not be divulged.

 Christian man- I'm not afraid to say it. Bruce Jenner isn't "brave". He's sadly mentally ill. Too bad so many are too PC to admit that.  Sin has led many to a state of mental illness. God turns them over to a reprobate mind, says Scripture.

 

Friend of man's response to his statement about Bruce Jenner. Bruce is a person who has a reprobate mind means a corrupt mind. According to the dictionary the word reprobate means: a depraved, unprincipled, or wicked person.

Christian man- Exactly....read Christian counselor and apologist Jay Adams' work on the correlation between sin and mental illness. He makes a strong case. Not all mental illness is the result of sin, but some is.

 

 

Robyn   

What would you say his diagnosis is? Jay Adams has some good things to say, but he is way off (in my opinion) about mental illness saying it is the result of sin. People get mental illnesses just like they get cancer, diabetes or the flu. When an illness affects mood, thinking and behavior it seems odd and puts people off but it is a result of original sin. "Anger turned inward" or the sullen Cain (Adams' example) are just dated and embarrassingly wrong.

 How can we quote a writer who misunderstood mental illness, knew nothing of medications and claimed there was no medical proof-all of this from 1970? There is medical proof and many good and very godly people have some form of mental illness. I am passionate about this since we have a ministry helping and educating Christians on this very issue. Bruce Jenner is an unregenerate man who has issues, obviously, but I don't know of a mental illness that has his symptoms; bipolar? No. Major depression? Not that I know of. Panic Disorder? No. OCD?...I have never heard of him exhibiting any of these diseases.

 So, anyway, I know you can handle my feelings about this as a friend and colleague. Just wanted to jump in for a minute and you once said you were interested in reading our book. Broken Minds.  We (in a good spirit, I think) "take on" Jay Adams and the Nouthetic Counselors, the Spiritual Warfare groups and the Integrationists as to their beliefs of the causes and cures of mental illness. You can get Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It on Kindle or the old fashioned book format. You can also get it on our web site. Love you and your commitment to the Lord, just wanted to defend the mentally ill who sometimes don't feel adequate to speak up.

Christian man -

That's why I carefully said "some" and not "all", Robyn. Surely you don't believe that sinful actions like pornography, alcoholism, drug use, promiscuity, uncontrolled lust, etc, never have mental consequences. Some physical maladies are totally non-behavioral. Others are directly related to behavior. Heart disease, diabetes, lung cancer can sometimes be linked to behavior. I believe that a life of unrestrained lust can and does lead to mental confusion such as what Jenner is demonstrating. Clearly, some mental illness are indeed totally organic. With Adams, one does need to eat the meat and spit out the bones.

Robyn

No argument there.  I think the book we wrote would help you to see a broader scope than Jay Adams and whoever else is influencing you in your study. (And PLEASE don't take that as a condescending comment; I certainly do not mean it to sound that way). But, Steve wrote as a theologian and dealt strongly with the various schools of thought. I think it would be a wise investment for your library as you affect students and others in your large sphere of ministry. It is not a book that you would find too elementary, I'm sure.

 

 Steve deals with the Puritans as well as the modern trends in treating people who suffer agonizingly. Sometimes just leaving the thoughts with people that mental illnesses are a result of some sin (known or unknown to them) can be used detrimentally to a suffering saint who in the throes of an illness is having a hard time "finding God" anyway. When a person's mind (brain) is the part of them that copes and controls their behavior and affects their mood as these diseases do, the spiritual darkness is so deep sometimes that it drives them to suicide, feeling they have somehow "lost God" in the midst of their lives. Actually, this is the very reason that Kregel Publications wanted us to write the book. They knew the controversial ideas on the Christian and mental illness and wanted us to put it out there for the education of well-meaning people who inadvertently mislead people into an unnecessary over-examination of their personal spiritual health.

 

 "Miraculously" when the medicines work (not tranquilizers but mood stabilizers and SSRI and the others that restore the faulty brain chemistry), the neuroses and "spiritual sin" disappears. We know Bruce Jenner is messed up; we know MANY people are messed up in the world today,there are more sins than we could name, but Jay Adams and the Nouthetics have done a lot of harm to struggling saints who have a biological illness-the "smalled souled" the King James calls them. "Exhort the unruly and comfort the feeble minded;" not, vice versa.

 

Please go to our web-site http://heartfeltmin.org/index.html   to see what Heartfelt Counseling Ministries is doing in today's world. If you would like to receive a copy or copies of our book, please go to the How do I Get Involved page.  If you mention in the Contact Us section that you would like to buy a copy of Broken Minds, we will adjust the cost to the following: First copy of Broken Minds will be give for a donation of   $25.00 and five or more copies after that are only $12.00 each. In order to pay you will need to scroll down to the donation button.

A Place Called Ease

 A Place Called "Ease" and Other Lessons

 

While Steve was counseling on Wednesday, I decided to go along and do some studying... or treasure hunting at thrift stores...yep, treasure hunting won. 

On my way back to pick him up, the steering froze and the car was not doing what cars are supposed to do...so I made it back to where he was and a belt fell out of... well, I don't know where exactly- somewhere inside the guts of the car. I informed him that we seemed to be having a slight car problem. Since we had just put $869.00 in said car last November, we called the same mechanic and he said he "warranties everything he touches" for one year. Well, that settled it; we would have it towed to Boca Raton where it was probably going to be completely free. haha...

So, we called, rode in the tow truck (with a guy who took our business card "in case he needs counseling") and dropped off the CRV. We then walked two miles to the Tri-Rail station, rode the train twenty miles to Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm, transferred to a bus and rode the bus to Wellington. On the bus, I was reading Pilgrim's Progress and laughed out loud when I came to the portion I had before me. It is just four lines describing a place called "Ease." "Then Christian and Hopeful went out again and went til they came to a delicate plain, called Ease, where they went with much content; but that plain was very narrow, so they quickly got over it." Pretty funny, huh?

Yes, Ease is indeed a narrow pass but someday all will be bliss. We await His promises where moth and rust don't corrupt and thieves can't break in and steal...and cars are not even necessary. Oh, and buses and trains couldn't possibly be "there" since they are slow, unpredictable and not very pleasant smelling. Yea for the promises of God! (and the blessing of Pilgrims Progress). Oh, and as things go, this problem is an entirely different one than he "touched" last time. Of course, it is. Oh, well. :)

Robyn Bloem

Hello Readers,
I am sorry that I have not written a blog for over a week.  This is because of computer problems and time constraints.  Please continue to pray for the persecuted church.  You can visit persecution.org to get details on the suffering of so many Christians across the world. I invite you to visit our web site,
heartfeltmin.org. You can also peruse my blogs (about 350 of them) by looking at them on this blog site.  You can also search the web for them. There are blogs on many different subjects.

Depression Series, What is Reactive Depression?

One of the most comforting doctrines that I have grasped in my brief time here on the earth is that of the providence of God. Many people when they are afflicted with depression or panic or grief only think of "getting through the present."  Now that is an important thing to do, but our endurance much  not be in a stoical sense but in God's power enabling you to persevere in trials and distresses.
 We must persevere with an understanding that the Lord is in control of all the circumstances and events of our lives. I would like to give you a description of providence found in the Westminster Shorter Catechism and then quote the most quoted preacher in the Western world, Charles Spurgeon.
I am reading through Spurgeon's Expository Encyclopedia,  published by Baker Book House.  You can also read all of these sermons on line at ethereal library and/or Spurgeon's gem's quotes.  These quotes came to me by way of Exploring the mind and heart of Spurgeon .http://www.spurgeon.us/mind_and_heart/quotes/g.htm#providence

The Westminster Catechism says,

The works of providence are …. God’s most holy, wise and power preserving and governing of all His creatures and all their actions. (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

 

To suppose that temporal things are too little for our condescending God, is to forget
that he observes the flight of sparrows, and counts the hairs of his people’s heads.
Besides, everything is so little to him, that, if he does not care for the little, he cares
for nothing.



There is as much providence in the creeping of an aphis upon a rose leaf as in the
marching of an army to ravage a continent. 
 me. 
  Believer, if your inheritance be a lowly one you should be satisfied with your earthly
portion; for you may rest assured that it is the fittest for you. Unerring wisdom
ordained your lot, and selected for you the safest and best condition.

   You shall find books and sermons everywhere, in the land and in the sea, in the earth
and in the skies, and you shall learn from every living beast, and bird, and fish, and
insect, and from every useful or useless plant that springs out of the ground.

It is always providence when it is a good thing. But why is it not a providence when
it does not happen to be just as we please? Surely it is so; for if the one thing be
ordered by God, so is the other.

 Blessed is the man who sees God in trifles! It is there that it is the hardest to see
him; but he who believes that God is there, may go from the little providence up to
the God of providence.

 To gather up all in one, the calamities of earthquake, the devastations of storm, the
extirpations of war, and all the terrible catastrophes of plague, have only been
co-workers with God—slaves compelled to tug the galley of the divine purpose
across the sea of time.  
   Why, look, sirs; suppose for a moment there were some great performance going on,
and you should step in in the middle of it and see one actor upon the stage for a
moment, and you should say, “Yes, I understand it,” what a simpleton you would be!
Do you not know that the great transactions of providence began near six thousand
years ago? and you have only stepped into this world for thirty or forty years, and
seen one actor on the stage, and you say you understand it.

  The insatiable archer is not permitted to shoot his bolts at random—every arrow that
flies bears this inscription, “I have a message from God for thee.



 To take the sacred picture of providence, and, with our eye-glass, look at the canvass
inch by inch, is practically to see nothing; but to view the work of the Divine Artist as
a whole, with all its lights and shades, and all the fair proportions which manifest the
matchless skill—this is to see indeed. The fault of us all is this: that we judge
Providence by the moment, instead of regarding it in its true magnitude, stretched
upon the framework of that eternal love which knows neither beginning nor end.

 The Lord cannot be unkind to me in providence; for it is impossible that he can
forsake those whose names are graven upon the palms of his hands. 1110.261

He causes the wheel of providence to revolve in such a manner as to help his cause;
he abridges the power of tyrants, overrules the scourge of war, establishes liberty in
nations, opens the mysteries of continents long unknown, breaks down systems of
error, and guides the current of human thought. He works by a thousand means,
preparing the way of the Lord. 1388.686

If we turn to Providence, the history of nations, the history of the church, what
centuries of wonders pass before us! It is said that wise men wonder only once, and
that is always; fools never wonder, because they are fools. He that looks for a
providence will not be long without seeing one.

 When you have looked at creation, remember providence, which is a prolongation of
the creative act. The power which made all things upholds them.The very thing we regret most in providence will probably be that in which we shall
rejoice most in eternity.

 A good man once went to a certain place to meet his son. Both his son and himself
had ridden from some distance. When the son arrived, he exclaimed, “Oh father! I
had such a providence on the road.” “Why, what was that?” “My horse stumbled
six times, and yet I was not thrown.” “Dear me!” said his father, “But I have had a
providence too.” “And what was that?” “Why, my horse never stumbled at all, and
that is just as much a providence as if the horse had stumbled six times, and I had
not been thrown.

    Hence it is most important for us to learn that the smallest trifles are as much
arranged by the God of providence as the most startling events. He who counts the
stars also has numbered the hairs of our heads.

  He who believes in God must believe this truth. There is no standing point between
this and atheism. There is no half way between an almighty God who works all
things according to the good pleasure of his own will and no god at all. A god who
cannot do as he pleases,—a god whose will is frustrated, is not a God, and cannot be
a God; I could not believe in such a god as that.

Franklin Graham Warns Christians in America 'Persecution Is Coming

The Rev. Franklin Graham gave an ominous warning to Christians living in the United States Sunday, as he expounded on how religious freedoms are being eroded stateside while believers are being persecuted throughout the world.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/franklin-graham-warns-american-christians-persecution-is-coming-135348/




May. 15, 2015 | Pakistan
Pray for Christian Prisoner Imran Ghafur and His Family

Imran Ghafur’s family requests prayer for his release and for the needs of the family. He is currently serving a life sentence on a conviction of burning a Quran. Imran’s brother Naveed told VOM contacts that the entire family was able to visit him before Easter and that Imran continues to read his Bible, fast and pray. His attorney has filed an appeal with the Pakistan High Court, but no hearing date has been set. VOM has regular contact with Imran’s family, offering prayer and encouragement.

 May. 15, 2015 | South Asia
Pray for Christian Workers Fined for Bible Smuggling

Officials detained two Christian workers in January for transporting Hmong Bibles. The officers confiscated the Bibles, interrogated them for two days and nights, threatened them with imprisonment and ordered them to pay a large fine. They were allowed to leave after paying the fines.


 


May. 15, 2015 | Syria
Pray for Christians in Damascus Living in a Battle Zone

Intense fighting between Islamic State militants and government forces erupted on Monday, May 4, in Damascus, and media outlets warned Christians living in the area to evacuate immediately. Government forces are employing air assaults and armored tanks to fight the militants, making it extremely dangerous for those living in the immediate area. Last month, it was reported that IS had moved into a part of Damascus that is less than a mile from several Christian neighborhoods. A VOM contact whose family lives in the area requests prayer for believers there. “They can’t go anywhere at this point,” he said. “Pray for the safety of our family and churches all over Damascus and Syria.”

Have you heard about our Christians Afflicted with Mental Illness Support groups?

I have researched the websites of many churches and have found it a rare occurrence to unearth a mental illness support group. Churches have grief share, divorce recovery, celebrate recovery, and many other support groups. Many church leaders are like the proverbial ostrich with his head in the ground. It is almost a don't ask, don't tell, situation

Robyn and I have started a support group at our own church, Boca Glades Baptist in Boca Raton, Florida. . The support group is part of a grass roots movement which we call CAMI (Christians Afflicted with Mental Illness). We have written our own study guide material. There are other CAMI groups in the United States.  If   pastors knew how many of their sheep feel alone and misunderstood by their church, they would host one of these groups. These storm tossed afflicted persons are very important to God, The LORD is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit, Psalm 34:18.

Mental illness is a whole body disease and it is devastating  to those who suffer from it. The vegetative functioning of the body fail in major depression. They are sleep, appetite, and sex drive. The will is broken. The depressed person finds it very difficult to accomplish even little tasks. A depressed person's concentration makes it difficult for him to read. His memory is affected. God seems a million miles away.

The devil like a roaring lion seeks to isolate depressed people from God and church and make them think God has abandoned them. Then he presents suicide as a viable option to escape from the horrific psychic pain. The church of Jesus Christ should not neglect this people group. She will have to answer to her Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ for her treatment or non-treatment of the mentally ill

Robyn and I have written a starter/study guide for launching this CAMI program in your church.  Our group format includes eight guiding principles for Christians who suffer from a mental illness and/or their caregivers. We have a Leader’s Manual which spells out treatment goals for every lesson.

In the Leader's manual we have provided the answers to the discussion questions which are in the Student Guide. The Guides help the sufferer think through various issues and to see them in the context of suffering as a Christian. It has also been reported to be helpful for the caregivers who come to the groups. This is a very important concept for today’s Christian with mental health issues. Mental Illness begs for understanding, community and compassion. Are you with us? If you would like to come, please go learn when and where it is. http://heartfeltmin.org/what-we-do.html After you are there scroll down to CAMI Support Group.
If you would like to contact us so we can  teach you how to have a CAMI group please go to our home page. http://heartfeltmin.org/index.html.


Have you read our book Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It? http://heartfeltmin.org/author-page.html
If you donate $25.00 or more we will send you a copy right away.  The donated money helps us to do God's work with those who have mental illness.
Please go to our web site.  All you have to do is click on the donation button and follow the prompts that will be given to you.  Your money will make it possible for so many people to live another day. Here is the link!
 http://heartfeltmin.org/how-can-i-get-involved.html