Friday, August 15, 2014

Depression is real. Deal with it.

Monday evening social media exploded. Many say they are mourning. Most are simply remembering a great entertainer; mourning our loss of a source of entertainment. Robin will be missed because he brought joy and laughter.

I never met Robin Williams. Most who did meet him probably didn't KNOW him.

But genuine mourning for Robin Williams is occurring. The loss of a father, a husband, a creative partner. They will miss the person, Robin Williams. Those types of losses are enormous, and the mourning will be great.

Christian scriptures frequently address mourning, but most people try to avoid it. The death of Robin Williams gives us an opportunity to think about subjects we try to avoid including mourning and depression.

Depression is real. Deal with it.

The author of Psalm 42 writes, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God." Jesus mourned over Jerusalem saying, "how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." There's even a whole book in the bible called Lamentations, grieving the judgment being poured out on God's people.

Depression has many causes, and is rarely only a spiritual issue. When Elijah was depressed and running away from Jezebel, God wouldn't even talk to him until Elijah got some good sleep and started eating right. If you are depressed, make sure you are eating healthy foods and getting enough rest.

God has given each of us an incredible machine called the human body. When you exercise, your body is designed to produce and release hormones that make you feel great. These hormones can help you dig out of depression, and start enjoying life again.

Also, people have a more positive view on life when they have fun in the sun. Many avoid depression during the dark winter months by simply sitting in front of a lamp that replicates the kind of light that is only found in sunlight.

But sometimes your body stops working the way it was designed. Hormone levels are abnormally low, or blood sugar levels develop wild swings, and your emotions, along with that feeling of wellbeing, take a dive.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression. All I wanted to do was sit on the back porch and stare at the clouds. Some people with depression just sit on the couch and watch TV. Others never make it out of bed. These conditions are serious and need to be addressed.

In my case, we attacked depression from every angle. I got more rest. I reduced my stress level. I started eating right. I started exercising more. I invested a few hours in talking with a Christian counselor. I read the bible more and prayed more. And I started supplementing low hormone levels with medication under the direction of my doctor. (By the way, he also prays with his patients and prescribes select passages of scripture!)

In addition to depression, here are a few more topics we avoid.

First, suicide is no joke. If someone starts talking about taking their life, even as a joke, tell someone. Most people who commit suicide talk about it before they attempt it.

Secondly, hurting people, hurt other people. Sometimes hurting people make others laugh. Be sensitive to the bullies and the comedians around you. They may be suffering through wounds that you can't see on the outside. Pray for them and with them. Encourage them and bring God's healing into their lives.

Finally, life is short. Death is certain. Keep short accounts. Paul told the church in Ephesus, "Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry." Say the things you need to say to the people you love before it's too late.

Jesus came to give life and He grieves when we throw it away. His followers should be sources of living water, not parched deserts of gloom.

As we mourn the death of a brilliant comic, don't miss this opportunity to deal with some of these issues in your own life or those around you. Carpe Diem! Seize the day!


You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719). Here's a link to my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/) Thanks for reading!

Monday, August 11, 2014

What if God was really like the way we treat Him?


What if God was really like the way we treat Him?

What if all He wanted was a couple of hours of praise and adoration a week, and a few dollar bills in the offering plate?

What if God said, "Just give me ninety minutes, right in the middle of your weekend, where you tell me how wonderful I am, ask me to solve all of your health problems, and give me some of your money - even though I don't need money."

And, what if He continued, "The rest of the week, you can do whatever you want. After all, there's no such thing as hell. Eventually, you'll all get to heaven where there is only pleasure - no pain or suffering. Until then, you'll just have to suffer through this life until I decide it's time for you to 'come home.'"

That kind of God sounds shallow, self-centered, cold, and sadistic. Why would anyone worship, let alone serve, a God like that?

The question is, why do we act like that's all God expects of us? And if God expects more from us, why do we act like falling short of that expectation won't break His heart?

Jesus said, "Very truly (notice He didn't say truly, He said VERY truly), whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing."

That's hard to comprehend. Whoever ... anybody - not just "special somebodies." Will do ... not MIGHT do. Not just truly, VERY truly.

But he went on, "And they will do even greater things." Really? Greater? Even greater?

Jesus was telling His disciples that there was a spectrum of "Christ-like Behavior" and He was expecting them to surpass Him! Jesus wasn't going to set the standard, His disciples were!

I know it's hard to comprehend, so let's set aside the "greater than" expectation for a moment. Our minds don't know what to do with that information. Let's not wrestle with that mind-blowing idea right now.

What do we do with this - if Jesus expected us to do greater works, why is the typical Christian behavior closer to the low end of the spectrum than the middle, where Christ said He would be?

Some would say, "Today our 'works' aren't miracles - like Jesus did. Our 'works' are  caring, and teaching, and preaching." But that doesn't fit the context of Jesus' comment.

Jesus was talking to Thomas. You know, the one we've nicknamed Doubting Thomas. It would only be a few days from that moment when Thomas wouldn't believe that Jesus had risen from the dead, even though he had witnessed Jesus do amazing things.

Perhaps with that future moment of doubt in mind, Jesus urges Thomas, "Believe me! If not because I'm saying it, believe because of the works that you've seen me do!"

It's not a very good argument to say, "Believe me! If not because I'm saying it, believe because you've seen me teach, and preach, and care for people." In other words, "If you can't believe what I'm saying, at least believe because I've preached it, and taught it before."

So, continuing that interpretation, Jesus says, "Very truly, whoever believes in me will teach, and preach, and care. And you will teach, and preach, and care even greater than me." That means that Jesus is expecting us to teach better and preach better than He did. Do you think anyone could teach or preach better than Jesus? Do you think we could care for people more than Jesus cares?

Even if that was what He was saying, most Christians aren't teaching, and preaching, and caring anywhere close to how Jesus did. So the question remains, why do we behave as if all God expects from us is a few songs and prayers before noon on Sunday and a monetary tip proportional to how we feel He's taken care of us in the previous week?

What if God's idea of church is greater? What if God's idea of being a disciple is more than we can imagine?

What if God's ways are higher than our ways? That almost sounds like scripture ...

You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719). Here's a link to my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/) Thanks for reading!