Suffering from a nervous breakdown?

Suffering from a nervous breakdown? 

I have found this to be a very helpful guide in gaging stages when ones life feels out of control.

Watching Football with the guys!

"The Blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow to it!"


Its FOOTBALL SEASON! You never know where that pig-skinned ball is going to end up. But if you listened to the marching band and cheerleaders closer to the sidelines, it is obvious to bystanders who the winning team should be. Or if you attend a game in a different city, most of the crowd will cheer for the home team! Poor other team! But the flight miles that ball should get is off the wall if it is handled the right way. When it is handled especially well, one of the teams will win! Football game wins->National Championship->Trophy! 

Our family historically has witnessed the multiple Heisman trophy awarded winnings of the football team of Ohio State University. Ohio State is known nationally as one of the Big Ten's strongest teams and we as Buckeyes are proud to declare it. But it has been the most amazing experiences whenever we have traveled out of state. Whenever the name Ohio State or Buckeyes is mentioned, they scratch their heads and say "who"? We were made to think that we were the best team in the country. Who would possibly do such a thing? The COACH! Logos and interesting consonants communicating TBDBITL....is not enough to let the rest of the country and the WORLD that we had the best football team. 

"What made that team so great?", one would ask. You would NEVER know it by the way the "BEST and most popular coach of all time" treated his team. Coach Woody Hayes called them horrible names on and OFF the field. He worked them morning and night in practice. But he stated that he LOVED his boys in a later interview and that's why they played so well. It was kind of like over-parenting. Other big named schools had coaches like that as well and because of it, getting into a Big Ten school was extremely competitive. Why everyone thought they wanted to play for Coach Hayes....then we found out that more wanted to play for Coach Bo Schembechler of University of Michigan or Coach Jo Paterno of Penn State! FLYING Pigskins, I tell you! 

What for? Who would take that 'abuse'? Who would want to be called horrific names especially after probably failing half of your exams in the previous days' classes? Well according to reports, kids got positions because they were good at their game. The rest was expected to come later under the tutelage of the COACH! They figured if the players were disciplined in football, it would probably crossover into other scholastic areas. So they let them play. They often got good jobs because they played for Coach Hayes. But whether or not they could weather a promotion after years of playing a good ballgame was a horse of a different color. The coach did his best while he had them and they LEARNED to perform well. 
 
Much of the feminist and gender-specific communities disagree with the position that some evangelicals hold in what is entitled as submission. In fact, leaders of religious communities, many who practice submission principles are often accused of domestic violence issues. It is stated that women have reported male clergy making the most damaging statements. These statements reportedly are coming from the clergy telling women about their "lack of belief or faith in God" as a reason why they suffer violence. This report seemed to be a very ominous attack against well meaning men who are being good, polite leaders. Not all religious leaders got to their positions just because they knew enough people to pad their pockets. Some women have not taken the time to listen and as a result, have failed in their relationships. If you listen to some women, they will say "my daddy was the meanest man to my mommy" or "he was a drunk" or "he had mental problems". Interestingly enough, we never really knew what daddy was all about. 

If you served in the military and had the privilege of going to war, you were told 'not to tell'. If you were the owner of a business, you learned 'not to share your success secrets'. If you knew someone did something wrong to you, you were told 'not to share your secrets!' Shh! My goodness! The competition to hold boundaries is phenomenal. Everything has be 'hush, hush'. 

In more recent writings is research done on men who have survived domestic violence. .....Totally the opposite in dynamics and how men are treated before they determine that the female is 'guilty'. It is known to be much harder to prove that men suffer from abusive relationships than it is for women. In men, The Mayo Clinic cites twelve similar but different symptoms of abuse from women. They are known to be the following:

                    1. Calls you names, insults you or puts you down
                    2. Prevents you from going to work or school 
                    3. Stops you from seeing family members or friends 
                    4. Tries to control how you spend money, where you go or what you wear 
                    5. Acts jealous or possessive or constantly accuses you of being unfaithful 
                    6. Gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs 
                    7. Threatens you with violence or a weapon 
                    8. Hits, kicks, shoves, slaps, chokes or otherwise hurts you, your children
                        or your pets 
                    9. Assaults you while you're sleeping, you've been drinking or you're not 
                        paying attention to make up for a difference in strength 
                  10. Forces you to have sex or engage in sexual acts against your will
                  11. Blames you for his or her violent behavior or tells you that you deserve it 
                  12. Portrays the violence as mutual and consensual

Do we want to succeed and prosper? Do we want to have the best that life has to offer? Do we want to be in the center of God's will and receive God's Blessing? How nice it would be if people could get focused on what God has in store for them and others with whom they serve. The Blessing of the Lord maketh RICH! And He Adds NO sorrow to it! We do not have to suffer, compete or feel jealousy. God's love goes around for everyone. Jesus is MORE than enough and greater than all of our sin. When we surrender to God's will, God will give us what is needed. Competition becomes a simple game where we become the right person for the right purpose.God molds and shapes us into what we should be according to His will. Let God mold you today! Let your prayer be "Search me O God and see if there be any wicked way in me! Ps 139:23" Then you will have a better chance of winning.

 

The Queen's platter

Whose report do you believe?

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:1&13

There once was a maiden-fair named Esther (aka) Hadassah. While this young Iranian queen's history was quite unknown to militant leaders, she would come to be known as one of the greatest prophetesses of liberation that is known within the world of religion. And so the story goes like this....

The reigning Queen Vashti had openly embarrassed her husband King Xerxes (aka Ahasuerus) while he was demonstrating the existence of his power. Why any fine king wanting to demonstrate regional authority will show him their  wealth....you know, the land they own and WHO manages it, the goods he possesses-especially the gold because it was VERY shiny and glittery, and especially those of whom he is proud of in his own home. Vashti invited folks for dinner and they all show up. But this Indian king, entertaining his guests by showing off all of his goods, calls for his beautiful wife to come so he could introduce her. But she refuses to come...she is TOO busy! Down goes the gavel...the men of the court says, "don't you think if she gets away with these actions, this will set a bad example for the rest of the women of the kingdom? Don't you think, oh king, that her actions will create havoc in the kingdom, leading the community to think that this queenly behavior is the example by which reputable women should pattern their conduct after?" Can you not hear the gasps of breath taken by the neighboring community? Embarrassed to death was the king! This act of rebellion could seriously affect the appearance of a strong ruler.

So the king says NEVER AGAIN! I will not be put down by anyone. This was considered a detrimental act in the court of the king and NO ONE talks back to the king. He refuses to see her again! The court gossip column reports that the king even sent out an decree stating that since Vashti was unable to honor his request and thereby him as the king, two rulings were passed:

1. The queen would never again be permitted in the presence of the King
2. A search should be made for a woman who would be fit to honor the King.

So they searched over the kingdom, a young maiden surfaced through the encouragement of one of the King's employees, and Esther was chosen to be the queen-replacing Vashti. He threw a party, gave her the royal crown and introduced her to the kingdom. But when Esther's uncle Mordecai, (a national outcast for his culture and religious beliefs as a Hebrew), reportedly overheard two men who were out to take the King's life, Mordecai told Esther who then presented and argued the case so that the king could take action to defend himself. Wow!

But the story isn't over yet! Uncle Mordecai was hired on per Esther's request to be her assistant. Quick eye that any good desert dweller who regards the Lord as his God, discovered and shared that another of the King's employee's were showing more signs of jealousy. This time Haman was asking to dispose of all of the Jewish nation. The actions Esther would take would soon announce how God would once again deliver not only His people, but also those who foreigners who would submit to His will.

Esther runs into the palace of the King!!! and begs for him to come to DINNER!!!-a crime known the world over to be immediate punishment by death. Surprised by her actions, the king agrees and shows up! Of course she was beautiful! Good grief, who would NOT go for dinner? She even invites the King's employee-Mr Haman. So while the king is enjoying the evening entertainment, when he asks why the very nice dinner, Esther is required to tell her fine king about how her families' lives had been threatened. When she explains the plot of Haman and the relationship she has with these folks he had planned to kill, Mr. Xerxes LOST IT! Needless to say, Mr. Haman was forced to pay with his life.

Well, well, well....what goes around comes around! Have you ever sought to get rid of someone in your life that you wished they would just GO AWAY? Jealousy has this incredible way of putting people in a bad frame of thinking. Some people are just "OCD" or obsessionally compulsive about their actions. Politics and smallitics! People usually are jealous because they do not get enough money, they don't have nice enough goods, nice enough house, enough power, enough camera time, enough recognition, enough, enough, enough. Yet jealousy, interesting as it is-is all in the mind of the poor slave to it! It forces its slave to lose power and all the other goods they have, than to retain it!

Who wins a battle? The Prophet Isaiah, another latter Middle Easterner had a good battlemind. His understanding was "whoever has the strength to defeat the enemy is the person that has the right advice or report". Its one thing to have the ammo; its another thing to know how to use it and the secret of defeating the enemy. How many wars have been won by just holding a weapon in ones' hand? None. In fact, Romans 3:4 says "If men give you a report which is contrary to the Word of God, let God be true and every man a liar. What a judgment!

One time, a friend reported she was in her home by herself-just doing housework before the children would come home from school. She was in her living room dusting and picking up toys when suddenly behind her, a man appeared with a large knife to kill her! She immediately started using the only weapon she knew to use-prayer. She loudly proclaimed the Name of Jesus and demanded the man leave her alone! He threw her to the floor and held the knife over her throat. She continued to proclaim the Name of the Lord and prayed loudly-commanding the attacker to leave her alone and leave her house. She demanded the enemy to leave-by speaking directly to the father of lies-Satan. She commanded Satan to get away from her in the NAME of Jesus. She stated the next thing she realized, something SPOOKED him and he left! No rhyme or reason; he LEFT! She had no cuts, broken bones and had not been sexually assaulted! She spoke the Name of Jesus!!! When we use the Name of Jesus, the very demons of hell are required to leave.

Will you be able to stand for your freedom or will you succomb to jealousy? Will you be able to anticipate God's intervention to completely bring about the freedom that gives humans the prosperous lifestyle they're are called to live in? Whose report will you believe?  Anything less is ultimate condemnation and defeat. Remember when you find yourself in the middle of a battle, Honor the King! Serve him a banquet of praise and thanksgiving for "He is good and His mercy endures forever!" Use His Name! The authority we are given is that "at the Name of Jesus, EVERY knee shall bow and tongue confess to the Glory of God!" Lay down that sense of lack and worship the Lord. He provides everything when you worship Him!

Are you called to bondage or are you called to liberty? Paul says then Standfast and do not again be entangled to the yoke of bondage! You have been set free by the King and have it at the Name of the King; Jesus! Whose report will YOU believe? We shall believe the Report of the LORD!

Are you being bullied or are you in 'strength' training?

Romans 5:3-5 (TLB)  "We can rejoice....when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

Have you ever noticed how competitors in a race (or any other sport) gain the ability to endure the event? Individuals who compete have a different type of gear they maintain-than those who casually go out to chase the dog when it runs away. In fact there is some serious adrenaline involved. Individuals who seriously compete get in the feel of what they want to accomplish. They often do not realize any other competitors' existence other than their own. 

An example of a trained competitor is the widely noted golfer-Tiger Woods. Tiger is an accomplished golfer today because his father taught him some skills that maintains his repeated level of success. The only time recently when we have not seen Tiger as successful is when his attentions were diverted by known paparazzi who probably had no idea what this man was made of. If you watch him carefully, before Tiger EVER addresses the ball, he stands back and observes every angle of the course from the position where he stands. He may walk up to address the ball, but will suddenly step back to rethink his next swing. If someone yells at him in the middle of his address, for the most part, he has learned to totally focus on the actual movements he needs to make to get the ball where it needs to go. Having calculated how that ball should arrive where he wants it to go, at the point of contact he follows through on his swing. He immediately steps back to follow that ball visually where it 'should' be. Amazingly enough, it doesn't always get there; but for the most part, he is comfortable with his swing.

While the game of golf is known to be a highly competitive sport, 'playing' golf is only known to be a competition against ones' self. Dr. Bob Rotella said in an article from the Golf Digest "Players who play to play great understand that good can be the enemy of great. They know that if they get too concerned about not being bad, they might not free themselves up enough to be great. They don't care very much about making cuts or top-20 finishes. They play to win." 

And we should too! Sometimes we don't realize when someone is competing with us when suddenly we realize this behavior from individuals that requires us to "react in self defense". Today, there is a lot of education about the topic of bullying. Bullying in school, bullying in the office, bullying in the home, bullying in the media, Cyber-bullying, bullying in organizations, bullying. It used to be if you were a bully, the teacher took you outside of the classroom and you got whacked. It used to be if you bullied a family member, you got a whippin'. It used to be that if you were stalked, someone's brother was out to bust that person up. It was a guaranteed spanking for you, no matter who did it. But what does it accomplish? Immediately it only stops the person in their tracks. Then they figure out how to 'get away with it' behind closed doors or in private. No, they have learned nothing. They have only learned to be more prestigious at their game and do it with a pat on the back! "At a boy! That's what we taught you to do!"

Wow! Jesus did the same thing and in His Father's Presence! In the Presence of all the saints and angels of Heaven. But it was not called Bullying! He ran the race with patience! One might say "Didn't he defend himself?" Oh, in the beginning he spoke up. He tore up the temple in defense of His Father. He came down on the Pharisees and Sadducees when he had to reprove their scriptural knowledge. He even showed them up when they thought he would have to be taken by force for his death. The critical thing of it is, JESUS paid the price. You do not have to! So if Jesus PAID the price of bullying, you should be able to stand up against the wiles of the Devil and put the Devil in his place.

Now some may choose to literally fight back with words. But what is the ultimate plan for your bully? Yes, yes....I can see Letterman's Top Ten on the TV screen now! NO! God's number one player in the book of "How to handle bullies" says "Count it ALL joy....because the trying of your faith worketh patience...that you may be PERFECT, entire, WANTING NOTHING!" 

So what DOES one do when they are being bullied? Well back to our man, Tiger. I don't know that Tiger fasts and prays...(although its a sale based on his slenderness). No...Here is what he does, much like some of the description of the Fruit of the Spirit). When you think about it, even though Tiger is not devout believer in anything other than himself, this below is what makes his game kick!

1. He is focused on HIS fairway, his boundaries, and his strength level. (Love)
2. He stands back to observe all perspectives of the fairway he is in.(Joy)
3. He carefully plans the balls' flight and landing (Peace)
   
4. He plans his swing (Self-Control)
5. He positions his footing (Goodness)
6. He makes his swing (Faithfulness)
7. He follows the ball to where he wanted it to land. (Meekness)

For those of you Biblical Scholars who are missing Gentleness and Kindness, its all in the mix of playing well with others! So, you wanna fight a bully? Go ahead, but your bully needs the Lord! Remember, God's models of strength training are better! 

.....and we wait!

Strength wil Rise as we Wait up on the Lord!

Isaiah 40:31  " But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint."

I will never forget the time when we were enjoying a guest speaker during the morning service; Dr Bob Heil who was a noted evangelist/professor that was visiting our church on Sunday morning. We were meeting in a local High School in Columbus, Ohio while waiting on our church sanctuary to be completed. The auditorium was very large-in fact it safely seated well over 500 students and could hold us nicely since we were a growing congregation. 

It was Sunday morning and we'd had a wonderful time of Praise and worship. We'd sang 7 rounds of "But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy and Peace...Kindness and goodness, faithfulness and meekness. But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy and Peace!" We took the offering and the congregation stood to loudly sing "Glory to His Name...Glory to His Name, There to my heart was the blood applied! Glory to His Name!" Then with great anticipation and excitement, the pastor walks up to the podium and kindly turns the microphone over to Dr Heil -allowing this 'great man of God' to bring us an anointed message from the Lord. 

A little ways in to the message, Dr. Heil asks the congregation to bow their heads and pray...nobody moving because we "do not want to prevent the Holy Spirit from moving on the Word today". While we are praying, Dr. Heil prays for those who were not saved, that they would come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus and that His Presence would be permitted to move in and around this place...in Christs' name...Amen! We begin to read a story about the travels of the Israelites and how they struggled with their enemies. He was making a point about needing to seek the Lord in the time of tribulation when one of the infants in the very back began to cry. The mother, struggling to get her infant to relax and quiet it down, was not able to appease it quickly enough when suddenly the evangelist stops the entire sermon, put down his glasses, crossed his arms and stepped away from the podium and said to the woman in the very rear of the auditorium "WE WILL WAIT". When she did not move as quickly as he thought she should, the pastors did not budge, the ushers did not budge and he openly embarrassed the woman by saying to her, "I will not start again until things have quieted down. The Holy Spirit deserves our respect and not the sound of a child's crying in the sanctuary!"

So for the many who were not extremely disturbed that mother did not just jump up and walk the baby into the hallway (out of respect to the fine professor of divinity), the rest of the congregation was turned or preoccupied themselves until the child was appeased...and both mother and infant were escorted from the auditorium. Later though, we came to discover the most disturbing information of all. The mother was a non-Christian, invited as a guest to hear this great man of God speak his wisdom from 'the Lord and the scriptures'. Humiliated by his lack of sensitivity, she refused to come back. Needless to say, Dr. Heil was never asked to return again.

What IS waiting all about? Who are we waiting on? and Why should we wait? You've heard the phrase "Timing is everything" and that is most likely what decisions are all about. Timing! But No! No! Not the author of Isaiah according to verse 40: 31! No! No! This is a different kind of wait! Waiting in this respect is like the duty that is performed when serving someone! This waiting is like "when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-and-they-bring-you-a-menu-to-make-a-selection" kind of wait! Remember the first time they took you to the store and they told you that you could have anything you liked! What do you want? Yeah! That's the kind of wait! This is how God wants US to wait on him. He is delighted with our presence and desire to serve Him. When we serve Him, He gets to see who WE are and reward us with His good gifts and not just payment! 

Is God some kind of narcissistic personality who demands this type of attention? Not! No, God does not have an attachment disorder who will fall apart if we leave Him or break into a seizure if we over-react. In fact, in Psalms 100, the KING explains how we should serve the Lord..."with GLADNESS....come before His Presence with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise! Be thankful to Him and BLESS HIS NAME!" Most likely, God will invite you to dine at His banqueting table and you will not leave unfed!

Today, I invite you to ask the Lord how you can wait on Him today. Do you need to just sit in His Presence and worship? Do you need to call someone to encourage them? Do you need to busy yourself with work around the office or home? Maybe you should just take the time to get into the Word and listen to what God is speaking to you today. Whatever you chose to do, expect God to attend to your needs....and just wait!