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Wise Counsel and Loving Actions for a Depressed Friend
Throughout my life, I have been the blessed recipient of some truly wise counsel and loving actions by friends as I have walked through dark seasons (depression, the valley of despair, grief, the Black Dog—whatever you care to call it). Thinking that some of their ministry ideas might help you to serve someone in your life who is also going through a difficult time, I thought I would list a few out for you: 1. Presence without harsh judgment and without agenda: Since I was already feeling like the worst Christian (worst wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister) in the world, harsh criticism would have only crushed a bruised reed. But…
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Unmediated is Better
I continue to learn from Tim Challies through his book, The Next Generation: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion. Chapter 5, “Life in the REAL WORLD (Mediation / Identity)” has had me mulling for days now. In it, he defines “medium” as “something that stands between.” Then he discusses how “medium” is at the root of the word “mediator”, so when we talk about mediation in reference to our communication via digital technology, we are talking about some kind of “device or tool or technology that delivers some kind of data or information. It stands between the one who creates sounds or images and the one who receives them.”…
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Church leaders are often afraid of their WOMEN
Wow. Don’t miss this read over at byFaith Magazine: The Session and Women’s Ministry It’s long–but worth the read. I’ll tempt you with just a few excerpts: – How do elders approach women in ministry in their congregations? ‘Men are afraid of women. We’re often content to be at arms’ length from them.’ A prominent PCA pastor says it simply. . … The unease between elders and women’s ministries is not always active. Instead, it can be a function of disconnection. ‘While there are isolated examples of abuse in this relationship, usually it’s much more subtle,’ said Jane Patete, women’s ministries coordinator for the PCA’s Christian Education and Publications…
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Let’s try hard to be discerning and grounded without always looking for the next theological misstep in our friends, our family, or the songs we sing …
Loved this post by Kevin DeYoung: The Crust and the Core But be sure to follow his advice and read to the end. If you only cheer at the first few paragraphs, you may miss some important insights about yourself in the last few paragraphs.
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Resources Beyond Ourselves
If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that Fred and I went through a surprising and frighteningly isolated/lonely/despair-filled season of marriage around our fifteenth wedding anniversary. (I say “surprising” because if you had asked me years ago if we would ever feel so distant from each other and struggle so much in our friendship and marriage, I would’ve said no. When we met and fell in love, during grad school, I don’t think I was naive enough to ever presume that we wouldn’t have some level of struggle and suffering as a couple, I just never thought it would get SO BAD. But it…
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“But Mom! I don’t know HOW to change!”
When our three year-old was processing all sorts of deep three year-old thoughts, she wanted to stay up with the three of us and keep cuddling (rather than going to bed, alone, at an appropriate time for a three year-old). Our conversation went something like this: E: “I know that it’s OK to be sad and cry, Mom, but I’m also remembering that it’s not OK for my sadness to “go off of this path of sadness” (she held out her right hand; in our family that indicates the path of faith, righteousness, wise choices, blessings, and safety) “and onto this path of anger and having a fit” (she held out…
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None are unsocial or distant from each other …
From Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Heaven: A World of Love”: “There this glorious God is manifested, and shines forth, in full glory, in beams of love. And there this glorious fountain forever flows forth in streams, yea, in rivers of love and delight, and these rivers swell, as it were, to an ocean of love, in which the souls of the ransomed may bathe with the sweetest enjoyment, and their hearts, as it were, be deluged with love!” “In heaven all things shall conspire to promote their love, and give advantage for mutual enjoyment. — There shall be none there to tempt any to dislike or hatred; no busybodies, or malicious…
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People are lured into church by hearing the language of intimacy and authenticity …
From one of my favorite books published this year … William P. Smith’s Loving Well Even If You Haven’t Been: “People are lured into church by hearing the language of intimacy, authenticity, and genuineness, but when they experience their absence, they are left feeling even more hurt than before. They had hoped finally to find a safe place where they could experience being loved, only to realize that Christians are not really all that good at it. Instead of being welcomed and embraced, often they can end up isolated and alone. So they walk away discouraged and cynical—with good reason.” [A re-post from 2012]
- Logic for Children, Rhetoric and Philosophy of Theology and Epistemology with an Emphasis on Worldview and Apologetics
Darwin on Trial by Phillip E. Johnson
Darwin on Trial by Phillip E. Johnson Oh my STARS! But I just LOVE this book! I first learned about Professor Johnson back in law school. (He was a University of California Berkeley Law Professor until he suffered a series of strokes back in 2001.) I heard him speak at a Christian Legal Society Conference (he became a Christian later in life, I think in his forties, after he had been a tenured law professor for many years), and I was immediately impressed not only by his brilliance, but also by his humility and wry humor. I started reading his books at that conference and I’ve loved every one I’ve…
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I can move forward in love for others and not be so devastated by others’ (de)valuation of me because of Christ.
I take absolutely no pleasure in the suffering of my friends—so I was brought to my knees this past week when I learned how deeply and terribly my dearest sister in Christ was being hurt, not by unbelievers, but by Christians. Christians in her own church. Her own church leaders for whom she has faithfully prayed and submitted to (with joy) for years and years! How is it possible that It made me mad. It made me sick. It drove me to pray—so that’s one good thing. Plus! I’m getting to email more with my friend, which I love. Although the topics are still making me pretty sick to…
