Status Updates From A Christian's Guide to Ment...

Ch 30 What Good Comes Out of Mental Illness? What a good chapter to end the book on. For we can often question God forgetting that he is sovereign and working in a suffers life for their good & their own sanctification, if they are a child of God. M.I. is not pointless & profitless God uses it for fruits in the suffer & caregivers. God is still working just like he is working in one who has diabetes or leukemia!

Ch 29. How Can We Prepare for Mental Illness? The truth is M.I. is all around us. We need to be prepared to help when it hits close to home o r those in our churches. Begin by educating yourself with good resources Prepare with reading the scripture to help those in suffering, Help teach the church by praying for those who have M.I. Maybe not by name but in general. A praying chruhc is a prepared church.

CH 28 How Can We Reduce the Stigma of Mental Illness. This is really a critical juncture in the life of the church. Not nearly enough discussion from pulpits, elders, and other leaders in the church. Education helps Reduce stigma, which is important. Investing in the lives of those who struggle reduces stigma, very important as most people run. Positive results from growing togther with sufferers helps the stigma.

Ch27 How can we Care for Caregivers? Ministering to those who are on the front lines of those with M.I. is really crucial these individuals need love and support from their families friends and especially their church. They need prayer, support, boundaries. The life of a caregiver is 24/7 and needs to know they are loved and supported because they often can feel alone and overwhelmed. #goodreminders"

Ch27 How can we Care for Caregivers? Ministering to those who are on the front lines of those with M.I. is really crucial these individuals need love and support from their families friends and especially their church. They need prayer, support, boundaries. The life of a caregiver is 24/7 and needs to know they are loved and supported because they often can feel alone and overwhelmed. #goodreminders

Ch 26 How Can I Help Someone who is Suicidal. One must know the signs, know what to say and know what todo if one is going to be helpful. It is okay to ask a person If they are thinking about it. Initiate nonthreatening conversations & ask questions. There are several good questions to help engage a sufferer. With the increase of suicide it is important to know how to interact and help those suffering. #itsreal

Ch25 What Should We Do When a Sufferer Falls into Temptation? One of the greatest challenges when dealing with a sufferer is to react wrongly when sin happens. We should be faithful & remember our own weakness, the sufferers weaknesses, God's Strength through his Holy Spirit & Jesus Salvation (Gospel). Remembering "No one moves from selfish sin to selfless serving w/o going to Jesus for his selfless salvation!

Chp 24 What are some things to Avoid in Ministering to Sufferers? Again all to brief & things I have had to learn the hard way. Educating oneself with a sufferer is helpful in knowing what to say. This is not to coddle them but to help them in their moments of suffering. Common pitfalls are; platitudes, silence, & error. Good bridges involve confession, learning & prayer. Avoid pitfalls & build bridges!

Ch23 What are the Roles of Scripture, Prayer, &theSacraments in a Sufferer's Life? The authors articulate the importance of the ordained means of Grace in a suffers life. Friends, family & pastors need to help suffers implement the godly disciplines in their life both in public worship & private worship. Helping suffers look back & see God's goodness & look forward w/hope to his continued faithfulness & promises.

Chp 22 Challenges in discipling a sufferer. Helping those with MI grow spiritually has its challenges. They are not insurmountable, but due to their illness, things may not be as easy as they are for one who does not struggle. Having agreed expectations is critical. Patience and a high time preference are important. Keep a flexible outlook, growth is up & down, but zooming out, one can see an upward trend.

Chp21 How can we help sufferers serve the church? It is important to remember that serving is integral to all believers, & just because one struggles with MI, they should not be disqualified from serving appropriately. Christians serve God & his church. Every believer has God-given gifts, & believers bless & are blessed in serving the church. Helping others learn do this helps keep their eyes of the heart vertical.

Chp 20 How to help a sufferer grow spiritually. Good insights to remember: being physically present is best. Keeping a proper spiritual attitude and clear expectations with the sufferer and remembering that spiritual progress is possible. Growth in suffering will vary on diagnosis and can be painfully slow, but God is faithful and we must learn to be patient and long-suffering just as God is with us.

Ch19 Discerning Faith & Spiritual Fruit in a Sufferer. This chapter was helpful until the last few paragraphs. The authors discussed God's mercy & briefly introduced a complex, controversial theological topic: the Age of Accountability. IMO this could be handled differently, by leaving the discussion in the hands of a merciful God Gen18:25. The rest of the chapter had great insight to help a sufferer see & remember.

Ch18 The role of the sufferer. The authors again do a solid job of pointing out the responsibility the sufferer has in many aspects of MI. They must not be burdened with too much responsibility, and one must be careful not to heap too much upon them, as both scenarios can increase suffering and recovery time. There is a fine line, but there is a line. Each sufferer will have a different role in their responsibility.

Ch17 The role of biblical counselors. This was delight for me to read. Way too brief, though. There is a much need place of biblical counsel in the life of a sufferer with MI. It should not be left to the medical field alone. The author does a good job of recognizing the importance of spiritual counsel & direction. Biblical counselors help to seek potential causes of MI, being spiritual & help to assist.

CH 1 6 What role does medication have? The author states three principles. Don't run to them first. Don't rule them out altogether. Don't rely on them alone. I appreciate the approach of discussing medication not only with Medical Drs but also with Spiritual Drs. This helps to elevate the dichotomy of Medical & Spiritual. Like the need for medicine to lower BP, there may also be a need to help improve brain relays.

Chp15 What I don't like about this chpt on the role of Mental health professionals is the implication that MD, therapists are the professionals & the Pastor is not a professional. I am not sue if that is what the author intended to convey or my prejuidice. The term "medical professional" is a fine way to describe those in that field. Anyway, good chapter on the different roles to help those who suffer with MI.

Ch14-The role of family & friends. Brief but again very helpful reminders from the authors who highlight many of the feelings friends & family can have when loving one who has M.I. Family & friends can aggravate the problem but also can be a tremendous part of the solution. They know the suffer the best, are part of a support team & need to agree on realistic expectations. Still finding this book very helpful.

Ch 13 The Role of the church. Encouraging to hear the authors speak about how the church can help sufferers. The church as family unites, prays for one another, ministers to one another & cares for one another. Connecting with those who have M.I. requires patience & education. The body of Christ should not relegate those with M.I. to experts only but should seek to be informed to better care & love those in the body.

Chp 12 The role of the pastor. I appreciate the authors view that the elders should be involved with the process & progress of suffers. Pastor's need to speak more about M.I. to help encourage members to open up to them. Reading & study are key! Also being informed about where to point those who may beyond their abilities. pastors should stay involved praying regularly with and for their suffers.

Chp 11 The authors discuss the reality that even Christians can suffer with mental illness. Denying this truth can harm suffers which in turn can lead to condemnation isolation and seeking secular help first apart from one's pastors. Christians can have M.I because they are humans, they are sinners or because they are Christians. MI can be a suffers fault, the devil or sometimes its just biology. Brief but helpful!

Chp 10 What causes Mental Illness? Without knowing the causes of a mental illness, we may take the wrong action. Illness can be caused by original sin, our sin, or others' sin. Helping to identify the causes of the illness helps us to take appropriate actions. A concise summary of a difficult question.

Chp 9 The authors discuss three hurdles to recovery. They are: getting early treatment, consistency, and follow-through, & long-term maintenance. As friends or loved ones of those who struggle recognizing these hurdles to recovery and taking steps to overcome them with short , medium, and long-term strategies is helpful. Work with and not against the sufferers & those involved to help develop a plan of prevention.

Chp 7Deals with how people react to being diagnosed with a Mental Illness. It is common that when the symptoms of a Mental Illness arise, the sufferer may resort to defensiveness that can delay proper help. The authors give a thoughtful list of actions to help someone who has been diagnosed or needs help, starting with prayer and a great reminder that it doesn't mean one is a bad Christian or lacks faith! #key