VL OO6 Sharing Hope

ThreeCirclesALL1 Peter 3:15b Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you (NRSV) or

[And if anyone asks you about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. (NLT)]

We do not have to have the answer to every question, every objection, and every problem.  Rather, we are called on to give an answer for the hope that we have from a life in Christ.

How do we share “Hope”?

It does not have to be complicated.  We do not have to quote verse after verse to speak God’s truth.  The truth of Scripture is true even if we do not quote the verse in conversation.

We share it by entering into conversations with people.  It starts with caring enough to really listen.  Our agenda should be to live out the love of God, the love God has for them and the love God has shown to us.

Surrounded by “brokenness”.

We are often in contact with people that are experiencing the results of broken lives, bodies, relationships, and dreams.  In fact, we are no different.  It is from our own experiences with “brokenness” that we can compassionately connect with our fellow man.

Sometimes we experience brokenness as a result of our own actions.  Sometimes we experience brokenness as a result of the hurtful and selfish actions of others.

Many people talked about the difficulties they are facing, or difficulties their loved ones are facing.  When the opportunity arises in a conversation I will ask something like, “Can I share with you what gives me hope?”  If they consent then I share something like the following:

Three Circles

(developed by Jimmy Scoggins, Pastor, First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, Fl.)

God’s Design:

Genesis 1:31 says, “Then God look over all he had made and he saw that it was very good!” (NLT)

(Note: you do not need to quote the Bible verses to express the Biblical truth.)

God has a design for sex, marriage, finances, health…relationships.  When we depart from his design it result is our brokenness.  We not only can hurt ourselves, but we often hurt others.  Other people departing from God’s plan can also hurt us.  This departure from God’s design is what the Bible calls sin.  This departure leads to our brokenness and the brokenness of those around as, the brokenness of the world.

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (NLT)

Brokenness:

Proverbs 14:12 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. (NLT)

We experience brokenness in many ways: bodies, minds, finances, and relationships.  We then seek to cover up our brokenness in an attempt to fix ourselves.  Some self-help attempts may bring some improvements; but in the end they fall short.

We may also attempt to cover up the problem with drugs, alcohol, money, education, success, relationships, etc.  Some of these actions end up causing harm and lead to more brokenness.  None of them can fill the void or fix the damage.

At some point we realize that we cannot fix ourselves.  We have tried this and that and nothing really changes.

God did not leave us in despair. There is Good News.  He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

The Gospel:

Gospel means Good News.  God loves us, his creation, so much that he sent his Son to live as one of us, yet without sin.  The Bible says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NRSV)

Romans 10:29 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  (NLT)

We know that we need to change.  But we cannot fix our selves.  The solution is not simply turning from “sin”.  We must turn toward the One who designed us.

This kind of “change” is what the Bible calls repentance.  When we confess that Jesus is Lord (that is, that He is Lord over our lives, this universe, our problems…) and believe that God raised Him from the dead (as such He is victorious over sin and even death itself) we will be saved.

“Saved” into a relationship with the Creator.  We become a new person.  It is as if we are born a second time.  We start to experience God’s design for us and His creation.

019 – 3 Barriers to Healing & Tips to Knock Them Down!

It may be important to understand barriers; but we do not need to focus on them.  Instead, we can focus on positive actions we can take to overcome the barrios.

Stuart Miles FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Stuart Miles FreeDigitalPhotos.netIt may be important to understand barriers; but we do not need to focus on them.  Instead, we can focus on positive actions we can take to overcome the barrios.

In this episode we will discuss: (Note: topics are not necessarily in this order.)

  • Barriers to healing
  • Tips to overcome these barriers
  • My 7 Day Green Juice Fast
  • Principals learned from dealing with diabetes that can also help me deal with PTSD

7 Day Green Juice Fast: Cucumbers, celery, kale and all their friends.

  • Why?
  • Diagnosed with diabetes about 6 years ago
  • Not obese
  • I tried to control with diet and oral medication; but nothing seemed to work well enough.
  • Started experiencing diabetic complication (eyes, feet and heart attack)
  • Started using insulin a couple of months ago

Expectations

Our mindset is important.  Do we see PTSD as something that can be dealt with?  Do we see it as something that can and will bet better?

 “While some people do suffer from full-blown PTSD, most cases are mild. What often occurs is that a doctor tells a patient that his symptoms look like PTSD, and that diagnosis impacts that person right between the eyes as if he were told he had cancer. Well, it is not like cancer; it is more look like PTSD, and that diagnosis impacts that person right between the eyes as if he were told he had cancer. Well, it is not like cancer; it is more like being overweight. If you weigh 30 pounds more than you should, those extra pounds, while tiring to lug around, are probably not life threatening.”

Grossman, Dave; Christensen, Loren W. On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and Peace (Kindle Locations 6690-6693). Human Factor Research Group, Inc..

“It is important that you bring the issue into perspective and think of it more along the lines of being overweight than being stricken with cancer and all that that means. Put it in perspective and make peace with the memory.”

Grossman, Dave; Christensen, Loren W. On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and Peace (Kindle Locations 6697-6699). Human Factor Research Group, Inc..

If we do not expect to succeed, or get better, we are not likely to even try.

Knocking down the negative expiration barrier:

  • Listing to others.  What worked for them may not work for us…but it might.
  • Stepping out in faith-even if we do not see the improvement at the moment.  Allow time for small things to add up to bigger changes.
  • Changing our mindset.  Philippians 4:8

Desire

Asking ourselves some difficult questions:

  • Do we really what to get better?
  • What does it cost to get better?  I am not specifically referring to money.
  • What are you willing to pay?
  • What are you willing to do to get better?
  • What are you willing to do to get 1% better?

Fear

What if I try and do not get better.  Other people have gotten better.  What does that say about me if I try and do not get better?  In fact, some people fear getting partially better and losing their disability check.

Knocking down the fear barrier:

  • Listing to the stories of how other people have overcome adversity.
  • Beginning to trust.
  • Stepping out in faith.

Discussion Questions:

What do you think about Dr. Grossman comparing comparison for dealing with PTSD?  Is it more like losing weight or having cancer?

rss subscribechicklet_itunes

004 Questioning God

DopamineseratoninIn today’s episode we will:

1. We will explore the struggle that can arise in faith as a result of trauma.  We will consider the question: Is it OK to question God?  If so, how?

 

2. We will take a look at light…

  •  Does light really have the power to change our brains?
  • Impact of light on sleep problems, depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and possible connections to PTSD care.

Jumping right into our main topic for today: Questioning God

  •  Does God mind if we question him?
  •  What about doubts?
  •  What about people of faith from times past?
  • Consider Psalm 77 – He boldly expressed his concerns and…

 Science and the Brain:  In the light…

– Does light really have the power to impact and even change what is going on in our brains?

  •  Serotonin: important brain chemical – clear thinking, emotion control, sleep…
  •  How can we make more serotonin?
  •  How can we have our brains release it so that
  • Taking a walk in the daylight — even on a cloudy day. 
  •  Tryptophan: something you need to eat in order for your brain to make serotonin
  •   Extra Cautions…
  • > If you are on medication that can affect who your body responds to light.
  • > Too much UV light?  How much is too much for your skin and eyes? (ask your Doc.)
  • > You are already taking an antidepressant medication (SSRI or MAO) or other medication that affects your brain chemistry.
  • > Light/Skin/Eye sensitivity or problems

 Some “Light and Brain” Info:

 – How does a lack of sun affect us?, Science Channel – http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/affects-of-lack-of-sun

– Boosting Your Serotonin Activity, Psychology Today –  http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201111/boosting-your-serotonin-activity

– Discovering Light Effects on the Brain, The American Journal of Psychiatry –  http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=96553

– Study suggests bright light therapy may improve sleep and brain function post mild TBI,  http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130601/Study-suggests-bright-light-therapy-may-improve-sleep-and-brain-function-post-mild-TBI.aspx

– Can light make us bright? Effects of light on cognition and sleep. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21531248

– Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain, Lancet –  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12480364

– Unraveling the Sun’s Role in Depression, WebMD http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20021205/unraveling-suns-role-in-depression

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_therapy

(NOTE: The following links are provided by way of reference only.  There are many resources available on the web and some may contain differing views, facts and opinions.  This podcast, and HART does not endorse any of the authors, their views or products.  This is only a sample of articles that you may find helpful.  Always investigate for yourself.  Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes that could impact your health.]

Thank you for listening!  Let a friend know.  We would appreciate it greatly if you would give us a 5 star rating in the ITunes store and share the good news.

rss subscribechicklet_itunes

Upcoming Episode Topics…

Healing the Wounds of War: Hope and Restoration for PTSD podcast will launch October 24th on ITunes and RSS feeds everywhere. Upcoming topics include:
Oct. 24 – Post Traumatic Stress: It’s not just in your head.
Oct. 31 – RESTORE: 7 Practical Steps
Nov. 7 – Recognize: I’m fine, just ask me.
Nov. 14 – Faith Free Fall: A journey through the darkness.

HTWW Upcoming Episodes