The Bulletin Board:(Please SCROLL DOWN this page to find the article titled on this post in LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS. Thank you.)
PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
PRAY FOR THE PRESENT CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS TO END SOON BEFORE MORE INNOCENT LIVES ARE LOST ON BOTH SIDES.
PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907) Pray that allied forces will be able to drive the group ISIS back (see post #964)
Please PRAY for Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol from Samaritan’s Purse:
Two Americans working for Samaritan’s Purse to battle the deadly Ebola virus plaguing Liberia, unfortunately have both tested positive for the this terrible virus and are fighting for their lives.
Dr. Kent Brantly, medical director for the Samaritan’s Purse care center serving the Liberian capital of Monrovia, and Nancy Writebol, part of the joint Serving In Mission/ Samaritan’s Purse team, are currently undergoing intensive treatment at an isolation center in ELWA Hospital.
"Keeping Faith: Missionary 'Refused' to Flee Liberia" - By Heather Sells, August 06, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/August/Keeping-Faith-Missionary-Refused-to-Flee-Liberia/ "The faith of David and Nancy shows a maturity that is teaching all of us," Cashwell said. "They know that God can move in at any time and heal Nancy." "But they also recognize that if God chooses to call her home, that He's going to bring a healing there as well," he added. "And that's the healing that we all hope for."
Please be PRAYING for both of these heroic individuals and their families at this time. For more information please visit their website at www.samaritanspurse.org. [from Crosswalk.com]
Of course, let's also be PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
"Not Everyone Happy with Religious Ambassador Pick," Caitlin Burke,July 29, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "President Barack Obama's decision to nominate Rabbi David Saperstein to the post of Ambassador for International Religious Freedom is drawing mixed reactions. Saperstein has spent his career in Washington focusing on social justice and religious freedom issues as an activist in the liberal reform branch of Judaism .... An estimated 76 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is restricted. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States must take a strong stand against those violations. "Around the world repressive governments and extremists groups have been crystal clear about what they stand against, so we have to be equally clear about what we must stand for," Kerry said. "We stand for greater freedom, for greater tolerance, greater respect, for rights of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience," he said A key development in the 2013 report is the large number of displaced members of religious communities, including entire Christian communities in Syria and Iraq that have been forced to flee their homes because of persecution."
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
LATEST SAHEED NEWS! May 22 - "Pastor Saeed Forcibly Returned to Prison after Beating" - By Caitlin Burke,CBN News, May 22, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/May/Pastor-Saeed-Beaten-Sent-Back-to-Iran-Prison/ "Saeed Abedini, a U.S. pastor imprisoned for his faith, was severely beaten at an Iranian hospital before being returned to the brutal Rajai Shahr prison. His Iranian family claims the transfer was unexpected and the reason is unclear. But one of the guards involved in the transfer suggested recent Iranian nuclear talks could be a motive, the family said...""
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
/PRAYER ALERT- UKRAINE: As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
PRAYER ALERT!"Kim Jong-un Calls for Execution of 33 Christians" - 3/7/2014; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3651 "North Korea tyrant Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. The South Korean missionary - who was arrested last year - and his accomplices have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches..."[PRAY that the plans for execution would be rescinded, and these believers released.] [Che\ck out: They'll Be Dead By Morning (What Difference Will It Make) http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyll-be-dead-by-morning-what.html
NEWS ALERT/PRAISE! "Iran Allows Surgery on Ailing, Imprisoned Pastor" - CBNNews.com,March 07, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Iran-Allows-Dire-Surgery-on-Ailing-Imprisoned-Pastor-/ The Iranian government has finally allowed doctors to perform surgery on imprisoned Pastor Benham Irani.Irani suffered from a herniated disc and bleeding intestines and urgently needed medical care. PRAY for the final release of Pastor Irani and others imprisoned for their faith.
One of the world’s favorite comedians took his own life. It makes me very sad. But it also makes me determined to get the word out about clinical depression.
By now, you’ve probably heard about the shocking suicide of comedian and Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams.Shocking, but if you know anything about suicide and Williams’ personal history, not entirely a surprise. Williams had been open about his problems with alcohol and drugs. What’s more, Williams had been, according to his publicist, “battling ‘severe depression.’”
Alcohol, drugs, depression, all of these are associated with suicide. And as psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison of Johns Hopkins writes in her book, “Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide,” the most common factor in suicide is mental illness, in particular "mood disorders" such as clinical depression and bipolar disorder.
Now, as somebody who has suffered from this myself over the years, I have to say it’s very important to be clear about what doctors mean by clinical depression. It is not being sad, even for extended periods of time. Sadness is part of the human condition. But clinical depression is a medical condition “which paralyzes all the otherwise vital forces that make us human,” leaving us with a life that is “bloodless” and “painless.”
In his book, “The Noonday Demon,” which chronicled his life with severe clinical depression, Andrew Solomon has written that the opposite of depression isn’t happiness, it’s vitality. And as Jamison tells us, the presence of mood disorders not only makes it more likely that a person will attempt suicide, but also will incline them towards more “serious” efforts in that direction—that is, efforts that exhibit more forethought and planning. Depressed people often self-medicate with alcohol and drugs, which, according to Jamison, "more often worsen [the pain]" and “undermine the individual’s willingness to seek out and receive good clinical care.” They also reduce inhibitions and increase risk-taking, thus reinforcing whatever tendencies toward self-destruction a person may possess.
A friend of mine told me that several time he’d seen Robin Williams attending Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City. Apparently Williams was looking for answers. Maybe he found them, and maybe he didn’t; but we serve a merciful God whose thoughts and ways are not our own.
I say this because tragic events over the past few years have reminded us that Christians are not immune to the scourge of suicide. Outstanding Christians such as Tony Dungy and Rick Warren have lost sons to suicide. As Warren and his wife, Kay, told Piers Morgan of CNN, they had talked their son Matthew off the proverbial ledge many times in his tragically-short life.Like most of those left behind in the wake of suicide, they wondered if there was anything more they could have done, and concluded that the answer was “no.” As Warren told Morgan “If love could have kept my child alive, he'd be alive today, because he was incredibly loved.”
In the wake of Matthew Warren’s suicide, discussion about how churches deal with depression intensified. Christian leaders wrote about their own struggles with depression. And let me add my name and that of the colleague who helped me prepare this BreakPoint commentary to the list of those who struggle with depression.
If you or anyone you love suffers from depression, please get help. You can come to BreakPoint.org and click on this commentary and we’ll direct you to resources that can help.
Why some people ultimately succumb to what Christianity Today writer C. Michael Patton called “the asphyxiation of hope” and others don’t is something we just don’t know.What we do know is that Christians are called to walk alongside those who suffer.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
NEXT STEPS - The 'Asphyxiation of Hope': Robin Williams, Suicide, and Depression
As Eric urged, if you or someone you know suffers from depression, please get help. The list below contains just a few of the many resources available.
RESOURCES
A series of articles on depression by Dr. Bruce Hennigan and others is introduced at this link
Focus on the Family; http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/facing_crisis/dealing_with_depression.aspx
What is Depression? - National Institutes of Health;http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
Depression Support Center - WebMD; http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depresssion-support
Depression Resource Center - http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/Depression_Resource_Center/Home.aspx
Now available in the online bookstore:
What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do: Discouragement & Depression - Henry Cloud, John Townsend | Thomas Nelson Publishers | September 2009 - http://www.colsoncenterstore.org/product.asp?sku=9780849929656
"Robin Williams Considered Christ during Rehab" - CBNNews.com, Saturday, August 16, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/August/Robin-Williams-Considered-Christ-during-Rehab/
As the nation mourns the loss of Robin Williams this week, his wife says the actor was struggling with the early stages of Parkinson's disease when he was found dead.Susan Schneider said her husband was also struggling with depression and anxiety but was sober at the time of his death.She said he wasn't ready to share his recent Parkinson's diagnosis publicly.
Ted Baehr, with Movieguide, often interviewed Williams. He told the Christian Post he thinks Williams considered coming to Christ while in rehab."I don't think he had that explicit experience of being set free," Baehr said.Williams told Can magazine in 2007 that going through rehab affected him spiritually."You come out of the other side knowing you're not alone and it gives you a very personal view of God," he said.
PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
PRAY FOR THE PRESENT CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS TO END SOON BEFORE MORE INNOCENT LIVES ARE LOST ON BOTH SIDES.
PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907) Pray that allied forces will be able to drive the group ISIS back (see post #964)
Please PRAY for Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol from Samaritan’s Purse:
Two Americans working for Samaritan’s Purse to battle the deadly Ebola virus plaguing Liberia, unfortunately have both tested positive for the this terrible virus and are fighting for their lives.
Dr. Kent Brantly, medical director for the Samaritan’s Purse care center serving the Liberian capital of Monrovia, and Nancy Writebol, part of the joint Serving In Mission/ Samaritan’s Purse team, are currently undergoing intensive treatment at an isolation center in ELWA Hospital.
"Keeping Faith: Missionary 'Refused' to Flee Liberia" - By Heather Sells, August 06, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/August/Keeping-Faith-Missionary-Refused-to-Flee-Liberia/ "The faith of David and Nancy shows a maturity that is teaching all of us," Cashwell said. "They know that God can move in at any time and heal Nancy." "But they also recognize that if God chooses to call her home, that He's going to bring a healing there as well," he added. "And that's the healing that we all hope for."
Please be PRAYING for both of these heroic individuals and their families at this time. For more information please visit their website at www.samaritanspurse.org. [from Crosswalk.com]
Of course, let's also be PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
"Not Everyone Happy with Religious Ambassador Pick," Caitlin Burke,July 29, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "President Barack Obama's decision to nominate Rabbi David Saperstein to the post of Ambassador for International Religious Freedom is drawing mixed reactions. Saperstein has spent his career in Washington focusing on social justice and religious freedom issues as an activist in the liberal reform branch of Judaism .... An estimated 76 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is restricted. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States must take a strong stand against those violations. "Around the world repressive governments and extremists groups have been crystal clear about what they stand against, so we have to be equally clear about what we must stand for," Kerry said. "We stand for greater freedom, for greater tolerance, greater respect, for rights of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience," he said A key development in the 2013 report is the large number of displaced members of religious communities, including entire Christian communities in Syria and Iraq that have been forced to flee their homes because of persecution."
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
LATEST SAHEED NEWS! May 22 - "Pastor Saeed Forcibly Returned to Prison after Beating" - By Caitlin Burke,CBN News, May 22, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/May/Pastor-Saeed-Beaten-Sent-Back-to-Iran-Prison/ "Saeed Abedini, a U.S. pastor imprisoned for his faith, was severely beaten at an Iranian hospital before being returned to the brutal Rajai Shahr prison. His Iranian family claims the transfer was unexpected and the reason is unclear. But one of the guards involved in the transfer suggested recent Iranian nuclear talks could be a motive, the family said...""
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
PRAY ALSO : - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- For leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
PRAYER ALERT!"Kim Jong-un Calls for Execution of 33 Christians" - 3/7/2014; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3651 "North Korea tyrant Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. The South Korean missionary - who was arrested last year - and his accomplices have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches..."[PRAY that the plans for execution would be rescinded, and these believers released.] [Che\ck out: They'll Be Dead By Morning (What Difference Will It Make) http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyll-be-dead-by-morning-what.html
NEWS ALERT/PRAISE! "Iran Allows Surgery on Ailing, Imprisoned Pastor" - CBNNews.com,March 07, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Iran-Allows-Dire-Surgery-on-Ailing-Imprisoned-Pastor-/ The Iranian government has finally allowed doctors to perform surgery on imprisoned Pastor Benham Irani.Irani suffered from a herniated disc and bleeding intestines and urgently needed medical care. PRAY for the final release of Pastor Irani and others imprisoned for their faith.
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"The 'Asphyxiation of Hope' - Robin Williams, Suicide, and Depression" - By: Eric Metaxas|Published: August 20, 2014;http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/25929?spMailingID=9264359&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=361790366&spReportId=MzYxNzkwMzY2S0 [AS I SEE IT - I've always had a personality that lends itself to become depressed easily. It's shameful that many Christians can actually see it as merely sin and either avoid or even condemn people so struggling. Not many years ago, I once was going through such a difficult time that I was sharing with someone after a worship service and ended up breaking down crying. It shocked me later when a youth pastor said that he was told of this and that he couldn't have someone with such struggles working with his youth. I was stunned. This leader in the church was somehow unaware that there were more than a few of his youth (as there are more than a few in any church congregation at any time) at any time who were certainly struggling in some way. What they need most is to see people who were not afraid to show their pain and struggles, not people who are good at giving the appearance of having no struggles. Robin Williams demonstrates how people appear on the surface often doesn't tell the full story of what battles they are fighting. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." (T.H. Thompason) Dear friend, look around you. People who give the appearance of "having it all together" are probably struggling with something. We all are. But praise God a Christian can draw strength from Jesus. - Stan]
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"The 'Asphyxiation of Hope' - Robin Williams, Suicide, and Depression" - By: Eric Metaxas|Published: August 20, 2014;http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/25929?spMailingID=9264359&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=361790366&spReportId=MzYxNzkwMzY2S0 [AS I SEE IT - I've always had a personality that lends itself to become depressed easily. It's shameful that many Christians can actually see it as merely sin and either avoid or even condemn people so struggling. Not many years ago, I once was going through such a difficult time that I was sharing with someone after a worship service and ended up breaking down crying. It shocked me later when a youth pastor said that he was told of this and that he couldn't have someone with such struggles working with his youth. I was stunned. This leader in the church was somehow unaware that there were more than a few of his youth (as there are more than a few in any church congregation at any time) at any time who were certainly struggling in some way. What they need most is to see people who were not afraid to show their pain and struggles, not people who are good at giving the appearance of having no struggles. Robin Williams demonstrates how people appear on the surface often doesn't tell the full story of what battles they are fighting. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." (T.H. Thompason) Dear friend, look around you. People who give the appearance of "having it all together" are probably struggling with something. We all are. But praise God a Christian can draw strength from Jesus. - Stan]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"The 'Asphyxiation of Hope' - Robin Williams, Suicide, and Depression" - By: Eric Metaxas|Published: August 20, 2014;http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/25929?spMailingID=9264359&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=361790366&spReportId=MzYxNzkwMzY2S0 [AS I SEE IT - I've always had a personality that lends itself to become depressed easily. It's shameful that many Christians can actually see it as merely sin and either avoid or even condemn people so struggling. Not many years ago, I once was going through such a difficult time that I was sharing with someone after a worship service and ended up breaking down crying. It shocked me later when a youth pastor said that he was told of this and that he couldn't have someone with such struggles working with his youth. I was stunned. This leader in the church was somehow unaware that there were more than a few of his youth (as there are more than a few in any church congregation at any time) at any time who were certainly struggling in some way. What they need most is to see people who were not afraid to show their pain and struggles, not people who are good at giving the appearance of having no struggles. Robin Williams demonstrates how people appear on the surface often doesn't tell the full story of what battles they are fighting. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." (T.H. Thompason) Dear friend, look around you. People who give the appearance of "having it all together" are probably struggling with something. We all are. But praise God a Christian can draw strength from Jesus. - Stan]
One of the world’s favorite comedians took his own life. It makes me very sad. But it also makes me determined to get the word out about clinical depression.
By now, you’ve probably heard about the shocking suicide of comedian and Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams.Shocking, but if you know anything about suicide and Williams’ personal history, not entirely a surprise. Williams had been open about his problems with alcohol and drugs. What’s more, Williams had been, according to his publicist, “battling ‘severe depression.’”
Alcohol, drugs, depression, all of these are associated with suicide. And as psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison of Johns Hopkins writes in her book, “Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide,” the most common factor in suicide is mental illness, in particular "mood disorders" such as clinical depression and bipolar disorder.
Now, as somebody who has suffered from this myself over the years, I have to say it’s very important to be clear about what doctors mean by clinical depression. It is not being sad, even for extended periods of time. Sadness is part of the human condition. But clinical depression is a medical condition “which paralyzes all the otherwise vital forces that make us human,” leaving us with a life that is “bloodless” and “painless.”
In his book, “The Noonday Demon,” which chronicled his life with severe clinical depression, Andrew Solomon has written that the opposite of depression isn’t happiness, it’s vitality. And as Jamison tells us, the presence of mood disorders not only makes it more likely that a person will attempt suicide, but also will incline them towards more “serious” efforts in that direction—that is, efforts that exhibit more forethought and planning. Depressed people often self-medicate with alcohol and drugs, which, according to Jamison, "more often worsen [the pain]" and “undermine the individual’s willingness to seek out and receive good clinical care.” They also reduce inhibitions and increase risk-taking, thus reinforcing whatever tendencies toward self-destruction a person may possess.
A friend of mine told me that several time he’d seen Robin Williams attending Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City. Apparently Williams was looking for answers. Maybe he found them, and maybe he didn’t; but we serve a merciful God whose thoughts and ways are not our own.
I say this because tragic events over the past few years have reminded us that Christians are not immune to the scourge of suicide. Outstanding Christians such as Tony Dungy and Rick Warren have lost sons to suicide. As Warren and his wife, Kay, told Piers Morgan of CNN, they had talked their son Matthew off the proverbial ledge many times in his tragically-short life.Like most of those left behind in the wake of suicide, they wondered if there was anything more they could have done, and concluded that the answer was “no.” As Warren told Morgan “If love could have kept my child alive, he'd be alive today, because he was incredibly loved.”
In the wake of Matthew Warren’s suicide, discussion about how churches deal with depression intensified. Christian leaders wrote about their own struggles with depression. And let me add my name and that of the colleague who helped me prepare this BreakPoint commentary to the list of those who struggle with depression.
If you or anyone you love suffers from depression, please get help. You can come to BreakPoint.org and click on this commentary and we’ll direct you to resources that can help.
Why some people ultimately succumb to what Christianity Today writer C. Michael Patton called “the asphyxiation of hope” and others don’t is something we just don’t know.What we do know is that Christians are called to walk alongside those who suffer.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
NEXT STEPS - The 'Asphyxiation of Hope': Robin Williams, Suicide, and Depression
As Eric urged, if you or someone you know suffers from depression, please get help. The list below contains just a few of the many resources available.
RESOURCES
A series of articles on depression by Dr. Bruce Hennigan and others is introduced at this link
Focus on the Family; http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/facing_crisis/dealing_with_depression.aspx
What is Depression? - National Institutes of Health;http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
Depression Support Center - WebMD; http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depresssion-support
Depression Resource Center - http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/Depression_Resource_Center/Home.aspx
Now available in the online bookstore:
What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do: Discouragement & Depression - Henry Cloud, John Townsend | Thomas Nelson Publishers | September 2009 - http://www.colsoncenterstore.org/product.asp?sku=9780849929656
"Robin Williams Considered Christ during Rehab" - CBNNews.com, Saturday, August 16, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/August/Robin-Williams-Considered-Christ-during-Rehab/
As the nation mourns the loss of Robin Williams this week, his wife says the actor was struggling with the early stages of Parkinson's disease when he was found dead.Susan Schneider said her husband was also struggling with depression and anxiety but was sober at the time of his death.She said he wasn't ready to share his recent Parkinson's diagnosis publicly.
Ted Baehr, with Movieguide, often interviewed Williams. He told the Christian Post he thinks Williams considered coming to Christ while in rehab."I don't think he had that explicit experience of being set free," Baehr said.Williams told Can magazine in 2007 that going through rehab affected him spiritually."You come out of the other side knowing you're not alone and it gives you a very personal view of God," he said.
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