Serving Rascals, Clumsy Disciples, and Physically and Mentally Ill Believers with the Unconditional Love of Jesus Christ
Author: Pastor Bryan Lowe
A repentant rascal with definite issues, but who is seeking to be authentic in his faith to Jesus Christ.
An avid reader and a hopeful writer. Husband and father. A pastor and Bible teacher. A brain tumor survivor. Diagnosed with clinical depression, and now disabled.
Enjoys life, such as it is, in Alask.a (Actually I have it pretty good.)
A lthough things are not perfect B ecause of trial or pain C ontinue in thanksgiving D o not begin to blame. E ven when the times are hard F ierce winds are bound to blow G od is forever able H old on to what you know. I magine life without His love J oy would cease to be K eep thanking Him for all the things L ove imparts to thee. M ove out of “Camp Complaining” N o weapon that is known O n earth can yield the power P raise can do alone. Q uit looking at the future R edeem the time at hand S tart every day with worship T o “thank” is a command. U ntil we see Him coming V ictorious in the sky W e’ll run the race with gratitude X alting God most high. Y es, there will be good times and yes some will be bad, but… Z ion waits in glory…where none are ever sad!
“Too blessed to be stressed!” The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Be Blessed.
If you can’t sue the Lord for libel, what are your options? A Michigan man is about to find out. Bradley LaShawn Fowler, 39, has filed lawsuits in a Michigan federal court against Zondervan Publishing and Thomas Nelson Publishing, claiming some editions of the Bibles those companies put out call homosexuality sinful, which has led him to suffer discrimination, emotional pain and mental instability.
“Defendant willfully caused me to endure acts of hate, discrimination, and loss of sleep, appetite, by structuring their New King James Bible to reflect God’s distaste of homosexuals,” Fowler wrote in his complaint against Thomas Nelson filed this week.
“By designing this product to promote hate and violence toward homosexuality, because such product is promoted as being the ‘authentic word of God,’ it is a design defect,” says Fowler’s lawsuit.
Fowler is seeking million from Zondervan, alleging their Bibles refer to homosexuality as a sin have made him an outcast from his family and contributed to physical discomfort and periods of “demoralization, chaos and bewilderment.” He is seeking million from Thomas Nelson.
The suit against Zondervan claims 1982 and 1987 editions of the publisher’s Bible declare homosexuality to be wrong in 1 Corinthians 6:9:”Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders.”
Fowler claims the term was edited out of the 1989 and 1994 editions, but consumers were not informed.
“This misrepresentation is a willful and deliberate tort. Fraudulently imposing a written defamation or libel in order to prevent me from marrying someone of the same sex in this state,” his lawsuit states. “This obvious coerced method of mind control and social dictatorship violates the religious [sacred] laws which prevent anyone from adding to the Biblical scriptures or from taking any words away from the text.”
Fowler levels similar allegations against Thomas Nelson regarding the company’s earlier versions of the New King James Bible.
The intent of the publisher was to promulgate a point of view to cause “me or anyone who is a homosexual to endure verbal abuse, discrimination, episodes of hate, and physical violence … including murder,” the lawsuit states.
Fowler said the editions of the Bibles he cites have destroyed his relationship with his family who refuses to support him because the Bible says homosexuality is a sin.
What do you think? Should the publishers of Bibles be held accountable for the pain inflicted by what many readers consider to be God’s word?
We all need Jesus terribly. A few of us have come to this conclusion based on God’s Word. We have discovered that we have been negligent, and very much confused. We have unplugged ourselves from the truth, and wandered into the maze of this world, stumbling in the dark.
Things are so distorted, that life has lost both purpose and meaning. We come to the point where light has lost its distinctiveness and the shadows have become magnified. A flood of confusion has made its way to truth’s walls.
As mentally ill people, operating from that viewpoint we are just as vulnerable as anyone else to deception. If we open our hearts to everything life brings, we discover our vulnerability. We are quite capable of disbelief. Our psychiatrist and therapist will very often create issues and conflicts. I respect their gifts and insights. But sometimes they can be stumbling blocks to real freedom.
But we have been called to the mud. At first we clean ourselves from our prolonged stay in the mire. It is great to stand on solid ground. We are separated from sticky clay, and cleansed from our filth. But there are so many left behind to wallow. They may not even know it, but they are sinking. We must reach out to them.
Our witness to those in the mud must be compassionate and bold. Often, they act out of their confusion, and reduce truth to their own situation. But we are called to be faithful, and to love them even in their lies. Let’s not let their confusion affect us. There is simply too much at stake.
As witnesses to Jesus’ power, we are the only ones who can intervene. Let us hold out the truth, and let us be those who are marked by faithfulness. We must be courageous, we must be thinking clearly. God intends to use us if we make ourselves available. Even if that means we step back into the mud.
Can a Christian believer attempt suicide? My own first-hand experience rings out a resounding YES! We can be so driven by major depression that it effects our relationship with the God who loves us and pushes us into a place of complete hopelessness. Very often, it is an attack by evil upon our lives.
Suicide is not a mental illness in itself, but a serious potential consequence of many mental disorders, particularly major depression.
Who is most likely to commit suicide? Suicide rates are highest in teens, young adults, and the elderly. People over the age of 65 have the highest rate of suicide. Although women are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to be successful.
Suicide risk also is higher in the following groups:
•Older people who have lost a spouse through death or divorce
•People who have attempted suicide in the past
•People with a family history of suicide
•People with a friend or co-worker who committed suicide
•People with a history of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
•People who are unmarried, unskilled, or unemployed
•People with long-term pain, or a disabling or terminal illness
•People who are prone to violent or impulsive behavior
•People who have recently been released from a psychiatric hospitalization (This often is a very frightening period of transition.)
•People in certain professions, such as police officers and health care providers who work with terminally ill patients
•People with substance abuse problems
What are the warning signs for suicide? Following are some of the possible warning signs that a person may be at risk for suicide:
•Excessive sadness or moodiness — Long-lasting sadness and mood swings can be symptoms of depression, a major risk factor for suicide.
•Sudden calmness — Suddenly becoming calm after a period of depression or moodiness can be a sign that the person has made a decision to end his or her life.
•Withdrawal — Choosing to be alone and avoiding friends or social activities also are possible symptoms of depression. This includes the loss of interest or pleasure in activities the person previously enjoyed.
•Changes in personality and/or appearance — A person who is considering suicide might exhibit a change in attitude or behavior, such as speaking or moving with unusual speed or slowness. In addition, the person might suddenly become less concerned about his or her personal appearance.
•Dangerous or self-harmful behavior — Potentially dangerous behavior, such as reckless driving, engaging in unsafe sex, and increased use of drugs and/or alcohol might indicate that the person no longer values his or her life.
•Recent trauma or life crisis — A major life crises might trigger a suicide attempt. Crises include the death of a loved one or pet, divorce or break-up of a relationship, diagnosis of a major illness, loss of a job, or serious financial problems.
•Making preparations — Often, a person considering suicide will begin to put his or her personal business in order. This might include visiting friends and family members, giving away personal possessions, making a will, and cleaning up his or her room or home. Some people will write a note before committing suicide.
•Threatening suicide — Not everyone who is considering suicide will say so, and not everyone who threatens suicide will follow through with it. However, every threat of suicide should be taken seriously.
Can suicide be prevented? Definitely. In many cases suicide can be averted. Research suggests that the best way to prevent suicide is to know the risk factors, be alert to the signs of depression and other mental disorders, recognize the warning signs for suicide, and intervene before the person can complete the process of self-destruction.
Praying for and listening to the afflicted should be something we practice. The despair of the suicidal is intense, but it gets dangerous when that despair turns into resignation and calmness (without a resolution).
A lthough things are not perfect
Broken Believers 