SPIRITUAL HEALTH & EMOTIONAL WELLNESS- " The cure and process for healing sorrowful hearts and broken spirits today."

Today I have been pondering words from two of the most wise men that ever lived on this planet. The words of King Solomon in Proverbs 12: 25 and 15:13. The words of Jesus in Luke 4:18.

Let me preface this post with a personal remark. In thinking about my ministry and profession I am glad I am not a news reporter, simply because it seems as if their mandate is to report “bad news”. I don’t really understand why for example the media shows up to a school to report when something negative or bad happens and are nowhere to be found to report the positive or good things that happen in the same school.

 In my ministry and profession I am blessed with a mandate to proclaim “good news”. My “M.O”. over the past three decades is within the context of the words of Jesus in Luke 4:18. (Paraphrased).

“The Spirit of the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good news to the poor;
to heal the broken hearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed;”

King Solomon wrote the following many centuries ago.

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But a good word makes it glad…….

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

Solomon addressed Spiritual Health and Emotional Wellness in his day. Today it remains an important subject. 

 Anxiety and depression have become the common cold of the 21^st. century. Most disability claims from the workplace are related to mental health issues. This replaces physical issues which were the main disability claims of the past. Recent studies show that the statistic which claims one in five people are affected by mental health issues is conservative. It is higher!

Therefore, we can conclude from statistics and observe by their countenance, that there are many people today with sorrowful hearts and broken spirits, caused by anxiety and depression.  

Solomon not only gives us the cause but also the cure. Anxiety causes depression which in turn is the cause of a sorrowful heart, broken spirit and a sad countenance. The cure comes from “a good word”, which makes the heart glad and a merry heart produces a cheerful face. The process of recovery begins with a good word, encouragement or in the words of Jesus, “good news”.

I am blessed as an ordained minister and a professional counsellor in a society filled with anxiety and depression to be mandated to proclaim “GOOD NEWS”, (the words of Jesus). To encourage hope by using acquired skills to “bind up broken hearts”. It can be a time consuming and delicate   process.

 A lot of effort beside skill is required. But the reward is seeing people liberated who were captives of anxiety, depression and other spiritual and emotional issues, to see the light come on in the eyes of people once blinded by negative and irrational thinking as the truth sets them free, to watch as people once downtrodden by oppression comes to freedom.

Solomon gives a description of mental health issues in his day that also describes mental health issues of our day. Jesus introduces the process to achieve mental wellness in his day which works today.

It begins with a “good word”, encouragement or in the words of Jesus, “good news” and the application of learned skills, directed by the Spirit of the Lord to heal, liberate and free people today with sorrowful hearts and broken spirits, caused by anxiety and depression.  

Until Next Time Blessings!
Pastor Harold

SPIRITUAL HEALTH & EMOTIONAL WELLNESS - "A Reversal of Destiny"

A Reversal of Destiny

To say the past two years (2012-2014) were challenging would be an understatement. Actually they were the two most difficult years of my entire life and ministry journey. It started when we had settled into a new ministry position and suddenly found ourselves without our jobs. On the heels of this was the loss of my colleague and Dena’s boss and his wife and son in a tragic accident on Highway 63. Jobless and grieving we had no help available to deal with our losses, other than some words of encouragement from a couple of people at the District office, I was left to try and help Dena get through all of this in the midst of my own emotional pain which was as excruciating as physical pain. My Spiritual health and emotional wellness was put to the test. I would like to say it brought out the best in me but it didn’t, it brought out the worst that was in me and I had to deal with it in order to recover and grow. It was a very painful journey.

In July of 2014 I was given the opportunity to meditate and reflect without distraction, this was the beginning of a series of events that led to my “reversal of destiny”, a term I picked up from Beth Moore’s study on the book of Esther.  I was asked to join a friend in the preview of this study that she was planning on sharing in her ladies Bible study group. Dena did the study and it became very precious to us and a means of spiritual growth. Actually the key players in our “reversal of destiny” include Beth Moore, Charles Stanley and our friend Tammy.

One evening in Beaumont, Alberta the presence of the Lord was very real and the Holy Spirit was at work in a special way. I decided to take my daily prayer walk. I walked to the mail and after picking up the mail, I was impressed to walk the trail in a reverse direction. While doing the prayer walk, I had a strong impression that I was beginning to walk in a reversal of destiny! It was an amazing evening of ministry by the Holy Spirit.

I was reading Charles Stanley’s book, The Ultimate Conversation, at the time and it spoke directly into my life during this time in my life. ADONIA, became a personal revelation to me as my friend was led to pray over me. The Lord became very real to me as my Guide, Provider and Protector. All three were demonstrated to us during a weekend ministry at Fort McMurray in August 2014 and since.

During this season my passion for ministry was renewed from prayer, Bible study and engaging in conversation with my friend about my early years in ministry and God’s faithfulness especially during  my time in Norris Arm South and my recollections of my connection with Pastor Hubert Holloway and the prayer times at Camp Emmanuel

We had thought maybe our ministry journey would bring us back to Alberta. It seemed to be our destiny. Although opportunities for private practise became available and a pilot project to work alongside Pastor Larry Lindoff to provide counselling ministry at Evangel was successful, we became restless and returned to Woodstock in October to wait further direction. On November 22, 2014 Dena and I experienced a spiritual breakthrough, a release from oppression that had bothered us for two years. It became clear we would have to take a step of faith and go forward in our destiny. Our journey would take us back to our home province

A job opportunity opened for me in December and on the 14^th day of the month of January which I will call my month of Adar, (the meaning of this becomes clear in the conclusion of this article) I started my new position as an EAP Counsellor taking up three days of the week. This leaves me with the remainder of the week for private practice in Christian Counselling and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaching. My weekends are free for ministry opportunities in local churches.  One weekend is already booked. Now all that is needed is office space for C4 Professional Services.

This week I had coffee with my former Assistant Pastor that started his ministerial career with me in Grand Falls in 1989. It is interesting to note that when He resigned to move to Mt. Pearl as an Assistant Pastor, I resigned my position to begin a career track towards counselling. Twenty six years later I have come to Mt. Pearl as a Professional Counsellor. Paul is the lead pastor at the city church we plan on attending. Another Assistant Pastor who moved to a staff position in St. John’s when I resigned and moved to the Maritime District is now Lead Pastor in another city Church. So it is great to have the opportunity to re- connected with my former Assistant Pastors Paul and Bruce.

So going back to my meeting over coffee - during our discussion Paul said he knew of an ideal location for me to set up my counselling practice. He gave me a tour and it is unbelievably ideal. I am now waiting final approval which seems inevitable. So it is very likely that Pastor’s Inn Ministries/C4 Professional Services will soon be operating out of Mount Pearl.

Ps.32:8 was a promise I received in 2002 when I left Newfoundland.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

The conclusion of the matter is summed up from page 208 of the study guide on the Book of Esther by Beth Moore from which I will quote.

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
⁶ The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

⁷ I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;

 “Here the lot or portion is an allusion to the way life has worked out; the psalmist is thinking of all the signs of God’s provision which have marked his pilgrimage…..the word had within it the suggestions of destiny.”

In our words, “ Lord in all the chaos and crisis, all the threat and doubts You caused my life to work out. Instead of me falling apart, the lines of my life have fallen together. Truly, I can say that You have given me a delightful inheritance.”

The day we wake up to the goodness of our God and the crushing defeat of the enemy! The day will be a day of joy and feasting…. Esther 9: 19

“…celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day ^[k]of the same month, annually, ²² because on those days the Jews ^[l]rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a ^[m]holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

The Journey over the past two years as I said earlier hasn’t been easy but needful it seems in the process of my spiritual and emotional well- being.  Granting forgiveness, confession and asking forgiveness are never easy and in some situations there may be rejection but it is the right thing to do because it is essential for spiritual growth to take place.

God is faithful but we are required to be obedient to His word before we can experience a reversal of destiny.

Until next time

Blessings!

Pastor Harold

Resources: The Ultimate Conversation by Charles Stanley.

                     Esther, It’s Tough Being A Woman by Beth Moore

                     Bible, The New American Standard Version.

 

 

 

Spiritual Health & Emotional Wellness- Substance Abuse

ALCOHOL.

I have taken an interest in following the career path of a student who first interviewed me for a magazine article when he was just fourteen years old. Since then he completed high school. In his graduating year he worked at the local newspaper office. He is now enrolled in a Journalism degree program at a nearby University. This kid has a lot of potential. However, I was very concerned when I read posts on his Face book page saying he has been using alcohol since starting university, something he successfully avoided up until his high school graduation. He claims he has found his tolerance level and feels comfortable with drinking.

I thought about him as I studied for my Addiction Studies Certificate. I can’t help but to wonder if he realizes the risks of becoming involved in the use of alcohol. Does he know he has a “tiger by the tail”.

In this post I will profile this “tiger,” (alcohol). It is the most popular and widely used drug and is considered to be the oldest known sedative/hypnotic and intoxicant. Traditionally it is used as an aesthetic, sedative and sleep inducing properties, religious and celebratory occasions and recreation.

The degree of intoxication from alcohol depend on consumption during a single drinking episode. The early effects of this Central Nervous System depressant is known to elevate activity and disinhibition after 1-3 drinks. Increased doses can cause drowsiness, stupor, coma and death. Other known effects include, blackouts, violence, psychiatric effects. Long term use causes alcoholic dementia, damage to the peripheral nervous system characterized by loss of feeling in the feet and may be accompanied by burning pain and overall difficulty in walking. Cardiovascular damage can occur as it increases blood pressure and interferes in blood clotting increasing the risk of stroke. Gastrointestinal damage occurs from irritation of the stomach’s lining from alcohol. It also increases the risk of cancer. Alcoholics have a high admission rate to psychiatric hospitals and 6 times higher suicide rate than the population average.

Tolerance varies with individuals. Physical dependence is indicated by tolerance and/or withdrawal caused by abstinence. When use is stopped abruptly withdrawal symptoms likely to be experienced include, sweating, racing pulse, tremors, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, agitation and anxiety. More severe symptoms are seizures, delirium tremens (DTs). Withdrawal can be treated in a hospital or detox facility.

Quite a “tiger”
 Until Next Time
Blessings!
Pastor Harold

SPIRITUAL HEALTH & EMOTIONAL WELLNESS - PTSD, Nelson Mandela & Revenue Canada

What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? In answering this question the National Institute of Mental Health states,

“PTSD develops after a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The person who develops PTSD may have been the one who was harmed, the harm may have happened to a loved one, or the person may have witnessed a harmful event that happened to loved ones or strangers.

PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes.”

Well I am of the opinion that traumatic stress is not limited to physical harm but also includes mental harm and can be brought on by something as simple as losing your job in today’s society.

In any event, Nelson Mandela, who survived both physical and mental trauma has become an international icon and beacon of hope. He is a unique individual largely by his choice not to let the trauma inflicted upon him destroy him, but rather choose to allow it to mound him into a compassionate servant leader. He who is now dead, “yet speaketh”, and may we be inspired by his voice of hope. His example shows us, regardless of injustices, we can make a difference without torching police cars and threatening lives. There is a more noble way. Mandela has shown us that “evil can be overcome by good”.

Thank you Nelson Mandela for your sacrificial life and for your death which has unleashed a tsunami of good news in the media. It is so refreshing to escape the coverage of corruption in the Mayor’s office, the Red Chamber (red with embarrassment these days) and the PMO’s office which should also be glowing red with embarrassment, the PM in particular.

It is so much easier to curse the darkness than to light a candle. I have done my fair share of lamenting over the sociopathic leadership in churches and government, simply because I have been affected by both. But maybe it’s time to be inspired by Mandela to be one voice, one life devoted to change and become more active.

Certainly, there is a need for change in our country. More than anything we need leadership with compassion, not cold insensitive leadership that seems to be the incarnation of the bureaucratic agencies created by government like the Employment Insurance Agency and Revenue Canada to name just two.

Where is the compassion for our soldiers who suffer from PTSD and return home after the trauma of being engaged in a war we didn’t start only to find there is limited access and few resources to help them to cope. Even the resources that could be used are not available because of beauracy.  Help is refused or not available often due to the paper qualifications demanded by National Defense or even Medavie Blue Cross who refuses to pay for mental health care for its clients  unless they see a professional with specific paper credentials, obviously a savings for them at the expense of their clients because of limited availability. A clear case of capital trumping compassion. There is no excuse for months of waiting in order to see a Mental Health Professional. People can receive, and should receive help when they need it. A Master’s or Doctorate degree is not a requirement to give Mental Health First Aid. The Mental Health Commission has trained instructors through Mental Health First Aid Canada, but where is the support of Government or other agencies to promote and pay for the training of the public?

Getting back to Employment Insurance and Revenue Canada. We have the lack of support for people who are victims of stress because of unexpected job loss. Take those in Saskatchewan in the pot ash industry for example. Think for a moment about the trauma and loss of dignity and the stress they will experience at this time of year. But we have Employment Insurance for such emergencies. Now that is one big joke! Fifty five percent of your original income, reduced further if you choose to work for a minimum wage and if you are sixty years old or over and have taken a penalty to claim a pension that you paid into over your working career, be prepared to declare that as income to further reduce your benefits. Revenue Canada is already watching to inform Employment Insurance should you not be aware that it is income you must report. Their computer screens are already fired up and itchy fingers are at the keyboard in anticipation to nail you while their eyes are closed to the criminal element that are robbing our government blind.

Talk about PTSD and the unnecessary trauma and stress imposed on people by agencies that are supposed to help relieve stress in times of crisis. Coupled with leaders that incarnate their lack of concern and compassion there is definitely a need for change. Here I am on the verge of cursing the darkness. Can one voice, one life be a catalysis for change in this country, to make a difference for our soldiers, the person struggling with mental illness, the neighbor who after working all their life time is now further traumatized by government agencies funded by their tax dollars.

Will there be more Mandela’s in this world or after his burial will we go back to wallowing in the mire of the corruption and continue to watch the faces of the corrupted flashed to us daily by the media and try to find solace in the thought, it only happens to the other person. Where is the compassionate, servant leadership needed at all levels of our society. Do you have the spirit of Mandela?  Don’t become a victim of PTSD and buy into the lie that the only way to escape the pain is death by suicide. There is hope there is help, you can make a difference. Rise up!

Until Next Time

Blessings!

Pastor Harold

Spiritual Health & Emotional Wellness - You can't trust leadership to tell the truth"

” You can’t trust leadership to tell the truth”. If I take Senator Mike Duffy at face value, I am living in that day. While it may not be true of all leadership it is certainly true of some.

The recent Senate scandal is a wake- up call to all of us. We need to discern the times in which we live and see how far we have drifted from values like integrity, trust, honesty and the like. Sadly there seems to be a prevailing attitude of “who cares”. Who cares if Prime Ministers or for that matter, Presidents, Mayors, Business executives, Priests or Pastors in leadership can’t be trusted to tell the truth and have no shame in cover ups to deceive the public. It seems to be no big deal as long as they can deliver on bringing success in the form of some type of prosperity. If the numbers are good, if there is something to make us feel good, anything to appeal to our pride, as long as they don’t get caught in their deception, then who cares?  If they, “lie, buy and destroy”, to hold on to power and take care of their self –interests, if they use others as dirt rags and harm the careers of good people in covering up their sins, who cares ?

Well, I don’t know about you, but I do. The dishonest actions of a leader will eventually effect the country and its citizens. History bears witness and will do so again in our time. The same is true in all organizations, secular and religious.

Lying and deception are not new concerning leaders. Good people if they are not held accountable can become corrupted by power and position. We can go back to the days of King David in the nation of Israel to see how power and position without accountability nearly destroyed him. Fortunately there was a voice for righteousness in the land and the King humbled himself to accountability and came clean about his lying scheme to cover up his wrong doing. He was sorry for what he did, not because he got caught but because it was wrong. (Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” - the complete story is historically recorded in the Bible- 2 Samuel 11-12).  David however was willing to confess and repent, something that is rarely even considered today and there are very few with the will to stem the tide of wrong doing in today’s society and stand for the truth, demanding accountability from leaders.

So what does this have to do with Spiritual Health and Emotional Wellness? I believe it speaks for itself. A person who grasps after power and will “lie buy and destroy” to hold on to it for selfish interests and pride is both spiritually unhealthy and emotionally unwell.

When corruption and cover up is the order of the day in all institutions and is deemed acceptable by its constituents, it is a true sign our nation is in a state of spiritual sickness and emotional illness.

The only way to change is to start by admitting to having a problem and then to take action to change. David got it right, confession and repentance,  it’s the honorable thing to do, Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. President, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Business Executive, Mr. Priest , Mr. Pastor, Mr. Mrs. Ms.

Until Next Time- Blessings!

Pastor Harold

SPIRITUAL HEALTH & EMOTIONAL WELLNESS - Is Your Leader A Sociopath ?

Is your Leader a Sociopath?

Never take leaders for granted. God allows people to be in leadership positions but it should not be taken for granted that such leaders are emotionally healthy. Some are sociopaths with leadership positions in business, government and religion.

When I was a young soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces, I worked at a hospital in Kingston, Ontario. It was my responsibility to provide care to inmates from the surrounding Federal Penitentiaries. I was amazed by their skills and how they functioned as criminals, some of these inmates were sociopaths. I assumed that all sociopaths were criminals. I have since discovered the truth. Sociopaths can find their way to leadership positions in today’s society in all walks of life including the pulpit.Spiritual healthy and emotional well churches are discerning churches that doesn’t take leaders for granted.

 

The June issue of Psychology Today has an article in it called, “Inside the mind of a Manipulator” it contains the confessions of a sociopath. This article is very enlightening. After reading it I decided to write this article, “Is Your Leader a Sociopath?" 

 I encountered a leader who exhibited personality traits of a sociopath. When I expressed this concern to certain leaders under his leadership, the response was as if I was crazy. They may have assumed as I once did that only criminals can be sociopaths. I witnessed similar characteristics as confessed in the story of, “Confessions of a Sociopath.”

Her story is prefaced by saying, “……people are attracted to my exceptionalism like moths to a flame.”

In what sounded to me as a boasting tone, she states, “Remorse is alien to me. I have a penchant for deceit. I am generally free of entangling and irrational emotions. I am strategic and canny, intelligent and confident, but I also struggle to react appropriately to other people’s confusing and emotion driven social cues.” 

The article claims the silent majority of sociopaths live freely and anonymously, holding down jobs, getting married, having children. The writer also claims, “Sociopaths are highly immune to depression, and the ability to tell ourselves wonderful stories about ourselves helps.” It further says, “Aggression, risk taking, and a lack for one’s own health, or that of others, are hallmarks of sociopathy.” 

Don’t be fooled into thinking only criminals can be sociopaths. Look for the signs. (I have highlighted them in bold print in this article). If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, swims like a duck and sounds like a duck, it probably is a “sociopath”, ducking behind an appointed leadership role, manipulating with false authority. Churches that lack spiritual discernment are easy prey for such leadership assuming they are appointed by God and they become victims of spiritual abuse. Is your Leader a Sociopath?

Reference: Psychology Today June 2013.

Until next time

Blessings!

Pastor Harold

SPIRITUAL HEALTH & EMOTIONAL WELLNESS: A Healthy Personality.

This is Thanksgiving in Canada, as I write. I received a Thanksgiving greeting this weekend from a friend who also reminded me that I had not blogged since May. Obviously a little bit of encouragement worked, so here I am doing an article which I should have done in June.

Today I will write about the fourth point on the self – compass, strength. You may need to review the previous posts to refresh your memory on the other compass points. I apologise for the lengthy interval.

According to Dan Montgomery, “strength reflects the human need for competence, adequacy, and social visibility”. Things like achievement, drive, enthusiasm, dedication, and perseverance are contributions of strength that enhance a person’s confidence and creativity as a worthwhile human being. The absence of such deprives one of an identity. A manipulative trend occurs when esteem, confidence and a sense of adequacy are turned into controlling, dictating and judging.  This can lead to a narcissistic compulsive disorder and also to psychotic mania. Hence, the need for balance between strength and weakness.  (Uncertainty, vulnerability and soul-searching which can lead to developing humility and empathy for others).

The perfect example for understanding the dynamics of balanced human behaviour is Jesus Christ. In the Good Shepherd we see His love and caring, in the Lion of Judah we see his assertion and courage. In the Lamb of God we see His weakness and humility, In the Prince of Peace we see His strength and esteem. The rhythm of His personality prevented Him from being stuck on any one point of the self-compass. He gives us an example to follow but we need help to achieve this balance.

 Compass Therapy was developed by Dan Montgomery to redeem self-defeating rigidity that is perpetuated by being stuck on various compass points.  It offers a dynamic set of checks and balances to help develop wholeness while navigating through life.  According to one counsellor, the self- compass shows people how they’re put together so they can learn to live together.

This completes the four points on the self-compass, Love, Assertion, Weakness and Strength.  Love forms the virtue of caring. Assertion, the virtue of courage, Weakness the virtue of humility and Strength, the virtue of esteem. The counterbalancing virtues of caring and courage, and humility and esteem develop in us when we honor the LAWS of personality and relationships.

  I hope you have gained valuable insight from these posts on the Laws of personality and relationships, may they serve to be valuable to you in giving direction for your human and spiritual growth.

For more information  visit, www.compasstherapy.com

Reference: Christian Counselling That Really Works/Dan Montgomery

Until next time,

Blessings!

Pastor Harold