Comments on: Head Into The Dark… http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/08/head-into-the-dark/ Author, Blogger, Speaker, Bad Driver Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:00:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lindy Abbott http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/08/head-into-the-dark/#comment-222455 Lindy Abbott Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:23:39 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1851#comment-222455 I am truly so proud of you for speaking forward the truth that so many people need to hear. The church is suppose to be a place of grace and unconditional love. This is a serious area in the church that needs to be addressed from the pulpit. Many pastors are afraid because they have family members or co-workers that suffer from all kinds of mental illness and they take medication. So many of them are afraid of what people would think of them if they found out. The previous pastor wife of our church before I even attended, was run out of town because she had a mental breakdown. About a year later she ended her life in her nightclothes in her car on a railroad track early on morning as the daily train blew through her town. This death did not have to happen. We need to start loving people who hurt and allow them to get the medication and counseling they need without them feeling less then a Royal Child of Our Living God. Oh, if we could only see and love people the way that His unconditional love does! We couldn't build churches big enough to contain all the people who would come for fellowship, acceptance, freedom of being fake, true healing, grace and love. Let's leave the judging to Jesus. The Scripture says, "Who am I to judge another's servant?" The only thing was are allowed to judge is a person's fruit to see if they are habitually breaking God's commandments so that we could loving try to bring them to a heart knowledge of knowing who Jesus really is. It is not to sort the "good" and "bad" people. I am truly so proud of you for speaking forward the truth that so many people need to hear. The church is suppose to be a place of grace and unconditional love. This is a serious area in the church that needs to be addressed from the pulpit. Many pastors are afraid because they have family members or co-workers that suffer from all kinds of mental illness and they take medication. So many of them are afraid of what people would think of them if they found out.

The previous pastor wife of our church before I even attended, was run out of town because she had a mental breakdown. About a year later she ended her life in her nightclothes in her car on a railroad track early on morning as the daily train blew through her town. This death did not have to happen. We need to start loving people who hurt and allow them to get the medication and counseling they need without them feeling less then a Royal Child of Our Living God.

Oh, if we could only see and love people the way that His unconditional love does! We couldn’t build churches big enough to contain all the people who would come for fellowship, acceptance, freedom of being fake, true healing, grace and love. Let’s leave the judging to Jesus. The Scripture says, “Who am I to judge another’s servant?” The only thing was are allowed to judge is a person’s fruit to see if they are habitually breaking God’s commandments so that we could loving try to bring them to a heart knowledge of knowing who Jesus really is. It is not to sort the “good” and “bad” people.

]]> By: Brenda http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/08/head-into-the-dark/#comment-221532 Brenda Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:41:35 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1851#comment-221532 I agree with Maria in post #66. I have been a victim of depression for many years and I need medication to function. I don't apologize for that but use it as encouragement for others that feel that black hole of depression. I went through a divorce almost 2 years ago and I too suffered at the hands of hypercritical Christians with whom I had once shared my life with. It hurts to be "shot" by ones own. But thanks to God who is the same, I am a survivor with a wonderful relationship with my Lord and Savior. However, I am VERY 'gun-shy' of organized churches now. When I go to bed at night, it is between God and me and His word, not what someone thinks should happen or how things should be. I agree with Maria in post #66. I have been a victim of depression for many years and I need medication to function. I don’t apologize for that but use it as encouragement for others that feel that black hole of depression.
I went through a divorce almost 2 years ago and I too suffered at the hands of hypercritical Christians with whom I had once shared my life with. It hurts to be “shot” by ones own. But thanks to God who is the same, I am a survivor with a wonderful relationship with my Lord and Savior. However, I am VERY ‘gun-shy’ of organized churches now. When I go to bed at night, it is between God and me and His word, not what someone thinks should happen or how things should be.

]]> By: Evan Shaw Blackerby http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/08/head-into-the-dark/#comment-221529 Evan Shaw Blackerby Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:37:43 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1851#comment-221529 Sometimes we feel like the big steps we take should make us feel heroic, on the human side of things. Leaving my salary, church family, and 'job' as youth pastor to help plant a new church to reach new people.... wasn't comfortable.... but at the very least, I thought it would feel heroic. Never felt so unheroic and alone. Phone calls, texts, comments, and emails from friends and students dropped off dramatically. Things that I semi-expected, but never really believed would become true... if it makes any sense. Interesting that it happens to be one of the most incredible/unforgettable growth points in my life. Many days, I feel kicked in a corner, too, yet I will walk away with the best year of my life. I don't share much. Only did because you guys did. :-) Sometimes we feel like the big steps we take should make us feel heroic, on the human side of things. Leaving my salary, church family, and ‘job’ as youth pastor to help plant a new church to reach new people…. wasn’t comfortable…. but at the very least, I thought it would feel heroic.

Never felt so unheroic and alone. Phone calls, texts, comments, and emails from friends and students dropped off dramatically. Things that I semi-expected, but never really believed would become true… if it makes any sense.

Interesting that it happens to be one of the most incredible/unforgettable growth points in my life. Many days, I feel kicked in a corner, too, yet I will walk away with the best year of my life.

I don’t share much. Only did because you guys did. :-)

]]> By: Colleen http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/08/head-into-the-dark/#comment-221413 Colleen Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:41:00 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1851#comment-221413 not only am I not alone, but a friend recognized my comment above... I am both embarrassed & relieved, funny how honesty will put you in a place where you can feel both simultaneously :~) not only am I not alone, but a friend recognized my comment above… I am both embarrassed & relieved, funny how honesty will put you in a place where you can feel both simultaneously :~)

]]> By: Amy http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/08/head-into-the-dark/#comment-221375 Amy Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:05:40 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1851#comment-221375 I know that I got here by God. I have been in a dark place for a month now and can't seem to get out. I picked up a book at my church library and it was Whn Joy Came to Stay by Karen Kingsbury talking about depression and how as church people we have masks on...that is me... then when reading my blogs I was directed you yours for your book comming out in Feb. and I noticed that you had a section about depression and so I stared reading. Thank you for being so honest with the #2 person. They are one of the reasons for my mask. I don't know why I am in the dark place but will keep trying to get out of it. Thank you for being so honest and I know that I am not the only one out here...i am not alone. I know that I got here by God. I have been in a dark place for a month now and can’t seem to get out. I picked up a book at my church library and it was Whn Joy Came to Stay by Karen Kingsbury talking about depression and how as church people we have masks on…that is me… then when reading my blogs I was directed you yours for your book comming out in Feb. and I noticed that you had a section about depression and so I stared reading. Thank you for being so honest with the #2 person. They are one of the reasons for my mask. I don’t know why I am in the dark place but will keep trying to get out of it. Thank you for being so honest and I know that I am not the only one out here…i am not alone.

]]>