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Suicide in the Church, Part 3

Suicide strikes...AGAIN!This may wind up himself, enthroning himself as "lord" of
being the most important article some his own life. By placing Jesus Christ on
have ever read. I hope it will not only the throne of our lives, spiritually, we
help a few readers, but that it will open become what the Bible calls "born again"
the eyes of others, aiding in their and we're completely transformed as we
understanding, motivating them to help. I renew our minds. According to the
trust there will be those who will Scriptures, that same Spirit that raised
actually clip it, mailing it to someone Jesus from the dead dwells within us, His
for whom they are concerned, or posting followers. Again, this has been my
it in the breakroom.I've written quite a expereince and, I contend, the very
bit about suicide over the past few weeks answer that someone somewhere is needing.
and have received some remarkable Your reading of this now is no
feedback. I wrote on the subject because accident.Dust off that old Bible and look
there have been so many suicides lately up the following verses: John 1:12; II
and folks wanted answers. If you've read Corinthians 5:17;I Corinthians 2:12; I
any of the previous articles, you've seen John 5:11-13.Jesus said, "Here I am! I
some frightening statistics. This subject stand at the door and knock. If anyone
remains heavy on my heart and continues hears my voice and opens the door, I will
to be a concern to many. come in and eat with him and he with me"
For me, it started when a man with whom (Revelation 3:20). He's knocking right
a dear friend had been interacting was now. Open the door.Three Keys to
found in his jail cell with a cable TV Vicorious Living1) Talk to God. We call
wire around his neck. Then, another it "prayer" but it's merely conversation
friend who led a Bible study took his own with God. TWO-WAY conversation at that.
life. Within days, this was followed by So, be quiet and listen sometimes.2)
the suicide of another man who, along Begin reading the Bible. Get to know the
with his spouse, had prayed with and Personality of the one who made came up
comforted the previous friend's with all those Precepts for living life
wife.Saturday, I officiated a wedding 2 with Power. You'll find He's the kindest
hours away. Incredibly, on Sunday, the person you'll ever meet. Talk with Him as
father of the bride took his own life.My if He were your best friend.
mind is reeling as I write.Suicide has a He IS!3) Make yourself accountable to
frightening air of finality. Filled with those who are living the Christian life
hopelessness, despair, and tragedy, it's successfully. Like all babies, even baby
a word we like to keep at arms' length. Chrsitians should aspire to GROW to
As a whole, society tends to look down maturity. In a nutshell, we become that
its nose at anyone who would commit this with which we surround ourselves.
gruesome act. We call them selfish, Surround yourselves with godly people and
cowardly...I must admit, after seeing godly input.What if You're Already a
that beautiful young bride and her Christian?First, ask yourself if you
dashing husband on Saturday, preparing to really ARE a Christian. The word
begin their lives together, if her father 'Christian' translates as "Little
were standing alive before me now, I'd Christs." Galatians 5:22 tells us what
have a hard time refraining from beating the fruits of the Spirit are, the
the thunder out of him. How could he do evidence that God's Spirit resides in us.
that to his precious daughter?But I Too many people believe themselves to be
recall the day, about 15 years ago, that Christians simply because they believe in
suicide entered my thoughts in a God. Scripture declares that "even the
different way. I had just lost my job devil believes, and he trembles." Truth
with a Dallas ad agency and my wife had is, unless we spend time with Him, how
left me, taking our kids with her. For can we know Him at all? What relationship
the first time in my life, I was all works like that? Logically speaking,
alone on a Thanksgiving, too broke to Church attendence doesn't make one a
join any family gatherings taking place Christian any more than going to
across the country. Our church friends McDonald's makes one a cheeseburger.
had quickly chosen sides and had shunned Besides, Church is something we ARE 24/7
yours truly. It was Thanksgiving Eve, (meaning: "the called out ones"); it's
sleeting and raining, about 16 below zero not merely someplace we GO.To those who
with the wind chill. I was sleeping on a DO have a relationship with God, the
mattress on the floor of a mobile home, enemy of our souls can cause any of us to
my entire world seemingly in shambles all feel depressed and have suicidal thoughts
around me. I remember waking up to the in a moment of weakness. So might a
whirring sound of ball bearings rolling chemical imbalance. It can happen for all
around in the furnace which was now of the same reasons mentioned above. The
spewing forth cold air. I was dizzy, trials of life touch everyone, including
disoriented, freezing to death in my Believers in Jesus.If the situation you
sleep, I believe. Taking my own life with are in is something you can't change,
the razor sharp meat clever in the know that God's the Inventor of Divine
kitchen was the most natural thought in Intervention. As hard as it may be to do,
the world to me. I formulated a plan to continue praying for His help and covet
slit my wrists, crawl back onto my the prayers of other victorious
mattress, and let them find me in the Christians. Don't stop. He does hear our
spring. Truly, I was experiencing the prayers, but His perfect plan and ours
darkest hour of my soul.But God stepped aren't always the same. Trust Him to
in. The atmosphere became charged as it respond in a way that will be to your
does when a frisky puppy runs into a room best interest. That includes the
or a bunch of children run through an possibility that He will give you
open screen door to get a drink from the strength and peace to endure your trial
kitchen sink on a hot summer day. "Joy rather than deliver you from it. He's so
will come in the morning" suddenly echoed much more concerned about our character
through my mind. I bundled up and made it than our comfort. His number one goal is
through the night, only to be awakened to conform us to the image of Christ who,
next day by a startling crash as a sheet Scripture tells us, was Himself sent by
of ice melted and slid off the metal roof the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be
onto the frozen ground. I looked outside tempted by the devil (Jesus is truly our
and the sun was glistening off the example in EVERY way). Some of God's
melting ice everywhere.Life got gradually greatest answers to prayer come in the
better. Incredibly better. Today, I form of peace and joy in the midst of
wouldn't trade mine for all the great hardship. You can believe that He
world.Truth is, I discovered another will see you through every storm in your
option to suicide. I found it in the life.Along those lines, take a look at
Bible, God's love letter to mankind. You these verses: Psalm 23; Psalm 28:7;
know...that perennially best-selling book Isaiah 43:2; Romans 8:28; Philippians
most Christians rarely read? The good 4:13.We are spirit-beings having an
news about the current state of earthly experience. As such, you must ask
depression some may be feeling at this God to fill you with His Spirit to help
moment, is that God really DOES have a you tackle life by His power. Scripture
plan for your life - a plan that can only declares, "You will receive power when
be fulfilled when we give everything over the Holy Spirit comes upon you." The
to Him. Listen, there IS a purpose for Bible is full of God's promises to love,
your life; a reason for your existence. strengthen, heal, and guide.The
Your current, dismal, emotional and Purpose-Driven Life is a Top-Selling book
spiritual state may be the very these days. Begin reading God's Word in a
springboard you need for discovering just Purpose-Driven manner: to discover new
how valuable you are to Him, how your insights about His love for you. Ask the
life can be transformed, and how others Holy Spirit to guide your journey and to
can be rescued by YOU. reveal truths you've never seen before.
Tough times do NOT last. Tough people He's the consummate teacher, after all.
DO!Perhaps you've asked yourself, "How Accept the fact of God's love for you by
did I get to this point?" The answer? faith, NOT by feelings.Look at these
Gradually, just as drops of water will verses and receive them from God directly
slowly but surley fill a bucket. Everyone to you: John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Isaiah
goes through periods in their lives when 40:31; Isaiah 41:10; Lamentations
they feel down. In time, sadness leaves 3:22-23.Today's culture detests any
and life goes on. There are instances, mention of this word, but here goes: SIN.
however, when tough times, a strained If you want to walk in victory,
relationship or some other problem, leads acknowledge any sin that might be
to unhappiness that keeps us in bondage. interfering in your relationship with
When that happens, life can become a God. Ask Him to search your heart and
daily struggle with uneasiness, gloom, pinpoint any problems. Then, confess and
and emptiness. Ultimately, hopelessness repent of your disobedience and receive
can take hold, creating a feeling of his forgiveness. Confess means "to agree"
dissatisfaction with and repent means "to change your
everything.Depression is often associated mind."Here are some verses for dealing
with a sense of loss that can come with with sin: I John 1:9; Psalm 139:23-24;
illness, the death of a loved one, sudden Galatians 5:16-25.Help Yourself to some
unemployment, divorce, and so on. A help!As part of the Body of Christ, you
chronic illness, or permanent disability, may wish to consult help from other Body
can rob one's independence, making them Parts. Professional help in the form of a
feel worthless, helpless, and angry. qualified Christian counselor has proven
Losing someone you care about, through to be one of the best ways to fight
death or divorce, can leave a tremendous depression and thoughts of suicide. Look
void.Guilt is another trigger for in the phone book and make some calls.
depression. Perhaps you're struggling Ask for references. A good pastoral
with substance abuse or another addiction counselor can help you get a new
or have made some really bad choices that perspective on your problems. Get a
you're ashamed of that are about to be medical check-up. Sometimes depression is
revealed. A childhood trauma may have caused by a chemical imbalance or other
left you feeling damaged and unworthy of biological factor.Seek out a support
God's love and acceptance. Maybe you feel group made of like-minded believers that
like a failure because you haven't can minister to the area of difficulty in
achieved all that you wanted in your life. Interacting with others who
life.Whatever the cause, depression often are facing similar challenges will help
leads to a sense of hopelessness. You may you feel less isolated.Force yourself to
feel as though you're at the end of your do something the next time you feel down.
rope. You may think that ending your life Inactivity only makes depression worse.
is the only way to take control.Trust me, Here are some things to try:Talk it out.
it's not.What's next? Call a friend and open up.Take a hike.
The answer is simple. REALLY simple. You Exercise causes blood and oxygen to
can go on with life as usual, knowing circulate faster, which invigorates us.
where that may lead, or you can get a The brain produces endorphins that fight
life. I'm talkin' REAL life. For some, depression.Help someone else. As you
the fact that you're still reading this focus your attention on someone else,
shows that you desire another option. So, your own cares will become less
here's my answer. Ready? It's my burdensome. I often refer people to watch
experience that there is only one real "Patch Adams" with Robin Williams, then
source of hope for a life of purpose, report to me on their findings. Don't
fulfillment, and joy.That source has a judge me on that; lives have been saved.
name...it's Jesus Christ.It is my firm God can use anything.Listen to uplifting
contention that Jesus is the answer to music. Choose your favorite songs and
every problem known to mankind. To those start jammin'!Here's the good news:
who are still with me, that's either Whatever you're struggling with at the
absolute truth or it's a lie. He said moment, this too shall pass. Whatever it
about His followers, "I have come that is you're going through, you WILL go
they may have life, and have it to the through it. Though things may actually
full" (John 10:10). If that statement is get worse before they get better, they
true, logic screams for us to quickly WILL get better as you place them in
become His followers. We must address the God's hands. Yes, we reap as we sow and
question, "If I'm not living real life, there may be some really tough
what is THIS?" Through a REAL, consequences forthcoming to deal with.
experiential relationship with Jesus But whatever you do, deal with
Christ, overflowing love, forgiveness, it!Remember, "All things work together
peace, and joy can be ours. Interested? for good for those who love God and have
That's a promise from God found in the been called according to His purpose."
Bible.And God doesn't lie.Sadly, far too Translation? God takes care of the lives
often, even Christians settle for of those who turn their lives over to
Religion and Church attendance over a Him.Resist any thoughts you may be having
relationship with the Creator through about "ending it all." God has the
Christ's teachings found in Scripture.The uncanny ability of taking that which
How-to's of OvercomingI failed to mention seems really bad and making things turn
that all the recent local suicides have out really good.If you'd like to
been committed by professing Christians. subscribe and receive more of pastor
Did Jesus promise His followers a Michael's articles by eMail, simply write
problem-free life on Earth? No. He and type SUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT bar.
actually said, "In this life, you will Or, keep returning to these Pastor
have many troubles...." He DID promise Michael has been broadcasting messages of
the power to face life's trials with Discipleship & Encouragement to the Body
confidence, knowing that He will cause of Christ by email since 1999. Since then
ALL things to work for our good.By the these messages have been published on
way, the Greek word for "all" means numerous other sites, reprinted in paper
ALL!He promised either to deliver us from newsletters belonging to other
afflictions, or provide the strength to ministries, have been used as a source of
endure them, according to His plan for teaching and preaching by ministers and
us. Here's the catch: to set that plan in Bible teachers worldwide, and have
motion requires giving our lives to ministered to the Body of Christ of
Him.As Bob Dylan sang, "We're gonna serve nearly every major denomination.
somebody." Even the atheist serves




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