For as he thinks within himself, so he is (Proverbs 23:7).
I was in the cow/calf and cattle feeding business for 25 years. In 1994 I entered the hog finishing business, so I know a few things about livestock. Last night Helen and I came home from a church social to find a couple of pigs wandering around in our back yard. I made a quick inspection of the hog building while Helen called the two brothers who own the pigs--I needed their help to get them back in the building. When they arrived they were very gentle as they moved the pigs, as a matter of fact, instead of chasing the pigs, they led the pigs into the building. Helen told me, "they made it look too easy." Being full of picnic supper, there is no way I could have done it myself, but these guys are true hogmen, working with those pigs in a fashion that was inspirational to me. However, having said all said all that, it is still cowboys that they write songs about, not hogmen.
Way back in 2006 our little church (attendance averages in the 90's) in Sutherland, Iowa stepped out in faith and built a gymnasium, classroom and kitchen addition to the church building at a cost of $300,000.00. It was the goal of the elders of our congregation (I am one of them) to pay off the facility in 5 years. This is the fifth year and we still had $70,000.00 to go. It was going to take a minor miracle to pay the balance, but it is a matter that we have been praying about for 5 years. So, last week, a man walked into our local bank that financed the project and wrote out a check for $80,000.00 to pay off the bank note. Praise the Lord!!! Rumor has it that it was a cowboy.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
FAITH AND ANXIETY
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6b-7).
Having ranched cattle for 25 years, I know there is a genetic component to anxiety. An anxious cow will give birth to an anxious calf and they are easy to spot. When a human being comes near the herd, their heads are the first ones up; they are hypervigillent. They are the first ones to run and are the ones who will attempt to jump the fence no matter how strong or high it is. Not only is there a genetic component to anxiety, there is an environmental component too. In the cow herd, the ones who tend to have more calm dispositions will tend to follow the lead of the anxious cow or calf; anxiety is contagious. In the cow-calf business, we want to "put wheels under" the anxious critters, hauling them off to the livestock auction, so that the whole herd doesn't become infected with anxiety.
Even though people are created in the image of God, these principles still apply because we are fleshy too, although we are not going to haul anyone off the livestock auction. Coping with anxiety is a responsibility given to human beings, though this is one of the most difficult responsibilities we face, especially if one is genetically disposed to be anxious, it seems as if anxiety is normal life; this can also be true for one raised in an anxious environment as well. Yet our bodies and our relationships tell the story of a life filled with stress: chronic illnesses, a string of broken relationships, addictions, sleepless nights are some of the tell-tale signs of of the role anxiety is playing in our lives.
I consider myself to be an anxious person because some of the classic symptoms of anxiety characterize my life. Nevertheless, the thing that helps me to cope with my anxiety is sound theology; it is the truth of Scripture that gives me comfort. Good Bible study, faith, prayer and meditation, in almost every case, ameliorates anxiety.
Find a group of healthy Christians with whom to fellowship--this should be a matter of prayer. There are some who are so ridged and legalistic with the Bible, and as a result, so judgemental, that they actually increase anxiety. Sound theology increases health, not anxiety or laxity. To me, it is an interesting phenomenon that people seem to follow an anxious leader, for instance, "We have to do something about global warming now or life as we know it is doomed." Sound theology says human life will be going on about normally at the Lord's sudden return. He is coming. Are you prepared to meet Him? That question might raise the anxiety level a little, but it shouldn't. The Lord has made us for Himself and if we find our rest in Jesus Christ, the Lord's return is a comforting thought.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Having ranched cattle for 25 years, I know there is a genetic component to anxiety. An anxious cow will give birth to an anxious calf and they are easy to spot. When a human being comes near the herd, their heads are the first ones up; they are hypervigillent. They are the first ones to run and are the ones who will attempt to jump the fence no matter how strong or high it is. Not only is there a genetic component to anxiety, there is an environmental component too. In the cow herd, the ones who tend to have more calm dispositions will tend to follow the lead of the anxious cow or calf; anxiety is contagious. In the cow-calf business, we want to "put wheels under" the anxious critters, hauling them off to the livestock auction, so that the whole herd doesn't become infected with anxiety.
Even though people are created in the image of God, these principles still apply because we are fleshy too, although we are not going to haul anyone off the livestock auction. Coping with anxiety is a responsibility given to human beings, though this is one of the most difficult responsibilities we face, especially if one is genetically disposed to be anxious, it seems as if anxiety is normal life; this can also be true for one raised in an anxious environment as well. Yet our bodies and our relationships tell the story of a life filled with stress: chronic illnesses, a string of broken relationships, addictions, sleepless nights are some of the tell-tale signs of of the role anxiety is playing in our lives.
I consider myself to be an anxious person because some of the classic symptoms of anxiety characterize my life. Nevertheless, the thing that helps me to cope with my anxiety is sound theology; it is the truth of Scripture that gives me comfort. Good Bible study, faith, prayer and meditation, in almost every case, ameliorates anxiety.
Find a group of healthy Christians with whom to fellowship--this should be a matter of prayer. There are some who are so ridged and legalistic with the Bible, and as a result, so judgemental, that they actually increase anxiety. Sound theology increases health, not anxiety or laxity. To me, it is an interesting phenomenon that people seem to follow an anxious leader, for instance, "We have to do something about global warming now or life as we know it is doomed." Sound theology says human life will be going on about normally at the Lord's sudden return. He is coming. Are you prepared to meet Him? That question might raise the anxiety level a little, but it shouldn't. The Lord has made us for Himself and if we find our rest in Jesus Christ, the Lord's return is a comforting thought.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Saturday, August 20, 2011
DEALING WITH PANIC
Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you (I Peter 5:7).
These days it is easy to panic. With the financial situation being what it is, many are losing their retirement savings at a time when they are old and not able to work. Unemployment is much higher than the government reports so many are in very difficult situations. I could go on and on, but my point is that many people find themselves in situations beyond their control and that is one of the factors that leads to panic. (Panic Attacks Can They Be Stopped? ; John C. Thomas, Christian Counseling Today; Vol. 16 no. 2).
Another factor that leads to panic is simply genetic disposition; it's just in the genes. Dr. Thomas, mentions it in his article. A quick internet search seems to verify it. In studies of identical twins, forty percent of the time if one twin develops panic disorder, the other will develop it in short order (about.com). Genetic disposition is a cornerstone of Dr. Murray Bowen's family evaluation, too. He believed that anxiety is genetically transmitted. There is a theory among medical researchers that an imbalance of neurotransmitters, serotonin, norepinepherine and gammaminobutyric acid, play a large role in this.
So what is one to do? It seems hopeless. 1. Read the Bible, pray, meditate, fellowship with healthy Christian people and do not neglect worship.
2. Do not allow yourself to be shamed because you have panic attacks--God still loves you. A number of pastors have called anxiety and panic sins because if one trusts the Lord enough there is no room for anxiety. What is important to remember here is that God is here in the time of panic and he still cares for us.
3. One of the strategies for dealing with panic is to embrace it. I have read from several different sources about this technique: When in the midst of an attack, actually speak to it saying, "Is this all you've got? Give me some more! Because of Jesus I can take all that you can give me!" One of the factors that give panic attacks their power is the fear of having another one. If that fear is taken away then the number of incidents will dramatically decrease.
4. As always, diet and exercise are factors too, eating and drinking nutritiously, staying fit and getting adequate rest.
5. Though this might be a bit repetitious, enjoy God, He cares for you!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
These days it is easy to panic. With the financial situation being what it is, many are losing their retirement savings at a time when they are old and not able to work. Unemployment is much higher than the government reports so many are in very difficult situations. I could go on and on, but my point is that many people find themselves in situations beyond their control and that is one of the factors that leads to panic. (Panic Attacks Can They Be Stopped? ; John C. Thomas, Christian Counseling Today; Vol. 16 no. 2).
Another factor that leads to panic is simply genetic disposition; it's just in the genes. Dr. Thomas, mentions it in his article. A quick internet search seems to verify it. In studies of identical twins, forty percent of the time if one twin develops panic disorder, the other will develop it in short order (about.com). Genetic disposition is a cornerstone of Dr. Murray Bowen's family evaluation, too. He believed that anxiety is genetically transmitted. There is a theory among medical researchers that an imbalance of neurotransmitters, serotonin, norepinepherine and gammaminobutyric acid, play a large role in this.
So what is one to do? It seems hopeless. 1. Read the Bible, pray, meditate, fellowship with healthy Christian people and do not neglect worship.
2. Do not allow yourself to be shamed because you have panic attacks--God still loves you. A number of pastors have called anxiety and panic sins because if one trusts the Lord enough there is no room for anxiety. What is important to remember here is that God is here in the time of panic and he still cares for us.
3. One of the strategies for dealing with panic is to embrace it. I have read from several different sources about this technique: When in the midst of an attack, actually speak to it saying, "Is this all you've got? Give me some more! Because of Jesus I can take all that you can give me!" One of the factors that give panic attacks their power is the fear of having another one. If that fear is taken away then the number of incidents will dramatically decrease.
4. As always, diet and exercise are factors too, eating and drinking nutritiously, staying fit and getting adequate rest.
5. Though this might be a bit repetitious, enjoy God, He cares for you!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
DIET AND MENTAL HEALTH
And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food" (Genesis 1:29).
As a young minister, suffering from a severe sinus infection, one of my elders told me that I would never be sick another day in my life if I followed his nutritional guidelines--he was a disciple of Adelle Davis. He was the one who stimulated my interest in nutrition, even though I have been sick many more days of my life, and his recommendations might have been the cause of some of them--mega doses of vitamin C.
In spite of that, I'm still interested in nutrition and do believe that it does play a role in mental health. So, when I read the title of an article in Christian Counseling Today by Michael Lyles, M.D. (Vol. 16 No. 3) called Dietary Issues and Mood Disorders, it caught my interest. Dr. Lyles makes a strong statement, with which, from my own experience, I completely agree, "It is my opinion that all treatment resistant mood disordered patients (especially with multiple medical problems) should have their vitamin D status evaluated." Vitamin D deficiency correlates with depression, seasonal affective disorder and schizophrenia. Vitamin D deficiency impairs general immune system function.
I am a regular reader of Dr. Andrew Weil. Dr. Weil has recommended 2000 units of vitamin D per day--especially during the winter months. Last winter I followed his recommendation and found a couple of chronic winter conditions, for me, to be alleviated. Sores at the corners of my mouth and seasonal affective disorder are conditions that have troubled me for years that were relieved this last winter. Was this just a placebo affect? While I have not ruled it out completely, I will have to say that I have tried many supplements over the course of my life and none of them have resulted in the kind of changes that I have experienced with increasing the role of vitamin D in my diet.
From the text: Make sure that you have a wide variety of food in your diet, learn to eat your vegetables, and generally, your nutrition will take care of itself.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
As a young minister, suffering from a severe sinus infection, one of my elders told me that I would never be sick another day in my life if I followed his nutritional guidelines--he was a disciple of Adelle Davis. He was the one who stimulated my interest in nutrition, even though I have been sick many more days of my life, and his recommendations might have been the cause of some of them--mega doses of vitamin C.
In spite of that, I'm still interested in nutrition and do believe that it does play a role in mental health. So, when I read the title of an article in Christian Counseling Today by Michael Lyles, M.D. (Vol. 16 No. 3) called Dietary Issues and Mood Disorders, it caught my interest. Dr. Lyles makes a strong statement, with which, from my own experience, I completely agree, "It is my opinion that all treatment resistant mood disordered patients (especially with multiple medical problems) should have their vitamin D status evaluated." Vitamin D deficiency correlates with depression, seasonal affective disorder and schizophrenia. Vitamin D deficiency impairs general immune system function.
I am a regular reader of Dr. Andrew Weil. Dr. Weil has recommended 2000 units of vitamin D per day--especially during the winter months. Last winter I followed his recommendation and found a couple of chronic winter conditions, for me, to be alleviated. Sores at the corners of my mouth and seasonal affective disorder are conditions that have troubled me for years that were relieved this last winter. Was this just a placebo affect? While I have not ruled it out completely, I will have to say that I have tried many supplements over the course of my life and none of them have resulted in the kind of changes that I have experienced with increasing the role of vitamin D in my diet.
From the text: Make sure that you have a wide variety of food in your diet, learn to eat your vegetables, and generally, your nutrition will take care of itself.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, August 06, 2011
THANK YOU, IOWA HAWKEYES
It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops (2 Timothy 2:6).
During the farm crisis of the 1980's, erstwhile coach, Hayden Fry recognized the real crisis that farmers were dealing with. While there was not much a coach who was building a football program could do, but he did do something. As an awareness raising program, Hayden attached ANF, America Needs Farmers, stickers to the Iowa football helmets, and they still remain. Iowa State didn't do it. Nebraska didn't do it. Ohio State didn't do it, etc., etc. The Iowa Hawkeyes are the only football team in America with the ANF sticker on the helmets. Thanks, Hawkeyes.
Victories have to be won on the field, but perhaps the good Lord could help a bounce or a call go your way this year in close games.
Blessings,
Tom
During the farm crisis of the 1980's, erstwhile coach, Hayden Fry recognized the real crisis that farmers were dealing with. While there was not much a coach who was building a football program could do, but he did do something. As an awareness raising program, Hayden attached ANF, America Needs Farmers, stickers to the Iowa football helmets, and they still remain. Iowa State didn't do it. Nebraska didn't do it. Ohio State didn't do it, etc., etc. The Iowa Hawkeyes are the only football team in America with the ANF sticker on the helmets. Thanks, Hawkeyes.
Victories have to be won on the field, but perhaps the good Lord could help a bounce or a call go your way this year in close games.
Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
MORE ON DREAMS AND VISIONS
For God speaks in in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while they slumber on their beds . . . (Job 33:14-15).
What started this discussion on dreams and visions was a discussion with my son in which he related a story about an African student who went to Ozark Christian College because he had a dream with "Ozark" in it. He had no previous knowledge of Ozark, so he "googled" it and found Ozark Christian College. As a result of the story, I "googled" dreams that convert Muslims to Christ and found that the fourth leading cause of Muslims converting to Christianity is dreams and visions. So just for that reason dreams and visions are worthy of discussion.
Does God still speak to us in dreams and visions? With the completion of the canon of Scripture, the Bible, I would assume that the need for such dreams would become much less, but the Bible does not absolutely say these kinds of dreams and visions would end. One has to be careful in determining the origin of those dreams, however. It has always been true that there have been people who have said, "The Lord has said . . ." when the Lord has said nothing. Note Ezekiel 13:7, Have you not seen a delusive vision, and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, "says the Lord," although I have not spoken?
The measure of the Spiritual truth of any of our dreams is the Bible. It is by the word of truth that dreams and visions are measured, thus John wrote, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God . . . (I John 4:1).
While helping at 5th & 6th grade camp as a dorm dad earlier this summer, I had a dream. One of the reasons I remember it so well is that as a result of it, I fell out of bed. In the dream I was fighting another man. The man had no face so that I could identify him as a different person, so my interpretation of him is that he is me--I am fighting myself. I kicked the man I am fighting so hard that I fell out of bed. Both my Spiritual and psychological interpretation of this is that to have any real achievement in my life, I must win the battle with my flesh. I am as prone to being subject to the flesh as anyone. I am not a person with great natural ability, and so to achieve, I must take chances, push and work hard. These are things I do not like to do. I interpret the falling out of bed as part of the dream. Though I did hit the floor hard, it seemed as though all the counselors and boys were laughing at me. My interpretation of that part of the dream is that my efforts to achieve and live for the Lord are laughable to many. As my head cleared up and I noticed that everyone around me was fast asleep, it occurred to me that everyone is so busy with their own battles that they seldom notice the battles of another.
I have not had a reccurrence of this dream. If you would like to take a shot at the interpretation of my dream, you are welcome. If you would like to share your dream you are welcome to do that too. In any case, do not discount your dreams because it might be that something really important is going on.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
What started this discussion on dreams and visions was a discussion with my son in which he related a story about an African student who went to Ozark Christian College because he had a dream with "Ozark" in it. He had no previous knowledge of Ozark, so he "googled" it and found Ozark Christian College. As a result of the story, I "googled" dreams that convert Muslims to Christ and found that the fourth leading cause of Muslims converting to Christianity is dreams and visions. So just for that reason dreams and visions are worthy of discussion.
Does God still speak to us in dreams and visions? With the completion of the canon of Scripture, the Bible, I would assume that the need for such dreams would become much less, but the Bible does not absolutely say these kinds of dreams and visions would end. One has to be careful in determining the origin of those dreams, however. It has always been true that there have been people who have said, "The Lord has said . . ." when the Lord has said nothing. Note Ezekiel 13:7, Have you not seen a delusive vision, and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, "says the Lord," although I have not spoken?
The measure of the Spiritual truth of any of our dreams is the Bible. It is by the word of truth that dreams and visions are measured, thus John wrote, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God . . . (I John 4:1).
While helping at 5th & 6th grade camp as a dorm dad earlier this summer, I had a dream. One of the reasons I remember it so well is that as a result of it, I fell out of bed. In the dream I was fighting another man. The man had no face so that I could identify him as a different person, so my interpretation of him is that he is me--I am fighting myself. I kicked the man I am fighting so hard that I fell out of bed. Both my Spiritual and psychological interpretation of this is that to have any real achievement in my life, I must win the battle with my flesh. I am as prone to being subject to the flesh as anyone. I am not a person with great natural ability, and so to achieve, I must take chances, push and work hard. These are things I do not like to do. I interpret the falling out of bed as part of the dream. Though I did hit the floor hard, it seemed as though all the counselors and boys were laughing at me. My interpretation of that part of the dream is that my efforts to achieve and live for the Lord are laughable to many. As my head cleared up and I noticed that everyone around me was fast asleep, it occurred to me that everyone is so busy with their own battles that they seldom notice the battles of another.
I have not had a reccurrence of this dream. If you would like to take a shot at the interpretation of my dream, you are welcome. If you would like to share your dream you are welcome to do that too. In any case, do not discount your dreams because it might be that something really important is going on.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
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