Archive for September, 2014
By jasonmaddox On September 29th, 2014
I write frequently about the misconceptions within the church that may be hurting fellow members of the congregation. Individuals with mental health issues of every form face stigma and misinformation in every day of their lives, but educating others about the reality of mental health and its context within our religion can help correct these…
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By jasonmaddox On September 26th, 2014
Rev. Lydia D’Ross is the Renewal Program Outreach Chaplain for Brookhaven Hospital and a licensed and ordained minister. Historically, the church has had difficulty addressing domestic violence or sexual abuse issues within the walls of the church. If a woman indicates her husband is mistreating or abusing her, an untrained pastor might tell her that…
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By jasonmaddox On September 25th, 2014
Written by: Rev. Lydia D’Ross, Renewal Program Outreach Chaplain, licensed and ordained minister I’d like for you to ask yourself a question: “am I harsh or critical toward my spouse?” Or, instead, are you speaking words of encouragement, life and love? God cares about how we talk to each other. I Peter 3:8-10 says: “Finally, be…
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By jasonmaddox On September 19th, 2014
Devin Rose struggles with anxiety. He has for much of his life. Like many, Devin turned to God during his struggles with mental health in hopes of a miracle cure. Instead, his social anxieties led him to a deep relationship with God and a better understanding of His love. Every day those who struggle with…
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By jasonmaddox On September 18th, 2014
While the church is making progress on recognizing and providing support to those who experience mental illness, there is still a great amount of work to be done. PTSD has faced recent struggles with being appropriately recognized within the Christian community, especially as numerous evangelists have proclaimed that “Good Christians” can’t experience post-traumatic stress disorder…
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By jasonmaddox On September 15th, 2014
Most parents do everything they can to keep their children from smoking, but a large number of teens still take up the dangerous habit. A new study may help identify which teens are more likely to smoke and why they may be more drawn to cigarettes. The study, from the University of California, Los Angeles,…
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By jasonmaddox On September 10th, 2014
Written by: Lydia D’Ross, MPA, licensed and ordained minister, Outreach Chaplain for RENEWAL at Brookhaven Hospital One of the hardest emotional struggles people have is forgiveness and forgiving themselves. According to John 1:9 ,“…believe that you receive forgiveness.” Some say “You don’t understand what so and so did to me.” Some even say “I will…
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By jasonmaddox On September 8th, 2014
Written by: Lydia D’Ross, MPA, licensed and ordained minister, Outreach Chaplain for RENEWAL at Brookhaven Hospital Do you ever get a feeling that something is about to go wrong, but, in seconds, you find yourself shaking it off and ignoring it? Or maybe there has been a time when you were thinking of a loved…
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By jasonmaddox On September 5th, 2014
Written by: Lydia D’Ross, MPA, licensed and ordained minister, Outreach Chaplain for RENEWAL at Brookhaven Hospital Today we will use Hebrews 12:, 1-2, and it says ” As for us , we have this large crowd of witnesses for us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way…which holds onto us so tightly,…
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By jasonmaddox On September 3rd, 2014
One of the biggest hurdles Christians face in dealing with substance abuse of any kind is shame. This is especially true for the latest addiction epidemic that is gradually overtaking the country. Despite the swiftly growing rates of prescription drug abuse, it is common to feel isolated and ashamed for developing an addiction. Last year…
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