Blogs

3GT Episode 74: De(com)pression
One of the most common questions I get asked when I speak about depression and mental illness is, “How can I help my husband who’s depressed but won’t even talk about it?” You may get some help in this podcast as three men discuss depression.

“Many in the church suffer with depression and the questions it raises. Aren’t Christians always supposed to be happy? So is it sinful to be depressed? Is it always a spiritual problem? Where do you go for help? How do you help someone with it? Are resources outside the church an option? Are medications ever beneficial? What are some of the dangers in traveling down the road of depression? And what does the Bible have to say about all of this?”

7 Ways to Work Hard at Rest
“Life tends toward business. Have you noticed? Clutter and frantic are effortless. Clean and calm tend to slip away while we’re not looking. Over the last several years I’ve been through busier seasons, and now God has kindly provided more of a sabbatical kind of season. I’ve noticed several things about the idea of Sabbath rest:

  • Busy seasons are often when I’ve learned how to do Sabbath well.
  • Not being busy is never a guarantee that I’m actually resting my soul.
  • Paradoxically, drawing from both of these points, rest is hard work.

Here are some specific lessons I’ve learned along the way. Maybe they’ll help you to endure amid busyness and fatigue.”

The Slow Burn of Bitterness
Struggle with bitterness? Let Nancy counsel you through it and out of it:

“No one ever says, “When I grow up, I want to be bitter.” But life has a way of handing us hurts that can collect, insults and offenses that seem to stick to our souls and refuse to let go. Of course, we don’t want to see ourselves as bitter. And yet, when the word “forgiveness” comes up, we sometimes find ourselves becoming uncomfortable. We sense we’re about to be asked to do something we really don’t want to do. A face comes into view in our mind’s eye. A fire reignites inside us at the thought of what happened or what didn’t happen, what was said or what went unsaid, revealing that there are embers of unforgiveness smoldering inside us that threaten to burn forever if they are not doused for good. But how will that ever happen? I can tell you how it happened for me.”

What do You Mean by Asking Me to Meditate on Scripture!?
Biblical counselors often ask people to meditate on Scripture. What do they mean by that?

A Drunk, Anxious, and Depressed CEO: The Obvious Path To Business Success
Read and apply to pastoring instead of CEO

“Sleeping 2 hours less than your ideal, or decreasing the quality of your sleep by 25% leads to a 30% decrease in performance in your PFC. This means you will make worse decisions, you will be worse at communicating, you will have less focus, you will be less able to resist temptation, you will worse at planning, executing plans, or sticking to any plan or commitment. The behaviors of your PFC-in running the business of your body, brain, and consciousness-will be on par with a drunk, anxious, depressed, malnourished CEO. The business of being healthy, and joyfully pursuing your goals, interest and ambitions, will be a failing business. You will be bankrupt very soon.”

Enrollment Data, Public Opinion Suggest The College Bubble Is Popping
“A lethal combination of radical liberalism, a rapidly evolving economy, and unstoppable technological progress is all but certain to fell America’s ivory tower.”

Kindle Books

The Scriptures Testify about Me: Jesus and the Gospel in the Old Testament by various authors (mixed bag, but some excellent chapters) $2.99.

The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges $3.99.

Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments by Randy Alcorn $1.99.