Monday, April 30, 2018
Millenial men value altruism and self-care above traditional male qualities
Seventy-five per cent
of the men said that a man should have physical strength, compared with
those who said a man should have intellectual strength (87 per cent).
Credit: Tony Alter/Flickr
Millennial men value altruism and self-care above traditional male qualities
Arts & Humanities
Contrary to popular stereotypes, young men
today are likely to be selfless, socially engaged and health-conscious,
according to a new study from the University of British Columbia and
Intensions Consulting, a Vancouver-based market research firm.
The researchers surveyed 630 young men ages 15-29 in Western Canada and found that the most strongly endorsed masculine value is selflessness. Ninety-one per cent of the men agreed that a man should help other people, and 80 per cent believed that a man should give back to the community. Openness also ranked highly—88 per cent said a man should be open to new ideas, new experiences, and new people—and so did health, with a majority of participants saying that men should be healthy or in good shape.
More traditionally “male” values ranked lower on the scale, but were
still valued by the majority of participants. Seventy-five per cent of
the men said that a man should have physical strength, compared with
those who said a man should have intellectual strength (87 per cent) or
emotional strength (83 per cent). Autonomy also tracked lower with 78
per cent of the men agreeing that a man should be “independent.”
“Young Canadian men seem to be holding masculine values that are distinctly different from those of previous generations. These values may run counter to long-standing claims that young men are typically hedonistic, hypercompetitive, and that they risk or neglect their health,” said lead author John Oliffe, a nursing professor who leads the men’s health research program at UBC.
Nick Black, managing partner at Intensions Consulting and a study co-author, believes many young Canadian men are expanding their definition of masculinity to include values like openness and well-being.
“As a millennial myself, I can see these values reflected in the lives of men around me,” said Black. “They want to be both caring and strong, both open to others and self-sufficient, and they see no contradiction in these values.”
Oliffe says more research is needed to include other age groups and
geographical locations, but adds that the current results could be
useful for designing more effective men’s health-care programs.
“The life expectancy gap is closing between men and women, and I hope that additional gains are mustered through these emerging health-related values – and our continued work in men’s health,” said Oliffe.
The study included interviews with a small group as well as a broader online survey. It was published last week in Psychology of Men & Masculinity. To obtain a copy or schedule interviews with the researchers, contact lou.bosshart@ubc.ca.
The researchers surveyed 630 young men ages 15-29 in Western Canada and found that the most strongly endorsed masculine value is selflessness. Ninety-one per cent of the men agreed that a man should help other people, and 80 per cent believed that a man should give back to the community. Openness also ranked highly—88 per cent said a man should be open to new ideas, new experiences, and new people—and so did health, with a majority of participants saying that men should be healthy or in good shape.
John Oliffe
“Young Canadian men seem to be holding masculine values that are distinctly different from those of previous generations. These values may run counter to long-standing claims that young men are typically hedonistic, hypercompetitive, and that they risk or neglect their health,” said lead author John Oliffe, a nursing professor who leads the men’s health research program at UBC.
Nick Black, managing partner at Intensions Consulting and a study co-author, believes many young Canadian men are expanding their definition of masculinity to include values like openness and well-being.
“As a millennial myself, I can see these values reflected in the lives of men around me,” said Black. “They want to be both caring and strong, both open to others and self-sufficient, and they see no contradiction in these values.”
Nick Black
“The life expectancy gap is closing between men and women, and I hope that additional gains are mustered through these emerging health-related values – and our continued work in men’s health,” said Oliffe.
The study included interviews with a small group as well as a broader online survey. It was published last week in Psychology of Men & Masculinity. To obtain a copy or schedule interviews with the researchers, contact lou.bosshart@ubc.ca.
Here's What To Know About early-Onset Alzheier's
Here’s What To Know About Early-Onset Alzheimer’s
Everyone experiences memory lapses, but here's what happens when it's serious.
Bill Gates recently announced he will invest $100 million
to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The degenerative brain
disease has struck several men in the billionaire tycoon’s family, as
well as around 5.5 million Americans.
“My
family history isn’t the sole reason behind my interest in
Alzheimer’s,” Gates wrote in his personal blog. “But my personal
experience has exposed me to how hopeless it feels when you or a loved
one gets the disease. We’ve seen scientific innovation turn
once-guaranteed killers like HIV into chronic illnesses that can be held
in check with medication. I believe we can do the same (or better) with
Alzheimer’s.”
As such, Gates is dropping half of the massive amount of dough into the Dementia Discovery Fund, a private group that is working on identifying new targets
for treatments and attempting to “diversify the clinical pipeline.” The
other $50 million is going to start-ups working on Alzheimer’s
treatments.
“There
are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about our chances: our
understanding of the brain and the disease is advancing a great deal,”
he wrote. “We’re already making progress—but we need to do more.”
Alzheimer’s
is categorized into three types: early-onset, late-onset, and familial.
More is known about late-onset and familial Alzheimer’s, although 13 percent of early-onset cases are familial.
Early-onset occurs in people who are younger than 65 and is rare,
accounting for only about 5 percent of the Alzheimer’s population. Those
with early-onset also experience more of the brain changes that come
with Alzheimer’s than those who develop it later on in life do.
Alzheimer’s Disease 101
Alzheimer’s
disease is most commonly known for its devastating ability to wipe out
the memory of those who have it. Over time, however, it will also damage
the person’s thinking skills, leaving them unable to perform even the
simplest tasks.
Discovered in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, the condition also creates significant changes in a person’s brain.
“Two
abnormalities central to the disease are plaques and tangles,” says
Heather M. Snyder, PhD and Senior Director of Medical and Scientific
Operations at the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Plaques
are formed by clumps of beta-amyloid protein that interfere with
cell-to-cell communication in the brain. Tangles occur when tau protein
in the brain—a key component in the brain’s transport system—twist into
abnormal tangles, disrupting delivery of nutrients and other essential
materials within the brain.”
“Researchers
are working to better understand the precise role plaques and tangles
play in the disease and how to prevent or slow their development.”
The
damage begins in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is
responsible for holding onto memories. Over time, and as more neurons
die, other parts of the brain are affected. Eventually, the brain can
experience significant shrinkage and prevent people from engaging in
simple tasks like eating.
Although
it is listed as the sixth leading cause of death in Americans, the
disease isn’t usually what kills. Rather, the complications that come
with the disease are thought to cause death. For example, a person who
is bedridden because of Alzheimer’s may develop a fatal blood clot.
Weight loss and other complications can result in a weakened immune
system, which can lead to problems that may end in death.
Symptoms of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s
is the most common type of dementia, a syndrome that includes a
combination of memory loss and the inability to perform simple tasks
that is so significant it affects a person’s daily life. Alzheimer’s
disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases.
Early-onset
Alzheimer’s differs from late-onset and familial in that it typically
appears when a person is in their forties or fifties, as opposed to when
they’re 65. And although memory loss and confusion happen to even the
healthiest brains from time to time, it’s worrisome when it happens
progressively more than usual.
But it’s more than forgetfulness that is a cause for concern.
Other
symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer’s include trouble with time and
place, difficulty completing familiar tasks, challenges in planning and
problem solving, trouble speaking, misplacing things, withdrawal, and
decreased or poor judgment.
Who gets Alzheimer’s?
Unfortunately,
when it comes to Alzheimer’s, just about everyone is game. However,
genetics do play a factor. Your chances of getting Alzheimer’s, either
early-onset or late-onset, are increased if you have a parent or sibling
who is affected, says Snyder.
Familial
Alzheimer’s, however, is a whole different ball of wax. Just like
early-onset, familial Alzheimer’s is rare, affecting only about 2
percent of the Alzheimer’s population. It is the result of a mutation
that affects one to three genes that are known to aid in the development
of Alzheimer’s: PSEN1, PSEN2, and AAP. Those who have relatives with
familial Alzheimer’s are just about guaranteed to inherit the condition,
as well.
Alzheimer’s is also more prevalent in certain groups, and researchers aren’t sure why that is.
“Current
estimates indicate that African Americans are twice as likely to
develop the disease,” Snyder says. “Hispanics are one-and-one-half times
as likely. People living with Down’s syndrome are at higher risk, and
two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.”
Researchers
are currently examining what mechanisms and underlying biology may be
contributing to why the disease targets certain people, including
genetics, and variations in health, lifestyle and environmental risk
factors, she says.
Is genetic testing worth it?
Since
medical professionals have identified which genes affect Alzheimer’s,
it makes sense to wonder if genetic testing to determine if you will
develop the disease is beneficial. The problem is that the tests don’t
provide a definitive answer, says Snyder.
“Unless
a person has familial Alzheimer’s that guarantees Alzheimer’s (2
percent or fewer of all cases), a genetic test will only indicate if
someone is at greater or lower risk for the disease,” she says.
“The
Alzheimer’s Association cautions against routine genetic testing for
Alzheimer’s disease risk until an individual has received proper
counseling and understands the information necessary to make an informed
decision, including the social and economic factors that could be
impacted by having this genetic information.”
In
other words, you’ll need to ask yourself if finding out that you might
have a greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s than the next guy does
is worth the effect it may have on your life. Since you won’t receive a
definite answer of whether or not you’ll have the condition, it may not
be worth the what-ifs you’ll likely experience after receiving the
results.
After the Diagnosis
Receiving
a late-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis isn’t a walk in the park. But
finding out you have early-onset Alzheimer’s is typically worse.
It’s life changing, not only for the person receiving the diagnosis but for their loved ones as well.
Those
with early-onset often begin experiencing symptoms while they are still
working. This can create problems that people who develop the condition
later on in life don’t usually have to worry about, says Snyder. They
may find it gets increasingly difficult to perform their duties at the
same level they did prior to the diagnosis and may also lose their jobs
because of it.
As
such, providing for their families, paying college tuition for
children, and keeping up with the mortgage can become a struggle,
particularly if the person with Alzheimer’s is the primary financial
provider for the family. Because they are younger, they may not have the
financial means to be able to retire. And since Alzheimer’s is a
progressive disease, it only gets worse and worse.
“It’s
life changing, not only for the person receiving the diagnosis but for
their loved ones as well,” Snyder says. “Following a diagnosis, it’s
important for the individual and family members to educate themselves
about the disease, available treatments, and care and support services
that can help navigate current and future challenges associated with the
disease, including the emotional aspects of coming to terms with a
diagnosis.”
And
although there isn’t currently a cure for Alzheimer’s, medications are
available that can help to manage the symptoms. Participation in trials
is also encouraged, as patients have access to treatment therapies that
are in development that they may not otherwise.
What to do if you Think You May Have Early-Onset Alzheimer’s
Age-related changes in memory and thinking are expected. Experiencing them in your thirties, forties, or fifties, however, is a bit worrisome, and something you should definitely get checked out, cautions Snyder.Clean silver, removing tarnish instantly without polishing or harsh chem...
Today, this will be my project. I can't stand working harder than I have to and this seems like an easy way to polish silver. I keep finding more and more at garage sales. The bad news is that my finger that has been operated on may be infected, and today I have an afternoon appointment to see the doctor. Despite all the polysporin cream I have put on it, night and day I am finding that there is still some red swelling happening. I wish it was all better, because I know that antibiotics don't work as well on our extremities. Despite using cotton linings in rubber gloves, having bandages with ointment on it, and lately soaking for a short item in salt water, it is just not healing. When one member of our bodies hurt, the entire body hurts. You will find that verse in the bible. Sooo true.
Terrifying moment young boy gets trapped underwater for 9 minutes
This is a common occurance!! never leave children unattended even if they are 9 yrs old!!Know where the shut off is to the pumps in every pool. Sometimes it is locked up, and the key is hard to get to!! BEWARE of the dangers of being in a pool. I think there are several documentaries about the dangers of the suction pump at the bottom of pools.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Are Visits to Heaven for Real?
Are Visits to Heaven for Real?
A pastor’s book recounting his son’s visit to heaven rose to the top of the bestseller list and became a major motion picture. Christians were quick to spread the word, but could such visits
be for real?
In recent years, Christian booksellers have inundated the evangelical
world with testimonies from people who say they visited heaven in
near-death experiences. Their stories are full of specific details about what heaven is like, who is there, and what is happening in the celestial realm. But
when we compare their claims with Scripture, it becomes clear that they
are merely figments of the human imagination, not true visions of
heaven as it is described in God’s Word.
The best known of all these tales, Heaven Is for Real,1 was a major motion picture, released in April 2014. It is the story of Colton Burpo, whose parents believe he visited heaven when he was just four—during surgery after a burst appendix nearly took his life. Colton’s descriptions of heaven are full of fanciful features and peculiar details that bear all the earmarks of a child’s vivid imagination. There’s nothing transcendent or even particularly enlightening about Colton’s heaven. It is completely devoid of the breathtaking glory featured in every biblical description of the heavenly realm.
There’s nothing transcendent or even particularly enlightening about Colton’s heaven.
Stories like Colton’s are as dangerous as they are seductive. Readers
not only get a twisted, unbiblical picture of heaven; they also imbibe a
subjective, superstitious, shallow brand of spirituality. Studying
mystical accounts of supposed journeys into the afterlife yields
nothing but confusion, contradiction, false hope, bad doctrine, and a
host of similar evils.
We live in a narcissistic culture, and it shows in these accounts of people who claim they’ve been to heaven. They sound as if they viewed paradise in a mirror, keeping themselves in the foreground. They say comparatively little about God or His glory. But the glory of God is what the Bible says fills, illuminates, and defines heaven. Instead, the authors of these stories seem obsessed with details like how good they felt—how peaceful, how happy, how comforted they were; how they received privileges and accolades; how fun and enlightening their experience was; and how many things they think they now understand perfectly that could never be gleaned from Scripture alone. In short, they glorify self while barely noticing God’s glory. They highlight everything but what’s truly important about heaven.
It is quite true that heaven is a place of perfect bliss—devoid of all sorrow and sin, full of exultation and enjoyment—a place where grace and peace reign totally unchallenged. Heaven is where every true treasure and every eternal reward is laid up for the redeemed. Anyone whose destiny is heaven will certainly experience more joy and honor there than the fallen mind is capable of comprehending—infinitely more than any fallen creature deserves. But if you actually saw heaven and lived to tell about it, those things are not what would capture your heart and imagination.
You would be preoccupied instead with the majesty and grace of the One whose glory fills the place.
Sadly, undiscerning readers abound, and they take these postmodern accounts of heaven altogether seriously. The stratospheric sales figures and far-reaching influence of these books ought to be a matter of serious concern for anyone who truly loves the Word of God.
Four biblical authors had visions of heaven—not near-death experiences. Isaiah and Ezekiel (Old Testament prophets) and Paul and John (New Testament apostles) all had such visions. Two other biblical figures—Micaiah and Stephen—got glimpses of heaven, but what they saw is merely mentioned, not described (2 Chronicles 18:18; Acts 7:55).
Only three of these men later wrote about what they saw—and the details they gave were comparatively sparse (Isaiah 6:1–4; Ezekiel 1, 10; Revelation 4–6). All of them focused properly on God’s glory. They also mentioned their own fear and shame in the presence of such glory. They had nothing to say about the mundane features that are so prominent in modern tales about heaven (things like picnics, games, juvenile attractions, familiar faces, odd conversations, and so on). Paul gave no actual description of heaven but simply said what he saw would be unlawful to utter. In short, the biblical descriptions of heaven could hardly be any more different from today’s fanciful stories about heaven.
Lazarus of Bethany fell ill and died, and his body lay decaying in a tomb for four days until Jesus raised him (John 11:17). A whole chapter in John’s Gospel is devoted to the story of how Jesus brought him back from the dead. But there’s not a hint or a whisper anywhere in Scripture about what happened to Lazarus’s soul in that four-day interim. The same thing is true of every person in Scripture who was ever brought back from the dead, beginning with the widow’s son whom Elijah raised in 1 Kings 17:17–24 and culminating with Eutychus, who was healed by Paul in Acts 20:9–12. Not one biblical person ever gave any recorded account of his or her postmortem experience in the realm of departed souls.
Scripture never indulges that desire. In the Old Testament era, every attempt to communicate with the dead was deemed a sin on par with sacrificing infants to false gods (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). The Hebrew Scriptures say comparatively little about the disposition of souls after death, and the people of God were strictly forbidden to inquire further on their own. Necromancy was a major feature of Egyptian religion. It also dominated every religion known among the Canaanites. But under Moses’s law it was a sin punishable by death (Leviticus 20:27).
The New Testament adds much to our understanding of heaven (and hell), but we are still not permitted to add our own subjective ideas and experience-based conclusions to what God has specifically revealed through His inerrant Word. Indeed, we are forbidden in all spiritual matters to go beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6).
Those who demand to know more than Scripture tells us about heaven are sinning: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever” (Deuteronomy 29:29). The limits of our curiosity are thus established by the boundary of biblical revelation. In the words of Charles Spurgeon,
We need to accept the boundaries God Himself has put on what He has revealed. It is sheer folly to speculate where Scripture is silent. It is sinfully wrong to try to investigate spiritual mysteries using occult means. And it is seriously dangerous to listen to anyone who claims to know more about God, heaven, angels, or the afterlife than God Himself has revealed to us in Scripture.
Such a perspective is the very essence of true faith, according to Hebrews 11. Those with authentic, biblical faith acknowledge that they are strangers and pilgrims on this earth (v. 13). They are seeking a heavenly homeland (v. 14). They “desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (v. 16). The “city” that verse refers to is the heavenly Jerusalem, an unimaginable place—the very capital of heaven. It will be the eternal abode of the redeemed. No wonder Christians are intrigued with the subject.
But no matter how much they might obsess over what heaven is like, people who fill their heads with a lot of fantastic or delusional ideas from others’ near-death experiences have not truly set their minds on things above. If the inerrant biblical truth God has given us is the only reliable knowledge about heaven we have access to (and it is), then that is what should grip our hearts and minds, not the dreams and speculations of human minds.
The best known of all these tales, Heaven Is for Real,1 was a major motion picture, released in April 2014. It is the story of Colton Burpo, whose parents believe he visited heaven when he was just four—during surgery after a burst appendix nearly took his life. Colton’s descriptions of heaven are full of fanciful features and peculiar details that bear all the earmarks of a child’s vivid imagination. There’s nothing transcendent or even particularly enlightening about Colton’s heaven. It is completely devoid of the breathtaking glory featured in every biblical description of the heavenly realm.
There’s nothing transcendent or even particularly enlightening about Colton’s heaven.We live in a narcissistic culture, and it shows in these accounts of people who claim they’ve been to heaven. They sound as if they viewed paradise in a mirror, keeping themselves in the foreground. They say comparatively little about God or His glory. But the glory of God is what the Bible says fills, illuminates, and defines heaven. Instead, the authors of these stories seem obsessed with details like how good they felt—how peaceful, how happy, how comforted they were; how they received privileges and accolades; how fun and enlightening their experience was; and how many things they think they now understand perfectly that could never be gleaned from Scripture alone. In short, they glorify self while barely noticing God’s glory. They highlight everything but what’s truly important about heaven.
It is quite true that heaven is a place of perfect bliss—devoid of all sorrow and sin, full of exultation and enjoyment—a place where grace and peace reign totally unchallenged. Heaven is where every true treasure and every eternal reward is laid up for the redeemed. Anyone whose destiny is heaven will certainly experience more joy and honor there than the fallen mind is capable of comprehending—infinitely more than any fallen creature deserves. But if you actually saw heaven and lived to tell about it, those things are not what would capture your heart and imagination.
You would be preoccupied instead with the majesty and grace of the One whose glory fills the place.
Sadly, undiscerning readers abound, and they take these postmodern accounts of heaven altogether seriously. The stratospheric sales figures and far-reaching influence of these books ought to be a matter of serious concern for anyone who truly loves the Word of God.
The Bible on Near-Death Experiences
There is simply no reason to believe anyone who claims to have gone to heaven and returned. John 3:13 says, “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” And John 1:18 says, “
No one has seen God at any time.”
Four biblical authors had visions of heaven—not near-death experiences. Isaiah and Ezekiel (Old Testament prophets) and Paul and John (New Testament apostles) all had such visions. Two other biblical figures—Micaiah and Stephen—got glimpses of heaven, but what they saw is merely mentioned, not described (2 Chronicles 18:18; Acts 7:55).
Only three of these men later wrote about what they saw—and the details they gave were comparatively sparse (Isaiah 6:1–4; Ezekiel 1, 10; Revelation 4–6). All of them focused properly on God’s glory. They also mentioned their own fear and shame in the presence of such glory. They had nothing to say about the mundane features that are so prominent in modern tales about heaven (things like picnics, games, juvenile attractions, familiar faces, odd conversations, and so on). Paul gave no actual description of heaven but simply said what he saw would be unlawful to utter. In short, the biblical descriptions of heaven could hardly be any more different from today’s fanciful stories about heaven.
Lazarus of Bethany fell ill and died, and his body lay decaying in a tomb for four days until Jesus raised him (John 11:17). A whole chapter in John’s Gospel is devoted to the story of how Jesus brought him back from the dead. But there’s not a hint or a whisper anywhere in Scripture about what happened to Lazarus’s soul in that four-day interim. The same thing is true of every person in Scripture who was ever brought back from the dead, beginning with the widow’s son whom Elijah raised in 1 Kings 17:17–24 and culminating with Eutychus, who was healed by Paul in Acts 20:9–12. Not one biblical person ever gave any recorded account of his or her postmortem experience in the realm of departed souls.
Crossing the Boundaries
Far too much of the present interest in heaven, angels, and the afterlife stems from carnal curiosity. It is not a trend biblical Christians should encourage or celebrate. Any pursuit that diminishes people’s reliance on the Bible is fraught with grave spiritual dangers—especially if it is something that leads gullible souls into superstition, gnosticism, occultism, New Age philosophies, or any kind of spiritual confusion. Those are undeniably the roads most traveled by people who feed a morbid craving for detailed information about the afterlife, devouring stories of people who claim to have gone to the realm of the dead and returned.Scripture never indulges that desire. In the Old Testament era, every attempt to communicate with the dead was deemed a sin on par with sacrificing infants to false gods (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). The Hebrew Scriptures say comparatively little about the disposition of souls after death, and the people of God were strictly forbidden to inquire further on their own. Necromancy was a major feature of Egyptian religion. It also dominated every religion known among the Canaanites. But under Moses’s law it was a sin punishable by death (Leviticus 20:27).
The New Testament adds much to our understanding of heaven (and hell), but we are still not permitted to add our own subjective ideas and experience-based conclusions to what God has specifically revealed through His inerrant Word. Indeed, we are forbidden in all spiritual matters to go beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6).
Those who demand to know more than Scripture tells us about heaven are sinning: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever” (Deuteronomy 29:29). The limits of our curiosity are thus established by the boundary of biblical revelation. In the words of Charles Spurgeon,
It’s a little heaven below, to imagine sweet things. But never think that imagination can picture heaven. When it is most sublime, when it is freest from the dust of earth, when it is carried up by the greatest knowledge, and kept steady by the most extreme caution, imagination cannot picture heaven. “What God has revealed in Scripture is the only legitimate place to get a clear understanding of the heavenly kingdom. God’s written Word does in fact give us a remarkably full and clear picture of heaven and the spiritual realm. But the Bible still leaves many questions unanswered.It hath not entered the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Imagination is good, but not to picture to us heaven. Your imaginary heaven you will find by-and-by to be all a mistake; though you may have piled up fine castles, you will find them to be castles in the air, and they will vanish like thin clouds before the gale. For imagination cannot make a heaven. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered the heart of man to conceive” it.2
We need to accept the boundaries God Himself has put on what He has revealed. It is sheer folly to speculate where Scripture is silent. It is sinfully wrong to try to investigate spiritual mysteries using occult means. And it is seriously dangerous to listen to anyone who claims to know more about God, heaven, angels, or the afterlife than God Himself has revealed to us in Scripture.
The Glories of Heaven
It is, however, right and beneficial for Christians to fix their hearts on heaven. Scripture commands us to cultivate that perspective: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth” (Colossians 3:1–2). “
While we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). “
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
Such a perspective is the very essence of true faith, according to Hebrews 11. Those with authentic, biblical faith acknowledge that they are strangers and pilgrims on this earth (v. 13). They are seeking a heavenly homeland (v. 14). They “desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (v. 16). The “city” that verse refers to is the heavenly Jerusalem, an unimaginable place—the very capital of heaven. It will be the eternal abode of the redeemed. No wonder Christians are intrigued with the subject.
But no matter how much they might obsess over what heaven is like, people who fill their heads with a lot of fantastic or delusional ideas from others’ near-death experiences have not truly set their minds on things above. If the inerrant biblical truth God has given us is the only reliable knowledge about heaven we have access to (and it is), then that is what should grip our hearts and minds, not the dreams and speculations of human minds.
is
pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California and president
of The Master’s College and Seminary. Dr. MacArthur is also the author
of more than one hundred books, covering a great expanse of Christian
topics. He also is heard worldwide on his radio program Grace to You.
DEPRESSION IS... (What Does Depression Feel Like?)
I am currently visiting a retired doctor who has suffered from depression since the age of 10. He is so alone. He is hurting so badly. He only recently, changed to yet another anti-depressant, as recommended by his psychiatrist from the community. He is a tender man in pain, especially since he lost his wife 11 years ago. It is really important for us to recognize when someone is hurting. Let's reach out to them.
What does depression feel like?
What does depression feel like?
Last reviewed
Symptoms and causes of depression can vary widely from person to person. Gender may also play an important role in why a person is affected by depression, and what it feels like to them.
How depression feels
The symptoms of depression can last for months or years and can make it difficult or impossible to carry on with daily life. It can disrupt careers, relationships, and daily tasks such as self-care and housework.
Doctors will usually look for symptoms that have lasted at least 2 weeks as possible signs of depression. Depression may feel like:
- There's no pleasure or joy in life. A person with depression may not enjoy things they once loved and may feel like nothing can make them happy.
- Concentration or focus is impossible. Making any kind of decisions, reading, or watching television can seem taxing with depression because people can't think clearly or follow what's happening.
- Everything feels hopeless, and there's no way to feel better. Depression may make a person feel that there's no way ever to feel good again.
- Self-esteem is absent. People with depression may feel like they are worthless or a failure at everything. They may dwell on negative events and experiences and be unable to see positive qualities in themselves.
- Sleeping is difficult. Falling asleep at night or staying asleep all night can feel nearly impossible for someone with depression. A person may wake up early and not be able to go back to sleep.
- Energy levels are low to nonexistent. Some people feel like they can't get out of bed, or feel exhausted all the time even when getting enough sleep. They may feel that they are too tired to do simple daily tasks.
- Food doesn't seem appetizing. Some people with depression feel like they don't want to eat anything, and have to force themselves to eat. This can result in weight loss.
- Food is a comfort or coping tool. Although some people with depression don't want to eat, others can overeat and crave unhealthy or comfort foods. This can lead to weight gain.
- Aches and pains are constant. Some people experience headaches, nausea, body aches, and other pains with depression.
Depression is a real mental illness. Those who have depression cannot simply decide to stop feeling depressed. Unlike typical sadness or worry, depression feels all-consuming and hopeless.
Common causes and risk factors
Depression can be caused by a number of factors. Though a single cause cannot always be found, experts recognize the following as possible causes:- Genetics: Depression and other mood disorders can run in families, though family history alone does not mean a person will get depression.
- Life events: Major life changes and stressful events may trigger depression. These events include divorce, the death of a loved one, job loss, or financial problems.
- Certain illnesses: Anxiety, long-term pain, diabetes, and heart disease may make someone more likely to develop depression.
- Drug and alcohol abuse: In some cases, drug and alcohol abuse may cause depression. Other times, depression may cause a person to start abusing drugs or alcohol.
- Some medications: Certain prescription medicines may increase the risk of depression. These include some high blood pressure medications, steroids, and some cancer drugs.
Depression and women
One study of twin brothers and sisters published in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that personality and relationships with others were more likely to play a role in the onset of depression. In particular, the study stated that marital problems, the relationship with parents, and lack of social support were more likely to cause depression in women than men.
Neuroticism, or being in a negative emotional state, was also a primary cause of depression in the women studied.
A study in the Journal of Affective Disorders also found that women's symptoms of depression were different. The women studied were more likely to have panic and anxiety disorders in addition to their depression.
Other studies have indicated that women may be more likely to gain weight and have excessive sleepiness than men.
Women's hormone changes may also play a role in how and when depression affects them. Research on this hormonal link has found:
- Girls who have a family history of depression may be more likely to experience the onset of depression at puberty
- Women with depression have more severe symptoms during the premenstrual phase of their cycle, even if they are already taking antidepressants
- Postpartum depression occurs after giving birth and affects 1 in 7 women
- During the menopause transition, a woman's risk of depression increases
- Women have a two to three times greater risk of getting depression during this time, even if they never had depression in the past
Depression and men
- Drug abuse
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Prior history of depression
- Major stressful life events
The study mentions events such as losing a job and worrying about failing as a family provider as possible examples of what may trigger depression specifically in men.
Symptoms of depression in men may also be different. An analysis in JAMA Psychiatry found that men were more likely than women to experience anger attacks, aggression, and risk-taking behavior as depression symptoms.
Though it is commonly thought that women suffer from depression more frequently than men, the study suggests that men and women may both equally suffer from depression.
The differences in symptoms and what men report to their doctors may make depression harder to diagnose in men. Traditional symptoms of depression such as sadness and crying may be more frequently hidden or not reported by men. Some may feel that these symptoms go against society's idea of being a man.
When to see a doctor
Those who are experiencing symptoms of depression should seek medical assistance. Depression can worsen without treatment and affect a person's quality of life.A family doctor or mental health professional will discuss treatment options to help the person manage their depression and carry on with daily life.
In severe cases, depression can lead to thoughts of suicide or physically harming oneself. Any suicidal thoughts or statements about "not wanting to live" should be taken seriously. In times of crisis, a person should seek help from a hospital emergency department.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Oh, Debbie, Debbie
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| Two Sisters |
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| Deborah and her cat Moonshine |
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| Deb with her friend who is committed to studying Mental Health since her passing. |
Friday, April 27, 2018
IHIT releases new video in fatal stabbing
Family Needs closure. Please contact police if you have any information
$6.5M will help women escape vilence, Public Safety Minister Announces
The Article touches on Mental health so I thought it is important to post
B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth (Black Press)
B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth (Black Press)Province’s $6.5M will help women escape violence, Public Safety Minister announces
Mike Farnworth made the funding announcement in Surrey Friday morning
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has just announced
nearly $6.5 million in grants to help women escaping violence and other
crime prevention initiatives.
Farnworth made the announcement in Surrey Friday morning at DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society.
“Sharing proceeds of crime back with communities, to prevent crime and victimization and help victims to become survivors, is one more way we’re enhancing the services that people count on,” said Farnworth in a release. “Many of this year’s grant recipients are working with some of our most vulnerable citizens, helping to rebuild and heal after years and, in some cases, lifetimes of violence.”
In all, more than 170 programs — led by community organizations, school districts, police agencies and others — are set to receive a one-time grant, which will come from civil and criminal forfeiture funding.
According to a release, DIVERSEcity will receive nearly $30,000 to “enhance domestic violence supports provided to women through transition houses and second-stage recovery houses in Surrey.”
It will also receive another grant of $75,000 to further its Women’s Crime Reduction Program that targets “the intersection of crime reduction and mental health for women from multicultural, Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds, who have been in conflict with the law.”
DIVERSEcity CEO Neelam Sahota said the grants will advance the organization’s efforts to “empower women who have experienced domestic violence to seek supports they need to maximize their safety and live without violence.
“The grants will also facilitate change and growth for women who experience conflict with the law, to help create better outcomes for children and families,” Sahota added.
Other grants across B.C. will help Indigenous families healing from generational trauma and help youth resist gang involvement.
Programs that address violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation, are receiving more than $1.7 million in all, and more than $1.4 million will go to address Indigenous healing and rebuilding.
A release notes the remaining grants will help fund community initiatives that “further crime reduction and community safety, child and youth advocacy centres, restorative justice, and police training and special equipment.”
Mitzi Dean, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, said “violence is a reality” in the lives many women and children in B.C.
“But it doesn’t have to be that way,” said Dean. “Our government is proud to partner with community groups and front-line workers to address violence, support survivors and bring positive change to our communities.”
The provincial funding announcement coincides with Prevention of Violence Against Women Week in B.C.
Click here for a full list of 2017-18 grant recipients.
Farnworth made the announcement in Surrey Friday morning at DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society.
“Sharing proceeds of crime back with communities, to prevent crime and victimization and help victims to become survivors, is one more way we’re enhancing the services that people count on,” said Farnworth in a release. “Many of this year’s grant recipients are working with some of our most vulnerable citizens, helping to rebuild and heal after years and, in some cases, lifetimes of violence.”
In all, more than 170 programs — led by community organizations, school districts, police agencies and others — are set to receive a one-time grant, which will come from civil and criminal forfeiture funding.
According to a release, DIVERSEcity will receive nearly $30,000 to “enhance domestic violence supports provided to women through transition houses and second-stage recovery houses in Surrey.”
It will also receive another grant of $75,000 to further its Women’s Crime Reduction Program that targets “the intersection of crime reduction and mental health for women from multicultural, Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds, who have been in conflict with the law.”
DIVERSEcity CEO Neelam Sahota said the grants will advance the organization’s efforts to “empower women who have experienced domestic violence to seek supports they need to maximize their safety and live without violence.
“The grants will also facilitate change and growth for women who experience conflict with the law, to help create better outcomes for children and families,” Sahota added.
Other grants across B.C. will help Indigenous families healing from generational trauma and help youth resist gang involvement.
Programs that address violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation, are receiving more than $1.7 million in all, and more than $1.4 million will go to address Indigenous healing and rebuilding.
A release notes the remaining grants will help fund community initiatives that “further crime reduction and community safety, child and youth advocacy centres, restorative justice, and police training and special equipment.”
Mitzi Dean, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, said “violence is a reality” in the lives many women and children in B.C.
“But it doesn’t have to be that way,” said Dean. “Our government is proud to partner with community groups and front-line workers to address violence, support survivors and bring positive change to our communities.”
The provincial funding announcement coincides with Prevention of Violence Against Women Week in B.C.
Click here for a full list of 2017-18 grant recipients.
A Necessary thing to Do
10 Bible verses about forgiveness
Forgiveness is about how God forgive us, but also about how we forgive each other. Forgiving can be hard, when someone hurt us. To help you this post presents ten Bible verses speaking of forgiveness.
Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God’s gift, the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. (1 John 1:9)
Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. (Matthew 6:14-15)
Read 10 Bible verses about repentance.So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God. (Matthew 5:23-24)
So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. (James 5:16)
You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. (Colossians 3:12-13)
God announced long ago through all the prophets that his Messiah had to suffer; and he made it come true in this way. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do, times of spiritual strength will come from the Lord, and he will send Jesus, who is the Messiah he has already chosen for you. (Acts 3:18-20)
Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. (Matthew 6:12)
Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Alek Minassian: What we know about the Toronto van attack suspect
He plowed down women by the vehicle..
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
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