Christian Counselor Directory Blog

Why a ministry? There is no money in that.
A chord was struck in me when a person asked my wife and I why we chose to start a ministry because of there being no money in it. Normally, I would not entertain a reaction to comments like these and move to discard them as ignorance. However, for some reason, this has been eating at me for a few days compelling a response. At first, I wanted to discard this comment as being a meaningless thought from the same minds as those who tend to apply the word “hero” to a skilled athlete as well as calibrate their scales of value and worth by using personal pleasure and selfish gain. Fortunately, I decided not to stay silent.
Let me start by defining what I deem to be a hero. A hero is someone who pushes past every human impulse of danger knowing that there is a greater purpose than their own, someone who is gifted with calmness and precision to remove evil from a distance and who also carries the courage to do the same at arm’s reach, and also someone who sacrifices their own physical and/or personal-self for a purpose which they cannot fully understand.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13, NLT)
Now let’s look at value. The money that may lack in ministry is replaced by joy and abundance graced by the hands of God. This being the result of rightness, sacrifice, love, and humility. Are the services we provide less valuable or credible because we do not accept blue cross/blue shield, or that we chose not to be state licensed which would place us under the thumb of secular materialism and evolutionary deception? Maybe it is due to the fact that we bridge the Word of God with modern behavioral science, rather than accepting the mainstream theories of who we are, how we are, and what we do to be determined by neuro synaptic activity and whatever gene decides to be transcribed at that moment. Or, maybe it is because we consciously chose not to confuse the order of cause and effect when learning about epigenetics, neuroplasticity, circadian rhythms, CLOCK genes, and levels of glucocorticoids and melatonin and knowing how these can influence our behaviors. In other words, what comes first, belief, then thought, followed by action? Or, is it action first, then thought, followed by belief? If you are told you have PTSD, did it develop before the traumatic experience, or after?
Just because someone maintains a level of cost for their services so that all people can receive it, which likely lessens the probability for providers to afford an oversized home overlooking the ocean, is their purpose and what they can offer less valuable? Are the people who spend their entire adult lives overseas helping underprivileged cultures less valuable because there is no money in that? Is it right that cancer treatments financially destroy those in need of it, and that the cost of private insurance can be equal to that of most mortgages? If monetary reward is the measurement by which we all should use to weigh value, then maybe we should advise against anyone joining the armed forces as there is no money in that either. Let this pandemic open everyone’s eye’s to how off course our society is in regards to what is considered valuable and important. Think about what surfaced as being truly essential. Although all jobs can be viewed essential as they provide a way of living for all families, however, did any of these have to do with the NBA, NFL, filming industry, music industry, etc.? No. It was the farmers, military, first responders, Pastors, ministries, healthcare workers, utility workers, and the shipping industries.
My wife also being a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor with a BA, and I having over 32-years in the fire service along with 9-years of college awarding me a PhD and, because we are not interested in overinflating the cost of our services so that we can drive a fancy car, live in a mansion, and have other worldly materials, which are meaningless apart from God, does this render our services worthless and ineffective? If so, then continue on your way and we will do the same.
“If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.” (Matthew 10:14, NLT).

Thank you to all the workers of this nation and all nations under God.

May The Lord continue to be your refuge.
Dr. Brett Snow, Licensed Clinical Pastoral counselor.
Surviving Life Ministries.
survivinglifem@gmail.com
sl-ministries.com

FACT OR FICTION; GET THE FACTS

May 17, 2020
I have noticed a troubling trend in my caseload and in the referrals, I have been receiving for the last 4 years. The call usually begins with a distraught mother, father, or other relative calling me because their loved one is in crisis. Their loved one is irrational, argumentative, agitated, threatening violence, irritable, and, embarrassingly, delusional or hallucinating. When in my questioning to assess the situation, I ask if the individual has stopped using cannabis yet, the concerned family member seems surprised, sometimes mystified, and befuddled. How did I know? How could I have known?
The answer may not be popular in our society that has long encouraged and supported cannabis and cannabis-related products as a wonder drug, as natural, and as created by God. I am not disputing the medicinal effectiveness of cannabis, either inhaled or edible, buds or extract, or even CBD. Though to be honest, the problems noted in the news with vaped cannabis and the complications for the lungs (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI)) do concern me. I am writing this short article to share a concern I have noticed as a trend when, usually young, people seem to suddenly develop severe behavioral symptoms and psychosis after they have been using, usually large, amounts of cannabis for a long period of time.
Several risk factors seem to make this tendency particularly strong. I have done research and found several scholarly articles that support what had, up to recently, been based only on my clinical observations. In one article, Drs. Semple, McIntosh, and Lawrie found 11 previously published studies, and in another article. Drs. Fergusson, Poulton, Smith, and Boden, looked at 6 previously published studies. In all this research, these esteemed doctors confirmed what I had already noticed. Individuals who began using pot at a young age, those who used pot for a long time, those who used large amounts, those who had symptoms of psychosis before using pot, and those who had mental illness running in their families, had up to a 3 times greater risk for developing symptoms of psychosis.
Now, they were all careful to note that cannabis use did not CAUSE psychosis, but they were clear that there is a strong relationship. Dr. Fergusson and his colleagues point out that those who develop symptoms of psychosis are a minority of those that use cannabis. However, they also point out that those who do may deserve some consideration by public health officials.
If you, or someone you love, has been using cannabis and developed symptoms of psychosis, please consider taking these steps:
1. Please stop using cannabis.
2. Seek treatment by a qualified psychiatrist to be stabilized on antipsychotic medications.
3. Consider seeking individual treatment with someone who understand stabilizing psychosis and supporting someone who is in early recovery from drug use.
The good news is that if you stop using cannabis and seek help, you can stabilize. If you stay sober and get properly medicated soon enough, there is a chance that you might not need to be maintained on antipsychotics for a lifetime, which can happen if the drug use triggers full-blown Schizophrenia. Please seek help, and please let me know if I can be of any assistance in your recovery. Dr. Jodi – Stay Safe. Stay Strong, Be Healthy.

SURVIVOR’S GUILT
“WHY THEM AND NOT ME?”
“You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16, NLT)

“You have decided the length of our lives.
You know how many months we will live,
and we are not given a minute longer.” (Job 14:5, NLT)

We are not privileged to know God’s plans and why He does things, or allows things to happen. When someone is consumed by the question of why their life was spared, they will become entrapped by a nearly paralyzing sense of self-value and guilt. I was constantly asking why did God take my friend and not me. What about me is so special, or more important? Am I now living a life worthy of being spared? What are God’s plans for me, and am I serving His purpose He had planned? You may be bearing these same questions. The truth is, we really don’t know the answers to these questions. The feelings that you have or may have felt, is most likely to be what is known as false guilt, which stems from a belief that we had some sort of control, or power to have prevented the outcome. If you feel that it was an action, or inaction of yours to be the cause, then accept God’s forgiveness and comfort. Lay your burdens at God’s feet, as He instructs us to do, and know that He is the final decision maker. Additionally, we need to trust that God knows what He is doing and live a life of gratitude.
Take time to step out of yourself and give your life (relationship with God and family) an honest evaluation.
SIZE IT UP:
• How did your life look yesterday?
• How does it look today?
• How do you want it to look tomorrow?
Brett Snow, PhD.
Surviving Life Ministries
surviviglifem@gmail.com

Sharing a message for today that life is surely not an easy journey. Take the time to love and appreciate your family and friends. Reach out to others and show that you care but also don't force yourself on anyone that can't value your genuine worth. Avoid taking people for granted because tomorrow is not promise.

Pray about things and make decisions that are healthy for changes because again tomorrow is not promise. Ask for forgiveness when needed from the people you hurt and God; but take accountability and responsibility for the damages done. Then, take acceptance for the learning and experiences gain. Repent and start a new path remembering that forgetting is not instantaneously when the process of forgiveness begins because time will surely heal.

Remember to breath and live and be okay at times if you make mistakes once you recognize the errors and learn from them. Most importantly love yourself and be the best version of yourself for your own personal growth and development and not anyone else's version of you. Live by ethical and moral codes and conduct. Don't lie, steal and cheat from others for your success. Build on truth, honesty, compassion and good character. Gain insight and awareness in this wonderful journey. Take leaps of faith along the way. Follow through with your ideas, dreams and goals. Believe in yourself and not what others think of you. Ask God for guidance because you can't and will not be successful if he's not by your side. Find less time saying never or I can't do it instead I will try. Take the time to cry, be angry and grieve because these are healthy emotions but remember to keep moving through it all. Remember that you can respectfully agree to disagree because this is part of growth and development. Everyday may present a new challenge or situation but keep trying still. Remain flexible and adaptable because plans and things are subject to change at times. You will fall but please do get up.

Life is a test and you will get through this journey with God being by your side so please don't give up. Remember that you have to exist and coexist with life's decisions whether good or bad. Life is a revolving door so continue to make changes again along the way to better the quality of your life. There is sunrise and sunset in life but what never fails is God's love for us all. Keep trying, stay hopeful and faithful in this journey called life. I am a work in progress and I pray you are as well.

I love you and God loves you even more.

Dr. Judy E. Vansiea
https://www.copingnpservices.com/