KUDOs to Nephew Nick + More Retirement Plans

whimsical wednesday *

* My latest retirement scenario follows my book review.

A Book Review, Part I

A History of China, by John Keay. Basic Books, 2009. My nephew Nick gave me an Amazon gift card for Christmas 2015. I used it to buy this book. I was inspired to buy a book about China after visiting a Museum of Art while on a trip to see Nathan & Laura in the Twin Cities. There was an exhibition of Chinese historical & cultural artifacts, which provoked my curiosity. It took a long time for this book to work its way to the top of my reading list. Then it took a long time for me to plow my way through it. I finished it last week.

Reason #1:  A plethora of Asian names. Examples? Shaanxi Changian...Gansu Dunhuang...Zhejiang Hangzhou...Jiangxi Jingdezhen...Huangdi Shi...Zing Wang Mang...Mingcheng Zhao . . . Now multiply that X 535 pages . . . Literally hundreds & hundreds of these names. I gave up early on trying to keep track of everyone.

Reason #2:  The author is obviously British. Many British spellings. I'll just give you two examples:  "civilisation" vs. "civilization" . . . "organising" vs. "organizing." [Actually, this didn't slow me down. It was only mildly annoying.]

Reason #3:  Vocabulary! Don't get me wrong . . . I love challenges to my vocabulary . . . Increasing my vocabulary . . . Grappling w/context clues to try to figure out a word that I'm not familiar with . . . Well, this book had more than a few words to challenge me, which slowed me down--but in a fun way. We'll get back to vocabulary next week.

Fascinating Insights + Themes

• China has a bloody, bloody history, stretching back several millennia.
• Although China perceives itself as having a "pure" ethnicity, it's ethnic character incorporates many ethnic identities, including Mongols & Turks.
• China perceives itself as having a "mandate" from Heaven. You might say this has created a huge sense of superiority over all other cultures, civilizations, etc.
• Having said that, China doesn't really have much of a tradition of religion, i.e., a collective religion as a united people, despite dabbling in Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, & more. Atheism describes this civilization as well as any other belief system.
• There is also no tradition of democracy through the millennia . . . There is a rich tradition of tyrants.
• This books does a nice job of laying the foundation for enmity between China & Tibet...Vietnam...Russia...Korea.
• The Great Wall is not the Great Wall that you & I have imagined.
• Unfortunately China has a history of exploitation by the West . . . offset by its exploitation of Tibet.
• The U.S. backed both the Nationalists & the Communists against the Japanese during World War II. The Nationalists made a lot of mistakes that alienated a large portion of the Chinese & paved the way for Mao & the Communists.
• Mao had little regard for the people of China.

CAVEAT:  As an amateur book reviewer, you need to know that all of my "fascinating" insights & themes are subjective. Read the book. This is my blog, remember?

Bracing for Retirement

Scenario #6 [#5? I've lost track.]

My inspiration? From Norfolk Daily News (9/26):  "Researchers say fidgeting good but sitting for a long time isn't. Finally, science comes to the rescue of those of us who have been told all of our lives to 'sit still.' Turns out fidgeting can be good for your health.

      "A study from researchers at the University of Missouri found that mild toe-tapping while seated can dramatically cut your risk of cardiovascular disease . . . "

My comments

I know a thing or two about fidgeting. Yes, it may very well be related to my OCD, but, hey, we can't have everything. Picture me as a

Fidget Consultant!

Better yet, picture me as 

Paul Leckband, CFC! *

* Certified Fidget Consultant. [Hah! Take that, Sarah. I just added three more letters after MY name!]

PRO'S:  

• You wouldn't believe all the methods of fidgeting I've developed over the years . . . tapping my feet . . . drumming my fingers . . . drumming my fingers on my head . . . drumming my fingers while tapping my feet.
• To the best of my knowledge, there's no actual certifying agency for this speciality, so I can legitimately attach these letters to the end of my name. **

** Hey, I have just as much legitimacy as the recent pollsters who predicted HC's election, right? Right?

• As a savvy user of the Internet, I can easily market my skills.
• Establishing office space in our house could have positive tax implications for us.

CON'S:

• It may take awhile to establish a client base.
• Therefore, it may take awhile for me to establish a positive revenue stream.
• Our neighborhood may not be zoned for such an enterprise.
• Once neighbors starting asking questions about the increased traffic flow, this may lead to picketing, demonstrations, a loss of credibility among my neighbors that goes beyond having a crappy lawn. [My lawn isn't as crappy as it used to be.]

CONclusion:  The likelihood of this scenario working out is 4.5 on a scale of 1-10.

Assorted Musings + Blogging for Self-Therapy

mental health monday

Reasons to Be Thankful & Cheerful

Tagline from Drudge Report (11/26):  "Magic mushrooms lift severe depression . . . " [My beloved spouse's legendary stuffing, which we once again enjoyed at our traditional family Thanksgiving dinner on FRI 11/25; & which I have happily indulged several times since, includes mushrooms. The mushrooms referenced in this article are unlikely to refer to the same magical qualities found in my spouse's "magical" stuffing recipe. I don't see how they could lift my depression any better than my spouse's stuffing, so I didn't bother to read this article.] *
* Perhaps the mushrooms referenced in this article would be of more use to a certain category of post-election whiners. **
** And I mean that most sympathetically. SEE excerpt below.

Conversations w/My Grandson

Bentley:  Grandma, I'm hungry for a sandwich.
Lois:  What would you like on it?
Bentley:  Prob'ly bread.
Lois:  What do you want on your bread?
Bentley:  May'naise.
Lois:  What else?
Bentley:  That's all.
[I can confirm that he did in fact eat a sandwich. With bread. And meat & cheese.]

Leftover turkey! 

Always a highlight of post-Thanksgiving dining. Thanks to the artful dismembering of our turkey carcass by my son Nathan, we are enjoying a plethora of leftover turkey, most suitable for classic turkey sandwiches.

BONUS CLASSIC TURKEY SANDWICH RECIPE FROM THIS BLOGGER

> Probably bread. Of the whole wheat variety.
> Mayonnaise.
> Turkey. White and/or dark meat. Cold.
> American cheese.

Reasons to Be Cautious . . . Possibly Gloomy

From Omaha World Herald (10/11):  "Exercise, anger deadly combo? If you're angry or upset, you might want to simmer down before heading out for an intense run or gym workout. A large study ties heavy exertion while stressed or mad to a tripled risk of having a heart attack within an hour . . . " [Because of my ability to figure things out, I didn't have to read the remainder of this article in order to extrapolate a connection between walking the dog & anger.]

From Lincoln Journal Star (11/3):  "Census held of creepy crawlies in homes. Do you know the  bugs that share your home? No? Well, pull up a chair & get acquainted. Researchers from North Carolina State University & the University of Colorado Boulder just completed a census of creepy crawlies from hundreds of households across the country & found that creatures from more than 600 genera of arthropod live alongside us in our homes.
      "Arthropods, a phylum of invertebrate animals w/exoskeletons & segmented bodies, include insects, spiders, crustaceans & all manner of other many-legged critters--most of whom you probably wouldn't want to get up close & personal w/right before dinner . . . "
[Calm down . . . Take a deep breath . . . The reason I categorize this as a "reason to be cautious?" These are undoubtedly liberal campuses that are also part of government-funded research that involves the well-documented global climate change hoax. And these same campuses undoubtedly have cry rooms where students can sip hot cocoa & be comforted about this here-to-for unknown menace.]

From LJS (11/5):  "Election will end, but the anxiety may not. More than half of Americans are experiencing election-related stress comparable to that often attributed to work, money, or the economy, the American Psychological Association has said. And while the good news is the presidential contest will end next week, [Note the date of this excerpt.] the bad news is that because of the ferocity of the campaign, the mental damage may linger. And for some groups, it may get even worse--depending on who wins . . . " [And I think we all know which of those group seems to be most affected by election-related stress.] *
* I've heard one popular, partisan, radio pundit refer to TDS. ** I think that's hilarious.
** Trump Derangement Syndrome. ***
*** I'm trying hard not to turn my mental health MON post into a partisan entry. ****
**** But apparently not trying all that hard.

From Norfolk Daily News (11/17):  "New study finds pigs can be optimists or pessimists. You can't keep a positive pig down. A new study finds that, like humans, pigs can be optimists or pessimists, & that the pessimists are more strongly affected by their current environments. The results, described in the journal Biology Letters, * hint that the complex interplay between personality & mood may extend far beyond the human experience . . . " [My always incisive insights follow.]

• Our local Hy-Vee was advertising a free turkey w/the purchase of a ham, prior to Thanksgiving. This couldn't possibly have done much for piggy pessimists.
• I find it hard to believe that this promotion persuaded many if any changes in holiday culinary traditions.
• Therefore, it follows that there's been an uptick in piggy optimism . . . 
• . . . which will likely reverse itself into a uptick in piggy pessimism as we draw near to Christmas or--more likely--Easter.

* Which most likely doesn't even get as many readers as this blog gets. I'm just sayin'.

Reasons to be Glum

Nebraska vs Iowa football result

Don't even want to discuss it. If you are an Iowanian, well, Nebraska still has the largest field of sand dunes in North America, while you have, what, the highest number of hog-waste containment lagoons? *

* Therefore, also the highest number of piggy pessimists, it undoubtedly goes w/o saying. [Although I just said it.] **

** And our VB team won the Big Championship

Blogging for Self-Therapy . . . Personal Mental Health Update

•  I still seem to be struggling w/a prolonged episode of depression & anxiety, dating back to earlier in the fall.
• Contributing factors? Time change . . . anniversary of my unplanned, permanent sabbatical from LHNE . . . continued "adventures" w/the insurance company that administers my long-term medical disability for CPS . . . Problems sleeping, intrinsically linked to depression . . . Changes in psychotropic medications . . . Self-inflicted pity party.
• Prognosis? Remains to be seen . . . I received a letter from the aforementioned insurance company, informing me that they will issue a determination re:  my appeal of their discontinuation of my mental health disability by 12/15/16 . . . Therefore, I know that I have "temporary" health insurance thru 12/31/16 . . . If my appeal is upheld, I receive disability payments retroactive from 8/1/16 . . . If my appeal is rejected, I have to make arrangements for "permanent" health insurance, effective 1/1/17 . . . I most likely have to start drawing some type of retirement funds, also effective 1/1/16 . . . I should probably stop indulging in post-election news & commentary.

Advent Week 1 . . . Read the Disclaimer First!

walking in the truth during Advent

Disclaimer #1:  Although I will reference the recent election, I pledge that this is a totally, non-partisan devotional.

Today's Truth from Scripture

(Jesus said), "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father . . . therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come . . . So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." Matthew 24:36, 42, 44

Today's devotional thoughts

I am typing this devotional on the afternoon of TUE 11/8, so, as I compose it, I obviously I do not know the results of our national election. Also, obviously, if you are reading this devotional today, the odds are in my favor that the world did not come to an end on WED 11/9, regardless of the final vote tally that was reported the morning after.

Nor should that be a surprise to any Biblically-literature Christian! We have Jesus' own words from the Gospel of Matthew assuring us that even Jesus--the "Son of Man''--was not privy to the Father's knowledge of "that day or hour." Contrary to the assurances from either end of the political spectrum, I doubt if those pundits had a special dispensation from the Holy Spirit to prophesy "that day or hour."

Do you think St. Paul knew "on what Day" our Lord would come when he wrote the following words in Romans?

More Truth from Scripture

"Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Romans 13:10-12

Some closing devotional thoughts

Despite the darkness of this year's election cycle . . . despite the darkness of the world in general . . . God's love & mercy still prevail. His love & mercy still shine a light into our lives.

And His love & mercy enable us to 

• Repent
• To be forgiven & believe
• Put aside our darkness
• Shine His love into the lives of others through our testimony & acts of mercy.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving *

For the fruits of His creation, Thanks be to God.
For His gifts to every nation, Thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping, Silent growth while we are sleeping.
Future needs in earth's safe-keeping, Thanks be to God.

In the just reward of labor, God's will is done.
In the help we give our neighbor, God's will is done.
In our world-wide task of caring For the hungry and despairing, 
In the harvests we are sharing, God's will be done.

For the harvests of the Spirit, Thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit, Thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us,
Most of all, that love has found us, Thanks be to God.

* SOURCE:  "For the Fruits of His Creation," Lutheran Service Book, #894.

Disclaimer #2:  This is a devotional that I adapted from one that I wrote for The Headliner, a weekly e-newsletter, published by Orphan Grain Train.

Criminals + Commas + Wine Whine + More Retirement Plans

special tuesday edition . . . whimsical wed

Criminal Minds

From Omaha World Herald (11/20):  "Family flying to meet soldier's remains is booed exiting plane. The father of a CA soldier recently killed in Afghanistan said he felt disrespected & hurt by passengers who booed him & his family when they were on a flight to meet his son's remains . . . The flight to Phoenix was 45 min. late & the crew, fearing the Perrys could miss their connecting flight, made an announcement for passengers to remain seated to let a 'special military family' deplane first. Perry said several passengers in 1st class booed, complaining that it was 'baloney' & that they had paid 1st-class fares . . . " [Fortunately, I am bound by ethical considerations from using the vast resources of my blog consulting team to discover the identities of these scoundrels . . . Kidding! I'd love the discover their names & print them.] *
* DISCLAIMER:  I confess. This is perhaps an unchristian, overreaction on my part.

FYI: English Majors

From Norfolk Daily News, column by Kathleen Parker (11/17):  "Quality is in details for grammar. My favorite bumper sticker I've never seen:  Commas matter.
      "So I've always thought, & do still believe with the passion of one whose knuckles were rapped for grammatical errors. I mean this only metaphorically--no bloody fingers--but using incorrect grammar was the 8th Deadly Sin in my childhood home. How grateful I am that this was so. 
      "And now I have a confession: I've begun to forget the rules. What used to come naturally has become a test of recall. Does a comma go here? Should I use the Oxford comma? I don't think this is singly attributable to the aging process (shut up) but rather to our increasing sloppiness in new ways of communicating. We may as well blame social media for this, too, especially Twitter. When you only have 140 characters to make a point, why waste one on a comma?"  [I agree completely irrevocably comprehensively unquestionably unilaterally.]

Food for Thought

Also from NDN (11/18):  "Red wine OK with turkey. There is no better holiday than Thanksgiving to bring food & wine together. As far as holidays go, this one is easy for the wine steward of the family. Turkey doesn't have a lot of bold flavors like you would find in beef. If fowl is your entree, you have multiple wine choices. We don't recommend tannic or complex red wines, such as cabernet sauvignon & barolo. However, turkey can tolerate fruity red wines, such as beaujolais, syrah, sangiovese & pinot noir."  [I posted this for members of my family that are ESPECIALLY into wine, but I also wanted to impress you, because I've actually heard of and/or sampled beaujolais, syrah, & pinot noir.]

Bracing for Retirement:  Scenario #5

Here I go again, reminding you ad nauseum [ad infinitum?] that I may need to take some form of early retirement, possibly as early as December; probably no later than March. I'll need some supplemental income. Here's my latest inspiration. Professional trapper!

Also from NDN (11/19):  "Chance to trap. Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (Nebraska) & Yellow throat Wildlife Management Area will be open for trapping this winter . . . Four trappers will be selected by public drawing on Dec.7 to trap on designated areas of the refuge & wildlife management area. Each trapper will be allowed a helper . . . "

PRO's:  

My niece is married to a pastor who also owns trapping gear & knows how to trap...This provides me w/opportunities for bonding, mentoring, spiritual nurturing, cheap source of trapping equipment, tutoring...Valentine Wildlife Refuge is less than a 4 hour drive from Norfolk...VWR is located in a very scenic area that borders the Niobrara River, complete w/bison, elk, prairie dogs . . .  

CON's:  

I assume that I would have to trap during the winter...I not relish the idea of slogging around ANY location--regardless of how scenic & regardless of a Winter Wonderland...I would probably have to invest in equipment, fees...I would also have to be selected in the public drawing...I'm making a heeeuuuge assumption that my nephew-in-law would want to be connected w/this outlandish scheme...My beloved spouse would probably have the final say...That final say would most likely lead to this . . . 

CONclusion:  This scenario is completely unrealistic.

Wednesday Whimsy on Tuesday *

From NDN TV Week late laughs (11/4):  "A man in Rhode Island just grew the largest pumpkin in North America, weighing over 2,200 lbs. The only downside is, the man's wife no longer thinks it's cute when he calls her 'pumpkin.'"  (From The Tonight Show w/Jimmy Fallon)
* I'm not too proud to admit when I "borrow."

• I paid $1.94/gallon for unleaded at Hy-Vee in Norfolk on TUE 11/21.
• Unless the Rapture happened & we don't know about it, the world did NOT end, contrary to many false prophets, on WED 11/9.
• Our 1st official snowfall of the 16-17 snow season in Norfolk happened last FRI 11/18. I think "we" received 1-2". I say "we" because I was in Lincoln. Lois got a late start.

One last fizzle . . .

mental health mon

From Omaha World Herald (11/14): "As days get shorter, act to help keep the 'winter blues' at bay. With winter in the northern hemisphere approaching, it's not uncommon for people to feel sluggish or moody. Those symptoms can be typical of someone experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that typically occurs during the winter. Symptoms include sleeping too much, overeating, loss of energy, social withdrawal & difficulty concentrating . . . 
      "Tips to keep your mood & motivation steady during the winter:

• "Get outside . . . 
• "Light therapy boxes . . . 
• "Get regular exercise . . . 
• "Stay social . . . "

MY COMMENTS:  I can definitely tell that my depression starts to worsen as days get shorter, especially after the time change. I would advocate for getting outside, getting regular exercise, & staying social, although all of these tips will be a challenge, due to the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Also, remember that you can affected by the season even if you do NOT have a diagnosed mood disorder.

      I've never tried a light therapy box, though it does sound intriguing.

One Last Fizzle . . . *
* My comments appear [in here]. **
** I realize that these Fizzle excerpts have contributed to lengthy, probably tedious mental health MON posts, but {1} I feel obligated to bring closure to them for the sake of anyone who has been following them for the sake of their own mental health or for the sake of the mental health of someone close to them. {2} I'm OCD. It's what I do. {3} I'll work to make my mental health posts pithier, too. Deal?

This is the final "installment" of the presentation I made at the Lutheran Education Association Convocation in Grand Rapids, Michigan last month. As a reminder, I set out to accomplish three goals.

1. Convince my audience that what many think of as burnout may, in fact, be clinical depression.
2. Offer recommendations and/or strategies for help, whether you recognize burnout/depression in yourself or someone else.
3. Add some spiritual encouragement.

Here is the title & description of my sectional, as found in the advance materials & convocation workbook. 

“Fizzling? Drop & Roll”

“Feel like you’re burning out? Working w/someone who may be burning out? Gain insights into symptoms & causes of burnout & depression, drawing upon research & my own personal experience. Learn from Scripture & where to get help, including resources such as counseling, Grace Place, & Shepherd’s Canyon Retreats.”

  

SPIRITUAL DISCONNECTION WHAT TO DO?

• Be patient w/the Christian in pain.
• Brief visits are best—but be persistent in keeping vigils w/him or her.
• Brief conversations are probably best or call & leave brief encouraging messages.
• Offer books, copies of prayers, psalms, sayings . . . [but keep in mind that everyone has their own individual preferences; don't be hurt if their preferences don't match yours or if they do not respond positively.]
• Offer to pray w/him or her. Remind him or her that you will remember them in your prayers . . . [but once again, keep in mind their possible spiritual disconnection. Your offer to pray with them may not be positively received, especially at first . . . & NEVER put them on a public prayer list unless you have their permission.]
• Depressed people often live life intensely in the present & may need a  reminder to take one day at a time . . . 
• They also may need a reminder that God promises to sustain & comfort us—but help & comfort & sustenance may not happen IMMEDIATELY . . .  [Burnout & depression rarely happen overnight, so it's not rational to expect that positive results will happen overnight either. However, since rational thinking may not be working at an optimal level, refer again to the first suggestion.]

PAUL’S STRATEGIES *

* CAVEAT #1:  I’m not a mental health professional & few if any of these strategies are my originals anyway. **
** CAVEAT #2:  Trial & error come into play. ***
*** CAVEAT #3:  What works for one person may not work for another.

• Physical activity [Effective for me, although I've been hampered off & on, first by back problems, then hip problems which resulted in a hip replacement; more recently with a knee problem. Then again, these could just be excuses.]                   
• Dogs [Some find pets to be a therapeutic presence. For me a dog has helped get me out of the house & walking. CAVEAT:  Picking up after the dog can be mildly depressing.]
• Quiet time [My quiet time has included scripture, prayer, devotions. CAVEAT:  If you also suffer from OCD, like I do, be careful lot to let quiet time become an obsessive-compulsive behavior, or it will be a frustrating instead of a spiritually uplifting time.]               
• Pastoral care [I have benefited from the spiritual care I've received from several pastors, including my own brother.]
• Journaling [For me this has taken the form of blogging, also writing devotionals for OGT. If you follow my blog, you also know that this can become frustratingly obsessive & compulsive.]
• Positive v. Negative Influence [In hindsight, I have spent WAY too much time during the election cycle drowning myself in political punditry from both ends of the spectrum. I'd say that this is just as bad as letting yourself be influenced by stinky people, like the kind that are found too often in staff workrooms & mtgs.]
• Road trips [I like road trips, but I realize that not everyone is in a position to take road trips. CAVEAT:  Sometimes when I'm in the car for a long period of time, I start "over-thinking," which causes me to drag myself down with negative thoughts.]
• Personal leave [If you know my story, then you know that I started a "sabbatical" from Lutheran High Northeast in November 2014. This turned into a long-term medical disability, which morphed into my separation from LHNE. The circumstances under which this occurred did NOT particularly help my mood disorders. On the other hand, the lifestyle changes that ensued have not been all bad. The time off that my Board originally gave me, including time for Lois & me to attend Shepherd's Canyon, were of great benefit.]
• Medications  [There are a plethora of psychotropic drugs available to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, etc. CAVEAT:  You should NEVER self-medicate. You SHOULD only take these types of medications under the supervision of a mental health professional.]
• Therapy [Ironically, I had my first session w/a mental health therapist the week prior to my "sabbatical" from LHNE. She has been a blessing for me. Contrary to what some think, a counselor is NOT someone who will listen to you, then tell you what's wrong with you & what you have to do to get better.]
• Psychiatry [A psychiatrist's main responsibility is to listen to you describe your symptoms, diagnose your condition(s), & prescribe appropriate medications and/or treatment plans. A psychiatrist does NOT primarily provide counseling.]

TRUTH & HOPE FROM SCRIPTURE

I previously shared these passages with you.

• Romans 8:28
• Romans 8:35, 37-39
• 1 Cor. 15:58
• 2 Cor. 12:9
• Eph. 2:8-10

I'm adding two more.

• 1 Peter 5:6-7 . . . “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s right hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
• 1 Cor. 10-13 . . . “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Sources
Halloran, Kevin. “Christian Ministry Burnout, Prevention, Signs, Statistics & Recovery. leadership
resources.org, posted 10/22/13.
Lukits, Ann. “Are Burnout & Depression the Same Thing?” Wall Street Journal on-line, 3/7/16.
Yahnke, Dr. Beverly. “Depression:  Understanding the Pieces of the Puzzle.” Lutheran Hour
Ministries brochure, 2013.

Headlights On!

walking in the truth

Today's devotional thoughts

This excerpt appeared in our Grace Lutheran Church bulletin on SUN 11/13. I'm not sure whom to attribute it to, other than to note that these aren't my original thoughts . . . 

"Stewardship Corner:  Can people see God's light through you? Actions, words, lifestyle, & what we give are visible indicators of God's presence within our lives. Our character, compassion, gratitude, giving, humility, perseverance, & faith reflect God's light when He is glorified & honored above all things. The Holy Spirit has placed within each Christian a light that can show others God's glory & majesty. We are to let that light shine (Matt. 5:16). Our light may seem to us like a twinkling candle in a dark world, but God will use it & magnify it."

Today's Truth from Scripture

[Jesus speaking to His disciples & the crowd when He gave His Sermon on the Mount, Matt. 5-7]:  "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds & glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

More devotional thoughts

As followers of Jesus Christ, we should but don't always recognize the love of Christ active in our lives as shown in the love of others for us. Why not? We are poor, sinful beings, & when times are tough, it's much easier to recognize & focus on the negatives than the positives.

What about those who are not followers of Christ? How can they recognize the love of Christ active in their lives when they don't recognize Christ as their Lord & Savior?

Well, we know that it is only the Call of the Gospel by water & the Word that creates faith. We also know that we have been called to let our light shine before others, i.e., let the light of that Gospel shine in the lives of others. We love others because of Christ's love for us . . . . not because it earns points for us toward heaven or polishes our own medals. [Yeah, I had to sneak some Lutheran theology in this devotional.]

And so we shine our/His light before others, letting them see our good deeds--not to glorify ourselves--but to glorify our Father in heaven & let Him be responsible for the salvation of the world.

Today's prayer *

Dear Lord, may we not fall idle or grow weary in shining our light--Your light--into this dark world that the Gospel of Christ's redemption may lift heads in hope & turn the hearts of others, along with our own hearts, toward life in our Heavenly Father & with His children in need. Grant us Your Holy Spirit of wisdom that our witness many help prevent many from perishing. Amen
* Adapted from another excerpt in the Grace church bulletin, 11/13/16

Missionary News *

* A few revisions have been made since the original post.

Pastor Stuart & Debra Freese are the two missionaries that Lois & I have adopted. They are preparing to serve in West Africa; it looks like they are on track to begin their mission & ministry over there soon after the 1st of the year. They are spending their time now getting ready for this assignment, which includes traveling to spread the word about the mission work in Africa & raising support with the help of Gary Thies. Some of you know Gary from his work via Mission Central. [http://missioncentral.us/missioncentral/welcome] I have Stu & Deb's permission to share the following information with you.

• Email: debra.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Email:  stuart.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Facebook:  www.facebook.com/FreesesinAfrica/ (NOTE:  You don't need a Facebook account to view this page.)
• Website:  http://debrafreese.wix.com/freesesinafrica
• Giving Page:  http://www.lcms.org/freese

Post-Election Finger-Pointing + Climate Change Alarms

FRIDAY BL.A.H.*ging

* Bloggers Against Hypocrisy

In the last Special THU edition of my Whimsical WED blog, I mentioned that a member of my crack team of blog consultants had (strongly) suggested that my blogs had gotten out of control. I issued a mea culpa *, agreeing w/her assessment, & resolved to try to make my features pithier; also that maybe I should revert to a previous practice of saving politically-themed features for a separate post. We'll see what you think.
* I have a confession . . . my multi-lingual expertise may not be as extensive as I've led you to believe.

Tagline from Drudge Report (11/17):  "JESSE JACKSON: Obama should pardon Hillary . . . " [Wait . . . What? Is this an admission that HC is/was guilty of impeachable offenses?] *
* Why can you get instant apple-cinammon oatmeal but not peach-cinammon oatmeal? Inquiring minds want to know. **
** It may be a misnomer when I label my mind as "inquiring."

From Omaha World Herald (11/13):  "Here to watch election, Europeans point out flaws . . . " [Because, as any student of European history can tell you, Europeans have a rich tradition of successful elections.]

Also from OWH (11/11):  "Gore offers to work w/Trump on U.S. climate policy . . . " [I can neither confirm nor deny that DT has also received offers of help from Al Sharpton re:  race relations . . . Joy Behar re:  abortion rights . . . Alec Baldwin re: building bridges w/Hollywood . . . ]

Who Can We Blame?

It's been fascinating to watch & listen to the left side of the political spectrum try to affix the blame for the results of the presidential election. It seems to me that I remember when DT was asked if he would accept the results of the election. The assumption at the time, of course, was that he would lose. He refused to concede that point, & there was an outcry of outrage among both Republicans & Democrats. Hmmmm.

Also from OWH (11/13):  "Clinton blames FBI for hurting campaign in final days . . . " [Yes, it was the FBI that was responsible for the Clinton Foundation & pay-for-play revelations, Benghazi disaster, rigged Democratic primaries & convention, HC's policy positions, her lack of respect for the victim's of her spouse's sexual crimes . . . ]

Another tagline from Drudge (11/14):  "Enjoying Hollywood Doomsaying," via mrc/NewsBusters, originally posted 11/11 . . . [You should try to find this & read it yourself. The gist of the article involves Hollywood celebrities moaning over the racist, homophobic, poorly educated white Americans living between the East & West Coasts who voted for a Hitler-like candidate. How could they not vote for HC like their more enlightened brother & sisters in the Hollywood elite?
      I think the question they should be asking is, how come the Democrats' usual constituencies did NOT turn out & vote for HC?]

Also from OWH editorial page (11/16):  "Clinton bears responsibility. Hillary Clinton & much of her campaign staff now blame her defeat on FBI Director James Comey. Clearly, for them, the buck stops elsewhere . . . " [It's been pointed out that the election of DT was a repudiation of the last 8 years of our current POTUS. I would also say that it was a repudiation of the ethical character of the candidate who lost. What about the ethical character of the candidate who won? Yeah, you got me on that. As I've posted before, I woke up the next morning after Election Day feeling relieved about who lost; not necessarily rejoicing over who won.]

Global Climate Change

From Lincoln Journal Star (10/21):  "Mysterious 'Planet 9' might be causing solar system wobble . . . " [I can neither confirm nor deny that Al Gore is questioning whether our solar system wobble might, in fact, be due to Earth's global climate change.] *
* On behalf of those of us who still resent the fascist, globalist decision to reduce Pluto's ranking among our solar systems objects(?), I protest referring to another of our solar system's objects as "Planet 9." Who made that decision? Did you get to vote on that decision? I wasn't asked to vote on either decision!

Also from LJS (11/17):  "Pluto may hide slushy ocean at its cold heart. Evidence is mounting for an ocean at Pluto, buried beneath its frozen heart. Scientists said WED that Pluto may have rolled over on its axis eons ago, the result of tidal forces w/jumbo moon Charon. The extra weight of an underground sea is the most likely explanation, they said."  [What? "They" don't attribute this to global climate change on Pluto?] *
* I can neither confirm nor deny that Al Gore is calling for an investigation into what he calls GACTBGCC. **
** Global Axis Change Triggered by Global Climate Change ***
*** G.O.M.E.R. **** Alert:  Is it right to shame Charon by referring to it as a "jumbo" moon?
**** Grumpy Old Man & His Elucidating Rants

Critic: "Blog Too Long!" Blogger: "Oh, Yeah?"

special TUE edition . . . whimsical wead

Mea Culpa *

* Yet another shameless flaunting of my multi-lingual skills

Uh, yeah. My blog has been getting out of control, as one of the members of my crack, team of blog consultants pointed out to me the other night. I don't want to embarrass her by identifying her. It's always been my policy to keep the members of my team as anonymous as possible. Let's just say she is one of the most discerning people I've ever known, & I've known her for 50 years, if memory serves correctly.

• Resolution #1:  Try to make my features pithier. Key word = "Try."
• Resolution #2:  Do my best to restore my plethora of faithful blog followers, perhaps by restoring my politically-oriented blogs to a separate day.

There Is No Place Like . . . Nebraska! . . . Texas!

From Norfolk Daily News (11/15): "A Republican senator helped his constituents get around this weekend by moonlighting as a driver for the ride-sharing service Uber. In a series of tweets, Ben Sasse of Nebraska explained his decision to get behind the wheel by saying he works 'alongside & for' the people of the Cornhusker state. He said the money he earned is going to charity . . . " [I can neither confirm nor deny that Chelsea (Clinton) also helped her mom's constituents by moonlighting as a driver for Uber, donating the money she earned to the Clinton Foundation.] *
* Did this excerpt seem a little political in nature? I apologize, IF I offended you.

Ditto (11/15):  "Never too early to plan for snowfall. Even though it's been a very pleasant fall, it's never too early to think about snow & snow emergencies. It was only 9 months ago that a foot of snow & 40+ m.p.h. winds shut Norfolk down for a few days . . . " [I didn't bother to read the rest of this article.

• Our forecast includes a possibility of 1-3" of snow on FRI 11/18 w/temperatures plunging into the 20s already tonite.
• I already have a plan for snowfall & wintry weather, but it hinges on my Florida family members agreeing to let me spend the winter months with them.] *

* Don't panic, Sarah. I'm just kidding.

From Lincoln Journal Star (11/17):  "A vast field of shale rock in West Texas could yield 20 billion barrels of oil, making it the largest source of shale oil the U.S. Geological Survey has ever assessed, agency officials said . . . " [No, Texas cast their votes for DT because they are racist, homophobic bigots.] *
* I'm kidding! I'm kidding! I have family in Texas! **
** Did I just hear someone say that this seems like another political excerpt?

Wide World of Wacky Celebrities

Tagline from Drudge Report (11/17):  "Dunham Flees to Arizona, Asks Rocks for 'Guidance' . . . " [And, no, I didn't bother to read the article.]

Bracing for Retirement . . . Scenario 4 *

* Still looks like I may have to seriously consider some form of early retirement as early as December 2016; probably no later than March 2017.

Drive for Uber

Pro's:  The damage caused by an older dude * backing into my sporty vehicle in the parking lot at El Mezcal has now been fixed, restoring the attractive qualities of my Honda Accord . . . After I accomplish my winter servicing via Jerry's Service Center in Norfolk *** within the next week or so, my vehicle will be in peak performance for winter driving . . . You can depend on me to drive you around for holiday shopping sprees in Norfolk, Battle Creek, Madison, Wayne, etc.

Con's:  I don't relish the idea of driving people around for Post-Thanksgiving sales . . . 
I'm not sure what my car insurance agent would think about this . . . I'm also not sure what my spouse would think about this . . . The extremely limited hours I would be available might limit the economic impact of this venture.

CONclusion . . . Highly unlikely retirement scenario.

* I apologize IF I have offended any older dudes **
** By "older" I mean that he was obviously older than me. I will be 64 on 1/7/17.
*** I haven't made an appointment yet. Also, I've received no remuneration for this plug for my favorite vehicle service center.

Thanksgiving Whimsy

From Omaha World Herald (10/6):  "Mall of America to close on Thanksgiving; others to follow?" . . . [Statement by P.E.T.N. *  "We can only assume that our massive demonstration at the M.O.A. on Norwegian Pride Day was the deciding factor, forcing the mall management to make this decision. We Norwegians can now sleep-in on this special day of the year, then enjoy our tasty lutefisk feasts. We applaud The Mall for its consideration of our huge ethnic presence in the Twin Cities & Beyond."]
* People for the Ethical Treatment of Norwegians.

Also from OWH (10/15):  "Seasonal Myths Debunked . . . Sugar makes kids really wired. Nope, even though many parents swear this is true . . . Eating Thanksgiving turkey makes you drowsy. You will read stories about tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, & how it makes you want to nap--but, in fact, chicken & beef have pretty similar amounts of the chemical. Your sleepiness is probably just from overeating, with lots of carbohydrates & a few alcoholic beverages . . . [So . . . 

1. Lois, Sarah, Rachel, Laura . . . It's OK for Papa to squirt whipped cream from the can directly into the grandkids' mouths at Thanksgiving dinner.
2. Bring on the turkey, mashed potatoes w/gravy, Lois' world famous stuffing, crescent rolls w/real butter!
3. Sweet potatoes? Sorry, they grow in ditches.
4. It's perfectly normal to take a post-Thanksgiving feast nap @ 9:00p.]

Reasons to rejoice...bemoan...+ fizzle...

special TUE edition . . . mental health MON

reasons to be [at least mildly] happy [or better]

Election Results

You might surmise that I woke up on WED 11/9, heard Lois report the presidential election results to me [She was quicker to her cell phone than I was.], I felt a huge wave of relief. Well . . . yes & no.
      I was admittedly very relieved that "She-Who-Should-Have-Been-&-Still-Probably-Should-Be-Indicted" was NOT elected to be our next POTUS. Anyone with a lick of common sense should NOT have supported this woman's election [I'm sorry IF I offend you, but it's still MY blog.] 
      On the other hand, I have pointed out ad nauseum * that I could not & would not endorse "He-That-I-Cannot & Will Not Endorse." Our country is in for a challenging transition & a challenging four years.
* There I go again, flaunting my multi-lingual skills ad nauseum.

I paid $1.99/gallon for gas at Hy-Vee on MON 11/14, clearly a sign that the fossil fuel's market is on the uptick after the results of last week's election, right?

An upside to my "sabbatical" has been an opportunity to spend more time helping out w/my grand-daughters in Lincoln & my 3-year-old grandson Bentley. I got to take care of him for about an hour-&-a-half yesterday morning (11/14), & he actually brought over a couple of books for me to read. One was "Blue Hat, Green Hat," by Sandra Boynton, & I'll bet I read it to him a dozen times. He laughed hysterically whenever we got to the turkey w/the "oops" caption. [You really gotta read it to appreciate it.] I finally convinced him to let me read a book entitled "Farm," whose protagonist was a duck, after which we watch a couple of baby duckling videos on YouTube before his mother Rachel came back to pick him up.  Ahhhhh.

Road trip update

A couple of weeks ago when I was on one of my excursions to Lincoln, helping provide limo service for my daughter Sarah & my grand-daughters Brianna (12) & Hadley (7!!!), I took a road trip to Rock Creek Station State Historical Site near Crete. Lois & I first visited it during the summer of 1978, when we camped our way from Chicago to southwest Kansas, where her parents lived. At that time RCS only consisted of a historical marker on the highway & one small, restored building.
      We've been back a couple of more times, but it's been quite a few years. Now there are many restored buildings. For those of you who enjoy the history of the Old West, as I do, Rock Creek Station is where James Butler Hickock, aka "Wild Bill," may have killed his first man. I say "may," because there is some reason to believe that he may have shot down a man in Springfield, MO, previously. Whatever. Google it & do your own research.
      It was a very enjoyable hour or so that I spent on site. Also brought back a lot of pleasant memories.

Lutheran High School VB championship

Congratulations to our sister LHS--Concordia Lutheran in Omaha--who won the State C1 championship last weekend in Lincoln. They came from behind in all three sets and won the final set 37-35, after being down 34-35. No, your eyes are not deceiving you. The final scores does look like a football score.
      I feel compelled to mention that 75% of LCMS high schools in Nebraska have won State VB championships. Can our friends in the public or Catholic school systems match that record? I believe that I am safe in calling this a victory for all LCMS high schools in the state!

My positive health update

I had my regularly-scheduled appt w/my P.A. today (11/15). My hemoglobin A1c result was shockingly within the normal range, especially considering that I've steadily continued to gain back the weight I lost up to & immediately following my hip replacement in the early spring . . . I also found out that I do NOT have a recommendation to get x-rays or an orthopedic referral or PT for my right knee . . . yet. More on that later.

Internet provider & news about television

This is heeeuuuge! After having access to cable and/or satellite tv since the early 1990s, dating back to your time in Lincoln, NE, continuing thru our time in Hawaii & on thru our recent history in Norfolk, NE, we have had access to cable and/or satellite TV. Well, as of about two weeks ago, we cut the proverbial [I've been waiting forever to use that cliche'.] umbilical cord & dropped our satellite TV service. When we signed up for our "bundle" 2 years ago, part of it was predicated on the fact that our cable package had risen exponentially & we just weren't watching as much network & cable TV as much as we used to. However, I still felt that we needed access to weather & news because of my responsibilities as head administrator at LHNE.
      So we dropped our cable provider & signed up with a satellite provider, which also meant a new Internet provider. We bundled, which also meant a new landline connection & high-speed Internet. We have had two years of NO decrease in prices, NO improvement in service, steadily deteriorating Internet services, AND NO land line. That's right . . . when we got our original hardware in the mail, we found that when we connected the infamous "green cable" to our new server, we couldn't get access to our new landline. [Again, something I felt that I still needed as head administrator at Lutheran High, if for no other reason to have a listing in the phonebook.] If we connected the green cable, we couldn't get access to high-speed Internet [which turned out to be a laughable concept]. We made numerous phone calls to both parties. Each party blamed the other. 
      Eventually we gave up & decided that we did NOT need a landline, so we called to cancel the landline service. Sorry, we were told. You signed a contract for bundled services, so opting out of a landline was not permissible. Wait . . . what? We couldn't have a landline through no fault of our own but would still have to pay for it?
     A month or so ago, when we had endured increasing frustrations w/our Internet service--again--we called our provider--again. We were told that the problem was our server--not our fault--& they would mail us a new server at no charge. We waited over a week w/no results, then called again. We were told that, no, it wasn't the server. A technician was sent to our house. After spending an hour on the problem, we were told that the problem all along was that from the very beginning the landline(s) service had been sent to ALL of our landline connections, not just one. Again, NOT OUR FAULT, yet we paid for the landline that we never got to use for two years!
      We discontinued our Internet provider also. We now have a new Internet provider. Knock on wood *, we have had two weeks of almost flawless service, our rate has dropped dramatically, & we are on a month-to-month contract! CAVEAT EMPTOR! **
* CAVEAT:  Lutherans traditionally do not accept this as a legitimate doctrinal practice.
** There I go, flaunting my multi-lingual skills . . . again!

Reasons to be [at least mildly or more] despondent

My mental health update

For the last couple months I've continued to struggle w/my depression. I attribute part of it caused by continued uncertainty re:  my status over my disability. To recap, in Nov. 2014, I began a long-term disability because of my mood disorders(s), administered by Liberty Mutual on behalf of Concordia Plan Services. This status was subject t periodic review. At the very end of July I was notified by LM that I no longer met the criteria for disability, despite recommendations by my mental health providers, but was entitled to appeal. [This happened to me once before; I appealed & my appeal was upheld.] Not only did I lose my disability payments, I also lost my health insurance w/virtually no time before I could file the appeal.
      This situation drug on until late September. I had already begun to experience a relapse in my mood disorders; this situation only served to exacerbate symptoms. Finally, I was notified in late SEP that my formal appeal had been received, & my temporary health insurance had been restored at least thru the end of NOV.
      Approximately one week ago I was notified by CPS that LM did NOT in fact forward my paperwork to their Appeals Division, despite what they told us on the phone & notified me via a formal letter. The good news? CPS has informed me that my temporary health insurance has been extended until the end of 2016, barring some extraordinary circumstance. The bad news? LM could still notify me at any time that my claim has been disallowed.
      If/when my claim is disallowed, my temporary health insurance will lapse at the end of that same month. Barring any other legal recourse, I will most likely have to start dipping into my CRP, while postponing--hopefully--Social Security payments. I will also have to begin covering my own health insurance premiums. [CAVEAT:  I understand many of you--especially on some type of Obamacare--have been struggling w/health insurance premiums for some time & this will only get worse after 12/31.]
      So, once again, this has only served to exacerbate my symptoms of depression & anxiety, & so I ask for your prayers; also your prayers for my spouse, who is long-suffering & shouldn't have to put up w/all this stress on account of me.

My physical health update

I mentioned above that I got good news this morning (11/15) about my hemoglobin A1c results--completely baffling to me, since I have been on a "self-proscribed" carb diet [otherwise known as "eating for comfort"], which typically accompanies my depressive cycles, for the last month or more. And I'm not facing any PT or surgical procedures for my knee--at least in the near future.
      On the other hand, my walking routines have taken a severe hit, & I don't see that changing much for the better until my knee issue resolves. I'm supposed to start on an anti-inflammatory. My PA's suggestion was Aleve x2 per day. Any comments about that? Okay, I think that's enough pity party for one day, don't you?

FIZZLING? DROP & ROLL? 

This is a continuation of the notes from my sectional at the Lutheran Education Association National Convocation at Grand Rapids, MI, last month. I tried to provide some insights re:  the strong similarities between burnout & depression symptoms; also to provide some strategies for relief & reasons to hope.

MORE INSIGHTS [& my comments]

• Depressed people may avoid social situations that require emotional energy. [I did. I became somewhat of a social recluse & was probably seen as being anti-social.]
• They may pour most energy into work (leave home early; stay at work late). [Guilty!]
• They may return home /little or no energy left for spouse & family. [Guilty!]
• It may feel like he or she is trying to avoid you (this could be true).
• A personal relationship might make a difference (or not). [If you have a close relationship w/the person, he/she might be embarrassed to share feelings w/you.]
• Listen respectfully (watch your body language). [Just because a person is depressed doesn't mean he/she can't recognize body language like frequently looking at your watch & rolling your eyes.]
• Refrain from giving advice. [First, you most likely aren't a professional mental health provider. Secondly, if you know anything about mental health therapists, you know that they mostly listen instead of advising. True?] 

IF THEY WON’T SEEK HELP [& my comments]

• More likely than not even after multiple appeals
• Easily leads to frustration, possibly resentment (or worse). [You may give up after being repeatedly rebuffed. Hang tough!]
• Family is affected greatly, so make this part of the appeal. [ I.E., "Do it for your family! Or, "Your family is hurting!" I personally don't see anything wrong w/using guilt to prod someone into seeing a professional, BUT I am not a mental health specialist.]
• What happens to a spouse if the other member of a couple is affected? A spouse may{?} require help.) [I would say that a spouse almost CERTAINLY requires help.]
• Tough love [You may need to tell a co-worker or close friend that it's time for an intervention. MORE ON that below. I will say that I strongly regret that I did NOT insist that one of my colleagues did NOT follow my advice & see a mental health specialist when I suggested that he/she might be suffering from clinical depression.]
• “Speaking the truth in love.” [This is scriptural, but it does NOT give you the right to be mean-spirited. Again, remember that you are most likely NOT a mental health specialist, so telling someone that he or she is clinically depressed is NOT your call. Recommending that someone needs to see a mental health professional MAY BE your call.]
• An intervention [In my case, it took a surprise mtg w/my pastor, the District President, the District Executive for Education, my wife, & I think the president of my BOD. That tends to get a person's attention, but it was needed, because at that point I still thought that I could straighten things out on my own.]

TAKE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS SERIOUSLY! [& my comments]

• This includes self-destructive thoughts. [Example:  "I want to kill myself, & I have a plan." But it also includes apathy re:  death, as in, "I really don't care whether I live or die. Maybe people would be better off if I was dead."]
• Some personal experiences. [I don't recall ever wanting to kill myself, but I can relate to feeling totally apathetic about living or dying. I've also experienced two suicides of students at my Lutheran High School--truly a devastating event for all involved that may cause long-lasting feelings of guilt for survivors.]
• This is very likely a “reportable” action if you are a church worker. [You may be legally bound to report any self-destructive comments or knowledge of self-destructive comments and/or behaviors of a student or any other minor to the authorities if you are a professional church worker. Examples:  a student confides in you that he/she is contemplating suicide; you read in a student's journal that he/she is having suicidal thoughts & feelings; a student confides in you that a close friend is hoarding pills for a suicide attempt. Even if you confront this student & he/she denies it, I believe a contact w/a parent is an absolute must.]
• Self-reporting. [If YOU experience thoughts of self-destruction, this is a classic symptom of clinical depression, & you owe it to yourself & your loved ones to seek treatment! And, FYI, yes, I have reported feelings of apathy re:  living or dying to my mental health providers.]

IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION * [& my comments]

* I shared these w/you previously:

1. Make an appointment w/your pastor, a counselor, a physician to tell them what’s been happening in your life. Let them know how many things have been very difficult for you & you don’t seem to be getting better.
2. Try to follow their recommendations.
3. Arrange follow-up visits, especially if the symptoms of your illness are continuing to leave you feeling discouraged & defeated. [Your issues didn't all appear overnight; your recovery isn't going to happen overnight.]
4. Spend time w/positive people you find encouraging, uplifting, compassionate.
5. Reduce time w/”stinky” people who are routinely negative, unkind, or unpleasant. [This sounds harsh, but faculty workrooms & mtgs can be nasty locations for people suffering from mood disorders.]

CONTINUED

6. Try to take comfort in Word & Sacrament

7. John 16:33   “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials & sorrows. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (Jesus]

8. Trust that God or Father, who created you; Jesus Christ, who redeemed you by His death & triumphant resurrection; & the Holy Spirit, who through Word & Sacraments continues to bring you God’s gifts, will continue to bless, keep, sustain & comfort you throughout each of these difficult days & even to eternity.

TRUTH & HOPE FROM SCRIPTURE * [& my comments]

* I shared these w/you previously: 

• Romans 8:28; 35, 37-39
• 1 Cor. 15:58
• 2 Cor. 12:9

CONTINUED

• Eph. 2:8-10  “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith--& this not from  yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” [Your mood disorder is NOT God's punishment for the wrongs you've committed in your life. And there is every reason to think that your recovery--or those times when you are experiencing an UP cycle may be an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others suffering the same disorder as you.]

Sources

• Halloran, Kevin. “Christian Ministry Burnout, Prevention, Signs, Statistics & Recovery. leadership resources.org, posted 10/22/13.
• Lukits, Ann. “Are Burnout & Depression the Same Thing?” Wall Street Journal on-line, 3/7/16.
• Yahnke, Dr. Beverly. “Depression:  Understanding the Pieces of the Puzzle.” Lutheran Hour Ministries brochure, 2013.