Comments for Springboard http://springhill.wordpress.com Diving into church 2.0 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:20:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Fixin to do Something by Robbie http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/fixin-to-do-something/#comment-101 Robbie Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:20:02 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=48#comment-101 We were just talking about this in our small group! In 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One, the author talks about getting stuck in a holding pattern and the reasons we procrastinate. It's encouraging to be around people who are not just talking about doing something but are actually making an impact. We were just talking about this in our small group! In 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One, the author talks about getting stuck in a holding pattern and the reasons we procrastinate. It’s encouraging to be around people who are not just talking about doing something but are actually making an impact.

]]> Comment on Conversations we Need to Have – Depression by Isa http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/conversations-we-need-to-have-depression/#comment-95 Isa Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:35:27 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=21#comment-95 I am replying to the July 13 message about depression. My hope is to provide compassion and encouragement to those who are sufferers of this dreadful disease and insight them, their caregivers and help to educate the Church as the unified Body of Christ. Although the recorded number of people in the U.S. alone is in the millions, we need to keep in mind that these numbers are statistically derived from only the reported cases. Just as many or more are walking around either not knowing they have this illness or having not reported it due to fear, shame and/or stigma. Two of the greatest impacts resulting from depression are shame and guilt; at least “outsiders” tend to think people with this illness have something wrong in their lives that generate it. Not so; shame and guilt are both part of the disease, and in reality, are usually unjust shame and unjust guilt. Example: A depressed believer reaps unproductive criticism from their Christian peers, family or friends when reaching out for help by sharing their distress. The response oftentimes is “get the sin out of your life and it will go away” or “pray about it.” The fact is that the illness is an illness, not merely a state of mind or a bad attitude, and in my experience, usually not derived from a spiritual source. The last time I read my Bible, it said God is about preserving life, not destroying or marring it. What effect does this have on the depressed? It silences them, the illness progresses and worsens, they lose trust in people, it hurts and causes further damage by fueling the disease (dis-ease); they feel misunderstood and “blown off.” These reactions can result in birthing judgmental attitudes and stigma aimed at people who happen to be different (a person is NOT their depression), fear of the depressed and stereotypical beliefs; and in the process of the illness’s progression, reinforces all of the above, causing continuous harm instead of healing. Believers and non-believers with this illness have a difficult time dealing with the alienation, immobilization and morbid aspects of the disease. The negative ideas self-produced by the brain (also part of the illness) encourages a child of God to think God is mad at them or doesn’t care; they’ve been forgotten, others don’t care, they are reaping what they have sown, they are unworthy or they are just bad, period. Depression comes with lowered immunity, and therefore physical problems and/or the bloom of additional illnesses can develop. Research has shown that emotions, spirituality and the physical are connected, and the mental faculties are affected too. Being in God’s perfect will does not guarantee perfect health—life can’t guarantee that either. The question remains, is it God’s will for a person to heal or learn by “experience?” I don’t have a specific answer for that one because it would seem that spiritual healing is a supernatural occurrence and wouldn’t require medicine. Being misunderstood is eminent due to the fact that those without the illness, or who don’t know or live with somebody who has depression, really don’t understand the mechanics or dynamics of depression. Beliefs, morals, and suggestions (gossip)travel fast among all people in and out of the church environment and this can cause someone who needs medical help to become crushed, give up and despair. We as believing Christians, need to remember that it is much easier to pull someone down than to lift someone up. Most people are simply uneducated about this illness and therefore are not responding, but reacting innocently due to ignorance, and not with malice in mind. However, to be helpful, we need to research and get the facts before reacting to something we really need to respond to with nonjudgmental compassion. Many people, the depressed included, do not obtain the information because depression is a “downer” and who wants to participate in that? Sometimes it’s difficult when we are facing our own set of problems and working hard to maintain our own strength and “be up” in the Lord. As a result, from the presumed negative aspects this “negative” sharing and listening to it brings, many people want to keep their distance, not get involved or be bothered with it, and the depressed shut down; this can cause a wedge between believers and generate isolation instead of community. Is depression a physical, mental or spiritual issue? That, by leadership from God, supportive people and true self-examination, researching and obtaining an accurate diagnosis may be the only way to discover the answer. There are many types of depression: Clinical and non-clinical; mild, chronic, severe and refractory. Any of them can be generated by another illness (like thyroid, diabetes or alcoholism). Physical depression, in which most cases the root health issue is treated, the depression lifts. Situational depression occurs from a loss of any kind. Physiological depression via damage to the central nervous system by other means than being born with it is different than mental depression (born with it). Psychological or socially induced depression stems from conditioning and environment, and being influenced by it. Then we have different classes of depression, such as major (unipolar) depression, bi-polar (depression with mania), depression with psychotic features, and the list goes on and on. This is why a diagnosis is so crucial to receiving the correct treatment—treatment is always a customized process—the same treatment does not “fit all.” Seeking help is a strength, not a weakness; it is easier not to do anything about a problem rather than work through it. Most of the time we find out that doing nothing causes greater health chaos, not less, because it always rears it’s ugly head at some point and in some manor in our lives. Can depression be cured? Yes and no. Ultimate healing depends on what type, for how long, to what degree and what additional features, if any, play a part, what the cause of its onset was and how much damage has been done. Depression damages the physical body. That damage affects mental capacity, the psychological, emotional and additional physical parts of us. Spiritual impairment is usually a symptom or repercussion, not a cause. Sometimes depression cannot be reversed, just managed. The earlier a person seeks treatment, the better chance of a full recovery. So we see that just as Pastor Carlton expressed, depression is a complex illness; there are just too many variables to consider. So how do we help the depressed find hope in God? After all, depression can be terminal; it kills—that’s its job. God offers hope, peace, compassion and eternal life; these are His gifts. From my experience with many sufferers, the biggest gift we can offer others who need assistance is two-fold: Compassion--live the compassion of God. “Fire and Brimstone” reactions can be too easily misconstrued as judgmental because of the heavy weight of guilt and shame it tends to generate. Depressed people want to feel loved, not just know it or hear it, and they desire to be understood. Many depressed people cannot (do not have the ability to) feel anything or only feel negative or morose; this is why some resort to self-mutilation, like cutting oneself. They feel pain (to feel something--anything), and then they heal (visually and mentally). This illness strikes people physically where they are the weakest and any one depressed person can fill up two notebook pages with the symptoms that accompany it. Would we not take an antibiotic to cure an infection? Would we not take our insulin to prevent our own death? Would we abstain from taking our nitro-glycerin to prevent a heart attack? Depression needs treatment too, and sometimes with medication and/or psychotherapy. Without it, there is no recovery. Depression 101: Along with compassion, if we as believers can learn about the illness and provide gentle guidance toward treatment, we might save a life. Hope this helps... I am replying to the July 13 message about depression. My hope is to provide compassion and encouragement to those who are sufferers of this dreadful disease and insight them, their caregivers and help to educate the Church as the unified Body of Christ. Although the recorded number of people in the U.S. alone is in the millions, we need to keep in mind that these numbers are statistically derived from only the reported cases. Just as many or more are walking around either not knowing they have this illness or having not reported it due to fear, shame and/or stigma.
Two of the greatest impacts resulting from depression are shame and guilt; at least “outsiders” tend to think people with this illness have something wrong in their lives that generate it. Not so; shame and guilt are both part of the disease, and in reality, are usually unjust shame and unjust guilt. Example: A depressed believer reaps unproductive criticism from their Christian peers, family or friends when reaching out for help by sharing their distress. The response oftentimes is “get the sin out of your life and it will go away” or “pray about it.” The fact is that the illness is an illness, not merely a state of mind or a bad attitude, and in my experience, usually not derived from a spiritual source. The last time I read my Bible, it said God is about preserving life, not destroying or marring it.
What effect does this have on the depressed? It silences them, the illness progresses and worsens, they lose trust in people, it hurts and causes further damage by fueling the disease (dis-ease); they feel misunderstood and “blown off.” These reactions can result in birthing judgmental attitudes and stigma aimed at people who happen to be different (a person is NOT their depression), fear of the depressed and stereotypical beliefs; and in the process of the illness’s progression, reinforces all of the above, causing continuous harm instead of healing. Believers and non-believers with this illness have a difficult time dealing with the alienation, immobilization and morbid aspects of the disease. The negative ideas self-produced by the brain (also part of the illness) encourages a child of God to think God is mad at them or doesn’t care; they’ve been forgotten, others don’t care, they are reaping what they have sown, they are unworthy or they are just bad, period.
Depression comes with lowered immunity, and therefore physical problems and/or the bloom of additional illnesses can develop. Research has shown that emotions, spirituality and the physical are connected, and the mental faculties are affected too. Being in God’s perfect will does not guarantee perfect health—life can’t guarantee that either. The question remains, is it God’s will for a person to heal or learn by “experience?” I don’t have a specific answer for that one because it would seem that spiritual healing is a supernatural occurrence and wouldn’t require medicine.
Being misunderstood is eminent due to the fact that those without the illness, or who don’t know or live with somebody who has depression, really don’t understand the mechanics or dynamics of depression. Beliefs, morals, and suggestions (gossip)travel fast among all people in and out of the church environment and this can cause someone who needs medical help to become crushed, give up and despair. We as believing Christians, need to remember that it is much easier to pull someone down than to lift someone up.
Most people are simply uneducated about this illness and therefore are not responding, but reacting innocently due to ignorance, and not with malice in mind. However, to be helpful, we need to research and get the facts before reacting to something we really need to respond to with nonjudgmental compassion. Many people, the depressed included, do not obtain the information because depression is a “downer” and who wants to participate in that? Sometimes it’s difficult when we are facing our own set of problems and working hard to maintain our own strength and “be up” in the Lord. As a result, from the presumed negative aspects this “negative” sharing and listening to it brings, many people want to keep their distance, not get involved or be bothered with it, and the depressed shut down; this can cause a wedge between believers and generate isolation instead of community.
Is depression a physical, mental or spiritual issue? That, by leadership from God, supportive people and true self-examination, researching and obtaining an accurate diagnosis may be the only way to discover the answer. There are many types of depression: Clinical and non-clinical; mild, chronic, severe and refractory. Any of them can be generated by another illness (like thyroid, diabetes or alcoholism). Physical depression, in which most cases the root health issue is treated, the depression lifts. Situational depression occurs from a loss of any kind. Physiological depression via damage to the central nervous system by other means than being born with it is different than mental depression (born with it). Psychological or socially induced depression stems from conditioning and environment, and being influenced by it. Then we have different classes of depression, such as major (unipolar) depression, bi-polar (depression with mania), depression with psychotic features, and the list goes on and on. This is why a diagnosis is so crucial to receiving the correct treatment—treatment is always a customized process—the same treatment does not “fit all.” Seeking help is a strength, not a weakness; it is easier not to do anything about a problem rather than work through it. Most of the time we find out that doing nothing causes greater health chaos, not less, because it always rears it’s ugly head at some point and in some manor in our lives.
Can depression be cured? Yes and no. Ultimate healing depends on what type, for how long, to what degree and what additional features, if any, play a part, what the cause of its onset was and how much damage has been done. Depression damages the physical body. That damage affects mental capacity, the psychological, emotional and additional physical parts of us. Spiritual impairment is usually a symptom or repercussion, not a cause. Sometimes depression cannot be reversed, just managed. The earlier a person seeks treatment, the better chance of a full recovery. So we see that just as Pastor Carlton expressed, depression is a complex illness; there are just too many variables to consider.
So how do we help the depressed find hope in God? After all, depression can be terminal; it kills—that’s its job. God offers hope, peace, compassion and eternal life; these are His gifts. From my experience with many sufferers, the biggest gift we can offer others who need assistance is two-fold: Compassion–live the compassion of God. “Fire and Brimstone” reactions can be too easily misconstrued as judgmental because of the heavy weight of guilt and shame it tends to generate. Depressed people want to feel loved, not just know it or hear it, and they desire to be understood. Many depressed people cannot (do not have the ability to) feel anything or only feel negative or morose; this is why some resort to self-mutilation, like cutting oneself. They feel pain (to feel something–anything), and then they heal (visually and mentally).
This illness strikes people physically where they are the weakest and any one depressed person can fill up two notebook pages with the symptoms that accompany it. Would we not take an antibiotic to cure an infection? Would we not take our insulin to prevent our own death? Would we abstain from taking our nitro-glycerin to prevent a heart attack? Depression needs treatment too, and sometimes with medication and/or psychotherapy. Without it, there is no recovery. Depression 101: Along with compassion, if we as believers can learn about the illness and provide gentle guidance toward treatment, we might save a life. Hope this helps…

]]> Comment on Conversations we Need to Have – Parents as Faith Shapers by Isa http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/conversations-we-need-to-have-parents-as-faith-shapers/#comment-94 Isa Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:53:37 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-94 After a divorce, I remember when my three children were still quite young; and at the same time every morning, we sat together and participated in what we called a Family Altar. We read one scripture verse each morning and discussed it to discover what it meant. Then we sang one short Christian song together before they were off to school. I often wondered if it was doing any good until one day out of the blue my oldest daughter (then 13) told me that she could see a markable difference in the days we had this time together from the days we didn't. She said her days were always better after having our Family Altar. There is a difference in our life experience when we put God first. I am very thankful that when I was unsure, Jesus apparently was getting through. After a divorce, I remember when my three children were still quite young; and at the same time every morning, we sat together and participated in what we called a Family Altar. We read one scripture verse each morning and discussed it to discover what it meant. Then we sang one short Christian song together before they were off to school. I often wondered if it was doing any good until one day out of the blue my oldest daughter (then 13) told me that she could see a markable difference in the days we had this time together from the days we didn’t. She said her days were always better after having our Family Altar. There is a difference in our life experience when we put God first. I am very thankful that when I was unsure, Jesus apparently was getting through.

]]> Comment on Conversations we Need to Have – Parents as Faith Shapers by Christy Ferguson http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/conversations-we-need-to-have-parents-as-faith-shapers/#comment-93 Christy Ferguson Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:42:41 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-93 Have you ever looked at your family's calendar, I mean really looked at your calendar? It seems nowadays we outsource everything in our children's lives. Soccer lessons- drop off at Darden Towe. Art class- Seminole Square. Jesus Time- did that hour at church last week. Being faith shapers means more than dropping off at Sunday School, that would just be outsourcing again. How do we guide our children in their faith walk while looking at our real life calendars? It's a tough question, but it can be done by everyday conversations and family routines. Join us this fall and learn how your famiy can begin the walk. Have you ever looked at your family’s calendar, I mean really looked at your calendar? It seems nowadays we outsource everything in our children’s lives. Soccer lessons- drop off at Darden Towe. Art class- Seminole Square. Jesus Time- did that hour at church last week. Being faith shapers means more than dropping off at Sunday School, that would just be outsourcing again. How do we guide our children in their faith walk while looking at our real life calendars? It’s a tough question, but it can be done by everyday conversations and family routines. Join us this fall and learn how your famiy can begin the walk.

]]> Comment on Conversations we Need to Have – Parents as Faith Shapers by Katherine http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/conversations-we-need-to-have-parents-as-faith-shapers/#comment-92 Katherine Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:21:34 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-92 Dan, Great Message! As a mother of two young children, I needed to hear that it's my responibilty to develop my children's thrist for Christ. Often times, it's easy to assume someone else will do it or think that they learn what they need to know in Sunday School. My parents didn't do the best job of engaging me spiritually. We went to church, but that was about it. We only blessed our food at holiday meals. I think all in all I turned out okay, but hope to influence my children more dramatically. I certainly will make a heartfelt effort after this sermon. Dan,

Great Message! As a mother of two young children, I needed to hear that it’s my responibilty to develop my children’s thrist for Christ. Often times, it’s easy to assume someone else will do it or think that they learn what they need to know in Sunday School.

My parents didn’t do the best job of engaging me spiritually. We went to church, but that was about it. We only blessed our food at holiday meals. I think all in all I turned out okay, but hope to influence my children more dramatically. I certainly will make a heartfelt effort after this sermon.

]]> Comment on Conversations we Need to Have – Parents as Faith Shapers by Chris Earle http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/conversations-we-need-to-have-parents-as-faith-shapers/#comment-91 Chris Earle Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:35:10 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-91 Some of the best memories I've had as a dad have come from the bedtime conversations with my preschool daughters. My favorite so far was the time when Molly at age 4 asked me where I thought Heaven was? Before I could fumble my way through an answer, she emphatically tells me that Heaven must be in her heart. Curious, I ask her why she thinks that. Without missing a beat, she tells me, "Well, Jesus lives in Heaven, right? And Jesus lives in my heart, right? Then Heaven must be in my heart." What could I say to that? Some of the best memories I’ve had as a dad have come from the bedtime conversations with my preschool daughters. My favorite so far was the time when Molly at age 4 asked me where I thought Heaven was? Before I could fumble my way through an answer, she emphatically tells me that Heaven must be in her heart. Curious, I ask her why she thinks that. Without missing a beat, she tells me, “Well, Jesus lives in Heaven, right? And Jesus lives in my heart, right? Then Heaven must be in my heart.” What could I say to that?

]]> Comment on Conversations we Need to Have – Parents as Faith Shapers by Greg McCormick http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/conversations-we-need-to-have-parents-as-faith-shapers/#comment-90 Greg McCormick Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:41:32 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-90 I am looking forward to this message. It is a very timely message for our church. The Children's ministry team has adopted a new curriculum and ministry vision (being put in place in September) which embraces the idea of parental involvement in spiritual development of their children. There will be new opportunities and expectations for parents to engage themselves in their children's learning experience at Spring Hill. Spring Hill Children's Ministry seeks to provide spiritual and practical tools which foster spiritually healthy FAMILIES. I am looking forward to this message. It is a very timely message for our church. The Children’s ministry team has adopted a new curriculum and ministry vision (being put in place in September) which embraces the idea of parental involvement in spiritual development of their children. There will be new opportunities and expectations for parents to engage themselves in their children’s learning experience at Spring Hill. Spring Hill Children’s Ministry seeks to provide spiritual and practical tools which foster spiritually healthy FAMILIES.

]]> Comment on Conversations we Need to Have – Depression by Melissa Liberatore http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/conversations-we-need-to-have-depression/#comment-89 Melissa Liberatore Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:02:36 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=21#comment-89 Dan, I cannot begin to explain to you how the message on Sunday touched my heart. I do not deal so much with depression but with anxiety/panic disorder which leads to depression when untreated. Your message gave me hope to share with others what I deal with. I have been on medication for many years and at first dealt with such guilt over my opinion that I was not a strong enough Christian to combat those "unknown fears & anxieties" that would make me so sick mentally, emotionally and physically. I am blessed to have a Mom and husband who encouraged me to step out and tell my doctors honestly what was happening. Medicine now allows me to get out of the house, speak in front of groups, step out in small ways to work in community missions where without the medications I would be frozen in a state of fear. Now I can see clearly what is a physical condition and what areas in my life I need to work on spiritually - they are finally separated. It is difficult to step out and tell others that I deal with a mental condition. You asked how we can be supportive - one way if for others not to pre-judge someone when they say they are dealing with a mental condition. They are not weak as a person nor are they a weak Christian. As Christians we have to encourage friends or family members who admit they are fighting depressing thoughts (or other conditions like anxiety) to speak with their doctors...it might even mean going with them and just holding their hand - that is what my husband and Mom did. They did not add to the guilt they were supportive and compassionate. Your sermon has opened the door to more conversations and I pray that we as Christians are having them. Thank you for letting me share. Melissa Dan,

I cannot begin to explain to you how the message on Sunday touched my heart. I do not deal so much with depression but with anxiety/panic disorder which leads to depression when untreated. Your message gave me hope to share with others what I deal with. I have been on medication for many years and at first dealt with such guilt over my opinion that I was not a strong enough Christian to combat those “unknown fears & anxieties” that would make me so sick mentally, emotionally and physically. I am blessed to have a Mom and husband who encouraged me to step out and tell my doctors honestly what was happening. Medicine now allows me to get out of the house, speak in front of groups, step out in small ways to work in community missions where without the medications I would be frozen in a state of fear. Now I can see clearly what is a physical condition and what areas in my life I need to work on spiritually – they are finally separated. It is difficult to step out and tell others that I deal with a mental condition. You asked how we can be supportive – one way if for others not to pre-judge someone when they say they are dealing with a mental condition. They are not weak as a person nor are they a weak Christian. As Christians we have to encourage friends or family members who admit they are fighting depressing thoughts (or other conditions like anxiety) to speak with their doctors…it might even mean going with them and just holding their hand – that is what my husband and Mom did. They did not add to the guilt they were supportive and compassionate. Your sermon has opened the door to more conversations and I pray that we as Christians are having them. Thank you for letting me share.

Melissa

]]> Comment on Conversations we need to have – OUR Words by Melissa Liberatore http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/conversations-we-need-to-have-our-words/#comment-87 Melissa Liberatore Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:13:23 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=20#comment-87 Dan, Just had to let you know that 4 days later our family is still talking about your message this past Sunday. We have been reminding each other about criticizing others whether within our family or someone we all know. With both of our youngest involved in team sports the issue of positive encouragement and tear down critism has been an issue for years. If only coaches could hit a replay button and then look at the faces of the children they tear down with words and how it affects their love of a sport and/or affects their own self confidence. I remember an example my Mom used when I was a young adult and I've used it even in the 5th/6th grade class and speaking to other young adults. The example she used was bringing in a piece of wood and having kids in her Bible class hammer nails into the block of wood. She then had others come up and remove the nails using the opposite side of the hammer. Then she said these words... The same tool that caused the nails to pierce the wood are just like angry or unkind words. You can use the same tool to remove the nails, like you can an apology, but the hole in the wood remains; just like the words you spoke cause a hole somewhere in the other person's heart that you cannot fill. Same tool hammer - tongue caused the damage and tried to remove it but still the wood was scarred. It is an example I will never forget for sure. Thank you again for this message. Our family is looking forward to the remainder of the series. Melissa Liberatore Dan,

Just had to let you know that 4 days later our family is still talking about your message this past Sunday. We have been reminding each other about criticizing others whether within our family or someone we all know. With both of our youngest involved in team sports the issue of positive encouragement and tear down critism has been an issue for years. If only coaches could hit a replay button and then look at the faces of the children they tear down with words and how it affects their love of a sport and/or affects their own self confidence.

I remember an example my Mom used when I was a young adult and I’ve used it even in the 5th/6th grade class and speaking to other young adults. The example she used was bringing in a piece of wood and having kids in her Bible class hammer nails into the block of wood. She then had others come up and remove the nails using the opposite side of the hammer. Then she said these words… The same tool that caused the nails to pierce the wood are just like angry or unkind words. You can use the same tool to remove the nails, like you can an apology, but the hole in the wood remains; just like the words you spoke cause a hole somewhere in the other person’s heart that you cannot fill. Same tool hammer – tongue caused the damage and tried to remove it but still the wood was scarred. It is an example I will never forget for sure.

Thank you again for this message. Our family is looking forward to the remainder of the series.

Melissa Liberatore

]]> Comment on Conversations we need to have – OUR Words by Mike Thornton http://springhill.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/conversations-we-need-to-have-our-words/#comment-86 Mike Thornton Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:24:01 +0000 http://springhill.wordpress.com/?p=20#comment-86 Dan, Thank you for the message online. We were out of town this weekend and I just listened to it. I think we can all remember teachers or adults who said uplifting words to us that years and years later we can still remember. And that continues right into adult life. I have been reading Provers for the last three yers on a daily basis and it speaks so much about our tongue and the words we speak and don't speak. If only each of us before we speak could think about our words to others and whether they will be uplifting or damaging. Peace in Christ, Mike Thornton Dan,

Thank you for the message online. We were out of town this weekend and I just listened to it. I think we can all remember teachers or adults who said uplifting words to us that years and years later we can still remember. And that continues right into adult life. I have been reading Provers for the last three yers on a daily basis and it speaks so much about our tongue and the words we speak and don’t speak. If only each of us before we speak could think about our words to others and whether they will be uplifting or damaging.

Peace in Christ, Mike Thornton

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