tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post847212864550443396..comments2024-03-24T12:24:40.363+11:00Comments on Do not let your hearts be troubled: Stay on TargetPeter Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04896115247438514660noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-22780736456970646462015-01-12T23:27:04.375+11:002015-01-12T23:27:04.375+11:00Hi Anonymous,
God understands that we live in the...Hi Anonymous,<br /><br />God understands that we live in the world, but are not of the world. I see nothing wrong with us enjoying secular entertainment, but watching it from a Christian perspective. For example, I have watched Star Wars with my children, and used it as an opportunity to show them its Hindu content and how it differs to the truth that is in Christ. <br /><br />For myself, I will not watch or read anything that has occult, and also stay away from anything that is over-the-top violent, sexually explicit, or containing strong offensive language. At the same time, I understand that different Christians have different perspectives on these issues according to their faith. Please read Romans 14. By my own conscience, I do as I've shared above. So really, it is between you and the Holy Spirit as to what you watch. Be sensitive to His guidance. <br /><br />However, it is true that we are over sensitive to worrying about these issues if we are suffering from anxiety and depression. In which case, we may have to stay away from some shows/books until we have recovered and our faith is stronger/the fears/anxieties are gone.<br /><br />I hope that helps,<br />God bless<br />Peter<br /><br /><br />Peter Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04896115247438514660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-26755373710382460012015-01-12T21:42:29.684+11:002015-01-12T21:42:29.684+11:00Hi Peter, this may seem off-topic but can you reco...Hi Peter, this may seem off-topic but can you recommend any reliable and reputable books or websites that is a guide for appropriate Christian entertainment? In my quest to not watch/read/listen to anything ungodly or displeasing to God, I am questioning everything I usually watch on TV (TV shows and movies) and read. It's actually really overwhelming to stumble onto some websites and read the contents of everything that is considered sin and ungodly; Guitar Hero, most video games, Harry Potter movies, Pokemon, almost all movies coming out of Hollywood, Star Wars included because of its roots in eastern gods, almost all TV shows, books (even Purpose Driven Life which many say present New Age philosophies), meditation (which I did for a while, not knowing the eastern religious roots behind it) Yoga, acupuncture, ect, ect. I sit here and wonder what's acceptable and what isn't when I want to go and watch something on TV or the internet but almost everything seems "sinful." <br /><br />What are some rules of thumb that you go by when choosing clean entertainment for you and your family? Many thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-75468527983602901292013-10-16T23:46:51.462+11:002013-10-16T23:46:51.462+11:00Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for your comment, and I&...Dear Anonymous,<br />Thank you for your comment, and I'll try to answer your questions best that I can.<br /><br />My first major depression episode was from 1989 to 1994. <br />In 1989 I became gradually worse until I collapsed mentally and emotionally at the end of the year. <br />The first eight months of 1990 were so terrible, so dark, and mostly devoid of hope. But then after reading "Self Help for Your Nerves" by Dr Claire Weekes, hope returned to my life, and with the book's advice, medication, and counseling, exercise, etc, I started to recover. By the end of 1990 I no longer needed counseling. I slowly got back into living a normal life again.<br />1991 to 1992 saw gradual improvement. The worst symptoms had almost faded away completely, but many lesser symptoms remained, and I still struggled greatly from mental fears (almost always present) and panic attacks came sometimes.<br />By 1993 almost all of the symptoms had gone, and the mental fears and panic attacks only popped up occasionally. <br />In 1994 I went to get prayer and counseling again, and after that the mental fears and panic attacks were almost completely gone. By this time my confidence had returned, I was full of hope, and had dreams for the future. I felt so close to Jesus again, and was full of passion to serve Him and be used by Him. I remained like this for the next 16 years, though I still had panic attacks sometimes.<br /><br />So please never lose hope - you can cope with depression and live a normal life even before it has gone, and you can recover from it too. Please always keep your eyes and thoughts fixed upon Jesus, and trust Him completely even if you don't understand what you are going through, because He holds all things in His hands. <br /><br />Are you able to get a copy of "Self Help for Your Nerves" by Dr Claire Weekes to read? You can get it from Amazon.co.uk. Also, I believe that you can find much practical help from the booklet on depression on this blog. <a href="http://members.optusnet.com.au/~stonefamily/STONEFAMILY/WhenIamWeak.pdf" rel="nofollow">Click here to download it. </a><br /><br />God bless<br />Peter Peter Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04896115247438514660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-54513687684034653402013-10-16T20:56:54.335+11:002013-10-16T20:56:54.335+11:00Hi Mr Pter ,
thank you for giving hope to all tho...Hi Mr Pter , <br />thank you for giving hope to all those who are suffering from depression, your blog is really helpful if not the right route to recovery . i read that it took some time before you recovered completely ,may i ask some questions, how is full recovery ? how from your experience you realized that you recovered completely ? was it spontaneous ? it took 4 years , so how your life was on the third year ,the second year , or the beginning of the 4th year . how our body can tell us that we recovered ,what do we feel ? does our nervous system desensitize completely so we are fearless and no fearful thought have impact on us.Depression is like living in doubt between life and death for me, a depressed person wants to live but something thant i can't describe well drag him backward everytime he wants to move forward , depression is when someone loses the certainty of life he once had .but from your experience hope is there so in some way we can work and pray to have this certainty back.<br />thank you very much . <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-51229026121783304352009-09-09T21:56:29.504+10:002009-09-09T21:56:29.504+10:00Hi Mary,
Thanks for dropping by, and so glad to he...Hi Mary,<br />Thanks for dropping by, and so glad to hear of the mighty work the Lord is doing in your life. I hope my testimony can be of encouragement. God bless :) <br /><br />‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.’ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4Peter Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04896115247438514660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-10956122018981266012009-09-09T21:19:58.818+10:002009-09-09T21:19:58.818+10:00I'm new to this "recovering" vs &quo...I'm new to this "recovering" vs "treating" depression. God is working mightily in my life and I consider it an absolute gift to have found your blog!<br /><br />Bless you!Mary Mosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13594242579741198029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-34253629071551150462009-09-01T10:29:57.441+10:002009-09-01T10:29:57.441+10:00Peter, I can totally understand this:
"Couns...Peter, I can totally understand this:<br /><br />"Counselling during depression also revealed that I had faulty theology and thought patterns that needed to be aligned with God’s Word."<br /><br />Thank you for sharing positive ways to regain some normality.<br /><br />Blessings.Just Be Realhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15815210059310140144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-4573574069424410412009-08-31T09:21:14.696+10:002009-08-31T09:21:14.696+10:00Thank you for the practical way you overcame by wr...Thank you for the practical way you overcame by writing about facing your fear and the struggle of wanting to give up. Sometimes we just need someone else to say "keep going on" and I can see that God uses you to encourage many. These are powerful scriptures to help us.Saleslady371https://www.blogger.com/profile/15962608799409882219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-52590081568919336732009-08-31T08:49:58.944+10:002009-08-31T08:49:58.944+10:00"Stay on Target." That is counsel I need..."Stay on Target." That is counsel I need EVERY day. Powerful post.LauraLee Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3015299104362685233.post-6799860201059030472009-08-31T05:21:39.343+10:002009-08-31T05:21:39.343+10:00Wonderful advice and counsel, Peter.Wonderful advice and counsel, Peter.Joanne Sherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03892365662470655717noreply@blogger.com