Changing Churches: A View From the Pew By Dottie Parish (Book Review)

Changing Churches: A View From the Pew

By Dottie Parish

     As I sat to start reading the book "Changing Churches: A View From the Pew" written by author Dottie Parish I had always wondered why people had come to church for a while then you never see them again. Dottie gives you the insight of why you see people come and go to church. Once you start reading about the journey this couple has as they are switching churches you start realizing the journey that not only the couple is on but the others that are in those churches. This I see and now have an understanding more. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a clear vision of the journey of those that are switching churches and those that see those individuals leave the church.

Dottie Parish is a longtime resident of the greater Cincinnati area; Parish holds a Master of Social Work degree from Ohio State University and a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University.

You can find out more about Dottie Parish here… http://www.faithnotes-dottie.blogspot.com/

I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew

Depression

Depression what is it you ask? Isn't it just being sad you say; no there is more to depression? Depression isn't just feeling down or sad which everyone has experienced in their life at one time or another.  One can experience feeling down or sad due to many different things like a death of a loved one, job loss, a divorce or separation. But that is not the same with depression it is a serious medical illness which is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression doesn't just go away, but it can be treated. If left untreated it can last for month’s even years. Depression isn't always easy to recognize but it does have certain signs and symptoms.

Here are the Signs of Depression:

• Loss of interest in things you normally enjoy.
• Feeling down, depressed, irritable, or hopeless. (In children or teens, this may be irritable mood.)
• Thoughts that life isn't worth living or that you would be better off dead.
• Feeling worthless or guilty.
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
• Unexplained decrease or increase in appetite. (Gained or lost 5 percent of your body weight during the last month.)
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, remembering, and making decisions.
• Feeling tired a lot of the time; having less energy
• Your feelings are interfering with your ability to work or take care of your daily responsibilities.
• Feeling restless, unable to sit still, or unusually slow in movement or action.

Depression isn't a weakness or flaw, and a depressed person can't just "snap out of it" like people tells them to do. I have heard this many times "snap out of it," I am sure like any depressed person we all would love to just "snap out of it". 

As we fight our struggles everyday against depression we are always wondering how long this bout of depression will last this time. Psalm 13:2 states this very thing..."How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" Satan always tries to bring us down because he knows this is one thing we struggle with. But Jesus understands what we go through; while he was in Gethsemane he's speaking to his disciples in Matthew 26:38...Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow, because he knew what the Father was asking him to do. The Father was asking Jesus to lay his life down for us. You see Jesus understands that is why when we ask him to carry and comfort us he is there. When we are having a hard time and not sure how to get out the depths of depression that is when we need to get quiet before the Lord and let him be our counselor and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us to...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. 

Remember it says in Psalm 46:1 'God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.' He is there when we need him; so trust him at all times and he will take care of you during this period. 

From experience I know what others that have depression go through. Oh wait let me guess you haven't told anyone you have this thing called depression because you aren't sure how they would treat you. Yes, I was there too very few knew that I had depression because I didn't want anyone to know. So you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, you are feeling weighed down. I know that struggle you are feeling; in fact I was fighting that very thing for the past several months. I just couldn't figure out why I was feeling that way. This past Sunday a gentleman shared a verse that the Lord had laid on his heart. This verse I had heard many times before it was Isaiah 61:3, but he said to focus on this part of the verse...the oil of gladness instead of mourning; and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. He said there are several people here this morning that you feel like you are weighed down by a blanket covering you; god wants you to focus on this part of the verse. Let's just say no one at church knew I had been feeling this way, because I was putting on a front only I knew. I was prayed for and God comforted me when I needed him the most He lifted the depression I was feeling off of me. 

Remember Satan wants to bring you down and God wants to lift you out of the mire clay and set your feet on solid rock. So are you ready to let Jesus be your counselor and comfort you in your troubles and time of need today. Sit quietly and let the Lord that understands and knows all be your counselor and comforter today. 

Book Review: The Oldest Enemy by Michael Webb

The Oldest Enemy

by Michael Webb

I was given the opportunity to read "The Oldest Enemy" by Michael Webb. This book is a thriller about David Lighthouse an investigative reporter for the Denver Post, back before he was accused of the brutal murder of his fiance and his life unraveled. Now, six years later, he is the assistant pastor of a small church in Florida. Armed with faith, sobriety, and a resurrected sense of purpose, he's putting together a new life. 

This book is for anyone that doesn't mind waiting for something to really happen for a couple chapters in and if you enjoy thrillers this is the book for you. Since I started reading I have been unable to really get into this book; I have been so lost since I have started reading. So I have to say this is not a book I would read. 

Michael J. Webb graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida and obtained his J.D. He has traveled the world for adventure for over the past forty years. Michael and his wife make their home in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Learn more about Michael J Webb here: http://www.michaeljwebbfiction.com/

I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

Remember growing up everyone asked you this question, “What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?” And we always had the answer correctly even though some of us had the same answers has our friends. When I was young my answer was a teacher, singer, or a veterinary which I became none of these. My path went down a total different way after high school. I went to work, got married and had kids mind you I didn't work at any of the careers I said I wanted to do when I was young. I have worked in housekeeping, dog kennels; clerical, different warehouse/assemble positions, sales, and Legal Secretary, now running my own business.

I have also asked my children this same question and they all have something in mind. My oldest daughter career choice has not changed since she was young and in fact she is working in that current field and is looking into going to school to get a degree. My youngest daughter career has changed several times over the years when growing up, but two of her choices have stayed the same. My son has decided to go to college to pursue his career choices. 

Now that my children are grown and the last one is graduating this year from high school, that one question has come to mind again; "What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?" My heart desires has changed over the years so this is why this question has come up again. Now my answer is I want to be what God wants me to be, I want to accomplish his will. the only problem with that is I don't know what that is right now. I know that I need to sit and be still and listen to what God wants me to be, but I have to remember it's not just one day it could take many days for this to happen. This is where I need to learn to be patient and listen to him. I have come to recognize if I don't feel peace in my heart about what I think I am supposed to be doing it isn't from God. So again it means I need to sit and be still and listen. So have you figured out what you are supposed to be when you grow up? If not just maybe you need to take the time to sit and be still and listen for God's voice to tell you what you are supposed to be when you grow up.

A Time for Everything!

     While reading the Bible yesterday morning I was reading Ecclesiastes 3:9-14. I have been going over and over in my mind wondering what God was saying in these verses since this is the Chapter of A Time for Everything. Verse 9 asks; “What does the worker gain from his toil?” Toil from the Webster Dictionary means laborious effort. As I sat mediating on this question I have come to the conclusion that the worker gains the pay he worked for the experience of the task at hand, I am sure there is more too. But we have to remember God is the one that has provided the job we have, and he rewards us not only in our pay but in what we may eat and drink, and find satisfaction – this the gift of God. In verse 12 God is stating that he knows there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. But there is more to this, yes we want to do good and be happy. But everything doesn't always make you happy; yes it starts out that way but only for a time. This one I know from experience I am in a job that I was happy when I started but since then the zeal has left it. I keep thinking is this all there is. I have come to realize I am a person that likes to motivate people, but in turn I need that same motivation. In verse 14 it says that everything that God does will endure forever; and nothing can be added or taken away. God does it so that men will revere him.  So our purpose in life is to revere the Lord our God. To revere God means to respect and stand in awe of him because of who he is. Are we really standing in revere to God? I hope we are, but looking daily into our lives and seeing if we are doing this will put us in the right perspective of who and what we are revering.   

iChoose2 Live Intentionally Week #2

This week’s challenge was…

What 5 things do you value most?

The things I value the most is

      1.   God

      2.   Family

      3.   Friends

      4.   Women’s Ministry

      5.   Job

It asked me if these 5 things were currently incorporated into my daily life. If not, how can you begin to incorporate these values into your daily life?

Well, to answer the question honesty I would have to say somewhat. I do have my family, friends and Women’s Ministry in my life daily but the other two not is much. Don’t get me wrong I talk to God and spend a couple minutes in the word but not like I should. This one I am working on daily. The job I do but I am looking for another job to help out more, until my business is up and running fully. 

iChoose2 Love My Life Week #1

I started my journey the first week of January and the questions for this week’s challenges were…

  

 1.     What is going well?

 2.  What is not going well?

       3.  What needs to change?

       4.  One-year from today, when you complete this iChoose2 Love My Life journey, what do you hope will be different?

The answers to these questions were not very easy because I needed to think about them carefully.

What is going well is having my family and friends, my Women’s Ministry moving forward to bless the women of our church. The start of being Ambassador for iBloom, and my Avon business is doing okay.

What is not going well was a little harder because I could only think of one thing at first and that was finances (like everyone these are hard times). Then I realized the other thing not going well was myself, I feel I am not well I should be in life with Spiritual being first off. I need that closer walk with God now more than ever.

What needs to change was an easier question because I know finances need to change but also I want to live my life like God wants me to live and being happy with my life. Don’t get me wrong I love my life but there is some changes that need to be made and the first one is growing closer to God is my top priority right now.  

The last question was the easiest for me because I know what I want to strive for I just have to focus on that and that is from one-year from today, I would like to see my finances met to where we aren’t struggling, getting another job whether part time or full time. I also want to see life differently the way God sees my life. I want to be a blessing to others so in turn I will be blessed.