y parents, both first generation Chris-tians, did their best to create a Christian home.

Dad was a hard worker and a great ex-ample of a good provider for our family.

If he wasn’t on the job, he was napping in his recliner. I always thought he was just tired, but I came to realize there were other contributing factors.

On the occasions when he’d do some-thing with us kids, often tension was present even when it was supposed to be fun.

While he was a per-fectionist in almost ev-ery area of life, he wasn’t in his emotions — he just avoided those.

My mother home-schooled my siblings and me, and our life was fairly predictable.

We were on a regu-lar schedule and had high expectations placed on each of us.

We were sheltered from the commu-nity, and I had very little interaction with kids outside my family until I was about eleven.

One thing I learned early in life is that if I did what pleased my parents, I was shown affection.

However, it was often withheld if I didn’t measure up to their expectations.

Of course, that motivated me to be a compliant person.

I also became a performer, always try-ing my best to be acceptable. But deep down, I felt deficient in many ways.

My parents’ relationship was very strained. It didn’t matter what they were discussing, it almost always ended in an

argument. Even when talking about a trip or an

event, they couldn’t seem to find a place of agreement. And it always put a damper on whatever they were planning for us.

All this stress led my oldest sister, who was fifteen, to look for attention in other places.

Unfortunately, she fell into a relation-ship with a guy who was twenty years older than her.

My whole family was devastated when this man talked her into running away

from home!He also convinced

her to file a child abuse report, indicating that our home was not a safe place to live.

As soon as the state received the notice that this might be a child abuse case, they

were at my parents’ front door with pa-pers demanding custody of all us kids.

I had feelings of uncontrollable anger and hatred toward the policeman hold-ing me so I wouldn’t run off. He told me there was no other way — I had to go!

I felt pinned down and trapped, with no way to get back at anyone. From that point on, I struggled with respecting the authority of any police officer.

As we rode away with the state worker, there was dead silence in the car. No one spoke a word!

They dropped us off at the home where we were to stay, and I just remember I didn’t want to eat or do anything.

This family was constantly trying to get us to say we’d been abused. Of course, we’d been disciplined, but that wasn’t

No Way to Measure upby “Vic Harper”

(This is a model, not the real person)

M

abuse.There was a hearing the following week,

and the court ruled that the charges made against my parents were unfounded. All the kids, except my oldest sister, were re-turned to their custody.

My family was traumatized and very sad over the whole ordeal, but my dad’s emotional pain turned into intense an-ger.

I heard him say that he’d get even with that man for stealing his daughter and causing all this turmoil for our family.

That was not the response I expected from my Christian father, and I began to develop a hard heart toward his counsel.

Shortly after that, we moved out of state. While it was difficult for me to “fit in,” I did eventually adjust.

Even though we were in a good church, my parents were still very protective of us kids. They only wanted us to associate with people who believed the same way we did.

When I was thirteen, I came to a big decision point. I had really begun to struggle with all authorities in my life.

I didn’t want to listen to my parents, although I desperately needed their ap-proval.

However, that summer I went to a youth conference. It was there that, for the first time, the truth of God’s redemp-tive plan began to make sense.

I understood that Jesus Christ had died to redeem me from my sin and fallen condition, and I accepted His free gift of salvation.

During the next few years I began to realize that the fear of failure, which I had struggled with my entire life, stemmed from feelings of rejection from my fa-ther.

Though he may not have realized it, Dad had undermined my self-confidence, causing me to feel like I couldn’t measure up. I carried those feelings with me all the time.

Plus, I guess since there were very few changes in me after I became a Chris-tian, I grew to feel disconnected from the Lord.

I was involved in ministry at church and tried to serve others, but was never confident that God was happy with me.

My desire was to have a greater aware-ness of Him, but I just didn’t know how to get there.

I’d heard about Faith Family through some friends who felt the Morgans could help me.

So, I made plans to sign up for their three-day personal retreat, even though I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect.

I was a little nervous as I drove up the mountain toward the Retreat Center that chilly autumn morning.

It was neat, though, seeing all the wild-life along the winding road.

Dr. Bill greeted me with a warm smile and firm handshake.

As we sat down across from one an-other, I sensed I was in the presence of a seasoned warrior, and one I could trust to help me sort things out.

I’d been living out of the belief that I wasn’t good enough, and that if I just did all the right things, God would love and accept me.

I was trying to live out of my own strength, which only made me weary be-cause there was no way I could succeed living that way.

Plus, Dr. Bill pointed out that I couldn’t expect everyone to accept me. That’s just not going to happen. What’s vital is to know that God does!

The Lord graciously showed me His love and acceptance. He didn’t need me to be a “human doing,” but simply a “hu-man being.”

I strongly sensed His presence and pray I never disconnect from Him again!

One thing I know is, He is with me, and will be for the duration of my jour-ney!

f you think people are getting dumber, it’s not your imagination. They are — and for many reasons.

One reason is America’s extensive use of fire retardants. These chemi-cals are very dangerous.

However, they’ve been government leg-islated into the seats of airplanes, automo-biles, couches, plastics, as well as mattresses.

This may explain why you wake up with a nasty headache in the morning, or may-be you’ve noticed, like me, after a lengthy flight, you get a migraine.

Unfortunately, government legis-lators didn’t do their homework to find out that we would be paying a huge price for their decisions!

Research shows that the U.S. has the highest concentration of these carcinogens of any country. We cannot escape them since they’re everywhere — the worst part is they never go away.

There’s no complete metabolism of them in the human body. Con-sequently, they accumulate.

When the body burden for an individual reaches a critical level, folks get symptoms. These symp-toms are then diagnosed as a dis-ease, and rather than addressing the root cause, expensive medica-tions are often prescribed.

Unfortunately for many, these

diagnoses exacerbate the problem.Did you know that fire retardants

are proven to damage brain func-tion in adults, but especially in in-fants and children?

They can damage thyroid func-tion of the mother or the fetus, leading to poor brain devel-opment.

When this contin-ues, poor attention span, motor coordi-nation, clumsiness, poor learning ability, and aberrant behav-

ior become evident.Also low IQ, hyperactivity, im-

pulsivity and delinquency can be-come an issue.

But with many of these problems, the child is often just bludgeoned with Ritalin, which can be as ad-dictive as cocaine.

And in the adult the damages avalanche as the lifetime accumu-lation of unseen flame retardants grow and combine with other tox-ins.

Then add another simple, yet common deficiency like magne-sium, and you may be someone who is dangerously out of control.

But many doctors will just load you up with more medications.

You need to be informed in order to protect your health. It will take some research, but you and your family are worth it!

Brain Drain HealthPoint

I

I was in a blindingly black, muddy and cold pit in the ground. The top was so far above my head that I couldn’t see the way out. Nothing but black existed there - no comfort, no food, no water and no way to climb out. I searched futilely for stairs, a ladder, rope, branches, or roots. Nothing was there to help me get out. I lived in this state for years - with the world above me of which I was never a part. I was blinded and ignorant to the fact that it wouldn’t be me who would get myself out. That is what allowed me to stay hidden and suppressed for so long. Then [FFM], and within just days I was out! Now I was a part of the world that I allowed myself to be hidden from for so many years. And it was so easy. God had already done the work [two thousand] years ago — the work on the cross. I needed to see this, understand this, live it and accept God’s grace.

Here comes the big HOWEVER ...

I remain out of the pit — hallelujah!! I have not wanted to or tried jumping back in. For so many years I thought I deserved to live there. No person with my background, thoughts, or actions deserved to live anywhere but in that hole. The only thing I could hope for was simply to get out. I never entertained thoughts of what would be found beyond that dark life. I have been on the topside for some time now. I realize that there is life all around me. I see it, I hear it, but I am still standing in the same spot. Being out only seemed to be a dream, so I haven’t thought beyond that dream. I am walking away from the home I inhabited for so many years.

Heavenly Father, your dedication, love and patience for me is beyond descrip-tion ... my life has been revolutionarily changed - my life so is different! But, is it different enough? Did Jesus and I work through my life-quenching lifestyle and issues? I can give a resounding YES! Did the work, however, stop there? I feel your tug, Jesus, give me the strength and willingness to [give out to others].

Update by the doctorwho was

rescued from the pit of despair ...

any Christians do not understand what it means to humble themselves.

Well, I should say, it’s not that they don’t under-stand, but that they’re unwilling.

Over the last four years, Believers have been grieved by the decisions and effects of our gov-ernment and it’s blatant disregard for godly principles. But they are no more grieved than God Himself!

He clearly laid out in His Word how He wanted Christians to live, and the founding fathers of these United States outlined those principles in the governing documents of our Constitu-tion.

What happened? When did those principles erode?

It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact time. Like any erosion, it happens so slowly, it’s hardly noticeable — until it’s too late.

My guess is that with a life of comfort and ease, people became complacent. They got distracted with getting ahead, besting their neighbors and any number of other self-absorbed activities.

So, where is the concern for our country, our state, our city, our community and yes, even our neighbor? And a better question is, how do we get that concern back?

2 Chronicles 7:14 outlines very clearly how that’s done.

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”

So many believed for a miracle in last year’s elec-tion. Countless prayer meetings were held, and people were fasting and crying out to God to intervene in the voting process.

Was God not listening? Did He turn His back on Americans and turn a deaf ear to their cries?

No, I don’t think so. It’s not in His heart to turn away from His children and ignore their needs.

But there are four key words in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that He expects Christians to heed. I’ll concentrate on just one of them — “humble.”

Webster’s Dictionary defines humble as “to make meek and submissive to the divine will.”

In the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, humble indicates that, “so long as a person, or nation, is arrogant and self-sufficient, God can do nothing for

them” (pg 445).The opposite of a humble spirit is a prideful or inde-

pendent spirit, which is the root of all sinful behavior.Independence is trusting in our own resources and

abilities instead of relying on God. So, self-reliance is basically living out of the flesh.

And depending on the flesh will cause SURE defeat. But the Lord sacri-ficed His life so we could have victory!

However, living in that victory is a foreign concept to many, which is another one of those examples of ero-sion.

The early Christians knew what it meant, but today it’s rarely even men-tioned.

It’s no wonder that we’ve become a godless nation. People are worshipping at the altar of success and com-fort rather than sacrificing at the altar of our God.

How grievous it must be to our heavenly Father when He sees Christians point an accusing finger at the “world” because they seem to be satisfied with ignoring Him and boasting about it!

Sadly, I don’t see much difference in this behavior and that of many Believers! I’m ashamed of the way most people piously look down their noses at those who don’t share their views. What’s happened to good “old fashioned” care and concern for others!

Think back on your life before God revealed Him-self to you for the very first time. You were probably not a lot different than those you’re judging by your words and attitudes.

We’re expecting God to uphold His Word, but He’s also expecting that we uphold our part. Then He will move on our behalf as He promised.

How would we ever learn to fully trust Him if He changed His mind every time we bemoaned how hard it is to fulfill His conditions?

It’s time to grow up! There are a lot of people who need to be saved, and yours and my actions and attitudes may be the reason they’re stuck in the worldly system!

God wants to answer our prayers — but first we must repent of self-reliance and humble ourselves by de-pending on Him.

However, if you’re okay with the consequences of your self-absorbed lifestyle, then stay with the course you’re on.

But you’ll be missing the peace that comes with a life of humility, as it brings joy, which is “unspeakable and full of glory!”

If My People Will Humble Themselves ...M