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>WELCOME TO TIME FOR HOPE, A FAITH-BASED MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAM. JOIN CERTIFIED CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR AND
CHRISTIAN PSYCHOTHERAPIST, DR. FREDA CREWS, AND HER GUESTS AS
THEY DISCUSS REAL-LIFE ISSUES AND OFFER EXPERT CLINICAL ADVICE
AND SOLID BIBLICAL APPLICATION FOR ANY AND ALL LIFE SITUATIONS.
NOW HERE'S YOUR HOST OF TIME FOR HOPE, DR. FREDA CREWS.
>I ALWAYS APPRECIATE HAVING YOU JOIN ME AND MY GUEST AS WE
RELATE SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PRACTICAL TRUTHS TO HELP YOU
NOT ONLY SURVIVE WHILE GOING THROUGH DARK AND NARROW PASSAGES
BUT LEARN TO THRIVE IN SPITE OF WHAT GOD HAS OR IS ALLOWING YOU
TO PASS THROUGH. MY GUEST AGAIN THIS WEEK IS DR. FRANK PAGE
FORMER PASTOR AND PRESENTLY PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
DR. PAGE HAS CHOSEN TO WRITE A BOOK SHARING HIS OWN PERSONAL
JOURNEY RELATED TO HIS DAUGHTER'S SUICIDE TITLED
MELISSA A FATHER'S LESSONS FROM A DAUGHTER'S SUICIDE. FOR MORE
STAY WITH US.
>AND DR. PAGE IT'S GREAT HAVING YOU WILLING TO SHARE YOUR TIME
WITH US ON TIME FOR HOPE. I KNOW YOU'RE A VERY BUSY MAN WITH
LIMITED TIME BUT I REALLY THOUGHT WHEN I SAW YOUR BOOK AND
ESPECIALLY WITH THE RECENT HAPPENING WITH DR. RICK WARREN
AND WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THOSE IN THE PAST AND SO FORTH. WE'VE
DONE SEVERAL SHOWS ON SUICIDE DURING THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS
THAT I'VE HAD THE MINISTRY OF TIME FOR HOPE. WE EVEN HAVE A
COUNSELOR IN SPARTANBURG DR. DAVID ***, HIS FATHER COMMITTED
SUICIDE. HE'S BEEN ON THE SHOW YOU KNOW TELLING US ABOUT HIS
EXPERIENCE WITH SUICIDE. SO IT WAS AN INTERESTING STAT, YOU
HAVE LOTS OF STATS IN BUT THE ONE THAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME
WAS THAT MORE ARE DYING FROM SUICIDE THAN IN THE MILITARY.
>IN COMBAT YES.
>IN COMBAT, THOSE THAT GO INTO COMBAT.
>YES. AND THAT STATISTIC WAS GIVEN TO ME BY THE US ARMY CHIEF
OF CHAPLAINS WHEN THE WAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WAS AT ITS
HEIGHTH. SO WE WERE LOSING MORE SOLDIERS TO SUICIDE THAN TO
COMBAT.
>OH SO IT WAS THE SOLDIERS THAT WE WERE LOSING NOT JUST IN
AMERICA BUT THE SOLDIERS.
>WELL IT'S CERTAINLY EPIDEMIC ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES IN
VARIOUS AGE GROUPS BUT AMONG SOLDIERS IT IS PARTICULARLY A
DIFFICULT SITUATION. SOLDIERS ARE KILLING THEMSELVES IN A
RAPID PACE.
>THAT ONE REALLY TOOK ME KIND OF BY SURPRISE. BUT I DO KNOW WHAT
I WAS DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH A SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTER THAT
IT WAS THE SECOND-LEADING CAUSE AMONG ADOLESCENTS WHICH IS
USUALLY FROM 15 TO 24 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT NEXT TO
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS. AND I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE MOVED UP TO
THIRD AT THIS TIME. AND YOU SAID THERE'S A SPIKE AMONG ELDERLY
PEOPLE.
>THERE IS. THERE'S A SPIKE AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE. IT HAS SPIKED
AMONG YOUNG WOMEN AND IN CERTAIN AREAS LIKE ALASKA IT'S
PARTICULARLY EPIDEMIC AMONG TEENAGERS WHERE THERE IS PERHAPS
MORE DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. BUT IN VARIOUS PLACES ALL OVER THE
WORLD IT'S JUST RISING UP AS A MASSIVE FORCE AND IT CANNOT BE
IGNORED ANY LONGER.
>I HAD A MEDICAL DOCTOR THAT I WAS SEEING AND CONSIDERED A
FRIEND AT THE TIME THAT I WAS WORKING THE SUICIDE CENTER AND
HE HAD SOME SONS AND HE TOLD ME, HE SAID YOU KNOW FREDA EVERY SO
OFTEN I ASK THEM AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH WHAT ALL
ADOLESCENTS GO THROUGH AS A GENERAL RULE, JUST SOME NORMAL
ADOLESCENT PASSAGES. HE SAID I STILL ASK THEM HAVE THEY THOUGHT
ABOUT TAKING THEIR LIVES. AND IT IS A STRESSFUL TIME FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE DURING THAT TIME. I MEAN LET'S JUST ADMIT IT. IT WAS A
STRESSFUL TIME FOR ME, IT WAS A STRESSFUL TIME FOR MY CHILDREN,
IT'S A STRESSFUL TIME FOR PARENTS DURING THAT TIME. BUT
ANYWAY.
>SOMEONE ONCE SAID BY THE WAY THE TWO HARDEST TIMES IN A
WOMAN'S LIFE IS WHEN SHE'S 13 AND WHEN SHE HAS A 13-YEAR-OLD.
>(LAUGHTER). THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE. THEN MOVING ON TO YOUR
GRIEF WHICH WE'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON BUT LET ME ADD THIS
DR. ALAN WOLFAILED, I CALL HIM AN EXPERT IN THE AREA OF GRIEF,
HE HAS COINED THE WORD NEW NORMAL. AND I'VE HEARD HIM SPEAK
AND HE'S REALLY DYNAMIC. HE HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB WITH GRIEF.
AND YOU DID MOVE INTO A NEW NORMAL DIDN'T YOU?
>INDEED.
>LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN AND I'VE TOLD MANY A
CLIENT THAT LOOK EVEN IN NORMAL LOSSES LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE
SAME AGAIN BUT IT CAN BE GOOD AGAIN.
>IT CAN BE GOOD AGAIN.
>IT CAN BE GOOD AGAIN.
>THAT'S CORRECT.
>SO TELL US HOW IT CAN BE GOOD AGAIN.
>WELL IT CAN BE GOOD AGAIN BECAUSE YOU LEARN TO DEPEND UPON
THE LORD MORE AND MORE AND MORE. IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH GRIEF IN
A HEALTHY WAY YOU BEGIN TO REALIZE THAT GOD CAN USE YOUR
SITUATION TO HELP A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHY I'VE
WRITTEN A BOOK. THAT'S WHY I DO REACH OUT, I DO HEAR FROM SO
MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT GRIEF CAN BE HEALTHY OR
UNHEALTHY. WHEN IT'S HEALTHY YOU SEEK WAYS TO MINISTER TO OTHER
PEOPLE. I WAS READING THE OTHER DAY IN MY DAILY BIBLE READING
THE BOOK OF JOB AND IT SAYS IN THE LATTER PART OF THE BOOK AND
JOB'S CAPTIVITY WAS TURNED WHEN HE PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS. AND
MANY PEOPLE NEED THAT HOPE OF REALIZING THAT THE BAD THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED CAN BE USED BY GOD FOR GOOD. AND THAT'S GOOD
GRIEF, THAT'S HEALTHY GRIEF AND THAT'S WHAT I HOPE WE'RE GETTING
TO. IT NEVER GETS EASY BUT GOD IS ALWAYS THERE AND THAT'S THE
GOOD THING ABOUT WHEN YOU STAY WITH THE LORD AND STAY IN PRAYER
AND THERE ARE DISCOURAGED PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NEED TO HEAR THIS
THAT WHEN YOU STAY WITH THE LORD HE IS AS HE SAYS IN PSALMS HE'S
AN EVER PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE. HE REALLY IS.
>AND YOU HAVE FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE?
>I HAVE FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE. I WILL TELL YOU IT'S BEEN TRUE FOR
MY WIFE AND I. WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE HAND OF GOD. YOU KNOW
THERE'S UNHEALTHY GRIEF DR. CREWS WHERE PEOPLE.
>IT'S COMPLICATED GRIEF.
>IT'S COMPLICATED GRIEF GOOD POINT. AND WHERE PEOPLE BEGIN
BLAMING EACH OTHER AND THAT'S WHY WHEN THERE'S A SUICIDE THE
MARRIAGES THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND OFTEN END IN DIVORCE AND OTHER
SUICIDES OCCUR, RELATIONAL DIFFICULTIES AS PEOPLE BEGIN
BLAMING ONE ANOTHER, THE BLAME GAME, AND IF YOU'D HAD BEEN A
BETTER MOTHER THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. IF YOU'D HAD BEEN A
BETTER FATHER IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. AND WE HAVE TO SAY WAS
I A PERFECT FATHER? OH NO. AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE A PERFECT MOTHER
BUT WHEN YOU BEGIN BLAMING OTHER PEOPLE THAT BEGINS A DOWNWARD
SPIRAL THAT DOESN'T END. THE TRUTH IS WE ALL HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER BUT WE DID AS BEST WE
KNEW AT THE TIME AND OUR GOD IS A GREAT GOD WHO HELPS US LEARN
AND DO GET BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER AND HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE
LEARNED FROM MANY THINGS IN LIFE AND LEARN FROM THIS. BUT MY
BIGGEST LESSON I'VE LEARNED IS TO DEPEND ON HIM.
>YES. YOU KNOW THE CORINTHIAN LETTER I BELIEVE IT'S FIRST
CORINTHIANS WHERE WE'RE TOLD THAT WITH THE SAME COMFORT THAT
GOD COMFORTS US, THAT WE'RE TO TAKE THAT COMFORT AND COMFORT
OTHER PEOPLE. WE EVEN DO THAT WITH OUR MINISTRY AND MENTION
THAT WITH OUR MINISTRY. THOSE THAT ARE NOT GOING THROUGH WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAN LEARN SO THAT THEY CAN MINISTER TO THOSE
THAT ARE GOING THROUGH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MINISTER AND TO COMFORT THAT WE OURSELVES
HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE LORD'S SECOND CORINTHIANS 1:3-5 YES.
>SO THERE'S A PURPOSE RIGHT THERE.
>ABSOLUTELY.
>THAT WE CAN QUICKLY SEE. AND AS YOU TALK ABOUT THE LORD AND
HAVING HIM AT A TIME LIKE THIS YOU BROUGHT OUT THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE AN ARMOR. THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS THE EVIL ONE
IS RIGHT THERE. HE'S RIGHT THERE AND IT'S GOING TO CREATE WHAT WE
REFER TO AS SPIRITUAL WARFARE. THAT WE'RE JUST NOT DEALING WITH
THE PEOPLE THAT THINK IT'S ODD THAT A PASTOR'S DAUGHTER WOULD
COMMIT SUICIDE. WE'RE DEALING WITH THE POWERS OF DARKNESS AND
WE COME UNDER ATTACK WHEN WE'RE AT OUR LOWEST THAT'S WHEN HE
CHOOSES YOU KNOW TO COME DOWN AND AS IT WERE COME DOWN ON US
OR ACCUSE US OR BLAME US. THAT'S WHAT ONE OF HIS NAMES IS, ISN'T
IT? ACCUSER.
>HE'S THE ACCUSER.
>THE DEVIL IS THE ACCUSER. IF YOU'D HAVE STAYED HOME MORE AND
LOOKED AFTER YOUR CHILDREN YOU KNOW OR IF WHATEVER. IF, IF, IF.
>THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>SO WE HAVE TO DO SPIRITUAL WARFARE BUT WE'RE NOT WITHOUT AN
ARMOR.
>THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT. EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6 IS SO CLEAR
ABOUT THAT.
>I DON'T KNOW, I LOVE THAT ARMOR. I'D LOVE TO KNOW THAT WE
CAN PICK IT UP AND PUT IT ON. AND I ALSO WANT TO KNOW AND ASK
THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LET ME KNOW WHEN SOMETHING'S OUT OF PLACE.
>AND HE DOES.
>YES AND HE DOES. SO THEN THERE ARE SEVEN STAGES YOU SAY TO
VICTORY. SHALL WE LOOK AT THOSE OR TALK ABOUT THEM?
>YES WE CAN HAVE A LOOK AT THOSE.
>OKAY I'LL TURN TO THEM IN YOUR BOOK BECAUSE WE WANT THE VIEWERS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET A COPY OF YOUR BOOK. BUT I'VE GOT
PAGES 69 THROUGH 74 THAT YOU START WITH THE SEVEN STAGES AND
LET'S RUN THROUGH THEM REALLY QUICK. SEVEN STEPS TO SPIRITUAL
VICTORY. YOU SAY IDENTIFY THE SOURCE.
>IDENTIFY THE SOURCE. UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU'RE HAVING THOUGHTS THAT
WITH WHICH YOU STRUGGLE OR TROUBLE YOU, IDENTIFY THE SOURCE
OF THAT. WHERE'S IT COMING FROM? WHERE DID THIS SOURCE COME FROM?
IDENTIFY THE SOURCE. IF IT'S SOMETHING ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE
LORD THEN YOU KNOW IT'S A GOOD THOUGHT. NOURISH THAT THOUGHT.
BUT IF YOU CAN SAY I DON'T THINK THAT CAME FROM THE LORD. THAT
MAY HAVE BEEN AN ACCUSATION FROM THE EVIL ONE. YOU IDENTIFY THE
SOURCE AND THAT'S THE FIRST STEP IN ATTAINING VICTORY IN ONE'S
SPIRITUAL LIFE.
>THERE TELLING ME WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO A BREAK AND WE WON'T BE
ABLE TO GO OVER ALL OF THEM BUT I LIKE THIS ONE, CONFESS ANY
THOUGHT YOU'VE WRONGFULLY ACCEPTED.
>YES THAT IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, THAT IS TAKING
OWNERSHIP IN THAT WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT MAY NOT BE
APPROPRIATE.
>AND THEN PRACTICE GODLY COMMON SENSE. I LIKE THAT.
>THAT'S SO NEEDED IN OUR 21ST CENTURY WORLD.
>YES.
>SOME THINGS ARE JUST COMMON SENSE. MY DADDY WOULD SAY COMMON
HORSE SENSE.
>(LAUGHTER). I GREW UP WITH THAT SAYING TOO BY THE WAY. AND THEN
THE LAST ONE WRITE DOWN YOUR VICTORIES. OH HOW OFTEN WE FAIL
TO DO THAT WHEN WE'VE PRAYED FOR SOMETHING AND GOD HAS GIVEN IT
TO US AND WE GO ON OUR MERRY WAY AND FORGET TO THANK HIM NUMBER
ONE AND NUMBER TWO NOT MAKE A NOTE OF IT AND WE HAVE MORE
PRAYERS ANSWERED THAN WE'RE AWARE OF.
>THAT'S CORRECT.
>IF WE'RE REALLY SINCERE AS WE SEEK THE LORD AND SO FORTH. SO
WE'RE GOING OUT ON BREAK AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>MANY OF US FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHEN OUR PHYSICIAN INFORMS US
THAT OUR PRESENTING SYMPTOMS ARE "STRESS RELATED." WHAT THEY ARE
REALLY SAYING IS THAT OUR MIGRAINE HEADACHE, STOMACH
ULCER, HEART PALPITATIONS, NECK PAIN OR OTHER SYMPTOMS CAN BE
THE RESULT OF STRESS OVERLOAD OR MISMANAGEMENT. THEY ARE
INFORMING US THAT THEY CANNOT FIND A BIOLOGICAL OR ORGANIC
CAUSE FOR OUR SYMPTOMS. STRESS-RELATED SYMPTOMS CAN BE
REAL AND REQUIRE MEDICATION, AND PROLONGED STRESS CAN EVENTUALLY
INDUCE BIOLOGICAL OR ORGANIC ILLNESSES. STRESS IS SOMETHING
ALL OF US EXPERIENCE IN LIFE, SO HOW DO WE DEFINE STRESS? I THINK
OF STRESS AS THE DEMANDS PLACED UPON US AS WE TRY TO KEEP OUR
PHYSIOLOGICAL, SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL
WORLDS IN BALANCE. DAY IN AND DAY OUT WE ARE FACED WITH THE
REAL OR IMAGINED THREAT OF LOSING OUR BALANCE - OF OUR
WORLD SUDDENLY FALLING APART. THE REALITY IS IT CAN HAPPEN
THROUGH AN ILLNESS, A MARITAL OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP BREAKUP, LOSS
OF OUR JOB, THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, ECONOMIC RECESSION, LOSS OF
A SENSE OF CONNECTEDNESS WITH GOD AND VARIOUS MENTAL DISORDERS
INCLUDING UNRELENTING DEPRESSION. SINCE STRESS IS
UNAVOIDABLE WE ARE FACED WITH THE OPTION OF LEARNING TO MANAGE
OUR STRESS OR ALLOWING OUR STRESS TO MANAGE US. SOME
PERSONS MAKE THE FATEFUL DECISION TO OPT OUT ON LIFE BY
CHOOSING TO TAKE THEIR LIVES OR COMMITTING SUICIDE AS WE MOST
OFTEN REFER TO THIS BEHAVIOR. THE LATEST NUMBERS AVAILABLE AT
THIS TIME ARE FROM 2010 WHICH REVEAL THAT SUICIDE WAS THE 10TH
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE US. IF YOU HAVE CONCLUDED THIS
IN YOUR ONLY WAY OUT I SUGGEST YOU CHANGE YOUR THINKING AND ANY
PLANS BY: (1) GETTING IN TOUCH WITH WHAT YOU ARE TELLING
YOURSELF ABOUT THE STRESSFUL SITUATIONS IN YOUR LIFE, BECAUSE
YOUR THOUGHTS WILL INFORM YOUR EMOTIONS REGARDING WHAT HAS OR
CAN HAPPEN. (2) REFUSING TO BELIEVE YOUR IMAGINATIONS.
ACCEPT REALITY ONLY RELATED TO YOUR SITUATION. (3) REACHING OUT
TO OTHERS FOR HELP- TELLING THEM WHAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING. IF NO
ONE IS PERSONALLY AVAILABLE, THIS CAN BE DONE BY CALLING A
SUICIDE HOT-LINE (4) GETTING PROFESSIONAL HELP AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE - EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM. (5)
DEVELOPING A SPIRITUAL CENTEREDNESS THROUGH AN INTIMATE
RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. ALLOW HIM TO BECOME YOUR ANCHOR
WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE ARE SWIRLING AROUND YOU (MATT.
11:28-30).
>THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US ON TIME FOR HOPE OUR GUEST FOR
TODAY IS DR. FRANK PAGE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LESSONS THAT
HE HAS LEARNED THROUGH HIS DAUGHTER'S SUICIDE AND HE'S
WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT IT MELISSA A FATHER'S LESSONS FROM A
DAUGHTER'S SUICIDE. AND FRANK HOW WAS IT WRITING THE BOOK BY
THE WAY?
>IT WAS DIFFICULT WRITING THE BOOK. I WILL ADMIT I STARTED
THINKING IT MIGHT BE A CATHARTIC EXPERIENCE FOR ME BUT IT WAS
DIFFICULT BECAUSE I WANTED TO BALANCE BEING TRANSPARENT BUT
HONORING MY DAUGHTER'S MEMORY AND NOT HURTING THAT AND SO IT
WAS A DIFFICULT DANCE OF BALANCE THERE.
>YES BUT I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB WITH THAT BALANCE. WE
HAVEN'T MENTIONED THAT REALLY AND TRULY THE WORD WOULD BE
REBELLIOUS. SHE WAS A REBELLIOUS CHILD.
>SHE WAS.
>AND THAT Y'ALL HAD A LOT, I MEAN YOU HAD SOME THINGS TO DEAL
WITH SUCH AS HER GETTING PREGNANT UNMARRIED BUT STILL
THERE'S A BABY, THERE'S A YOUNG MAN THAT IS IN GOOD HANDS
PROBABLY AND SHE DIDN'T SLIP OFF AND GET AN ABORTION.
>THAT'S CORRECT. WE WERE GRATEFUL.
>FOR WHICH YOU WERE GRATEFUL AND SHE WAS A SMART GIRL I DO KNOW
THAT AND MAYBE THAT WAS SOME OF HER PROBLEM.
>YES SHE WAS VERY SMART.
>BUT WHAT PASTOR, MY HUSBAND HAVING BEEN A PASTOR, AND
PREACHER'S FAMILY HAVE NOT DEALT WITH PROBLEMS? HOW MANY DO YOU
KNOW, I KNOW A FEW THAT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING HAS JUST
FALLEN INTO PLACE AND THEIR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN PERFECT AND
DONE WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. BUT I DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT
THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED TO.
>YOU'RE CORRECT. I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD REALIZE THAT
EVERYBODY HAS PROBLEMS AT SOME POINT. IT'S NOT IF IT'S WHEN AND
YOU KNOW THERE ARE VERY FEW OF THOSE PERFECT TYPE FAMILIES OUT
THERE AND AS A PASTOR I'VE KNOWN SOME THAT SEEMED TO BE BUT DOWN
DEEP THEY WEREN'T.
>YES IN FACT A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT OTHER COUPLES AND ASSUME
THEY HAVE THIS PERFECT MARRIAGE AND THEY DON'T KNOW. THERE'S A
SONG SOMETHING ABOUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS DO THEY? AND WELL WHY WOULDN'T
WE? THAT'S ANOTHER WHOLE THOUGHT THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. IT
IS ASSUMED TOO OFTEN THAT CHRISTIANS DON'T GO THROUGH WHAT
NON-CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH AND REALLY I THINK WE'RE BEING
UNFAIR AND VERY UNFAIR TO PEOPLE IF WE PUT THAT IMPRESSION OUT
THAT WE DON'T SUFFER BASICALLY THE SAME THINGS EVEN THOUGH WE
HAVE THE ARMOR AND WE HAVE GOD ON OUR SIDE AND HE'S WITH US
THAN NON-CHRISTIANS EXPERIENCE.
>THAT IS CORRECT. IN SCRIPTURE IT SAYS, JESUS SAID IN THIS
WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE. HE DIDN'T SAY MIGHT HE DIDN'T SAY
POSSIBLY HE SAID YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE.
>HE LEFT THAT WITH THEM RIGHT AT THE LAST TOO.
>YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE AND I'M GOING TO BE WITH YOU,
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE. SCRIPTURE SAYS IT RAINS
ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST SO WE ALL STRUGGLE IN LIFE.
>IT'S JUST THE DIFFERENCE OF WHETHER CHRIST IS WITH US OR
WHETHER HE'S NOT.
>CORRECT.
>AND I CHOOSE FOR HIM TO BE WITH ME AND ME TO BE WITH HIM AND IF
I'VE GOT TO PASS THROUGH A TROUBLED SEASON. BUT THEN WHAT
ABOUT ANGER WITH GOD? DID YOU EVER FEEL SOME ANGER WITH THE
LORD?
>NO MA'AM I DIDN'T. I LEARNED YEARS AGO THAT MY GOD IS A GOOD
GOD. HE CAN TAKE IT IF WE DO GET ANGRY AT HIM BUT I'VE NOT
EXPERIENCED THAT DR. CREWS, I REALLY HAVEN'T.
>DID YOU ASK WHY?
>YES I'VE ASKED WHY. YES I HAVE ASKED THAT BUT I'VE LEARNED OVER
THE YEARS THEY ARE JUST QUESTIONS WE WILL RECEIVE
ANSWERS FOR SOME DAY BUT I DID ASK WHY BUT THE LORD HELPED ME
WORK THROUGH THAT TO REALIZE HE ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN SO THAT MY
SWEET LITTLE GIRL WOULD FINALLY BE AT PEACE.
>YOU KNOW I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AS I WAS READING THE BOOK THAT
AT LEAST SHE FOUND WHAT SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR NO MATTER WHAT SHE
DID OR DIDN'T DO IT WAS THE PEACE THAT SHE WAS MISSING. AND
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE COME TO SEE SO PLAINLY THAT
WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE IN HEAVEN IS PEACE AND EVEN IN
DEATH WE CHRISTIANS ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE PEACE. AND THEN
MOVING ON TO GRIEF AND WE'VE TOUCHED ON IT AND WE'VE SAID
YOU'RE IN A NEW NORMAL, THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN BUT
WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT GOOD CAN COME OUT OF BAD. YOU KNOW
WHAT I SAY? ONLY GOD CAN GET HONEY OUT OF AN EATER.
>(LAUGHTER). THAT'S TRUE.
>YOU KNOW VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW WHAT I MEAN AND I'LL ASK AND IT
GIVES ME A GREAT OPPORTUNITY YOU KNOW TO TELL THEM ABOUT SAMPSON
KILLING THE LION THAT WOULD HAVE KILLED HIM AND THEN HE LEFT THE
WOMAN THAT HE NEEDED TO GET AWAY FROM. WHAT DID HE FIND IT IN
THAT LION'S CARCASS?
>I KNOW WHAT SCRIPTURE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. A HONEYCOMB IN
THERE. THERE WAS HONEY COMING.
>HE WAS HUNGRY WASN'T HE?
>HE WAS HUNGRY.
>AND SO HE ENDED UP GETTING HONEY OUT OF THE EATER.
>YOU CAN MAKE A RIDDLE ABOUT THAT TOO.
>YES AND THAT'S REALLY EVEN IF WE LOOK AT JOB AND HIS
EXPERIENCE AND LOOK AT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND LOOK AT ALL OUR
EXPERIENCES AND THE THINGS THAT OUR VIEWERS ARE GOING THROUGH
GOD IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN GET HONEY OUT OF THE EATER. AND HE
WILL, HE WILL IF WE'LL ALLOW HIM TO.
>HE CERTAINLY WILL.
>WHAT'S YOUR FINAL WORDS? LOOK STRAIGHT AT THE CAMERA.
>I JUST WANT TO SAY TO PEOPLE THAT THERE'S HOPE IN CHRIST,
THERE'S HELP IN CHRIST. DON'T BLAME GOD FOR ALL THE BAD THINGS
IN LIFE. THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, THEY DO COME. BUT OUR
LORD IS GOOD, HE IS FAITHFUL. TURN TO HIM. HE SAID TO US IN
MATTHEW COME UNTO ME ALL YOU WHO ARE AT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN
AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. THERE COMES A TIME IN LIFE WHEN YOU
HAVE TO DISCERN IS IT REAL IS IT NOT AND I BELIEVE TRULY BELIEVE
IT'S REAL, HE IS REAL AND HE'S THERE TO HELP US. CHRIST ALONE
IS OUR SOURCE OF HELP AND HOPE.
>THAT IS BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT WITH OUR
VIEWERS AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING ALL OF THIS ON TIME FOR
HOPE. AND BEFORE WE FINALLY CLOSE OUT I HAVE A PRAYER
REQUEST TO SHARE WITH YOU.
>AND OF COURSE I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO FIND A PASTOR, A
PROFESSIONAL, A CHRISTIAN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR IF YOU HAVEN'T
ALREADY DONE THAT AND NOT TO TURN TO THE DRINK. IT WILL ONLY
COMPLICATE THINGS IN THE LONG RUN. BUT DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE
TAKEN YOUR PRAYER REQUEST TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WHO KNOWS
EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AND IS WILLING TO HELP
IF YOU WILL LOOK TO HIM AS DR. PAGE JUST SHARED WITH US. AND
THEN I HAVE A NOTE OF THANKS GIVING FOR TIME FOR HOPE.
>AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT YOUR NOTE
BRINGS TO ME AND MY STAFF. I HAVE A WONDERFUL STAFF THAT
WORKS WITH ME IN PRODUCING THIS PROGRAM AND PUTTING IT OUT. AND
THEN WE AS A STAFF PRAY OVER THE PRAYER REQUESTS THAT COME IN AND
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL IN OR SEND IN YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS.
AND I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK THE LORD ABOUT HELPING US
FINANCIALLY WITH THIS PROGRAM THAT HAS GONE WORLDWIDE AND
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND SEE WHAT HE WOULD HAVE YOU
DO ABOUT HELPING US WITH THE EXPENSES OF HAVING TIME FOR
HOPE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR JOINING US AGAIN NEXT WEEK WITH
ANOTHER GUEST THAT WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH YOU AND
IT MIGHT BE JUST THE THING THAT YOU NEED TO HEAR.
>YOU CAN GET A COPY OF TODAY'S BOOK FOR A CONTRIBUTION OF ANY
AMOUNT TO THE TIME FOR HOPE MINISTRY. FOLLOW THE
INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR SCREEN.
THANKS FOR WATCHING TIME FOR HOPE
.