Be Prepared to HALT

By Gary Washer

    As an Eagle Scout I am constantly bringing up some of the principles I learned in the Boy Scouts.  One of them that I bring up often is the Scout motto that says Be Prepared.  One place this can be applied to is the SFT processing step 2.  Step 2 is where the processor applies HALT which in turn allows the processor to HALT his self from instantly reacting to the situation and making things worse. Read more

Heaven’s Reward Fallacy (part 2)

Everyone on this earth will go through hurtful events at some point in their lives.  There is no way around this fact.  So often people have distorted thinking towards these different events because of using thinking errors.   One of these common thinking errors is the Heaven’s Reward Fallacy which is the belief that bad things do not happen to good people.  The first article on Biblical Solutions to Heaven’s Reward Fallacy covered several key biblical concepts that address this problem thinking.  This article will focus on several things that Jesus had to say about this distorted way of thinking.

John 9:1-4 starts with the disciples seeing a man who was born blind.  They ask, “Who sinned that this man was born blind, him or his parents?”  The disciples assume someone must have done something wrong for this man to be born blind, as through the condition of the man is a punishment for his parents’ sin.  However, Ezekiel 18:19,20 makes it very clear that the son does not receive punishment for the father’s iniquity nor the father for the son’s.  Jesus, knowing this passage and using accurate thinking, was able to tell his disciples that no one sinned to cause this man to be born blind.  This man’s blindness was really an opportunity to show the works of God.

It is a tragedy when believers fail to give God glory when going through difficult circumstances because of heaven’s reward fallacy.  Nonbelievers expect Christians to praise God when everything is good.  It is when Christians praise God when everything is bad that make heads turn.  Romans 5:1-5 says to rejoice in tribulation because tribulation is what makes us grow.

In Luke 13:1-5 Jesus talks about Galileans who were killed by Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, and the tower of Siloam that fell and killed people.  He asks if these people were any more unrighteous than anyone else?  The answer is no. Tragedy is no respecter of persons and can happen at any time to anybody. These people that Jesus referred to in Luke were like everyone else going through their normal routine when tragedy struck.  Jesus’ point in this passage is to be ready at all times for tragedy and the end.

At SFT Awareness, we want to leave you with the question: are you ready?  If not, please call us at 615-322-5300 or email at info@sftawareness.org.

Quarterly Update - March 2011

 These last several months have been very busy for SFT Awareness here in the states.  Several of our goals have been met and we have added a few as well.  We have performed two classes in the middle Tennessee area, one at Kingwood Heights church of Christ in Murfreesboro and another at Stewarts Creek church of Christ in Smyrna.  An additional class will begin Wednesday, April 13^th at the East Main church of Christ in Murfreesboro.  Be looking for more information about that class on our website this month.  We are excited about all the opportunities the Lord has given this ministry here and abroad. Read more

A Book Review - The Anxiety Cure

 

Dr. Archibald Hart (1999) makes scientific and Biblical observations into the realities of the effects of anxiety, depression, and stress on the human body. Since Hart understands human physiology and the chemical processes within the mind, he uses Scriptural application to help the reader grow in understanding that, though some medicines can be used to help, it is ultimately  the individual who is responsible for his own happiness.  Read more

Depression’s Link to Your Diet

 

Many people first turn to drugs and medications when they believe they are stuggling with depression.  But I believe it is important to address depression on every level–mind, body and spirit.

A recent University of London study, led by Dr. Eric Brunner, followed the eating habits of 3,486 adults for 5 years.  The study revealed that those who ate diets high in processed and fast foods were almost 60% more likely to suffer from depression.

If you are struggling with depression, I would recommend you make these changes to your diet and lifestyle: Read more

Clear Signs of a Pain Carrier

SFT Awareness participants will get an introduction to the program during the first session.  Part of that introduction is learning common characteristics that pain carriers have.  Answer the following questions to see if you are an emotional pain carrier. Read more

Training Takes Time

Students who come to our training often find out that this training is not the quick fix. It takes around 8 weeks to get the training in before the student even gets into actually processing pain events. This can be tough since we are trained to instant results. We live in a society where there is overnight shipping, fast food, and many other means of providing needs instantly. However, not everything that is worth having is an over night or immediate process. Read more

The Advantages of Processing on Paper

All SFT students are asked to process their emotional pain events on paper.  All it takes in the beginning is one processed event per week to master the attitudes and skills involed.  However, sometimes students attempt to process without paper too soon.  Processing without paper before a solid foundation has been established is a great injustice for the student. Read more

How to Sabotage your Recovery

There are many people every year who go throught some kind of recovery program to help them get off of an escape behavior.  Some are successful while other are not.  Here is a list of some habits a person can do to sobotage their recovery. Read more

Is there Hope for Depression?

When the topic of depression arises, different people will have different ideas and feelings about it.  There are some who see it as purely physically induced while others see it as caused by distorted thinking.  With so many ideas of what causes depression it makes a person wonder what the right answer is. Read more

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