As you read through this issue of the MOSAIC, you will hear personal stories, challenges, and reflections about mental health. Canada.ca defines mental health as, “the state of your psychological and emotional well-being. It is a necessary resource for living a healthy life and a main factor in overall health. …
Mental health. If you pay any attention to the news and social media, you have seen public interest in mental health increase in recent years. There has been much talk of “de-stigmatizing” mental illness. Stigma is a fancy sounding and rather abstract word. I prefer the phrase “shame and blame.” …
“As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left …
There is a reason so many people are talking about mental health in the middle of the current pandemic. This pandemic is taking a toll on us. The exact toll can be difficult to gauge. On the one hand, we are facing a daily dose of bad news and anxiety-producing …
Research studies show that giving can boost both your physical and mental health. Generosity of your time, talents and treasures is really, really good for you! Benefits of giving include: Lower blood pressure Increased self-esteem Lower stress Less depression Longer life Greater happiness and satisfaction MRIs show that giving stimulates …
As this pandemic season trudges on, and we contended with February in Canada (my least favourite month – well I love celebrating Valentine’s Day with Karlene, otherwise February is not a happy month), I am appealing to you, to pay attention to your soul-health. I subscribe to Dallas Willard’s holistic …
Part of being a healthy church is how we deal with people. All people. So, given this MOSAIC’s theme of mental health, we might as well ask the question “What is a God honoring healthy church’s response to folks dealing with mental health illnesses or concerns?” When I speak of …
The Free Methodist Church in Canada (FMCIC) typically meets for General Conference (GC) every three years. This is the only gathering of ministers and lay delegates from all of our approximately 140 churches and so it is a time of connection. We greet old friends and meet new ones. As …
The Biblical definition of “hope” is essentially related to promise and presence, and because His promises are true and His presence “real” (in the Methodist sense) we can live in confident expectation. Hope, therefore, is the sureness that God is with me and I live in His grace, forgiveness, love, …
Let’s start with an old joke. A guy, let’s call him Bob, prayed every night for God to help him win the lottery. Yet, he never did win the lottery. He cried out, made all kinds of promises about what he would do with the money, and tried everything he …
