I am a person of extremes. It remains debatable whether that is due to my bipolar disorder, or to some facet of my own personality. As it happens, my mother is also an extreme sort of person. For both of us, it is easy to fall into an “all-or-nothing” mentality. I either do not bother […]
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
February 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Another hymn for you! I have always loved this one, which is by John Whittier, and enjoyed singing it at school. I particularly appreciate the “reclothe us in our rightful mind” line. Not just because I have a mental illness: the “rightful mind” for me is something we all strive for, because our own natural […]
Healing Services
February 24, 2013 by 2 Comments
I have just returned tonight from a healing service held at my local church. It used Common Worship‘s laying on of hands and anointing service. You can read the service on the Church of England website. The website also includes an interesting theological note about healing which is well worth reading, and which includes this […]
Mental…and Christ-like?
February 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The old (if rather irritating) phrase, that Christianity is about a relationship (rather than a religion) with God, has a great deal of truth to it. * The relationship between us and Jesus, between the Persons of God – everything is interwoven. Before he went to the cross, Jesus prayed: I have given them the […]
Night Prayers
February 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I thought I would add again some more prayers. These are from the Carmina Gadelica, a collection of traditional prayers, poems and chants from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland collected by Alexander Carmichael between 1855 and 1910. More on the book, from Wikipedia. Check out my other posts on prayer: A Prayer When Depressed, […]
Testifying…with a mental illness?
February 12, 2013 by 3 Comments
I love reading true stories, and I love reading testimonies, either online or in print. It is wonderful to read stories of people leading difficult, dangerous and sinful lives and meeting Christ, and to hear of their transformation. I like stories of people involved with drugs, crime, the occult, and I like stories where at […]
Jesus, Lover of My Soul
February 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This much-loved hymn is by Charles Wesley and if you visit the Cyberhymnal, you can listen to the traditional tune. Alternatively, here is a YouTube video of Chris Eaton singing the hymn to a modern tune that he composed. I think his is a wonderful version. You can visit his website here. Lyrics are printed […]
I See The Hand Of God In Everything
February 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I have noted a tendency in myself to react to every and any event by saying “God must will this” or “Everything happens for a reason.” By “any event” I mean everything from being diagnosed with bipolar disorder to whether my bus comes on time. Absolutely everything. Yet I have some problems with the idea […]
Keeping Up Appearances
February 6, 2013 by 1 Comment
Back in the early ’90’s, I was a big fan of the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances where a social climber called Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) seeks out any opportunity to ingratiate herself with those she perceives as higher class than herself. She uses material goods (china, for example) to make herself seem to be of a […]
Sometimes a Light Surprises
February 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I was part-way through writing a post tonight, when a sudden fit of anxiety overtook me. So I decided to post a hymn whose lyrics are comforting, instead. The hymn is by William Cowper (1731-1800). He suffered a great deal with depression, but wrote some of the most wonderful Christian hymns. I hope you like […]
Believer's Brain 