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 […]
Making Time
January 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I wrote once about the amount of time mental illness takes from us, about the waste of our time and resources that our ill-health can bring. Mental illness can cause us to feel like we are wasting our time, being idle, not making the most of our opportunities. I urged that we think of our […]
I Ease You
January 28, 2013 by 3 Comments
A short poem today, by George Herbert. Jesu JESU is in my heart, his sacred name Is deeply carved there: but th’other week A great affliction broke the little frame, Ev’n all to pieces: which I went to seek: And first I found the corner, where was J, After, where ES, and next where U […]
Liturgy and Mental Illness
January 26, 2013 by 1 Comment
Not all that long ago I moved from one end of the country to another and with it, moved church. I moved from a church which generally held an informal worship service to an Anglican church with a more formal style. Nevertheless my old church did, from time to time, hold a more liturgical type […]
4 Things Not To Say to a Depressed Christian
January 18, 2013 by 6 Comments
Following on from my last post, 10 Things Not To Say To A Depressed Person, I thought I would cover a few of the things people say to Christians in particular. One of the worst parts about suffering depression is the level of stigma surrounding it. Some of that stigma comes from the wider world, […]
New Year, New You
January 3, 2013 by 4 Comments
The signs are everywhere, in the magazines, in the newspapers, online. Those signs which say that if you just resolve to do so, 2013 will be a different, better time. You can be thin, more beautiful, meet a new man, get that job, get some money, things will be better than they were before. Religious […]
Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Things have been a bit hectic here recently, getting ready for Christmas. Tonight, Christmas Eve, we are finally ready. The presents have been bought and wrapped, the turkey is cooking, the vegetables are ready, we are ready for Christmas day. Christmas can be a hard time for those of us with mental health problems. Amidst […]
Prayers from Time to Change
December 20, 2012 by 1 Comment
As I mentioned in another post, I recently came across some worship ideas from Time to Change (pdf). I really recommend looking through this resource as it contains prayers, readings, a suggested sermon and so on. I am being a little bit naughty here, as I’m going to reproduce some of the prayers they have in […]
Believer's Brain 