My youngest son has struggled with depression and anger since infancy; however, we began to recognize his struggle as soon as he began to communicate – he is now 8. It’s difficult to describe what life has been like as a family – for us, it is normality… hour upon hour of crying in the depths of despair (often there is no particular reason), unpredictable mood swings all over the map of the emotional spectrum, overblown, exaggerated emotional highs with maniacal fits of laughter, living in constant fear of your own son – of being hurt, injured, etc, removing every breakable object in his room so that he and others in our family will be safe (not to mention the property), buying extra locks and security measures so that he doesn’t run away in his irrational state, hiding sharp objects so that he could not use them on himself or our family… Our son has been diagnosed by several psychologists and psychiatrists; however, suffice it to say that he has a “severe mood disorder.”

As our son became increasingly depressed, angry, and unstable with age, we have experienced a variety of reactions from people: confusion, judgment, disapproval, anger, disbelief, denial, relational separation, etc.,  and a few that have entered into our world and loved our family, showing compassion, seeking to understand. It is remarkable to me the lack of understanding and compassion from people toward families who daily live in the crucible in which we exist. When you add the “pastor” factor to the equation, you have the ideal recipe for judgment from afar, especially within the church. The most common response we receive when somebody takes the time to move beyond relational acquaintance towards knowing our family: skepticism. It’s as if they have suddenly become the “expert” – their demeanor and verbal cues convey that the jury is out, further investigation is required – “expert” advice is dispensed.

There is a noted lack of understanding in the medical community regarding mood disorders in children: mis-diagnosis, over-diagnosis, over-medicating, etc. Yet, there is often such an air of confidence among those in the mental health field that we have, at times, unwisely submitted to their counsel. We would walk into their office confident about the decision we’d made in regard to a course of treatment that was in the best interest of our child (after all, we are the parents) and leave with a prescription for increased meds. (Disclaimer: this is not to state that we are against the mental health profession or the use of psychotropic medication; some psychologists and psychiatrists were very compassionate and gave wise, practical counsel).

We’ve tried various meds and therapies, most of which were of little concrete aid, honestly. Most psychotropic medications provided a degree of emotional stability; however, the negative emotional and, at times, physical side effects were often a trade-off that we have been unwilling to subject our child to on an ongoing basis. In some cases, the side effects were significantly worse than his mood disorder (which is difficult to conceive). At this point in our journey, we’ve decided to fore-go psychotropic medication, opting for a holistic, natural approach and have recently discovered a natural Serotonin enhancer and chelation therapy that has made a significant difference when combined with various relational communication techniques and strict dietary guidelines.

I love my son. God loves my son. Though he has a heightened susceptibility to emotional upheaval – mountains and valleys of emotion, he also has a authentic relationship with God through Christ, worships God from the heart in such a way that melts our hearts, and possesses a supernatural ability to care for other people – the “body gift” of mercy: to compassionately care for the broken, the poor, the downtrodden, the oppressed, entering into their emotions, their suffering, their pain – it is truly profound. He understand sadness, depression, pain, loss… is aware of his emotions, and processes through the undergirding triggers that have caused him to spin emotionally out of control on a level that is rare even among adults. However, he is also a child, struggling, maturing, growing… he has so much to offer this world.

He reminds me of a Scripture passage: Matthew 5:3-8  ”Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted… Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

When I think back upon the last eight years of parenting my son, I recognize that I’ve made innumerable mistakes, responded improperly to him (in inappropriate anger), showed lack of patience, lack of understanding, lack of empathy, lack of compassion, lack of maturity… God has used him to mature me: to teach me how to love, how to be slow to anger, how to empathize, how to be compassionate, how to understand – and I am still woefully immature. However, I am grateful – grateful for my son, grateful for his birth-family, grateful for my wife, grateful for my family, grateful for the crucible, grateful for the struggle, grateful for grace, grateful for redemption, and grateful that, one day, all things will be remade in the renewal of all things – the practical effects of the curse (from the fall of mankind) will be ended, and there will be no more crying or pain…

Revelation 21:4-5  ”He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more– or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.”  And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then he said to me, “Write it down, because these words are reliable and true.”

Maranatha – “Come, oh Lord”

“I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, saying: ‘Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches– to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.’ I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest. His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength. When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!’” (Revelation 1:9-18)

Son of Man

I recently read Revelation and was struck by the responses of John: the One whom he had followed for three years, who was referenced as the “disciple Jesus loved” (John 13:25), who saw the glory of God in Christ on a mountain (Luke 9:28-36), who was entrusted with the care of Mary at the crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:25-27), who saw and recognized the resurrected Jesus (John 21:1-8), who proclaimed the risen Christ as a witness (1 John 1:1-3), who endured persecution/suffering for Christ (Revelation 1:9)…

When faced with the One whom he had followed, loved, proclaimed, and suffered for, his response was to fall down at the feet of Christ as though he was dead. Undeniable, unrestrainable fear coursed through his body, gripping him. John knew Jesus; he’d slept in the same homes, walked the same roads, fished in the same boats, was especially loved by Jesus, yet, when in the presence of the glorified Christ, he fell down in fear; what majesty, power, glory… The Son of Man responded with a revelation of his identity and the instructions, “Do not be afraid”.

At the end of the book of Revelation, John has a similar response to the angel who had shown him all the things written in the book (Revelation 22:8-9). He threw himself down at the feet of the angel to worship. How misdirected, misconstrued, or so it would seem. After meditating on this response, and processing through the amazing revelatory visions John had be shown by this angel, it would seem a natural response. The angel, however, responded to John, “Do not do this! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book. Worship God!”

May we grasp the whole nature of our God and Saviour and respond appropriately in worship and obedience…

Song: Save Me Lord
Authors: Scott Olson
Leadsheet: Save Me Lord
Scripture: Romans 6,7,8
Comment: I wrote this song for a course I was taking on the Pauline epistles because I was grappling with my flesh, crying out to the one who can save me and bring victory.
Download (mp3): $1.00 donation

I’ve recently read an article suggesting that President Obama may be “embarking on a new and dangerous direction for our nation” by “embracing an ideology of global governance” in which the United States may become subservient to the European Union or the United Nations.  The article is worth reading; however, it brought to mind the kingdom of God.

Jesus spoke to the governing authorities with an understanding of the subversive nature of the kingdom of God, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above…” (John 19:11). God possesses absolute authority and bestows authority upon whom He desires.  Pilate possessed no authority in and of himself; however, God granted him authority in order that His purpose would be fulfilled in Jesus who, “canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him…” (Colossians 2:14-15).

Whenever a Roman citizen declared, “Caesar is Lord,” he was confessing his ultimate loyalty to Rome, that there was none greater than Rome, and his life was committed to serving the Roman world. If someone refused to honor Caesar as god and confess him as Lord, he was risking his very life.  Therefore, when Paul (a Roman citizen writing to believers in Rome) wrote that the word of faith involved confessing with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9-10), those reading the letter aloud would understand that the intended meaning involved a denunciation of loyalty towards Caesar and a confession of ultimate loyalty towards Jesus, that there is none greater than Jesus, and that their lives were to be committed to serving the King of the kingdom, Jesus.  However, this loyalty would be centered from the heart, where belief/faith are centered.

The subversion of the political dominion/rule of Caesar was continued by Paul and John in calling Jesus the “King of kings and Lord of lords…” (Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16); “…He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion!”  (1 Timothy 6:15-16). As Gordon Fee astutely observes, “Ephesus was not only the haven of Artemis, but an early center of emperor worship as well. This doxology, therefore, is Paul’s parting shot that the God with whom the church has to do in the gospel of Christ is none other than the supreme Ruler of the universe, the Lord over all other lords.”

We are inevitably destined for a time in which all kingdoms will be subservient to the righteous King of kings in the kingdom of God (Revelation 19:11-16).  The kingdoms/kings of this world will be subverted by the kingdom of God as his rule/reign extends over the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21:1-6). The Father and Son will be the Temple and illuminate Jerusalem with its glory. The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it (Revelation 21:22-26).

In view of this, one must re-examine to whom we have given our allegiance (i.e. nationalism, political allegiance). Governing authorities (executive, legislative, judicial) need to be recognized as those given authority. We submit to them out of reverence to the One who bestows authority; however, our allegiance is to another kingdom and another King.

Song: Extend Your Mercy to Me
Authors: Scott Olson and Chris Furgason
Leadsheet: Extend Your Mercy to Me
Scripture: Psalm 28:6-7; Matthew 11:28-30
Comment: This song was a collaboration with a friend who wrote most of the lyrics.  I added some lyrics, arranged it, and crafted the music.  It is a song about redemption in brokenness.
Download (mp3): $1.00 donation