BE PREPARED

BE PREPARED

READ:
Romans 5:1-11

Having now been justified by
His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him.
-Romans 5:9

Just as her friends were doing, my daughter Melissa was busily preparing for adulthood.  At school, she was getting ready for college by taking the right courses and had signed up for the ACT college entrance test.

Outside of class, Melissa was learning the socialization skills it takes to get along with people by spending time with friends, classmates, and teammates.  At her job, she was learning the relational skills needed for a future career of work.  At home, Mell was preparing for future family life by experiencing the way a Christian family would interact.

Getting ready for life as an adult takes work, and Melissa was making good progress.

But none of that preparation was what she would need.  In 2002, when she died in a car accident at age 17, the only preparation that mattered was her readiness for heaven.

When the truest test of preparedness came so suddenly on that beautiful June evening-when eternity's door opened for Melissa-she was prepared.  She had put her faith in Jesus and trusted His sacrifice on the cross for her sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

When she faced the ultimate test of being prepared, Melissa was ready.  Are you? - Dave Branon

God's time is now, for the days fly fast,
And swiftly the seasons roll;
Today is yours, it may be your last;
Choose life for your priceless soul! -Fithian
*************************************
If death comes today,
will you be prepared to meet God?

INSIGHT
Paul gives us several reasons to rejoice.  We rejoice in our right standing with God because of what Jesus has accomplished for us (vv.1-2).  We rejoice in our future glory (v.2) and even in our present sufferings because God uses them to perfect us (vv.3-4).  We rejoice that we have the Holy Spirit (v.5).  We rejoice because, being reconciled to God through Christ, we are no longer God's enemies (vv. 9-11).

Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace

FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION: NOT THE SAME

(Every now and again a little more light comes in and I think this article offers light for a path we all must navigate and I wanted to share it with the people I love)


From Steve Cornell's Blog

He said I am sorry, but it's at least the tenth time! I don't know what to do. I am told that it's my Christian duty to forgive, and the Lord knows I've tried. But each time I forgive him, he changes for a little while and then returns to the same behavior. I have a gut feeling I am handling things the wrong way. He never really changes, and I just get angrier. What should I do?

Sound familiar? I encounter people all the time who are trying to forgive someone who has repeatedly hurt them. They know it's their Christian duty to forgive, but they often feel they're either being deceived or taken advantage of. They also have a disturbing sense that they're enabling the selfish behavior of the very one they're trying to forgive.


Is this what forgiveness requires? Is it possible to forgive someone and to withhold reconciliation? We must learn the differences between forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgiveness is always required by God, but it does not always lead to reconciliation.


Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Not the Same
Jesus clearly warned that God will not forgive our sins if we do not forgive those who sin against us (Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25). It's not that we earn God's forgiveness by forgiving; instead, God expects forgiven people to forgive (Matthew 18:21-35). Yet forgiveness is very different from reconciliation.


It's possible to forgive someone without offering immediate reconciliation. It's possible for forgiveness to occur in the context of one's relationship with God apart from contact with her offender. But reconciliation is focused on restoring broken relationships. And where trust is deeply broken, restoration is a process — sometimes, a lengthy one.


Differing from forgiveness, reconciliation is often conditioned on the attitude and actions of the offender. While its aim is restoration of a broken relationship, those who commit significant and repeated offenses must be willing to recognize that reconciliation is a process. If they're genuinely repentant, they will recognize and accept that the harm they've caused takes time to heal.


In many cases, even if an offender confessed his wrong to the one he hurt and appealed for forgiveness, the offended person could justifiably say, "I forgive you, but it might take some time for me to regain trust and restore our relationship." The evidence of genuine forgiveness is personal freedom from a vindictive or vengeful response (Romans 12:17-21), but not always an automatic restoration of relationship.


Even when God forgives our sins, he does not promise to remove all consequences created by our actions. Yes, being forgiven, restored, and trusted is an amazing experience, but it's important for those who hurt others to understand that their attitude and actions will affect the process of rebuilding trust. Words alone are often not enough to restore trust. When someone has been significantly hurt and feels hesitant about restoration with her offender, it's both right and wise to look for changes in the offender before allowing reconciliation to begin.


Timing of Reconciliation
The process of reconciliation depends on the attitude of the offender, the depth of the betrayal, and the pattern of offense. When an offended party works toward reconciliation, the first and most important step is the confirmation of genuine repentance on the part of the offender (Luke 17:3). An unrepentant offender will resent your desire to confirm the genuineness of his confession and repentance. The offender may resort to lines of manipulation such as, "I guess you can't find it in yourself to be forgiving," or, "Some Christian you are, I thought Christians believed in love and compassion."


Such language reveals an unrepentant heart. Don't be manipulated into avoiding the step of confirming the authenticity of your offender's confession and repentance. It is advisable in difficult cases to seek the help of a wise counselor, one who understands the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Such a counselor can help the injured person establish boundaries and define steps toward reconciliation that are restorative rather than retaliatory.


It is difficult to genuinely restore a broken relationship when the offender is unclear about his confession and repentance. We should strive to be as certain as we can of our offender's repentance — especially in cases involving repeated offenses. Even God will not grant forgiveness to one who is insincere about his confession and repentance. The person who is unwilling to forsake his sin will not find forgiveness with God (Proverbs 28:13).


Of course, only God can read hearts; we must evaluate actions. As Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them"  (Matthew 7:16a). We must not allow superficial appearances of repentance to control our responses. Displays of tears or appearing to be sorry must not become substitutes for clear changes in attitude and behavior.


Seven Signs of Genuine Repentance
There are seven signs that indicate the offender is genuinely repentant:

1. Accepts full responsibility for his or her actions. (Instead of: "Since you think I've done something wrong . . . " or "If have done anything to offend you . . .")
2. Welcomes accountability from others.
3. Does not continue in the hurtful behavior or anything associated with it.
4. Does not have a defensive attitude about being in the wrong.
5. Does not dismiss or downplay the hurtful behavior.
6. Does not resent doubts about their sincerity or the need to demonstrate sincerity — especially in cases involving repeated offenses.
7. Makes restitution where necessary.

"If we can restore to full and intimate fellowship with ourselves a sinning and unrepentant brother," John R. W. Stott wrote in Confess Your Sins, "we reveal not the depth of our love, but its shallowness, for we are doing what is not for his highest good. Forgiveness which by-passes the need for repentance issues not from love but from sentimentality."

Ten Guidelines for Those Hesitant to Reconcile
Those who have been seriously (and repeatedly) hurt rightfully feel hesitant about reconciling with their offenders. When your offender is genuinely repentant, however, it's important to be open to the possibility of restoration (unless there is a clear issue of safety involved). Jesus spoke about reconciliation with a sense of urgency (Matthew 5:23-24). If you are hesitant to reconcile, work through these ten guidelines:


1. Be honest about your motives. Make sure your desire is to do what pleases God and not to get revenge. Settle the matter of forgiveness (as Joseph did) in the context of your relationship with God. Guidelines for reconciliation should not be retaliatory.


2. Be humble in your attitude. Do not let pride ruin everything. Renounce all vengeful attitudes toward your offender. We are not, for example, to demand that a person earn our forgiveness. The issue is not earning forgiveness but working toward true reconciliation. This demands humility. Those who focus on retaliation and revenge have allowed self-serving pride to control them.


3. Be prayerful about the one who hurt you. Jesus taught his disciples to pray for those who mistreat them (Luke 6:28). It is amazing how our attitude toward another person can change when we pray for him. Pray also for strength to follow through with reconciliation (Hebrews 4:16).


4. Be willing to admit ways you might have contributed to the problem. As Ken Sande writes in The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict:

Even if you did not start the dispute, your lack of understanding, careless words, impatience, or failure to respond in a loving manner may have aggravated the situation. When this happens, it is easy to behave as though the other person's sins more than cancel yours, which leaves you with a self-righteous attitude that can retard forgiveness (i.e. relational forgiveness). The best way to overcome this tendency is to prayerfully examine your role in the conflict and then write down everything you have done or failed to do that may have been a factor.

Such a step, however, is not suggested to promote the idea of equal blame for all situations (Matthew 7:1-6).


5. Be honest with the offender. If you need time to absorb the reality of what was said or done, express this honestly to the one who hurt you. Yet we must not use time as a means of manipulation and punishment.


6. Be objective about your hesitancy. Perhaps you have good reasons for being hesitant to reconcile, but they must be objectively stated. Sometimes, for example, repeated confessions and offenses of the same nature make it understandably hard for trust to be rebuilt. This is an objective concern. Clearly define your reasons for doubting your offender's sincerity.


7. Be clear about the guidelines for restoration. Establish clear guidelines for restoration. Requirements like restitution can be clearly understood and include such factors as maintaining financial accountability, holding down a job, or seeking treatment for substance abuse.


8. Be alert to Satan's schemes. In Ephesians 4:27, Paul warns about the possibility of giving Satan an opportunity in our lives. Significantly, this warning is given in the context of unchecked anger. A few verses later, he wrote, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 4:29-5:2). Meditate on these words and put them into practice.


9. Be mindful of God's control. As the apostle Paul wrote, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). And to the Romans, he wrote, "We know that God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).


To quote once again from Ken Sande,

When you are having a hard time forgiving someone (i.e. being restored), take time to note how God may be using that offense for good. Is this an unusual opportunity to glorify God?  How can you serve others and help them grow in their faith? What sins and weaknesses of yours are being exposed? What character qualities are you being challenged to exercise? When you perceive that the person who has wronged you is being used as an instrument in God's hand to help you mature, serve others, and glorify him, it may be easier for you to move ahead with forgiveness (i.e. restoration).

10. Be realistic about the process. Change often requires time and hard work. Periodic failure by an offender does not always indicate an unrepentant heart. Behavior patterns often run in deep channels. They can place a powerful grip on a person's life. A key indicator of change is the attitude of the offender. While you may proceed with some caution, be careful about demanding guarantees from a person who has truly expressed repentance. If they stumble, the process of loving confrontation, confession, and forgiveness may need to be repeated. Setbacks and disappointments are often part of the process of change. Don't give up too easily on the process of reconciliation. Be open to the goal of a fully restored relationship.


Steve Cornell is senior pastor at Millersville Bible Church in Millersville, Pennsylvania.


http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/03/29/how-to-move-from-forgiveness-to-reconciliation/


Copyright © 2012 The Gospel Coalition, Inc. All rights reserved.

PUSH

When times get tough you've gotta PUSH:

                   PRAY
 
                   UNTIL


               SOMETHING


                HAPPENS

NOT MY KIND

NOT MY KIND

 

READ:

Galatians 3:19-29

 

There is neither Jew nor Greek,

there is neither slave nor free,

there is neither male nor female;

for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

-Galations 3:28

 

In the Star Wars trilogy there's a scene that reminds me of some church people I know.  At an establishment somewhere in a remote corner of the galaxy, grotesque-looking creatures socialize over food and music.  When Luke Skywalker enters with his two droids.  C3PO and R2D2 (who are more "normai than anyone else there), he is surprisingly turned away with a curt rebuff:  "We don't serve their kind here!"

 

That strange scene captures the malady that we all struggle with in our relationships here on planet Earth.  We are always more comfortable with people who are just like us.  But think of where you would be if Jesus had felt that way.  He was divine, perfect in every way, which makes Him far different from us.  Yet He came to dwell among us and to die for us.

 

Those of us who follow Christ shouldn't have "they're not my kind" in our vocabulary.  As Paul reminds us, in Him "there is neither Jew nor Greek,...slave nor free,...male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).  So, whether others are different in attitude, perspective, race, class, political slant, or social standing, it should make no difference to those of us who call ourselves by Jesus' name.

 

Find someone who is not your kind and share Jesus' love with them today! - Joe Stowell

 

I pray, O Lord, reveal to me

If I have caused disunity,

For You would have Your children one

In praise and love for Your dear Son. -Branon

********************************************************

Love your neighbor-

even if they aren't your kind!

 

INSIGHT

In verse 28, Paul is not abolishing all ethnic, economic, or gender distinctions.  Speaking of our salvation, Paul says God treats everyone on the same basic.  All have sinned (v.22; Romans 3:23).  All need to repent (Romans 10:9-13).  All are saved in the same way-by faith alone (3:24-30).  All become the children of God "through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26).

 

**FROM STRESSED TO BLESSED**

From Stressed to Blessed

I’m stressed…not because I have to wear a vest to walk down my block.  Not because the cops tell me to stop because I fit the description of a nigga they’re chasin’.  Not because I live in a nation where segregation was a tool for regulation of a population.

I’m stressed…not because my seed was taken from me by this angelic chick that was really a female dog in disguise.  Not because I tried so hard to find a job but no one seemed to be hirin’.  Not because enquirin’ eyes stare at me as if times haven’t changed.  I’m like a slave with hidden chains.

I’m stressed…not because love is a word used so loosely in today’s society.  Love is a verb but people use this four-letter word like a noun; a person place or “thing”.  Not because my bling doesn’t shine as bright as a man who did time.  I went to college to gain knowledge while he’s on the block makin’ profits.  I’m not hatin’, I’m just sayin’.

I’m stressed…not because the president of my country is so concerned with overseas that he can’t see that his own country is in need.  Not because greed is a necessity to succeed in today’s world.  Not because girls are growin’ up to fast, givin’ up that behind before they are ready.  Babies havin’ babies makin’ ladies grandmothers before they reach their thirties.

I’m stressed…not because the best things in life are said to be free but the only thing free I’ve seen in my life was cheese.  Not because sellin’ trees is illegal; this law coming from a country that used to sell people.  Not because a lethal injection can be given to a man who killed more people than I can count on one hand.  For all his pain causin’ sins he is given a peaceful syringe…” call out the firing squad”!!!

I’m  stressed…not because Dr. King had a dream that nearly came true; yes I can use the front door but it’s obvious…we’re not equal.  Not because some people are confused to the rules of fair play.  While one man is ready to throw his hands the other grabs his AK.  Not because today lying’ in a bed and sexin’ without a condom is equally as deadly as a child with a shotgun.

I’m stressed…not because I passed all my tests in college except one and that one held me back from my graduation.  Not because the sun is getting’ hotter and hotter but it doesn’t bother some people that the ozone layer has been eaten through.  Not because my nephews and nieces will inherit a world where diseases will grow faster than they do.

I’m stressed; but why am I stressed?  Cause life itself is a mess, though it’s a blessing from God.  It seems Satan throws obstacles in the way to make it hard.  Every grey cloud has a silver lining; the key to survivin’ is findin’ that linin’.  God never gives you more than you can handle, so whenever you feel stressed just do what I do…pray.  Just like an apple a day keeps the doctor away, a prayer from your heart sends God’s blessings your way.  It may happen today, tomorrow, next week, in a year but fear not cause when needed, He’ll be there.

I’m blessed with air in my lungs so I can breathe.  I’m blessed with a good job without pullin’ tricks from my sleeve.  I’m blessed with a sense of empathy, which gives me the decency to help a fellow human being.

I’m blessed with a college education earned athletically; parents who are proud of me and the ability to make them be.

I’m blessed the gift of writin’ like this.  Keepin’ minds in the midst cause they’re boggled by my script.

I’m blessed with a rep on my block.  Not for shootin’ niggas or getting’ shot; my family is blessed with positive props.  Speakin’ of my family, I’m blessed with one that’s there for me.  Especially and effortlessly in my greatest times of need.

I’m betting’ you’ll stop stressin’ when you relax and count your blessings.  A simple little suggestion that I picked up from life’s lessons.


J. WIGGINS AKA OFFICIAL
Copyright 2009 - PERSONAS OF A PROJECT POET - THE DIARY OF A BLACK MAN
Orders@Xlibris.com

TURNING EVIL TO GOOD

Today's promise: God cares for the persecuted

Turning evil to good


Don't be intimidated by your enemies.…you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

Philippians 1:28-29 NLT

Finding God in Russia

In the 1930s Stalin ordered a purge of all Bibles and all believers. In Stravropol, Russia, this order was carried out with a vengeance. Thousands of Bibles were confiscated, and multitudes of believers were sent to the gulags where most died for being "enemies of the state."


Years later, Co-Mission sent a team to Stavropol. When the team was having difficulty getting Bibles shipped from Moscow, someone mentioned the existence of a warehouse outside of town where these confiscated Bibles had been stored since Stalin's day.


After much prayer by the team, one member finally got up the courage to go to the warehouse and ask the officials if the Bibles were still there.…The answer was, "Yes!"
The next day The Co-Mission team returned with a truck and several Russian people to help load the Bibles. One helper was a young man — a skeptical, hostile, agnostic collegian who had come only for the day's wages. As they were loading Bibles, one team member noticed that the young man had disappeared. He had slipped away, hoping to quietly take a Bible for himself. What he found shook him to the core.


The inside page of the Bible he picked up had the handwritten signature of his own grandmother. It had been her personal Bible. Out of the thousands of Bibles still left in the warehouse, he stole the one belonging to this grandmother — a woman persecuted for her faith all her life.

He was found weeping — God was real.

R. Kent Hughes in 1001 Great Stories and Quotes

Adapted from The Prayer Bible Jean E. Syswerda, general editor, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), p 1285.

DO YOU HAVE A SUPPORT GROUP?

Today's promise: God cares for the persecuted

Do you have a support group?

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two men can stand back-to-back and conquer.  
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT

A faithful friend is a strong defense; and he that hath found him hath found a treasure.

Louisa May Alcott

The strength of the huddle

When I asked Mike what he missed most about pro football, I was surprised by his answer. He said it was getting into the huddle. You felt safe there, he said. It was where you could get direction, support, and correction. It was where you could regroup for the next phase of the battle, knowing 10 other guys were there to help you win.

Mike said the huddle was a real refuge during away-games in hostile stadiums, when, besides the team, they were fighting a negative environment. It was a place where they could return to for encouragement to keep going.

Every man needs a safe place to get what he needs to enter into life's conflict. If a man's going to survive—no, win—the battles of life, he must have a huddle of good men around him to cheer him on and bandage his wounds. He needs men who will celebrate with him in the good times and do whatever it takes to bring help and healing in the bad times.

Rodney L. Cooper in Shoulder to Shoulder

The writer of Ecclesiastes paints a depressing picture of a man who strives to gain the whole world alone, then asks himself, "Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?" The writer concludes, "It is all so meaningless and depressing" (Ecclesiastes 4:8). How much better it is to go through life with a strong network of support. When you share your trials and triumphs with others, you soon realize that you're not alone. And somehow, when we stand together, life's challenges don't seem so daunting anymore.

Adapted from Men of Integrity Devotional Bible with devotions from the editors of Men of Integrity, a publication of Christianity Today International (Tyndale, 2002), entry for June 29.

HOW DOES YOUR LIFE REFLECT GOD'S FORGIVENESS?

Today's promise: God is always willing to forgive us

How does your life reflect God's forgiveness?

Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness of sins.

Acts 13:38 NLT

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Proclaiming God's forgiveness

Proclamation of the Good News of God's forgiveness is what my Christian testimony is all about. That includes forgiveness within my marriage. There is great testimony of God's power when I forgive Teresa as He has forgiven me.
Nothing about myself wants to forgive. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that I am able to forgive. Forgiveness is a divine reality that I must first receive from my Creator. Only then can the Spirit prompt me to share that forgiveness with others.

I remember when God humbled me with this truth through the words of Isaiah 53:4-6. Christ took on my sickness of selfishness and price and carried my pain to the cross. Jesus was pierced for my harsh words and snippy attitudes with my wife. He was crushed by my "white lies" and subtle dishonesty. The Savior took on the punishment for my years of neglecting my wife and forgetting my kids.

Because of Christ's forgiveness, Teresa and I can proclaim that it is possible to live in harmony with one another. We are grateful to be able to proclaim God's work in our marriage, to be able to demonstrate to those around us that we don't go to sleep with unforgiveness or bitterness in our hearts. This testimony has only been possible through the divine provision of His forgiveness.

HAVE YOU FELT YOUR SIN WAS BEYOND FORGIVENESS?

Today's promise: God is always willing to forgive us

Have You Felt Your Sin Was Beyond Forgiveness?

And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…

Joel 2:32NLT

"I assure you that any sin can be forgiven, including blasphemy; but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin." He told them this because they were saying he had an evil spirit.

Mark 3:28-29 NLT

"But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too."

Mark 11:25 NLT

Nothing can ever separate us from his love…

Romans 8:38 NLT

Can any sin be forgiven?

The Bible commands us to forgive others when they have wronged us and to seek forgiveness when we have wronged others. We must do this to follow the example of God, who extends to us the ultimate pardon — forgiveness for our sins.

Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of our sin, but the magnitude of the forgiver's love. No sin is too great for God's complete and unconditional love. The Bible does mention one unforgivable sin — an attitude of defiant hostility toward God that prevents us from accepting his forgiveness. Those who don't want his forgiveness are out of his reach.

ARE YOU BREATHING THE SWEET AIR OF FORGIVENESS?

Today's promise: God is always willing to forgive us

Are you breathing the sweet air of forgiveness?


Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgive them all.

Psalm 65:3 NLT

The sweet air of forgiveness

If you doubt God's forgiveness, allow the words of Romans 8:32 to strengthen your faith. If God gave up his only Son for you, so surely he will not hold back his forgiveness!
Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?


God's forgiveness is different than human forgiveness. Isaiah 43:25 declares that when God forgives sin, he forgets them forever.


"I — yes, I alone — am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again."
Human forgiveness often comes with hidden strings. We say we forgive, but later, at a crucial time, we yank the string and pull the offense back into view. Saying "I forgive you" comes easily, but truly forgiving and forgetting is much more difficult. Knowing our tendency to store past offenses and hold grudges, we assume that God does the same.


But the Bible proclaims that God will never think of our sins again. Does God take sin seriously? Definitely! Sin is so serious that it deserves the death penalty, eternal death.
Does God want to forgive sinners? Certainly! God sent Jesus to take the punishment for sin, dying on the cross in our place. All who repent and trust in Christ can be forgiven.
Can we trust God to forgive us? Of course! Release that load of guilt. Stand tall and breathe the sweet air of forgiveness.

A QUIET INJURY: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A QUIET INJURY: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Posted on January 10, 2012 by pgwalt3212

Most people have heard of PTSD.  This is a common response to an event like being in a battle in Iraq, being shot by a criminal, being raped or surviving a serious car accident.    For many people these types of events begin an extended period of pain and require a lot of recovery.   PTSD can take months, years or decades to subside and can lead to innumerable of problems with relationships, careers, marriages, alcohol abuse and life.

What many people do not know is that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial basically evolved due to PTSD.  I was in Vietnam as a teen ager with the Army.  I saw some combat and tragic deaths there from accidents, including an explosion in 1970 that killed a dozen of my fellow soldiers who were unloading a truck filled with ammunition.  I was troubled by many memories of my year there.

After the military I went to college and began to investigate what was then not quite accepted as a disorder.   I did some research independently and testified before the Senate on the subject in 1977.  My research found elevated rates of divorce and other signs of mal adjustment among veterans with heavy exposure to combat.  I wrote an article on the subject for the Washington Post and a journal known as Military Medicine.

The House and Senate ultimately developed the Vet Centers to reach out to veterans struggling with psychological injuries.  Veterans of Vietnam were the primary users.  Yet veterans of World War II and Korea also took part.  Today the Vet Centers are helping vets especially from Iraq and Afghanistan

I had an interesting idea  –  suppose there was a memorial on the Mall in Washington DC engraved with the names of those who perished in the Vietnam War?   Would this help those suffering from PTSD? Would the survivors guilt felt by many be helped by seeing the names honored there?

In 1979 the idea became more than that.  I took two weeks off of work and developed the idea working day and night.  I came upon some thoughts from college- writings of Carl Jung, a student of Sigmund Freud.  Jung theorized that Collective Psychological States exist among communities, schools and nations.  My theory developed further.  There were profound societal impacts from that divisive era.

Just as the veterans needed healing, so too did the nation. The Memorial, I hoped, would do something to help both.

I began the effort in 1979.  I will spare you from reading a long and boring story of how the Wall  got completed in only three years.  Many people helped.  But this Blog is about PTSD.

PTSD usually begins by observing or being a victim of violence.   PTSD occurs when certain symptoms, such as reliving the event, loss of sleep, hyper-vigilance, last for over a month.   Soldiers, journalists, police officers and convenience store clerks are among those who come into contact with traumatic events.    Yet this can happen to anyone.  I know someone who had to defend himself and mortally wounded, legally I should add,  his attacker.  Most people do not recover from this sort of thing quickly.  These types of events come out of nowhere and can many times take a toll on our lives.  Think about the students who survived the carnage of Virginia Tech.  All were experiencing a normal day of college when a mad man brought about chaos.

Many  thousands  of soldiers are now returning who have witnessed graphic and bloody scenes with  civilians and/or US soldiers killed by terrorist bombs or other causes.  Many have taken lives in combat and struggle with the memories.  War is gruesome.  Experiencing horrific scenes leaves an indelible mark on the psyche.   Some are debilitated by the trauma that did not have the same impact on other soldiers who saw the same thing.  The science of the mind is not as scientific as we might like it to be.  There is much that those in the area need to know about the causes.  Yet there is plenty known about ways to aid recovery.

Veterans of Vietnam and, more recently, Iraq, have taken their own lives from events flowing from PTSD.  And many of these people could have been saved by seeking help.

Whatever the causes, there is good treatment available from civilian and government mental health professionals.   Some of the best research done on PTSD is by the National Institute for Mental Health.  I like this poem by Veterans Administration psychiatrist Mary Rorro.  She treats many veterans with PTSD. She also encourages them to do what she does. Mary enjoys playing musical instruments.

Clean Slate
Years not long
a story untold
all that remains
is a name
etched in stone

My fallen brother
you answered the call
If only I could
erase your name
from this wall

Written by c. Mary C. Rorro
November 2010

If you know someone who seems to be experiencing PTSD please encourage them to get help.  There is plenty available.  And get them to do something like learn to play the guitar.  That is my advice!

To learn more about the Education Center at The Wall and to help us build it, go to: www.buildthecenter.org

By Jan Craig Scruggs, M. Ed and Esq.

**MY FATHER, MY BROTHER**

My Father, My Brother

There’s a war goin’ on outside so stay inside.  You did your time of ride or die and you survived so now it’s my time to shine.  I too crossed that line of civilian when I stepped into that buildin’ to swear in.  I am your son and your brother, your son by blood and your brother with America as our mother.

As your son you raised me to be confident and strong…after my very first Oorah our lives sang a new song.

Boot camp helped me understand you and the hell that you’ve been through, though I’ve only scratched the surface at an intermediate level.  You’ve always been my role model; I’ve always wanted to be just like you.  I didn’t think it was possible but I have even more respect for you.

As my father you was the man with the plan to take his fam. to the land of heavenly bliss with God guiding’ his hands.

As my brother you are the reason that my heart keeps on beatin’ cause your hard work gave inspiration to this younger generation.

You fought for this nation without any hesitation.  That’s why you’re my motivation to catch the dreams that I’m chasin’.

A leader and a teacher, my mom’s warrior in a lover.  I am honored to have you as my father and my brother.

J. WIGGINS AKA OFFICIAL
Copyright 2009 - PERSONAS OF A PROJECT POET - THE DIARY OF A BLACK MAN
Orders@Xlibris.com

**SHELL-SHOCK**

Shell-Shock

His name isn’t on the wall, but should it be?

He left home a man and returned home a shattered mirror.  Tryin’ to find himself, trying to figure out what is wrong with him.

He put his life on the line for his country, yet his country turned its back on him at his time of need.  Yes the war was lost but it wasn’t his or his country’s war to find.

His emotions were washed from his brain; you can’t have emotions when your job is to kill.  But the time to kill is over, yet his emotions he still cannot find.

His family supportin’ him the whole time…helpin’ him find his emotions, teachin’ him to love again.

Like a father proud of his son, a son is proud of his father.

J. WIGGINS AKA OFFICIAL
Copyright 2009 - PERSONAS OF A PROJECT POET - THE DIARY OF A BLACK MAN

Orders@Xlibris.com

**SHATTERED EMOTIONS OF A MARINE**

Shattered Emotions of a Marine

My father’s therapist told him it would be a good idea to take a sheet of paper and keep it someplace in the house where he could remember its location.  Every time an emotion or a thought crossed his mind he was to jot it down.  When the page was full he was to read

back to himself what he wrote.

I took this experience of the therapist as a way for my father to see himself through the eyes of others.  His anger, love, disbelief, emotions…read at a time when he was at peace.  Sort of being on the outside looking in at himself.  This poem was that page my father

wrote on.  His words organized by me in a poetic pattern.

Shattered Emotions of a Marine

Expressed from a father, James Wiggins, through a son…Jana Wiggins

These are the

Words and

Emotions of a

Vietnam

Marine

Who came home to his country only to find that the real battle of his life is just beginning…the battle to find

himself.

A misconception many vets are led to believe is:  if you are creative, you’re cured/healed.  Far from it…being creative is a means by which you battle through.  The scares are ever present, so too are the never-ending pains.  Every time we feel well, something occurs to remind us of our frailty(ies).  I strive to be sane but what is sanity?  I work to be normal…what’s normal?  In the present I take two steps forward toward the future; but the past brings me back four steps into darkness.  I owe it to myself to move ahead, but it’s hard to move forward while the past has a stranglehold on me.  No one person can cure my ills, for healing comes from within.

I left the war, but it didn’t leave me.  War is hell, but coming home can be worse.  I’m on crutches, it’s called dependency.  Some of my brothers self-medicated themselves, it’s illegal…I medicated myself mentally, it’s substance abuse.  Substance indulgence becomes substance abuse.  It’s a wall to hide behind things that are bothering you.  But a sober mind and a healthy body equal a pure soul. 

I try to stop and observe the beauty around me, but it’s difficult due to my PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).  PTSD is like life on fire.  It can become all-consuming.  It never burns up, merely eats up the entire being left unattended.

My mind keeps jumping from thought to thought, for a fragmented mind comes from a troubled soul.  But don’t mind me…it’s just my insecurity at work, and don’t’ worry, I fool myself also.  After all, I have to be my friend before I can be yours.  Through family I learned, love doesn’t control, it embraces.  Love heals while hate destroys…love helps while hate hinders, just like sympathy.  You don’t need a sympathizer, for sympathy hinders…just like hate.

I place my faith in God, for faith is the bridge uniting the creator with His creation.  Faith unites my soul with God.  Doubt, the great illness, separated the creator from His creation.  But to know God is to love God, and to love God is eternal peace.

Jot down your emotions and you will see who you are.  Kind of like looking at a mirror…you reveal your soul, your inner-self.  But if you let your emotions linger inside it will explode, leading to excuses.  Excuses hide the facts while reasons explain them. I am the conqueror and not the conquered…a survivor.  Survivors avoid taking things for granted.  For example:  someone disabled is still able.

“VENI, VIDI, VICI”…I CAME, I

SAW, I CONQUERED!

J. WIGGINS AKA OFFICIAL
Copyright 2009 - PERSONAS OF A PROJECT POET - THE DIARY OF A BLACK MAN

Orders@Xlibris.com

**A PARIS ISLAND CHRISTMAS**

A PARIS ISLAND CHRISTMAS

Tis  the  season  to   be  sneezin’  but   not  where  I  am  cause  the  sun  is  beamin’.  The   few   that  are  sneezin’  are  side  effects  from  weezin’.  It  seems  the  island  got  to  them  and  now  pneumonia  is  teasin’.

No   stockings   on   fireplaces   but   rifles  on  racks.   No  model  train  tracks  but  footlockers  neatly  stacked.  We  really  have  no  time  to  decorate  a  tree  so  we  grab  one  of  those  footlockers  and  on  top  steps  Chesty  Pulley.

Instead   of   snowflakes   there   are   swarmin’   sand  fleas.  The   pines   and   evergreens   are   replaced   by  palm   trees.  Havin’   snowball   fights  but  usin’  pebbles  and  stones.  But  of  course  on  my  team  is  the  warrior,  John  Basilone.

No  snow  so  no  snow  angels;  for  fun  we  have  the  rifle  range.  Snackin’   on  MRE’s  instead  of  minty  candy  canes.  And  who  needs  Christmas  carols  when  you  have  rifle  ditties.  BWT  in  the  woods  sort  of  creatin’  our  own  cities.

Then  out  rings  a  bell  soundin’  like  it’s  from  a  sleigh.  It’s  just  Hathcock  showin’  off,  bull’s  eye  from  two  miles  away.  Our  Santa  Clause  is  Gunny  Clauses,  carryin’  no  toys  for  girls  and  boys.  Instead  his  sack  is  completely  packed  with  the  types  of  toys  that  create  loud  noise.

No   magical  sleigh  but  a  loaded  Humm.  V.   William  Rupertus  ridin’  shotgun  reciting;  the   Rifleman’s  Creed.  You   can  forget  about  sharin’  a  nice  dinner  with  the  neighbors  cause  they  all   passed  out  in  the  dag-gone  gas  chamber.

A  Marine  always  holds  his  bearing  so  not  a  single  soul  is  smilin’;  and  that’s  a  typical  Christmas,  here  on  Paris  Island.

In order to lead you must first know how to follow.  Follow Series Plt. 1006
A Co
1^st Rt Bn

J. WIGGINS AKA OFFICIAL
Copyright 2009 - PERSONAS OF A PROJECT POET - THE DIARY OF A BLACK MAN
Orders@Xlibris.com