On my desk sits a copy of one of my favorite books,  Steps to Christ by Ellen G. White. If you just let the book open, it will do so with pages 72-73 showing and the pages almost falling out. The chapter is called Growing Up Into Christ, and I  often reference a quote on these pages because it  speaks to my heart and my struggle so well. It’s a  long quote but a powerful one. Allow me to share it....  Read More

One of the hardest things about beginning the  journey out of the darkness and into the light of  feeling whole in our mental health is the ability to be  vulnerable. Vulnerability can be tricky, especially  when we don’t feel safe or deeply fear rejection. However, as mentioned in week one, our secrets keep  us sick, so we need to begin to share if we will start  the journey towards healing. One ...  Read More

Though the devil and his agents may not be something we fear, we must be aware and fight back wisely.  We must also not invite the devil into our lives to gain a stronghold.You may respond to that last statement with a “No duh! Of course, I’m not inviting the devil anywhere.” But let me explain the different ways this happens that are ever so subtle.For many years, someone close to me had been hur...  Read More

Regarding Jesus and the conversation of mental health and demon possession, I think it’s essential to reference two things we mentioned in our opening week.  Our mental health issues must be confronted on every possible level: mentally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.  There are often no single causes and no quick fixes.  Two, we all have disorders, ways in which we’ve learned to adapt t...  Read More

Through the gospels, Jesus regularly encounters demons that have possessed human beings. Let’s look briefly at one of these stories that shares elements with most of the others involving Jesus and demons.The story is found in Luke 8, where we’re told that Jesus and the disciples had landed on the shores of what is called the region of the Gerasenes, located on the other side of the Sea of Galilee ...  Read More

Was demon possession in Scripture just mental health issues?  If it was demons, are demons the root of all mental health issues?  Crosswalk family, I will be honest: this was a tough week for me (Paddy) to write and reflect on.  I’m not sure how I got the privilege to write on it.  I’m not an expert in the matter, and when I reached out to folks who were way more educated than I am, they all point...  Read More