Author: Rev. Charles Pugh

There are many today that depend upon medications or some substances to affect more than just their physical functioning. Moods and attitudes seem to be the problem area people are looking to impact more, thus this is really an attempt to control the mind and emotions. I have been thinking about this even more after a harder winter than many expected and more discussion about a said psychological condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. Playing off the S.A.D. abbreviation, I am writing today about this often sad subject of diagnosed mental Disorders and the typical treatment for them. Greater mental health is indeed more possible than many believe, simply through proper cognitive teaching and emotional encouragement. I have addressed this in various ways before, especially since my sad and unfortunate mental health Disorder labels due to my “zealous faith” (that faith being one of the explanations written from my Comprehensive Psychological Evaluation). Are you happy or sad? Are you impacted by these Sad Disorder labels?

Mental health has been even more of a national discussion since the 01-08-11 Tucson Tragedy. The shooter, Jared Loughner, is said and assumed by most to have some sort of mental Disorder or derangement. The amazing recovery of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot point blank in the head, brings another interesting aspect to understanding mental health. I do not have room to get into the broader discussion here, though I have blogged about mental health before (e.g. my 05-04-08 Blog, “Plain Talk about Mental Illness,” also found on p. 369 of my book). In this article, I want to focus more on the sad reality of all these Disorder labels and what comes from that.

According to what acts as the Psychological Bible—the DSM-1V-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders-volume 4-Text Revision, published in 2000)–there are 297 mental health Disorders (this “official” number may change with the 2013 DSM-5 edition). 297 labels to show what may be wrong! Now, I am not saying here that there is no such thing as a serious mental illness that can be categorized and treated with certain effective therapy and even some medications. The DSM editions offer no real solutions, in contrast to the Word from GOD—the Holy Bible. There is no regimen of treatment for any of these categorized Disorders in the DSM-IV-TR. That is left up to the individual psychologist or psychiatrist according to their preferred psychological theory and practice. There are only all those labels (e.g. the S.A.D. Disorder) that effectively discourage and even trap you into excusing your feelings and being controlled by psychiatrists and their prescribed substances (or even controlled by others and their choice substances). Sadly, there is an evolutionary humanism that dominates many fields of knowledge today and does so particularly in psychology. That being so, the main solutions that many psychologists offer are limited to only one or possibly two aspects of the human being—the mental/emotional and the physical.

Not properly dealing with the spiritual aspect of human beings and how we relate to our Creator, leaves psychology inept at solving many of the problems manifest today. Many problems are only masked with medications or often even exacerbated. I saw this first hand from my inside interactions and experiences in the system. I also saw how my practically addressing the spiritual with fellow patients led to much better and happy responses and more healing. It is quite sad that the best many psychologists do today is to diagnose errant thinking as some DSM Disorder (said to be genetic or chemical somehow) and then offer the powerful medications that come with various side effects (just note the long lists of warnings coming with those medicine commercials!).

There is a real, Sad Disorder, as I have explained before and even in my last article (“Human Profiling”), impacting each of us! The only way to overcome the real, Sad Disorder, having begun at The Fall, is to find healing in the Creator who became our Savior! HE has left us His Word to give us encouragements and all things that pertain to life and godliness (see 2 Peter 1:3). When you find healing and encouragements there, you find that many sad Disorders simply go away! 😃

Fresh from another Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and from the continuing news coverage of the Tucson Tragedy, I’ve been thinking about the subject of human profiling. This is a very important subject to consider! In an age when terrorism is more of a realized threat, it carries even more weight. Just ask the airlines about profiling people. 😉 Whether you consider the issue of “race” or the type of person that would go on a shooting spree, like in Tucson and at Virginia Tech or some person who has a religious philosophy seeking to damage things or kill people, you can understand the importance of human profiling. There is yet another way of looking at this, crucial to your prevailing in life and beyond! How do you profile a human?

What are we as human beings anyway? Are we just an accident in the chain of evolutionary development? Perhaps we are just a physical mass of hormones and chemicals, destined only to waiver up and down in the sea of life? These are important philosophical questions to consider and ones that will impact how you daily live your life. Are we, as human beings good, bad or a mix of both? The things that some people do certainly make you wonder! When you really think about it, what person alive is there who hasn’t at some point made a self-seeking decision at the expense of others (even if primarily as a developing child)? There is something in us, as human beings, which is just not right. What I am now doing is human profiling! 😉

In the introduction to my book, I note how that none of us is really “normal” (at least as we were originally Created to be). Certainly, psychology teaches us what typical human behavior looks like, yet there is something in us that makes us unpredictable and sometimes even evil. Do you believe there is such a thing as evil? If not, you have an even bigger problem to solve! Most would say that to coldly take a gun and just end the innocent life of another, such as 9 year old Christina Green, indicates a heart and mind that is simply evil and deranged. This person would certainly be in need of some special mental treatment or psychotropic drugs—something that would change their frame of mind! Isn’t that how it goes? Hasn’t this been the conclusion of many in the aftermath of this most recent, tragic shooting? Do we now have a better human profile of what a killer looks like? Is it someone who hates another or seeks to get revenge against some perceived wrong or unfair circumstance? What person alive has not held hate in their heart at some point or sought to get even against someone or some thing? Do you have a sense of something deeply wrong in your own heart and soul? If not, you are deceiving yourself.

The Bible and reality teaches us that we are not products of evolutionary time and chance. Life and personality, among many other things, makes no sense from an evolutionary worldview! Scientific law even states that life does not come from non-life. GOD created this universe and HE made man in HIS image, including a moral component. The book of Genesis also explains how man chose to disobey GOD and thus was forever impacted in his human nature. We are fallen, fallible human beings. That is true for any of us, cultured or not; true for those civilized or simply living in some isolated tribal region. This is GOD’s authoritative human profile!

In addition, the Bible teaches, as did the Founders of this United States of America, that all men are created equal and good, but all are also equally fallen. Biblically, there is no room for any “racism,” since we are all part of the human race (e.g. Acts 17:26). However, all of us do not have the same opportunities and advantages, nor do we all make the same choices with the circumstances of life that we do face. Victory is possible, when we choose to accept the cure in the Person of the Creator Himself, Jesus Christ. Our fallen nature will then begin to be replaced with a new nature that will survive death. Human profiling is different for one found in Christ!

Many emotions are flooding through my being, as I’m certain they are with you as you learn more and reflect upon the latest Tragedy with National implications. Humanly speaking, how can you not be moved by the heroic stories and struggle for survival in the Tucson Tragedy, as many were with the devastating earthquake in Haiti last year? Looking through the cameras at the area in Tucson also reveals an outpouring of action that many have taken to at least send prayers, balloons, flowers, and well wishes. As is typical, our government leaders are also taking on a more pastoral role, revealed through the actions and comments in the Arizona and Federal Congresses. President Obama and other leaders are also speaking at a Memorial service in Tucson, Arizona this evening. In this article, I will speak again to what I addressed when first establishing my Website, after the 04-16-07 VT Tragedy (see my 04-28-08 Blog, “GROWTH…From Compassion to ACTION”). May we grow more through this latest far reaching tragedy and move beyond compassion to a lifestyle of properly acting!

One of the closest personal tragedies I was first faced with was back on 10-15-04, when my youngest brother succumbed to the spiritually oppressive thinking in his mind and decided to take a gun and end his own life. That was not expected by family or friends and was a very difficult thing to come through. GOD gave me the strength to do the emotionally hardest thing I’d done to that point in leading the graveside service for my brother in the flesh and Spirit (a rough and then unplanned video and transcript of this is on my website under the tab, “Battle of the Mind”). I had intended to write some comments about this at the time on my VT ministry website, but didn’t get back to that, so I will some here. I was amazed at the number of people that sent cards and expressions of support and prayers; I had not sensed that same level of support through other difficulties and even specific appeals for help. It caused me to reflect upon why this is so. I don’t have room to develop this further, here, but the answer lies in each of us taking the time to apply actions of love, compassion and support as a lifestyle—i.e. serving others (as discussed further in lesson #7 [chapter 6] of my book). We could also learn from Psalm 78 and Israel’s history!

The way you can tell if you have grown through any difficulty or tragedy you have faced is the degree to which you keep your focus off yourself and on serving others. You can serve the people right around you and help them get through difficult times. You must continue to keep this before you, as time and the need for daily survival often blunt this thinking and effort. Our own human nature also fights for self preservation, so it involves repeated self-denial (as far as your own desires). We should not live in denial of what reality teaches us, yet we must move beyond seeing the reality and feeling the compassion to living out the lifestyle in actions. I trust that you will use the natural, emotional response to this Tucson Tragedy to motivate you to the place of good change and growth in actions. You acting more personally (and not just “passing the buck” or blame to others or leaders, like police or mental health workers) is what will help diminish and even prevent future such tragedies.

If you get to view this Tucson Tragedy Memorial Service (yet to occur as I write this), I trust it will help you reflect on the greater meanings in life and what we each are called to be and do. You do not have the strength or power on your own to do this effectively. You need the Grace of your Creator, GOD. Scripture explains that this is available and found in the Person of Jesus Christ. I trust you know Him and what He has done and will do for you and us all. We can grow to properly understand and not neglect His name, as was true in the 04-17-07 VT Memorial Service (and has been in official ceremonies since). Be moved to ACTIONS!

Details of the latest shooting rampage and tragedy in Tucson, Arizona are coming in now and we are learning more about what happened in this latest incident and even why it could have happened. 6 have been killed and 13 others injured to varying degrees. Blame continues to be a problem exacerbating the issue and given that this shooting impacted a Federal Congresswoman, a wave of fear, blame and concern is sweeping throughout the Government. Compassion is also at work, so there is hope that there can be healing and learning from this tragedy. One danger that I see in all of the aftermath of trying to understand it all, is for people to slip into an idea that Safety is somehow a RIGHT that we have. This is the focus of what I will write about here.

Early on in my own personal tragedy, stemming from the worst U.S. Massacre in history at Virginia Tech on 04-16-07, I realized that Safety often becomes the preeminent idea that rules the day and leads to many actions that even come to violate the laws that are set up to provide Safety. One of the first responses, true with this Tucson Tragedy as well, is that the shooter or perpetrator of violence has a mental issue. Typically, people say the shooter was mentally unstable or imbalanced somehow and therefore needs to be detained for some mental evaluation by professionals. This is insufficient reasoning and even quite dangerous, as it presupposes that the mental health professionals have the answers and can even ensure Safety. Even if someone is deemed professionally to “be no threat to self or others” at a given time, does that mean that this will always be true? Would being put on medication somehow guarantee this (that being the primary defense mental health professionals use)? Additionally, defaulting to the mental health argument is dangerous because these workers and/or the community or even national leaders become the God-like authority, as they then determine what constitutes mental imbalance or balance. Objectivity and freedom are then easily thrown out or at best marginalized in the name of Safety and that alleged RIGHT we have for it.

Friend, Safety is not a human or even a Constitutional RIGHT. Government and law enforcement officers are supposed to help keep the peace, but there is no realistic way to have a free society and guarantee peace and Safety for everyone at all times. I just heard John Green, the father of the youngest victim in this Tucson shooting—9 year old Christina Green—say that having a free society means that we will be subject to these incidents and that he prefers this to the alternative. That is a very mature attitude to have, especially given his great personal loss, and an attitude that should temper what officials do in the aftermath of these tragedies. I also wrote about this very thing early on in a 05-13-08 Blog article: “An American Idol…SAFETY” (also included in Appendix 5 of my book). Safety is an ideal, but not a RIGHT, nor can it ever be if men are to be free.

While this Tucson Tragedy did not occur on a school campus, the fact that the shooter was recently a student at a local community college and had run-ins with people and even police there, again brings this issue home for my own tragedy-torn community and all others who consider the education of our children and citizens. How do we help these troubled souls? How do we prevent people from getting to such a place as Jared Lee Loughner? How can we do more to ensure Safety? That requires more discussion than I have room for here, but I have written extensively about this from my own experience with tragedy and spiritual understanding.

You could allow your desire to be safe to keep you indoors and isolated from others. You could worry and even become cynical, thinking that things are only going to get worse and worse. If you understand where Safety actually comes from and what the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will do, you can be at personal peace and Safety, no matter what circumstances are raging around you! Friend, Safety is of the LORD (e.g. Proverbs 21:31)! Safety is not our RIGHT, but our responsibility to help make possible through Love and Truth. I personally know that our mental health professionals, police, judicial, and educational institutions can do a better job here, too!

Recently, there has been a renewed interest in discussion about Virginia Tech’s former talented, yet controversial quarterback, Michael Vick. The renewed interest in talking more about Michael Vick is being fueled by his latest success as the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles and sparked further by a recent comment that President Obama made in a conversation with the Philadelphia Eagle’s owner, Jeff Lurie. The main controversy stems around the question of whether Michael Vick should be accepted and perhaps even forgiven for his clearly horrific behavior toward dogs and his past involvement in a dog fighting ring, even after having served his time for the crime–21 months in federal prison. President Obama was thankful that the Eagles were giving him a second chance at success. Do you think he should be allowed to play after the horrible things he did? Does Michael Vick, or really do any of us deserve any second chances?

This is a very important question and one that each of us clearly needs to think about and carefully consider! Are there conditions necessary for forgiveness? Is forgiveness limited? Are there some things so horrific that they should never be forgiven? There is a spectrum of opinion out there; many finding it difficult or even impossible to forgive. I believe there is much needing to be learned through this and even through that world changing day of the 04-16-07 VT Massacre. There is much that you personally should consider relating to forgiveness and this idea of giving second chances.

What is forgiveness anyway? You may wish to review that important article that I wrote back on 06-20-09: “Apologizing, Forgiveness and Reconciliation,” where I even referenced the situation with Michael Vick. Forgiveness is the releasing of a debt or offense. It is you being for giving to a person in some way (if only giving the benefit of the doubt), despite what negative thing they may have done. GOD requires us to forgive, but not to do so automatically upon an offense. There must immediately be a willingness to forgive, else a resentful and bitter attitude will form in your heart. Since forgiveness is a promise, it means that you agree to not use the offense that is in question against the person offending, in any way. It means you will not criticize them for that offense and you will not speak negatively about it with others. Forgiveness is conditional, however; Repentance is the condition. Time is not a part of forgiveness, nor is there the need to see evidence of repentance before granting forgiveness. When forgiveness is given, it gives the person who has offended another or a second chance.

Is there anything that you have ever done where you have wanted another person to forgive you? Have you ever wanted to have a second chance to get something right? Most certainly, if you have any interaction with others there will at some point be the need to be forgiven. We are all different people and we all do things at times, either incidentally or maybe even on purpose, where someone else ends up being hurt or offended. We need personal forgiveness and we need to be people willing to forgive and people who are forgiving, whenever there is the acknowledgement of wrong. We all need second and even third and fourth chances in some areas of our lives.

Yes, our actions always bring consequences. Even when forgiveness is granted, there will still be the need to build back whatever was torn down or harmed. That is reconciliation, or making things right. In the case of Michael Vick, he has admitted what he did as being horrible and morally wrong. He has also paid the price legally, in serving time for his offenses. If you will not give Michael Vick a second chance and refuse to forgive him because his past actions were so deplorable, then you are guilty of offending and in need of forgiveness yourself.

The Bible is clear here as well. You are not automatically forgiven before GOD, just because Jesus took the punishment for your sin. Forgiveness and second chances are given to you when you acknowledge your sin as an offense to GOD’s Holiness and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Thank GOD, that as long as we are living, we all have the opportunity for second chances!