INTRODUCTION TO SOUND MENTAL HEALTH Sometime ago my heart was deeply saddened by the news of two suicides that already took place and was announced in the news media and all social media platforms. Am not sure these were Christians or had the opportunity to surrender their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ and receive precious Salvation that our Lord purchased for us through His vicarious death on the cross of Calvary though; but I just want to share something with you here... The times we are living in are perilous and treacherous times; delicate, desperate and precarious days the Scriptures have called it. Even warned us as Christian folk that in the last days the love of many will wax cold and men will become lovers of themselves caring only about and living unto themselves instead of unto God. 2Ti 3:1 — 2Ti 3:7 ​“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”. One of God's purpose and heart beat for the church is for fellowship, intimacy, comradeship, affinity, oneness, amity, bonding, fraternity of and with the god-kind that fosters a sense of family, unity and companionship amongst us as brethren. No one is supposed to isolate or be isolated from the brotherhood if they are to survive in these desperate times. Do call to mind the characteristic behavior of the animal kingdom, they always flock with their kind. You know watching the Geographic Channel and the animals in the wild, you wonder who taught them to do this, how do they know to stick with the fold? I guess it's because of the obvious awareness and knowledge that there are other kinds of animals in their kingdom and as we know them to be classified as "preys and predators". So it is with our spiritual life here on this side of heaven. Because we do not belong here, we are pilgrims in the earth and gave never lived here before we need a road map to maneuver our lives through the twists and turns, corpus and nuances of life. That's why God gave us His manual, His Word the compass for our souls so we do not miss our way and if we do, we are to get back to using the compass the He has directed for us to in the manual. BOOK EXCERPT 2 ......Same rule applies to our spiritual life. We are so divinely wired, inbuilt for fellowship, mingling, “koinonia” (communion) and integration that when we find ourselves either distracted by our own needs, concerns or enticed by our own impatience or unfulfilled expectations of things yet to materialize in our lives, then we start lagging behind outside of the fold - skipping meetings, avoiding the gathering, withdrawing from responsibilities in the Church, neglecting our oneness, reduce, limit or hinder communication with our brethren - what happens is that your heart or love starts waxing cold, Satan your adversary is on the prowl now. Next is your spiritual eyes begin to fall dim, now you're going to start seeing the things you're not supposed to see -The specks, spots and blemishes once enshrined in God's Glory now suddenly is dulled and erased by the influence of Satan’s deceit and treachery (and like ants to sugar, Satan is drawn to your heart to sit up in there as a pretentious king) then you'd get critical, angry, resentful, upset and disoriented then you're going to throw a tantrum, stop cell meetings, partnership (you'd say the pastor preaches about giving too much in church, or better still they talk about money too much) now you're getting irritated and soon enough Satan when he has fully convinced you that you are right and they are wrong. Don't mind them he'll say; he will then through malicious thoughts instigate you, building on your already existing, predominant preferred choice of thoughts and influence you to stop tithing, praying, studying God's Word because now you know "everything". Then he'll convince you that nobody likes you in church including the Pastor. Before that person knows it he or she is full convinced...no need to go to church again and it doesn't end there, because Satan's plan os to through the delusion of the mind not only become a stronghold in the mind but destroy that person's life, he will after enacting the process of spiritual isolation begin the process of physical isolation and despair will set in. Then comes suicidal thoughts. The desire to live becomes draining and the desire to not seem more empowering. BOOK EXCERPT 3 .....Please hear me, a predator requires the prey to be distracted, disoriented and isolated in order to launch its devious and wicked attack. Lagging behind, slowing down or withdrawing from the fold is deadly, costly and catastrophic for the prey. There's no one to help protect or keep you safe outside of the fold. Don't and never isolate yourself from God's people no matter what!! Going to church and being a participating member of a local church or church family is very important for spiritual growth, maturity and protection. BOOK EXCERPT 4 THE CHURCH .....This is where you and I in church come in. Mental health impairment doesn't easily show up and can be masked on the face, in that smile, hug or handshake or conversation. We have a duty and responsibility to be our brother's or sister's keeper. Let's not conclude that , “Oh this so and so I don't know why he or she isn't coming to the cell meeting " or "you see so and so did not come for service", or "so and so is not picking up his or her calls or replying your emails", or "so and so isn't partnering or paying tithe anymore", or "so and so isn't vibrant anymore" and the list goes on. Let's not be quick to judge or jump into conclusions or assume but let us take, make, create more time to visit, connect, pray and fellowship together, not just phone calls, texting, emailing or chatting over the Internet or telephone line these are all mediums that have been designed to help us stay or keep in touch but the flip aspect of this is that they could also be walls that divide, isolate, ostracize or keep us apart. BOOK EXCERPT 5 .....Perhaps there is someone who is sitting immobilized by pain, neglect, fear or hurt at home wishing someone would ring and suggest, pray with or talk with them; well anything rather than these walls of isolation? Have you scheduled a cell meeting or visitation planned, or arranged to have tea or coffee with friends and suddenly one or two in the midst just seemed to cancel or not show up at the last minute? Or when they promised to call you, they did not because they didn't want to but they just couldn't held captive by thoughts of rejection, exclusion, abandonment, hesitancy or perplexity? Or when they are invited to come along to visit others with you, they tell you how terribly sorry they are and are fully booked up all weekend when they are actually busy doing nothing in particular barely holding it together in their tiny little safe box and then the first problem which seemed to start with one's little acquiescence has now grown up like a giant and then people stop calling, emailing, texting, chatting; the invites to cell meetings, tea or coffee stop and the isolation that at first was a perception becomes the only reality. BOOK EXCERPT 6 .....Please don't give up on your friends, your brother, your sister in Christ. Dare to break through those invisible walls and brave the divide to call them up, go round to their house to actually visit even when they don't want you to, because they really do they just don't know how to say it. Everyone says: "If you need anything, don't hesitate, I'll be there for you". But do we really practice this! Do we remember to send a birthday gift, celebrate when others are celebrating, and show our love for Jesus by sharing Him with others? Can you go look for them who you haven't seen in church in a while? They probably need you now more than ever perhaps before Satan gets to suggest suicide to them as their only way out, you'd be right there to catch them right in the nick of time before they fall into the abyss of despair!! As for me God's grace helping me, I will not cease to pray for you and should you need me I will be there for you. You can write us atinfo@ptadzworld.org. First if you experience these things, I would like to help you by first recommending you read that powerful and life transforming book "THE POWER OF YOUR MIND" by Pastor Chris and this book series on Sound Mental Health Volumes 1-4. Don't worry you are going to be fine!