I Trust When Dark My Road

Below is a PDF file of the slideshow from the Deaconess Conference, as well as a QuickTime movie of the same.  I have not posted the actual slideshow file, since I will probably use portions of it in the future.  If for some reason you would like access to the actual Keynote or PowerPoint file, please contact me via email or telephone. Thanks! -DMR

Presentation on Depression for CDC

Presentation of Slides in QuickTime for CDC

This coming week I will be speaking to the Concordia Deaconess Conference about the topic of depression and mental illness.  I’ll have about four hours with these fine ladies, and I am really looking forward to the opportunity.

My plan right now is to divide the presentation into two parts.  The first part will be on living with depression.  This section will be an overview of the book, and trying to provide some insight into the mind of the depressed and/or mentally ill.  The second part will be on how to serve those who suffer with depression and/or mental illnesses of various types, and how to serve their families.

So my question for you today is this: if you had this opportunity, what would you want to teach about and why?  How do you see the role of deaconesses and others in your congregations when it comes to serving those in need, especially with mental illnesses?  Do they have a place?  What is the place?  Are they better suited to serve the family, or the person directly?  I have my own ideas on these subjects, but I would love to hear yours as well.

-DMR

What does it mean to be cleansed of sin?  Why should we care?

darkmyroad08.mp3

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” (2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV)

Why do pastors go through the “SuperPastor” complex?

darkmyroad07.mp3

“My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.”
(Psalms 25:15 ESV)

Don’t forget to order a free copy of the book!

darkmyroad06.mp3

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Why is it so hard to believe that things can get better?

I Trust When Dark My Road – Episode 4 – Letting Others Help You

The easiest way for you to hear and get these consistently is to subscribe in iTunes.  Try this link from iTunes.

I am trying to send this one out in MP3 format. Let’s see if this is a little more generally accessible.

Again, I would appreciate any comments on the quality, accessibility, etc., of getting this audio.  Thanks very much!

-DMR

I recently had a conversation with someone that centered around the question of what to confess if you suffer from depression or other mental illnesses. So many of the symptoms which we face that are bio-chemical in origin also find their origin in our fallen nature. In other words, I can look at certain manifestations of my illness(es) as being the disease “talking” but at the same time it can be my sinful nature “talking”. Here are a few examples:

• Laziness, sloth, incapacity to work
• Boredom, lack of interest in anything, indifference
• Isolation from others, unfriendliness, dislike of crowds
• Inability to handle children

Now these are just a few examples. I think that any of those three categories could be easily attributed to sin or clinical depression/anxiety.

So what do you confess?

The real mess of depression and mental illness is that they are so intertwined. My general approach is that if you are in doubt, confess it. But it is also a matter of real pastoral care, so that when I am confessing something that isn’t sin, my pastor tells me that.

Probably the dilemma comes from the fact that when you are in the throes of the darkness, you aren’t in a position to be making subtle theological distinctions. I just want relief. And at some level, I don’t really care where it comes from. IT it comes from my pastor forgiving my sins, great. If it comes from my doctor or counselor reminding me that this is biochemical and not a character flaw, great.

So how do you approach this question?

Friends,

As many of you know, the book has gone extremely well thus far.  So well, in fact, that they are already out of print!  We were able to offer them at no charge thanks to the generosity of LCMS World Relief & Human Care.

This brings me to my plea.  Every box or book that went out included a donation envelope.  They are currently trying to figure out how to do a second printing, but I expect it will come down in part to dollars and cents.

If you received a copy of the book and found it of benefit, I would ask you to consider making a donation to LCMS World Relief.  You can send it and ask if they would consider reprinting it.  I know that everyone want to do so, but finances are tight everywhere right now.  Obviously I am biased, but I believe that a copy of this book ought to be sent to every pastor in the LCMS, or at least every circuit counselor.  But to do this will cost several thousand dollars.

I’ll keep you all informed as I learn more.  Thanks again to the good people at LCMS World Relief and Human Care for making this resource available!

-Pastor Todd Peperkorn

Below you will find a link to an article that indicates anti-depressant use has doubled in the US:

Reuters AlertNet – Antidepressant use doubles in US, study finds

Here’s the quotation I found most interesting:

“The survey did not look at why, but the researchers made some educated guesses. It may be more socially acceptable to be diagnosed with and treated for depression, they said. The availability of new drugs may also have been a factor.”

What do you think? How taboo is it to be diagnosed with depression? Is it more or less so if you are a pastor or some other type of church worker?