Mental Health is one of the top issues in our society, and the Church, unfortunately, is not immune to depression and anxiety. My guest today is Dr. Ray Houk, an Army Chaplin for many years who currently teaches at the King’s University. His experience from a pastoral perspective encourages healthy habits and seeking help when appropriate. If you are suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts, please dial 988 (in the USA). Another great resource is the suicide crisis website: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention .

Risk Factors

Suicide does not discriminate. People of all genders, ages, and ethnicities can be at risk. Suicidal behavior is complex, and there is no single cause. The main risk factors for suicide are:

Depression, other mental disorders, or substance use disorder

Chronic pain

A history of suicide attempts

Family history of a mental disorder or substance use

Family history of suicide

Exposure to family violence, including physical or sexual abuse

Presence of guns or other firearms in the home

Having recently been released from prison or jail

Exposure, either directly or indirectly, to others’ suicidal behavior, such as that of family members, peers, or celebrities

Most people who have risk factors will not attempt suicide, and it is difficult to tell who will act on suicidal thoughts. Although risk factors for suicide are important to keep in mind, someone who is showing warning signs of suicide may be at higher risk for danger and need immediate attention.

https://pastor4people.com/do-you-have-depression-or-suffering-from-anxiety/

@Pastor4People

Human Trafficking – The dangerous and evil practice of selling young women and men to the highest bidder. This is modern slavery. Listen to Lena’s terrifying tale of betrayal, the underworld of drugs and sex, and salvation. Find how Lena escaped and found Jesus.

To help fight human trafficking, please support Lena Cebula or reach out to her if you know someone who is a victim of Human Trafficking. 

Lena's Website: https://lenacebula.ca

Lena's Loved and Beloved Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1583527
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/loveandbloved
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/LenaCebula

Read about her story in her latest book called Miraculous, found on Amazon:

In this episode, I interviewed Petra Wallenmeyer representing Heartbeat International. She is extremely bright and helps us uncover the truth about the clump of cells theory, zygote, and even what Plan B is supposed to do. She is an advocate for women’s rights, and she's well accomplished herself.

 Heartbeat International, which has the Option Line program. Option Line is a 24x7, 365 pregnancy helpline dedicated to answering pregnancy-related questions and connecting women to local pregnancy help centers.
CareNet, which has the Pregnancy Decision Line. It is not 24/7 but also focuses on education, listening care and support, and connecting women to a local pregnancy help center for free pregnancy-related services.

Support After Abortion provides care to men and women in a variety of ways after an abortion experience -- small groups, one-on-one counseling, virtual groups, etc. 

Pregnancy help centers provide free services such as: 

• pregnancy testing and verification (like for Medicaid applications) 
• ultrasounds 
• parenting classes and childbirth preparation classes
• material aid for maternity and baby items (clothes, baby food, formula, bottles, toys, diapers, wipes, etc.)
• connections to community resources for other needs (jobs, housing, food, utility assistance, ongoing prenatal care, etc)
• std info, testing, and treatment
• adoption information and connections to trusted adoption organizations 
• factual information on abortion procedures, health, and safety considerations, and state laws
• fertility information
• information on birth control, contraception, and emergency contraception
• support and a listening ear for someone experiencing a possibly really hard or really scary situation
• after-abortion support groups

 Some smaller organizations which help women directly, in a virtual manner (they are not physical locations):

Let Them Live, which focuses on helping women seeking abortion for financial reasons get the financial steadiness they need to choose life. A client advocate works with each woman individually to help her get connected to local resources for food, healthcare, etc. 

Human Defense Initiative, which focuses on helping women with material needs while pregnant by making a baby registry for them on Amazon, as well as offering peer counseling and help to find additional local resources for needs during and after pregnancy and for themselves and any other older children the woman may already have. 

For pregnancy help centers local to Columbus, OH specifically, you could include:

Stowe Pregnancy Resource Center (they also offer other health, vision, and dental care!)

Pregnancy Decision Health Centers

The Women's Clinic of Columbus 

Camping is a wonderful activity, and it’s time to get out into nature and escape a world of distractions. I believe that connecting with nature can also enhance our sensitivity to our awareness of the one true God, the creator of all. I explore this and other camping topics with the RV Wingman, who has a popular YouTube channel and is a trusted source for outdoor activities like camping. Can you find God on camping? Should I join the RV life? 

RV Wingman’s Channel

https://www.youtube.com/c/thervshowusa

Pastor T’s website

https://pastor4people.com/

My guest is Dr. Matt Tallman, also my professor at The King’s University. He is a pastor, missionary, university professor, and many other things. Dr. Tallman has been to 27 countries and seen amazing transformations after preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Dr. Tallman specializes in Christian History and demonstrates key links to the Christian past. He works for Open Arms International, and they do fantastic work for the Kingdom of God. 

Links:

https://www.openarmsinternational.org/

https://pastor4people.com

Christian History Scholars mentioned:

Justo L. Gonzalez

Alister E. McGrath

Derry Tseng explains the climate and tolerance level for the gospel message on campuses around the country, especially Portland State University. Derry Tseng is a Regional Director of Ratio Christi, an apologetical campus ministry helping people understand the good news of Jesus Christ using faith and reason. "Students in our churches are often ill-prepared for the challenges to their faith that they experience in college. Some of these students are able to wrestle with these challenges and make their faith their own. However, most do not."

Other resources referenced in the podcast:
Scholar Albert J. Raboteau - expert in African American Religious History
Slave Religion: The "Invisible Institution" in the Antebellum South

Ratio Christi - https://give.ratiochristi.org/ 

Stephen C. Meyer - Return of the God Hypothesis 

Pastor T
Seminary Student at The King's University
Explore more resources on my website
https://pastor4people.com/

Sexuality is at the forefront of our lives. It is one of the top issues and is heavenly debated worldwide. How are Christians supposed to behave in the bedroom? Nearly 75% of adults think pre-marital sex is ok.

• BUT... Nearly 50% of adults think sex in an open relationship is wrong 
• Sex Robots are on the horizon and this will be bad for humanity

What does the Torah teach about sex? Is it relevant for our society? 
What does Jesus teach about sex?

• Lust 
• Death vs Life 
• Flesh vs the Spirit
• Human Effort vs God Power

For more info go to: https://pastor4people.com/


References
Pew Research

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/08/20/nearly-half-of-u-s-adults-say-dating-has-gotten-harder-for-most-people-in-the-last-10-years/#fn-28925-1 

Psychology Today

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/darwins-subterranean-world/201906/will-the-rise-sex-robots-mean-the-end-relationships
FBI Crime Stats

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-1 

 Dr. Michael Brown  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTC6dlrwwAg 
Lev 21:7 Lev 20:10-21 Mat 5:27-32 1 Cor 6:9-11  
| Rom 5:5
| Rom 8
| Gen 2:19 PS 117:7 Rev 19:7-9