Equip yourself for defusing someone's SUICIDAL mindset..

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..Verruim Jou Ingeligte Opinie Met Lekker, Kreatiewe Aflaai&Eposklets Bybelstudies..!

	Deel met ons in die gebed:
	Dear God, it is not the teachings of mortals we seek to hear or read; we seek to look closer at what You - Yourself teach us in Your Word! Your Word is BEYOND doubt; people's interpretation thereof is NOT!
	Will You inspire each one of us to actively take part in studying the Scriptures to equip ourselves with a spiritual compass for the dark emotional times that sometimes accompanies troubling, changing or dull circumstances in peoples lives. - To equip ourselves with the understanding that is needed to defuse someone's suicidal mindset.
	Thank You for establishing such a close relationship allowing such free communication between us and You through the life giving working of Your Holy Spirit and in the Name of the One Who came to save us from self-destruction: In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Job describes the TYPICAL PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SITUATION
"Why does God let me live when life is miserable and so bitter? I keep longing for death more than I would seek a valuable treasure. Nothing could make me happier than to be in the grave. Why do I go on living when God has me surrounded, and I can't see the road? Moaning and groaning are my food and drink, and my worst fears have all come true. I have no peace or rest - only troubles and worries." (Job 3:20-26 CEV)	©The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago
Yet, remarkably - though he had clearly stated "I keep longing for death" and "Nothing could make me happier than to be in the grave" Job NEVER contemplated suicide..

In fact, throughout the Bible none of God's children has committed suicide!

Suicide in the Bible

Only after king Saul had shown he's contempt for God repeatedly and God had subsequently rejected him has he attempted suicide, injuring himself severely. He then employed the help of a gentile who had been passing by to finish the terrible job.

Only after Ahithophel, a former advisor to king David had displayed his wickedness by conspiring with Absalom - who rejected his advice, has Ahithophel committed suicide by hanging himself.

Then there is Judas who committed suicide (apparently by hanging himself) after Satan had entered into him and he had betrayed Jesus!

Samson seems to have shared the chosen king Saul's contempt for the commandments of God.

He married a heathen girl (during a heathen wedding celebration) - something that had been explicitly forbidden in the law that God gave to Moses.

Furthermore he had sexual relations with a heathen prostitute and fell in love with the heathen girl Delilah. Most likely he slept with her too.

Samson was delivered into the hands of his enemies.

At the end of his life the blind, captive Samson, the man who's eyes were poked out by Israel's enemies prayed for the supernatural strength needed to bring down a heathen temple in order to kill a huge number of Philistines - to take revenge; NOT for his God or his people, but for his eyes.

We read that the pillars were so strong: at the time it carried the temple's roof with three thousand people on it!

Knowing that life and death is in the Hand of God, Samson asked God who granted him this supernatural strength - that he too may die when the building comes tumbling down!

We see that though several suicides get mentioned in the Bible - none of God's CHILDREN committed suicide. Even Samson (who's relationship with God remained doubtful) did not die by the natural strength and means given to man: He died by the solemn decision of God to grant him the supernatural strength to do the humanly impossible!

Two more examples of Gods prophets who - like Job - longed for death, yet did not take their lives into their own hands!
©The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago	Elijah was afraid when he got her message, and he ran to the town of Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there, then walked another whole day into the desert. Finally, he came to a large bush and sat down in its shade. He begged the LORD, "I've had enough. Just let me die! I'm no better off than my ancestors." (1Kings 19:3-4 CEV)
Jonah: *"Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."* (Jonah 4:3 ESV)

Two more examples of Gods prophets who - like Job - longed for death, yet did not take their lives into their own hands!

©The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago

Elijah was afraid when he got her message, and he ran to the town of Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there, then walked another whole day into the desert. Finally, he came to a large bush and sat down in its shade. He begged the LORD, "I've had enough. Just let me die! I'm no better off than my ancestors."

(1Kings 19:3-4 CEV)

Jonah: "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." (Jonah 4:3 ESV)

						Why do you think it is that God's children never committed suicide in the Bible - even when they longed for death?

( my eie gedagte	web-span se gedagtes _
	We think the reason why God's children never committed suicide in the Bible - even when they LONGED for death - is because they entrusted their lives to Him: They TRUSTED that our Father always knows best. As we see in the first chapter of Job's biography: Nothing could happen to us if God does not allow it to happen - and when He does allow terrible things to happen to us He definitely has a plan with it! Surely they wouldn't have wanted to stand in the way of God's plans unfolding into something glorious! - Something truly worthwhile!

( my eie gedagte

web-span se gedagtes _

We think the reason why God's children never committed suicide in the Bible - even when they LONGED for death - is because they entrusted their lives to Him: They TRUSTED that our Father always knows best. As we see in the first chapter of Job's biography: Nothing could happen to us if God does not allow it to happen - and when He does allow terrible things to happen to us He definitely has a plan with it! Surely they wouldn't have wanted to stand in the way of God's plans unfolding into something glorious! - Something truly worthwhile!

						Have YOU ever reached a point where you asked God to rather let you die and go to heaven than to keep you in this life?

( my eie gedagte	web-span se gedagtes _
	Yes, in the past each one of our Creative Bible Study Team members has reached a point where they asked God to rather let them die and go to heaven than to keep them in this life - if His plans would allow for it, for it always remained of utmost importance to each one us that His will must be done; not our own instead. One should remember that the tenth commandment earnestly reminds us not to desire for what God does not intend for us. It is honorable therefore, to long for the day when God fulfills His promise to come for us and take us to be in heaven with him, but it would be plain sinful for us to selfishly grow a demanding desire that the Ruler of the Universe should drop His plans and adapt the goals He set for our lives in order to do so RIGH AWAY - because it suits us!

( my eie gedagte

web-span se gedagtes _

Yes, in the past each one of our Creative Bible Study Team members has reached a point where they asked God to rather let them die and go to heaven than to keep them in this life - if His plans would allow for it, for it always remained of utmost importance to each one us that His will must be done; not our own instead. One should remember that the tenth commandment earnestly reminds us not to desire for what God does not intend for us. It is honorable therefore, to long for the day when God fulfills His promise to come for us and take us to be in heaven with him, but it would be plain sinful for us to selfishly grow a demanding desire that the Ruler of the Universe should drop His plans and adapt the goals He set for our lives in order to do so RIGH AWAY - because it suits us!

Imagine.. Imagine.. Imagine.. On the imaginary island of Caluba Government became increasingly worried about the increase in suicides on the island and the effect thereof on the community. Dozens of citizens became traumatized by the gruesome methods which many resort to when they try to end their own lives. ..Even small children sometimes unexpectedly stumble upon the most disturbing scenes..	Imagine.. Imagine.. © L'Esperto S.p.A. Milan
The appointed commission came up with a controversial - and certainly a very different approach. A problem in the current system it identified is that people who are serious about committing suicide do not call Government's crisis helpline: After all, once you decided to buy a car (for example) - you phone a car dealer who can assist you in your choice of a model that best suits your needs. You DON'T call your mother-in-law to see if she can come up with forty reasons why she thinks you do not need a car at all!! It suggested that in more than 80% of cases the suicidal mindset of a determined person could be successfully "defused" if Government took a different approach than providing the existing crisis helpline which focuses on persuading people NOT to take their own lives: Instead, the commission suggests that the focus should shift to trying to persuade people to THINK MORE CLEARLY about the decision to take their own lives. Getting a person to think rationally about the implications and the true meaning of what they intend to do is more likely to turn their decision around than trying to persuade them to change their mind.

Imagine.. Imagine.. Imagine..

On the imaginary island of Caluba Government became increasingly worried about the increase in suicides on the island and the effect thereof on the community.

Dozens of citizens became traumatized by the gruesome methods which many resort to when they try to end their own lives. ..Even small children sometimes unexpectedly stumble upon the most disturbing scenes..

Imagine.. Imagine..

The appointed commission came up with a controversial - and certainly a very different approach.

A problem in the current system it identified is that people who are serious about committing suicide do not call Government's crisis helpline: After all, once you decided to buy a car (for example) - you phone a car dealer who can assist you in your choice of a model that best suits your needs. You DON'T call your mother-in-law to see if she can come up with forty reasons why she thinks you do not need a car at all!!

It suggested that in more than 80% of cases the suicidal mindset of a determined person could be successfully "defused" if Government took a different approach than providing the existing crisis helpline which focuses on persuading people NOT to take their own lives: Instead, the commission suggests that the focus should shift to trying to persuade people to THINK MORE CLEARLY about the decision to take their own lives. Getting a person to think rationally about the implications and the true meaning of what they intend to do is more likely to turn their decision around than trying to persuade them to change their mind.

..Most would have changed their mind - had they thought clearly about the full meaning of what they where about to do..

"An invitation to be forthcoming about it would be appealing only if Government was willing to be serious about offering practical guidelines, suicide facilities, and even suicide assistance IN EXCHANGE FOR written proof that a person made a truly informed and psychologically evaluated decision to end their own life," the head of the special commission dared say,

"If you are too rigid in your approach PREVENTION closes the door on influence through NEGOTIATION.."

Imagine.. Imagine.. Imagine.. Imagine.. Imagine..

The commission suggested that (under the necessary guidance) a thought provoking EVALUATION FORM should be filled out by anyone who wishes to apply for advice and assistance in ending their own lives.

The form to be compiled should be multi faceted and should include an applicable religious section.

Uncomfortable with the idea of working WITH rather than AGAINST suicide as an option the Government of the island Caluba reacted skeptical as to whether such an evaluation form could in fact be effective in changing an applicant's mindset, yet it didn't reject the idea all together.

Government ordered the commission to compile an application and evaluation form that would serve as an example of what they had in mind.

The head of the special commission subsequently asked the Church of Caluba to contribute to a preliminary evaluation form by composing a section on the religion of Christianity in such a way that it would play an effective part in defusing the applicant's suicidal mindset.

We are now going to assess the evaluation form that was drawn up.

You are asked to complete the form from the viewpoint of someone who has decided to make an end to their life.

If you knew someone (from a Christian background) who attempted or committed suicide it will be useful to apply their circumstances, their reasons for an attempt and their way of thinking when you fill out the form: This will give you an indication of whether filling out a form like this one might have been effective in changing their mindset at the time..

						Describe the situation and the motivation of the person (fictional or otherwise) who's viewpoint you are going to use in the completion of this form..

( my eie gedagte	web-span se gedagtes _
	The person who's situation and viewpoint we decided to use suffers from a medical condition: A neurochemical deficiency, which means that certain biochemicals needed for the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain is inadequate. Medical scientists have identified biochemicals that acts as neurotransmitters. One of the symptoms that results because of this deficiency is long term depression. We often hear about the kind of depression that is caused by circumstances like sickness, loss of a loved one, retirement, etc. On the other hand, the kind of depression which is caused by a neurochemical deficiency leaves a person with sad feelings; feelings of gloom and inadequacy REGARDLESS of their surrounding circumstances. In one sentence: The person who's viewpoint we decided to use suffers from a deep depression - regardless their surrounding circumstances - caused by a biochemical deficiency that thus far have been treated medically without success.

( my eie gedagte

web-span se gedagtes _

The person who's situation and viewpoint we decided to use suffers from a medical condition: A neurochemical deficiency, which means that certain biochemicals needed for the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain is inadequate. Medical scientists have identified biochemicals that acts as neurotransmitters. One of the symptoms that results because of this deficiency is long term depression. We often hear about the kind of depression that is caused by circumstances like sickness, loss of a loved one, retirement, etc. On the other hand, the kind of depression which is caused by a neurochemical deficiency leaves a person with sad feelings; feelings of gloom and inadequacy REGARDLESS of their surrounding circumstances. In one sentence: The person who's viewpoint we decided to use suffers from a deep depression - regardless their surrounding circumstances - caused by a biochemical deficiency that thus far have been treated medically without success.

Official Suicide Evaluation Form of Caluba

Section C: Religion: Christianity: applicable to all Christians

Quote: "Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live." (2 Timothy 3:16 CEV) ..click*

						"Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word." Do you accept this claim made in 2 Tim 3:16? ..click*

( my eie gedagte	web-span se gedagtes _
	Yes, we accept the statement made in 2 Tim 3:16. Everything in the Scriptures (that is offered to us as God's Word BY THE AUTHOR of each Bible book) indeed is God's Word.

If you accept the quoted Biblical statement as true, you can continue to fill out this section of the evaluation form. If you do not accept it as true you do not meet some of the criteria by which a Christian is defined and should therefore skip the Christian section of the suicide evaluation form as it is not applicable to you. ..click*

In Scripture it is clearly stated: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 ESV)

Please indicate how you take this Biblical statement in account by selecting one of the following views:

A] I know that for those who love God all things (including those things I saw as motivation for suicide) work together for good.. I shall therefore commit to this life once again and very patiently allow for all the nice and the terrible things in my life to (..ultimately) work together for good under the Hand of God - as He has promised in His Word!

B] I realize now that if God HIMSELF promises to let all things work together for good for those who love Him - it is a ridiculous thought that I as a mere mortal being can make it work out better for all to whom I became a burden by committing suicide!

C] I realize now that I am not ready to die. My belief that the good, the bad and the ugly factors in my life is not ultimately working together for good - proofs that I do not believe God when He states this in His Word.

..How can I say that I believe in God if I do not believe what He says? </