This paper reflects on the author's nursing philosophy from a Christian perspective. She believes that all people are made in God's image and should be treated with dignity. Regarding health and illness, she sees the body as a complex, balanced system and nursing as treating the whole person - mind, body and spirit. While death is inevitable, she believes it is a transition, not an end. Her philosophy of nursing is to serve patients as Christ served, with compassion. She provides an example of caring for a terminally ill church member that exemplified holistically ministering to his spiritual and physical needs.
This document discusses faith healing and provides different perspectives on the topic. It begins by providing examples of faith healing successes reported by people around the world. However, it notes that some question how faith healing works and whether there is any guarantee it will be effective. The document then explores faith healing stories in the Bible and reports of modern day successes. At the same time, it acknowledges faith healing does not always work and provides an example of parents being charged with murder for relying solely on faith healing for their son. Ultimately, the document concludes that it is reasonable to seek both medical help and rely on God for healing, and that what God and modern medicine can do are not contradictory approaches.
This document provides notes for a minister on an integral and holistic approach to ministry, healing, and deliverance. Some key points:
1. An integral approach sees the gospel, human beings, the church's mission, and ministry as addressing all aspects of life - physical, emotional, spiritual, social, etc. The needs of the people should guide the types of ministry provided.
2. In terms of healing, a Christian definition sees it as restoring total harmony in body, mind and spirit. The church should fulfill its healing ministry through compassion. There are six dimensions of healing, including physical, spiritual, inner, mental, psycho-social, and social healing.
3. The medical model reduces health
The document discusses Christian faith and health. It defines health from a biblical perspective and explores the perfect will of God for divine health. It examines various causes of sickness, including sin, curses, strain, improper care of the body, and ignorance. It argues that while it is God's will to heal, using medicine does not demonstrate a lack of faith. Scripture provides evidence that God can use medical means to aid the healing process.
1. Depression affects every aspect of a person's existence and can have biological, situational, developmental, or spiritual causes. It is characterized by symptoms like sadness, fatigue, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or sleep, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of death or suicide.
2. While early Christian thinkers condemned suicide as sinful, more recent perspectives view it as reflecting mental illness rather than moral failure, and do not see it as automatically resulting in damnation.
3. The church can help address stigma around depression and suicide by fostering communities, remembering God's promises, providing hope through future possibilities, and embracing life's challenges alongside faith in God.
The document discusses the spiritual gift of healing mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. It provides context on spiritual gifts and debates around whether the gift of healing is still operative today. The document also discusses divine healing more broadly and provides biblical answers to questions about why God doesn't heal everyone, the role of faith in healing, and what the Bible says about healing. Key points made include that the gift of healing in the Bible was given primarily to apostles to affirm their message, God's healing isn't always physical, and ultimate healing awaits in heaven.
Wisdom During Difficult Times: Evelyn Underhill & Julian of NorwichCarl McColman
Slides for a Day of Reflection led by Carl McColman for St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Ridgfield, CT. Includes inspirational quotes from the 14h century mystic Julian of Norwich and the 20th century mystic Evelyn Underhill.
Howard Pittman had a near-death experience during surgery where he was shown heaven and given a message from God. In his book, he summarizes his experience in the Second Heaven where he saw demons in various forms and ranks. The most powerful demons appeared as giant bronze soldiers, while lower ranks took increasingly disturbing animal and humanoid forms. Pittman learned demons have specific areas of expertise used to tempt and possess humans.
The document provides an overview of themes and concepts discussed in a workshop on Biblical literature. It covers topics like the cosmos, God, sin, and the good life. For each theme, it lists key ideas and biblical passages as discussion points. The workshop aims to help students develop their worldview by reflecting on how beliefs about these five fundamental areas are informed by both scientific and biblical perspectives.
This document discusses faith healing and provides different perspectives on the topic. It begins by providing examples of faith healing successes reported by people around the world. However, it notes that some question how faith healing works and whether there is any guarantee it will be effective. The document then explores faith healing stories in the Bible and reports of modern day successes. At the same time, it acknowledges faith healing does not always work and provides an example of parents being charged with murder for relying solely on faith healing for their son. Ultimately, the document concludes that it is reasonable to seek both medical help and rely on God for healing, and that what God and modern medicine can do are not contradictory approaches.
This document provides notes for a minister on an integral and holistic approach to ministry, healing, and deliverance. Some key points:
1. An integral approach sees the gospel, human beings, the church's mission, and ministry as addressing all aspects of life - physical, emotional, spiritual, social, etc. The needs of the people should guide the types of ministry provided.
2. In terms of healing, a Christian definition sees it as restoring total harmony in body, mind and spirit. The church should fulfill its healing ministry through compassion. There are six dimensions of healing, including physical, spiritual, inner, mental, psycho-social, and social healing.
3. The medical model reduces health
The document discusses Christian faith and health. It defines health from a biblical perspective and explores the perfect will of God for divine health. It examines various causes of sickness, including sin, curses, strain, improper care of the body, and ignorance. It argues that while it is God's will to heal, using medicine does not demonstrate a lack of faith. Scripture provides evidence that God can use medical means to aid the healing process.
1. Depression affects every aspect of a person's existence and can have biological, situational, developmental, or spiritual causes. It is characterized by symptoms like sadness, fatigue, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or sleep, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of death or suicide.
2. While early Christian thinkers condemned suicide as sinful, more recent perspectives view it as reflecting mental illness rather than moral failure, and do not see it as automatically resulting in damnation.
3. The church can help address stigma around depression and suicide by fostering communities, remembering God's promises, providing hope through future possibilities, and embracing life's challenges alongside faith in God.
The document discusses the spiritual gift of healing mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. It provides context on spiritual gifts and debates around whether the gift of healing is still operative today. The document also discusses divine healing more broadly and provides biblical answers to questions about why God doesn't heal everyone, the role of faith in healing, and what the Bible says about healing. Key points made include that the gift of healing in the Bible was given primarily to apostles to affirm their message, God's healing isn't always physical, and ultimate healing awaits in heaven.
Wisdom During Difficult Times: Evelyn Underhill & Julian of NorwichCarl McColman
Slides for a Day of Reflection led by Carl McColman for St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Ridgfield, CT. Includes inspirational quotes from the 14h century mystic Julian of Norwich and the 20th century mystic Evelyn Underhill.
Howard Pittman had a near-death experience during surgery where he was shown heaven and given a message from God. In his book, he summarizes his experience in the Second Heaven where he saw demons in various forms and ranks. The most powerful demons appeared as giant bronze soldiers, while lower ranks took increasingly disturbing animal and humanoid forms. Pittman learned demons have specific areas of expertise used to tempt and possess humans.
The document provides an overview of themes and concepts discussed in a workshop on Biblical literature. It covers topics like the cosmos, God, sin, and the good life. For each theme, it lists key ideas and biblical passages as discussion points. The workshop aims to help students develop their worldview by reflecting on how beliefs about these five fundamental areas are informed by both scientific and biblical perspectives.
The document provides a summary of the Easy Reading Edition for April 1-7. It discusses various symbols of the Holy Spirit found in the Bible, including a dove, water, oil, a seal and guarantee, light and fire. It explores what each symbol represents about the Holy Spirit's work, such as bringing purity, spiritual growth, empowerment, and God's promises. The summary teaches that the Holy Spirit helps Christians live according to God's will, changing areas of their lives, and flowing out to help others through their words and actions, guided by the Spirit's influence.
What is Healing: At What Level of Human Existence Does Healing Begin?David Grinstead, MA
At what level of human existence does healing begin? "There is no sharp line of line of demarcation between the religious, spiritual, emotional, and physical—between the body and the psyche." (Morton Kelsey, Healing and Christianity, 232)
The document discusses the need for finding rest and peace in the Christian life. It argues that rest is not accidental but has causal factors. True rest comes from learning gentleness and humility from Jesus, as he promises to give rest to those who take his yoke upon themselves. His yoke makes life's burdens feel light and easy through learning his perspective. True rest involves both tranquility and active service, without stagnation.
The document discusses wholistic massage and the author's journey developing this approach. Some key points:
1) The author was inspired at a church service to use their gifts as a massage therapist to serve others. They developed an approach called "Wholistic Massage" which sees the body, emotions, mind, and spirit as interconnected and uses massage to facilitate integration and healing in these areas.
2) Wholistic Massage aims to expand awareness, change response patterns, provide new choices, and induce positive life changes. It creates a supportive environment for the client's journey toward true healing.
3) Over years of practice, the author found Wholistic Massage generally increased awareness and changed response
This document discusses the Beatitudes and how they reveal the mystery of true happiness according to Jesus. It explains that the Beatitudes are Jesus' way of life and show us that having possessions cannot make us perfectly happy. True happiness comes from living like Jesus by being poor in spirit, mourning with those who mourn, and being meek. The Beatitudes teach us to find fulfillment in God rather than material things.
Cognitive therapy of religious depressed patientsDekyah NurMusha
This document discusses common religious concepts in Christianity and Islam that can be used in cognitive therapy for religious depressed patients.
It categorizes the concepts into three groups: 1) Concepts mostly useful in difficulties and troubles, 2) Concepts about sins, and 3) Other positive concepts. For the first group, it describes concepts around religious figures' suffering providing perspective, God's kindness and help, preferring God's will, seeing problems as God's trial or discipline, and the temporariness of difficulties.
For the second group, it discusses God's mercy and forgiveness, that God loves even sinners, and that good deeds and repentance can wipe out sins. The third group includes concepts like gratitude, faith
The document discusses various aspects of discipleship, including being baptized in the Holy Spirit, supernatural gifts of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit. It defines terms like the word of wisdom, gift of faith, and prophecy. It explains that believers must seek Holy Spirit baptism to grow spiritually and receive power. The gifts fall under revelation, vocal, and power categories and include gifts like healing, miracles, and discerning spirits. The fruit of the Spirit represents Christ-like character and includes qualities such as love, joy, and peace.
The document describes a program called "Miraculous Recovery" created by Avril L'Mour Weathers aimed at finding healing through spiritual and biblical principles. The program uses scripture and tools to help remove barriers to one's relationship with God. It consists of three nine-week sessions addressing the recovery of mind, body, and spirit. The goals are to help participants develop insights into healing through gaining understanding of God's word, deliverance, personal responsibility, commitment to Christ, fellowship, and overcoming obstacles to wholeness.
The document summarizes Jesus being baptized by John and hearing a voice from heaven say he is God's beloved son. It then discusses how after baptism, people who are nourished by God's word and keep watchful in prayer have their names taken to be remembered. Later passages discuss how bearing testimony through the Holy Ghost leads to forgiveness of sins, and how administering to the sick can lead to physical and spiritual healing. Further passages talk about how the Holy Ghost cleanses and purifies people, and how its influence has a more powerful effect than any other experience.
1. The document describes a healing program called Miraculous Recovery that includes sessions on spirit, mind and body recovery.
2. It offers three programs - Celebrate Recovery focusing on spirit, Heart Wellness on mind, and Healer's Awakening on body.
3. Each program is based on biblical principles and emphasizes spiritual commitment, personal responsibility, fellowship and producing peer mentors to help others in recovery.
This document provides an introduction and overview of the book "The World of the Spirit" which contains messages received through automatic writing by two Brazilian mediums, Francisco Candido Xavier and Waldo Vieira. The introduction discusses how knowledge of the spirit world has progressed through scientific investigation and mediumship. It notes that the world is going through a transition period, with spiritual matters needing attention to address issues like affliction, despair and darkness. The book aims to provide help and understanding from benevolent spiritual beings through messages of hope, consolation and happiness.
This document discusses healing in the biblical context. It begins by summarizing the story in Exodus where after being delivered from Egypt, the Israelites found bitter water in the wilderness and Moses healed it by throwing a log in it. God then revealed himself as Yahweh-Rophe, the Lord who heals. The document then discusses different aspects of healing in the Old and New Testaments. It focuses on healing meaning wholeness in body, mind and spirit. It provides suggestions for how to receive inner healing such as through faith, resting in God, holiness, forgiveness and giving. An example is given of John D. Rockefeller finding healing through changing his purpose to serving others.
The document provides information on spirituality for family life ministers. It defines spirituality as a conscious relationship with God through practices that foster Christian discipleship. It emphasizes that spirituality involves being in community and realizing one's identity as a beloved child of God through baptism. It also discusses developing a personal rule of life through contemplative practices and devotions to guide one's spiritual growth in a balanced way. The document provides resources for family life ministers to cultivate their spirituality.
AN INTERPRETATION OF THE “WAY OF SALVATION” FOR MODERN DAY UNITARIANS AND FRE...Dr Ian Ellis-Jones
Unitarians view salvation as an ongoing process of spiritual growth and development rather than a single event. They believe that humans are neither wholly good nor evil, and reject the idea that Jesus died to save humanity from sin. For Unitarians, salvation involves stages of admitting one's flaws, acknowledging one's need for change, turning to Jesus as a moral example of self-sacrifice, accepting forgiveness, and sharing one's experience with others to help bring about unity.
This document discusses the causes of rejection, which can have long-lasting negative effects. It identifies three main situations that can cause a child to feel rejected by their parents: 1) Being an unwanted pregnancy, 2) Not receiving physical affection or demonstrations of love from parents, and 3) Siblings perceiving unequal affection between themselves and other siblings. The text provides examples of how divorces, unequal treatment of children, and lack of quality time with parents despite material comforts can all contribute to a child feeling unloved and rejected.
This document summarizes a presentation on commitment to life, charity, and justice. It discusses biblical roots of justice in the Old and New Testaments. It emphasizes that all human life is sacred and created in God's image. The presentation examines issues like abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty from a pro-life perspective. It encourages participants to reflect on how they can promote justice and dignity for all people, especially the vulnerable. The goal is to help form a community committed to Gospel values of protecting life, practicing charity, and pursuing social justice.
First, there are nine gifts of the Holy Spirit and the are written in the book of Corinthians not Luke.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will”.
This document discusses Jesus' healing ministry and the Christian belief that God can heal sickness. It provides examples from the Gospels of Jesus healing various illnesses and injuries. The document asserts that Christians are commissioned to pray for the healing of others based on Mark 16:15-18. It addresses differing views on whether divine healing continues today, whether all sickness is due to sin, and whether it is acceptable for Christians to seek medical treatment. The overall message is that all healing comes from God, and Christians should trust that God can heal through prayer or medicine according to His purposes.
This document discusses the importance of mentoring and discipling new believers. It makes three key points:
1) Without mentoring, new believers will adopt the values of those around them, so it is important for them to be challenged and taught biblical values and convictions.
2) Most new believers are impacted more by what they see from other believers than what they hear them say. Seeing biblical spirituality modeled is important for their growth.
3) Spiritual parenting through mentoring and modeling helps new believers transition from self-dependence to dependence on God and the Holy Spirit. The goal of discipleship is spiritual maturity and fruitfulness that leads to reproducing disciples of their own.
This document is a paper written by Robert Siler in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Divinity degree from Mount Angel Seminary. It provides reflections on Siler's experiences ministering to mental patients as a student chaplain at Oregon State Hospital over four years. The paper examines the scriptural foundations that guided Siler's ministry, discusses the issue of suffering in the lives of patients and caregivers, and looks at ways of ministering to the mentally ill based on Siler's experiences.
Want to know how many ways God heals people physically? Is there a formula? What role does faith play? What are some obstacles to receiving healing from God? Who can heal the sick?
This document provides a summary of the author's nursing philosophy. It discusses that nursing aims to glorify God by caring for patients as images of God and working towards their health and community. The author believes in caring for patients' physical, emotional and spiritual needs through compassionate presence and hope. While patients have autonomy, health is ultimately determined by God. The author aims to learn from patients and be the best nurse possible while acknowledging their humanness.
The document provides a summary of the Easy Reading Edition for April 1-7. It discusses various symbols of the Holy Spirit found in the Bible, including a dove, water, oil, a seal and guarantee, light and fire. It explores what each symbol represents about the Holy Spirit's work, such as bringing purity, spiritual growth, empowerment, and God's promises. The summary teaches that the Holy Spirit helps Christians live according to God's will, changing areas of their lives, and flowing out to help others through their words and actions, guided by the Spirit's influence.
What is Healing: At What Level of Human Existence Does Healing Begin?David Grinstead, MA
At what level of human existence does healing begin? "There is no sharp line of line of demarcation between the religious, spiritual, emotional, and physical—between the body and the psyche." (Morton Kelsey, Healing and Christianity, 232)
The document discusses the need for finding rest and peace in the Christian life. It argues that rest is not accidental but has causal factors. True rest comes from learning gentleness and humility from Jesus, as he promises to give rest to those who take his yoke upon themselves. His yoke makes life's burdens feel light and easy through learning his perspective. True rest involves both tranquility and active service, without stagnation.
The document discusses wholistic massage and the author's journey developing this approach. Some key points:
1) The author was inspired at a church service to use their gifts as a massage therapist to serve others. They developed an approach called "Wholistic Massage" which sees the body, emotions, mind, and spirit as interconnected and uses massage to facilitate integration and healing in these areas.
2) Wholistic Massage aims to expand awareness, change response patterns, provide new choices, and induce positive life changes. It creates a supportive environment for the client's journey toward true healing.
3) Over years of practice, the author found Wholistic Massage generally increased awareness and changed response
This document discusses the Beatitudes and how they reveal the mystery of true happiness according to Jesus. It explains that the Beatitudes are Jesus' way of life and show us that having possessions cannot make us perfectly happy. True happiness comes from living like Jesus by being poor in spirit, mourning with those who mourn, and being meek. The Beatitudes teach us to find fulfillment in God rather than material things.
Cognitive therapy of religious depressed patientsDekyah NurMusha
This document discusses common religious concepts in Christianity and Islam that can be used in cognitive therapy for religious depressed patients.
It categorizes the concepts into three groups: 1) Concepts mostly useful in difficulties and troubles, 2) Concepts about sins, and 3) Other positive concepts. For the first group, it describes concepts around religious figures' suffering providing perspective, God's kindness and help, preferring God's will, seeing problems as God's trial or discipline, and the temporariness of difficulties.
For the second group, it discusses God's mercy and forgiveness, that God loves even sinners, and that good deeds and repentance can wipe out sins. The third group includes concepts like gratitude, faith
The document discusses various aspects of discipleship, including being baptized in the Holy Spirit, supernatural gifts of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit. It defines terms like the word of wisdom, gift of faith, and prophecy. It explains that believers must seek Holy Spirit baptism to grow spiritually and receive power. The gifts fall under revelation, vocal, and power categories and include gifts like healing, miracles, and discerning spirits. The fruit of the Spirit represents Christ-like character and includes qualities such as love, joy, and peace.
The document describes a program called "Miraculous Recovery" created by Avril L'Mour Weathers aimed at finding healing through spiritual and biblical principles. The program uses scripture and tools to help remove barriers to one's relationship with God. It consists of three nine-week sessions addressing the recovery of mind, body, and spirit. The goals are to help participants develop insights into healing through gaining understanding of God's word, deliverance, personal responsibility, commitment to Christ, fellowship, and overcoming obstacles to wholeness.
The document summarizes Jesus being baptized by John and hearing a voice from heaven say he is God's beloved son. It then discusses how after baptism, people who are nourished by God's word and keep watchful in prayer have their names taken to be remembered. Later passages discuss how bearing testimony through the Holy Ghost leads to forgiveness of sins, and how administering to the sick can lead to physical and spiritual healing. Further passages talk about how the Holy Ghost cleanses and purifies people, and how its influence has a more powerful effect than any other experience.
1. The document describes a healing program called Miraculous Recovery that includes sessions on spirit, mind and body recovery.
2. It offers three programs - Celebrate Recovery focusing on spirit, Heart Wellness on mind, and Healer's Awakening on body.
3. Each program is based on biblical principles and emphasizes spiritual commitment, personal responsibility, fellowship and producing peer mentors to help others in recovery.
This document provides an introduction and overview of the book "The World of the Spirit" which contains messages received through automatic writing by two Brazilian mediums, Francisco Candido Xavier and Waldo Vieira. The introduction discusses how knowledge of the spirit world has progressed through scientific investigation and mediumship. It notes that the world is going through a transition period, with spiritual matters needing attention to address issues like affliction, despair and darkness. The book aims to provide help and understanding from benevolent spiritual beings through messages of hope, consolation and happiness.
This document discusses healing in the biblical context. It begins by summarizing the story in Exodus where after being delivered from Egypt, the Israelites found bitter water in the wilderness and Moses healed it by throwing a log in it. God then revealed himself as Yahweh-Rophe, the Lord who heals. The document then discusses different aspects of healing in the Old and New Testaments. It focuses on healing meaning wholeness in body, mind and spirit. It provides suggestions for how to receive inner healing such as through faith, resting in God, holiness, forgiveness and giving. An example is given of John D. Rockefeller finding healing through changing his purpose to serving others.
The document provides information on spirituality for family life ministers. It defines spirituality as a conscious relationship with God through practices that foster Christian discipleship. It emphasizes that spirituality involves being in community and realizing one's identity as a beloved child of God through baptism. It also discusses developing a personal rule of life through contemplative practices and devotions to guide one's spiritual growth in a balanced way. The document provides resources for family life ministers to cultivate their spirituality.
AN INTERPRETATION OF THE “WAY OF SALVATION” FOR MODERN DAY UNITARIANS AND FRE...Dr Ian Ellis-Jones
Unitarians view salvation as an ongoing process of spiritual growth and development rather than a single event. They believe that humans are neither wholly good nor evil, and reject the idea that Jesus died to save humanity from sin. For Unitarians, salvation involves stages of admitting one's flaws, acknowledging one's need for change, turning to Jesus as a moral example of self-sacrifice, accepting forgiveness, and sharing one's experience with others to help bring about unity.
This document discusses the causes of rejection, which can have long-lasting negative effects. It identifies three main situations that can cause a child to feel rejected by their parents: 1) Being an unwanted pregnancy, 2) Not receiving physical affection or demonstrations of love from parents, and 3) Siblings perceiving unequal affection between themselves and other siblings. The text provides examples of how divorces, unequal treatment of children, and lack of quality time with parents despite material comforts can all contribute to a child feeling unloved and rejected.
This document summarizes a presentation on commitment to life, charity, and justice. It discusses biblical roots of justice in the Old and New Testaments. It emphasizes that all human life is sacred and created in God's image. The presentation examines issues like abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty from a pro-life perspective. It encourages participants to reflect on how they can promote justice and dignity for all people, especially the vulnerable. The goal is to help form a community committed to Gospel values of protecting life, practicing charity, and pursuing social justice.
First, there are nine gifts of the Holy Spirit and the are written in the book of Corinthians not Luke.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will”.
This document discusses Jesus' healing ministry and the Christian belief that God can heal sickness. It provides examples from the Gospels of Jesus healing various illnesses and injuries. The document asserts that Christians are commissioned to pray for the healing of others based on Mark 16:15-18. It addresses differing views on whether divine healing continues today, whether all sickness is due to sin, and whether it is acceptable for Christians to seek medical treatment. The overall message is that all healing comes from God, and Christians should trust that God can heal through prayer or medicine according to His purposes.
This document discusses the importance of mentoring and discipling new believers. It makes three key points:
1) Without mentoring, new believers will adopt the values of those around them, so it is important for them to be challenged and taught biblical values and convictions.
2) Most new believers are impacted more by what they see from other believers than what they hear them say. Seeing biblical spirituality modeled is important for their growth.
3) Spiritual parenting through mentoring and modeling helps new believers transition from self-dependence to dependence on God and the Holy Spirit. The goal of discipleship is spiritual maturity and fruitfulness that leads to reproducing disciples of their own.
This document is a paper written by Robert Siler in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Divinity degree from Mount Angel Seminary. It provides reflections on Siler's experiences ministering to mental patients as a student chaplain at Oregon State Hospital over four years. The paper examines the scriptural foundations that guided Siler's ministry, discusses the issue of suffering in the lives of patients and caregivers, and looks at ways of ministering to the mentally ill based on Siler's experiences.
Want to know how many ways God heals people physically? Is there a formula? What role does faith play? What are some obstacles to receiving healing from God? Who can heal the sick?
This document provides a summary of the author's nursing philosophy. It discusses that nursing aims to glorify God by caring for patients as images of God and working towards their health and community. The author believes in caring for patients' physical, emotional and spiritual needs through compassionate presence and hope. While patients have autonomy, health is ultimately determined by God. The author aims to learn from patients and be the best nurse possible while acknowledging their humanness.
The document discusses faith-based approaches to health and wellness. It introduces the Congregational Health ReSource (CHR) organization, which aims to serve as a bridge between the health care and faith communities by advancing biblical perspectives on health, increasing awareness of prevention and treatment options, and providing a clearinghouse of health information resources. CHR's goal is to connect these communities so that together they can promote healing. The document then covers various aspects of health as they relate to the body, soul, spirit, and faith from biblical perspectives.
Guideposts Outreach is a nonprofit ministry founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and his wife Ruth Stafford Peale. It is dedicated to helping people achieve their maximum personal and spiritual potential through inspirational publications and programs. Guideposts Outreach provides these materials free of charge to hospitals, churches, and other organizations serving those in need. The publication encourages developing resilience through applying spiritual truths to daily life and the power of faith in God.
The document discusses the topic of faith and its importance in one's life. It defines divine faith as a virtue given by God that allows us to live as God's children and share in God's love. It states faith is knowing God is real and trusting in His promises. It also discusses how faith is substantive and invites understanding while calling for a response. It emphasizes that faith is necessary for salvation and a lifelong journey.
The document discusses the author's background growing up in a Buddhist family in South Korea and his spiritual awakening after meeting a pastor and feeling the presence of God. This experience led the author to feel called to pastoral care. He discusses his theological foundations for pastoral care, focusing on being guided by the Holy Spirit. He views his role as a healthcare chaplain as helping and advocating for patients, and providing spiritual comfort. The author emphasizes being fully present with patients without any agenda, and the importance of cultural understanding and serving all people with compassion.
The document discusses ministering to those with mental illness. It notes that 1 in 5 Americans experiences a mental disorder each year. The church must welcome those with mental illness, support their families, and enhance caregiver skills. Mental illness is a disease like physical illness, rarely caused by demon possession. The document provides statistics on mental illness prevalence and recommends consistent care ministry for those suffering. It discusses challenges in communicating with those experiencing delusions or withdrawal and offers the book of Psalms as a source of comfort and honesty for those struggling with mental or physical illness.
This document discusses the concept of rest in Christianity. It explores what rest is and is not, according to scripture. The key points made are:
1. True rest is found in Jesus Christ, who invites us to find peace by communing with him and taking on his gentle yoke.
2. Rest does not mean idleness but allows us to cease from fruitless striving. It produces good works through salvation.
3. By learning from Jesus, we gain the freedom of knowing God and experiencing his unforced rhythms of grace.
True biblical rest is confidence in Christ, participation in his grace, and the freedom of our relationship with God and Jesus. It is the solution to
This document discusses depression, how believers can experience depression, and ways to maintain optimism. It notes that depression involves despondency and can have many causes. It describes how biblical figures like David and Elijah experienced depression but maintained faith in God. It recommends having a personal relationship with God, prioritizing activities to reduce worries, and maintaining a joyful attitude even when facing problems. It discusses the benefits of laughter such as boosting immunity and creativity, acting as a massage, and improving breathing. It encourages keeping a positive relationship with Christ and attitude towards others to benefit physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
This document provides an introduction and overview of Guideposts Outreach, a nonprofit interfaith ministry dedicated to helping people achieve their spiritual and personal potential through inspirational publications and programs. It was founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and his wife Ruth Stafford Peale. Guideposts Outreach distributes inspirational literature free of charge to organizations serving those in need. The introduction is written by Chaplain John Owen and discusses lessons he learned from serving as the chaplain for the Navy football team about faith, commitment, sacrifice and teamwork.
This document discusses how living with illness and uncertainty can be a transformative experience. It notes that illness often creates feelings of fear, loss of control, and uncertainty about the future. While these feelings can be difficult to cope with, the document advocates embracing uncertainty and focusing on living fully in each present moment. It also emphasizes the importance of community and spiritual support, as well as cultivating hope, compassion, and meaning during difficult times. Overall, the document explores how facing illness and uncertainty can lead to personal growth and wisdom if one remains open to learning from the experience.
This document discusses the human heart from both a physical and spiritual perspective. It describes the heart as the center of one's personality, emotions, thoughts and will. The heart can be wounded through traumatic experiences, which can then lead to stress responses in the body. When trauma overwhelms one's defenses, it can result in conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder. Healing involves processing traumatic memories and finding peace through spiritual renewal of the heart. Counseling and prayer are recommended to help address underlying issues fueling stress.
This document discusses the topic of sickness from a Christian perspective. It makes three key points:
1) Sickness is universal and affects all people, rich and poor. The only explanation given in the Bible for sickness is the entry of sin into the world.
2) God allows sickness, pain, and disease to benefit people for eternity, not to vex them. Sickness can help remind people of death, make them think seriously of their souls and God, soften hearts, level and humble people, and show what their faith is made of.
3) When sick, Christians should turn to Christ for comfort, bear sickness patiently, show empathy for others, and keep close communion with Christ
The sacrament of anointing of the sick brings Christ's compassionate healing to those suffering from serious illness. Healing does not necessarily mean cure, but rather a process that helps one realize their full potential before God. There are three universal human experiences - suffering, sickness, and death. The sacraments of healing are reconciliation/penance and anointing of the sick. Anointing of the sick strengthens faith and trust in God during illness, old age, or approaching death, giving grace, hope, and courage. The celebration includes a liturgy of the word, and a liturgy of anointing involving laying on of hands, prayer, and anointing of the head
The document contains announcements for various church events as well as a summary of the Sunday school lesson on Philippians 3:10. The summary discusses knowing Christ personally, powerfully through His resurrection, and passionately through sharing in His sufferings. It provides commentary from various authors on how suffering can drive us closer to God and help us mature in our faith. The summary emphasizes that God uses suffering to sanctify believers and make them more like Christ.
Anchored Ministry is a program that provides mentoring for junior high girls ages 12-13. It aims to provide a firm, secure foundation for the girls and help them through challenges they may be facing. The program is designed to take place on Sundays to fit with family schedules. It will teach theological foundations like the gospel, identity in Christ, and spiritual gifts. The goal is to help the girls learn about who God says they are, build them up, and equip them to mentor and evangelize their peers.
1. 1
Reflections on Nursing Philosophy
Submitted to:
Elizabeth (Betty) Asher, RN MA
NURS360 The Professional Nurse
10-29-09
Submitted by:
Paula Steigauf, RN
Bethel ID#: 224745
Cohort: BNQ
This paper will reflect many perspectives. Persons, the meaning and purpose of life will
be defined; my understanding of health and illness, including concepts of suffering and death
2. 2
will be outlined; beliefs regarding nursing and nursing care will be reviewed; and a personal
experience which exemplifies my philosophy of nursing will be provided.
Perspective of People and the Meaning and Purpose of Life
As a Christian, I believe strongly in the sanctity of life from birth to natural death. Psalm 139:
13-15 states “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are
wonderful, I know that full well.” Genesis 1:27 declares “so God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This writer ascribes that
since we are all made in His image we all carry – professed or not – a spark of God, thus we are
all divine in spirit and should be treated with the utmost dignity and respect. “Spirituality is an
innate, universal aspect of being human. Everyone has a spiritual dimension. This dimension
integrates, motivates, energizes, and influences every aspect of a person’s life” (Taylor, 2002).
According to the Greek philosopher Socrates, one of the noblest accomplishments in life is
for an individual to “know thyself” (Williams, 2005). This writer believes a foundational piece
which to begin the search for meaning and purpose is to start with the first two commandments
found in the Bible which call us to love God with all our heart, mind and soul, and to love thy
neighbor as thyself. Fowler recognized faith as a universal human phenomenon that leads
persons to need and find meaning, an understanding of themselves in relation to their world
(Taylor, 2002). If we quiet ourselves long enough to listen and discern, we will be led by God to
that which is our purpose. Often, when we walk in accordance to His Will, opportunities and
support will arrive unexpectedly; conversely, when we are not pursuing the correct direction, we
struggle and endure negatives which cause us to lose our direction or focus. Jeremiah 29:11 says
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm
3. 3
you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Nouwen (1989) writes “but when we are securely
rooted in personal intimacy with the source of life, it will be possible to remain flexible without
being relativistic, convinced without being offensive, gentle and forgiving without being soft,
and true witnesses without being manipulative.” Simply, I believe we are called to love God,
love our neighbor, discern and live out our purpose here on earth, and finally go home to heaven.
Beliefs about Health and Illness
Personally, health is a balance of the biological, psychological, social and spiritual systems
within the body which are balanced on a continuum and function much like a computer. When
all the systems interact cohesively there is optimal health. Illness or diseases occur when any part
of the whole system becomes unbalanced or overtaxed. After completing anatomy and
physiology class I spoke to the instructor about how wonderful and complex our bodies are
designed, what a wonderful design job God produced, and how often we take that automatic
functioning for granted. It seems that only when we experience illness or disease that we
appreciate having health. Additionally, having lived with a person who experienced several
chronic health conditions I am always considerate of teaching and maintaining optimal health.
Professionally, I agree with Taylor (2002) which outlines “many nursing theorists
recognize clients as bio-psycho-social-spiritual beings, and while some have developed ways to
categorize various human dimensions, all recognize multiple aspects of being human and
advocate the provision of holistic care.” While medical doctors put signs and symptoms together
to form and treat medical diagnoses, we, as nurses, treat the patient’s mind, body, and spirit.
Moreover, we often treat the family as part of the “extended patient,” which adds another
dimension and challenge to providing optimal patient care.
4. 4
Beliefs about Suffering and Death
Pain and suffering have afflicted humanity throughout history. It is human to question “why
me?” when negative, unexpected life or health challenges occur. I believe personally and
professionally no one welcomes pain but, rightly faced, it can bring about great good and
maturity. Triumph and victory instills unimagined self-growth. Job 36:15 states “but those who
suffer he delivers in their suffering: he speaks to them in their affliction,” and 2 Corinthians 4:17
states “for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory.” All of our patients suffer. Taylor, 2002 reveals that suffering does
not necessarily occur in the presence of uncontrolled pain but when that pain is viewed as
meaningless, unfair, or a deterrent to accomplishing life goals.
What we call death comes eventually to every one of us. Personally, death, far from being the
end, is but a door to an existence more glorious than our minds can fathom. “No eye has seen,
nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him”
(1 Corinthians 2:9, NIV). Death is just a transition. Professionally, my faith influences my view
of death. However, now having walked the final journey with my mother-in-law, I view the
death as the process of preparing the patient (and family) for the spiritual departing from the
physical body. Advocating and administering care when all involved are very fragile is, for me,
walking on holy ground.
Philosophy of Nursing and Nursing Care
Both personally and professionally my philosophy of nursing can be summed in the words of
my favorite church song, The Servant Song, found in our Gather hymnal:
5. 5
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may
have the grace to let you be my servant, too. We are pilgrims on a journey,
we are travelers on the road; we are here to help each other walk the mile
and bear the load. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of
your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you, I
will share your joy and sorrow ‘til we’ve seen this journey through. When
we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony, born of all we’ve
know together of Christ’s love and agony. Will you let me be your servant,
let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my
servant, too.
I am but a vessel to be used by God to care, reach and teach my patients as He beckons. “It is
Jesus who heals, not I; Jesus who speaks words of truth, not I; Jesus who is Lord, not I”
(Nouwen, 1989). Nursing is a sacred covenant with God to provide respectful, dignified, quality
care to all who present for care. As a professional nurse “we are privileged to share some of the
most intimate moments in life with total strangers. In these moments, we walk in the sacred
space and participate in holy acts “(Taylor, 2002). I concur with Hood and Leddy (2006) who
write “a nurse-client relationship is a commitment characterized by intentionality, authenticity,
trust, respect and genuine sense of connection. The nurse is a knowledgeable, concerned,
facilitator. The client is responsible for choices that influence health and healing.”
Professional Role and Goal
As an Intravenous (IV) Team member, my job is to make the IV start as quick and painless as
possible, evaluate and work with central lines, and place peripherally inserted central catheter
(PICC) lines. Additionally, I endeavor to reach and teach the client during the few minutes I’m in
the room by encouraging them to deep breath, maintain pain management for optimal healing,
and drink water for hydration. Often I will inform them that I will pray for their recovery and this
brings a smile to many of their faces. Time-permitting, I will leave them with a joke to brighten
6. 6
their day, listen to their pertinent concerns, admonish them to have a great night. Even though I
have very little time to spend with them, my ultimate nursing goal is to be Jesus to my patients.
Personal Nursing Philosophy Experience
Deacon Dan Nalenzy was diagnosed with colon cancer seven years ago. A church colleague,
we often worked together as I served as Mass Coordinator every other Sunday. I would greet him
and his wife, Joni, as they endured rounds of chemotherapy and radiation at Mercy Hospital. He
endured his suffering quietly and when asked for help would only ask for prayers. “Is any among
you afflicted? Let him pray” (James 5:13, NIV). Watching the deterioration over time often
brought tears and anguishes as I implored God to heal this holy man. Much to my amazement I
had the privilege of starting his IV several times as time grew short. Demonstrating care for both
Dan and Joni was awkward at first, as they are very private people and I felt totally inadequate
ministering to a Deacon, however they came to welcome my hugs, hand squeezes, and spiritual
talk as I encouraged them and let each know they were so very loved. Unwittingly, I had
employed many of the spiritual caring strategies outlined in chapter 11 of Taylor (2002). A visit
to see Father Mike Van Sloun, our parish priest, also provided the opportunity to mention
professional to professional that Dan was in the hospital readying himself and his family for
hospice care. He immediately contacted the family, spoke at length with Dan regarding final
wishes, anointed Dan and his family, and phoned St. Paul to arrange a visit from our Bishop.
Dan’s wake was a beautiful representation of the tall, quiet, Godly man I will forever remember.
His funeral was attended by many. The week after, I received a thank you note from Fr. Mike
expressing thanks for what had, upon reflection for him, turned out to be a life changing
experience sharing the final days with Deacon Dan and Joni. O’Brian (2003) asserts “that in
spiritual ministry to the sick ‘the deepest and richest human experiences are those which are
7. 7
shared between persons’; that is, those in which the minister is able to touch the heart of another
person.” I, with the grace of God, was able to minister to both Deacon Dan and his wife Joni at a
pivotal time in their journey of life. This exemplifies how I endeavor to provide nursing care.
Conclusion
In closing, this paper, and in fact this whole course, has afforded me much growth as I learn
about becoming a professional nurse. It has enabled me to articulate my philosophy of nursing
and review future goals which have aided my journey with all of life’s recent changes. “I leave
you with the image of the leader with outstretched hands, who chooses a life of downward
mobility. It is the image of the praying leader, the vulnerable leader, and the trusting leader”
(Nouwen, 1989). This writer, Paula, feels she is being called to be that servant leader.
References
Batastini, R.J. (Ed.). Gather. (2nd
ed.). Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, Inc.
Hood, L.J., & Leddy, S.K. (2006). Leddy & Pepper’s conceptual bases of professional nursing.
(6th
ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
8. 8
Nouwen, H.J. (1989). In the name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian leadership. New York, NY:
The Crossroad Publishing Company.
O’Brian, M.E. (2003). Spirituality in nursing: Standing on holy ground. Sudbury, MA: Jones and
Bartlett Publishers.
Peale, N.V. (1994). Words that inspired him: Norman Vincent Peale. New York, NY:
Inspirational Press.
Taylor, E.J. (2002). Spiritual care: Nursing theory, research, and practice. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Prentice Hall.
Williams, M. E. (Ed.). (2005). Constructing a life philosophy. New York, NY: Greenhaven
Press.