What Would Your Church Do? Illness Scenarios Teaching Tool

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By Lisa Copen Have you seen the T.V. show, "What Would You Do? With John Quinones"? In it, they have actors set up a situation and then wait to see if anyone gets involved. Do people stand up for the "underdog"? Will adults buy teens beer? Will people stop a drunk parent from driving? Results are very interesting. Below are some scenarios to help church leaders think, "What would our church do?" We always hope that we will do the right thing. We believe our church will make the best choices for all involved. But sometimes the lines get buried. Phone calls don't get returned because no one has an answer for the hurting person. Too often I hear from people who have called their church with stories like the ones below and the … [Read more...]

Q/A: How Do I Get Doctors To Listen and Stop Passing Me To Another Doctor?

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Have you had the experience of one doctor passing you off to another, and that one to another, and no one really wanting to "own" you as a patient? For a while I have felt I was the ball in a game of ping pong between my general practitioner and a specialist, each telling me to see the other. Currently, as new issues develop, I have become a "hot potato." My question is, what do you do to get doctors to listen and stop passing the buck? I am looking for suggestions beyond basics of talking to doctors. One thing I am finding helpful lately is to pray earnestly and specifically for the appointment and the agenda to discuss with that doctor. I am at least finding each appointment a little less frustrating, and maybe a little more … [Read more...]

Making a Difference in the Lives of Soldiers With Illness, Disability, and More

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Debbi Farmer One of the privileges of writing articles to share with the members of Rest Ministries who are looking for resources to help with their particular kind of pain is finding a "hidden jewel" that can out-shine many others. "Healing our Heroes Network" is just that jewel! "Once a Hero always a Hero," however our military heroes today are only human and can suffer many kinds of wounds too complex sometimes to treat, too personal to share, and too deep to heal without help. That is where this wonderful program comes into play. The "Soldiers for Bibles Ministry" a part of Heart of God International Ministries has seen the need to bring together resources to help our heroes in one convenient location. "Healing Our Heroes … [Read more...]

Invisible Illness Week News to Know

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National Invisible Illness Awareness Week will be held this year September 12-18, 2011. This annual event is sponsored by Rest Ministries and Lisa Copen began it in the year 2002. Here are things to know: [1] Spiritual Warfare is Happenin'! In less than a week Lisa has received more mean-spirited e-mails and comments did in past years combined. There is a lot of spiritual warfare going on even among those who live with illness. Many of them want National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week to specifically serve those who are atheists (and proud of it) as well as those who live with "alternative lifestyles." Despite the fact that most all illness support online is for a secular audience, people want to stir up controversy for the … [Read more...]

How In The World Do You Find Joy When Talking to Medical Bill Collectors?

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By Lisa Copen Sixteen months after I had four joints replaced in my hand I received a large bill that looked like a duplicate of one I had already paid. The name on the bill however, was "Joe." My husband's name (who carried the insurance) is Joel. I called the surgery center and explained that I believed there were two accounts and one was a duplicate of the other. The woman in accounting didn't believe so. "That is just how it is addressed," she explained. The bill is for Joel." "No," I replied. "Everything on this bill says Joe. I won't be paying this until I receive a bill with the correct name on it." "I see here your middle name is Joelle," she said. "Yes." "Well, that explains it then," she said with a satisfied sigh. Did … [Read more...]

RM Founder Shares How Her Health Advocate Passion Stems from Rheumatoid Arthritis Onset

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I recently posted this blog but somehow the video code was eaten up! I've added the video I spoke of below, and if you cannot see it you can view it here, "Illness Advocate's Passion Stems From Onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis." Last fall a popular health activist organization had a video contest asking us to share our journey about being a health advocate. I didn't win, but taking the time to share about my story of how I went from a stirring for illness ministry to where Rest Ministries is today was a winning experience! Here I share about how I originally thought I would work for a non profit organization, but after my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 24, I began my own "health promotion activities," by starting Rest … [Read more...]

Assisted Suicide Due to Pain of Illness and How It Fits With Our Belief in God

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Lisa Copen The facts are frightening. According to American Medical news 51 people died under Washington's assisted-suicide law in 2010, the 1st full year of this law. They were provided with a lethal medication prescribed by a physician. As one who lives with a chronic illness and daily chronic pain, I understand how difficult it can be to get up and face each day when every part of your body aches and no one seems to have any answers. I also am wise enough to know that I have not experienced the kind of darkness that many have. . . yet. I have no doubt that just as many Christians go through "a dark night of the soul" as the darkest depression is described, those with illness surely have some days when they awake and wonder if it … [Read more...]

A Different Kind of Mom: Making a Difference at Home and in the World for Christ

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I remember sitting at my first MOPS meeting for Mother's with Preschoolers. After years of waiting to have a child, my husband and I had been blessed with a newborn through adoption. The irony is, all of the moms at the table had new babies. We needed support way before our children reached preschool age! Our of about 10 of us however, I found is disheartening to hear all but myself and another mom say, "Don't you just hate being a parent some days?" Gasp! And these were Christian women. "All I feel like is the maid and the cook" they shared. Looking back, now I realize that I was still in some of the "bliss" of motherhood." Yet, ironically, the only two of us who were content at the moment were both working at home--in the middle of the … [Read more...]

Parish Nurse Resources

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Many churches now have what they call a parish nurse. This page is to provide information on parish nursing and links to resources for them. The goal of the parish nurse: It is to minister holistically to individuals and families, in and through the faith community, using her health education and spiritual maturity to promote wellness of body, mind, and spirit. As health issues become a greater concern for most of our population, the idea of having a parish nurse in congregations has become more appealing. They help with health concerns, visit ill people (sometimes for the social support) and make sure no one falls through the cracks. Parish nursing is a care program of lay leaders from the nursing profession, who serve to … [Read more...]

“Dear Abby” Letter Talks of Congregation Members Spreading Germs

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This last week, 10/21/10, someone wrote to Dear Abby asking how to handle people who want to greet her with a kiss. As the “cold and flu” season approaches, most of us with chronic illness can relate well with this woman. We don’t want to be rude, but we don’t always want to go into a long explanation about why we aren’t excited about that kiss on the cheek or handshake. I’m working on an article now about this for the Huffington Post and would love your ideas, experiences and suggestions. How do you handle the times people extend their hand expecting you to shake it, just after they have coughed into it? Do you always carry hand sanitizer in your purse? I’d love some suggestions to share with the masses so please … [Read more...]

Time Magazine Talks with Joni Eareckson Tada

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Time Magazine recently interviewed Christian author and disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada . Rest Ministries is honored to be an affiliate of her ministry, Joni and Friends International Disability Center. How are you feeling? Cancer and chronic pain on top of quadriplegia is a little challenging. Right now I’m tired from the chemotherapy and that, coupled with the pain, makes it difficult. At times I’ve thought, “Lord, this is an awful lot to bear. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” And yet, I know the answer. Some people think there’s another answer, though. At the beginning of your book, you describe an astounding encounter you had in a church parking lot. Yes, this very earnest young man named David … [Read more...]

When Chronically Ill People Are Assertive, Are We Not Taken Seriously?

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By Lisa Copen I had just received the third pink slip in two weeks from the lab that said my payment was passed due. Over three times I had called and my insurance company had assured me that the lab work was covered and that they would mail out a check that afternoon. This time, when I finally got a representative on the telephone, I was polite, but firm. I said that I wanted the problem taken care of immediately, and I wrote down her name and the supervisor's name. It was time to get even more assertive. When chronically ill people are assertive, is it not taken seriously? Is it assumed that we won't have the energy or stamina to fight all of the battles that we will face? When we do talk to someone in customer service, we are rarely … [Read more...]

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