Mental Health
Posted on January 2, 2024
by Meghan Baldridge, LISW
As we begin a new year, many of us may be participating in the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions with the hopes of rejuvenation, self-improvement or personal growth. While these goals can offer a sense of purpose and motivation, we may question the potential mental health pros and cons.
Mental Health
Posted on December 11, 2023
by Mark Vande Braak, Ph.D, FT, MT-BC
You have permission to grieve. Do not let anyone tell you something different. However, it is essential to be gentle with yourself. The anxiety and build-up to the holiday is very stressful and real. It is alright to spend time remembering your loved one and the gifts that they gave you in life.
Mental Health
Posted on December 5, 2023
by Rev. Jonathan Conner
The final installment in a three-part series, some of us have experienced disappointment with God, but this probably isn’t really the foundational thought. The foundational thought is probably harder. It’s probably something like this: God let me down. That’s hard to say out loud, isn’t it?
Mental Health
Posted on December 1, 2023
by Virginia Strubbe, CSW-PIP, OSW-C
The classic hymn O Holy Night speaks to both the heaviness in this world and the joy we have with our Savior’s birth. The holiday season can easily turn into a prescribed hustle and bustle. It’s easy to feel a bit weary. How can we experience joy amidst weariness this holiday season?
Mental Health
Posted on November 1, 2023
by Rev. Jonathan Conner
Identity statements aren’t always true. So, get them out into the open and then speak God’s Word out loud into the situation. But, what if the foundational thoughts are true? What if these are the things we’re thinking about: I have been abused; I have suffered real injustice; I have experienced real loss. What do we do then? Grieve. Mourn. Lament.
Mental Health
Posted on October 17, 2023
by Rev. Jonathan Conner
We’re having a conversation on mental health, but what we’re going to talk about isn’t just for people who struggle with mental health; it’s for all of us. We have a simple point, which we’ll expand upon in a moment. Here’s our simple point: What you think affects how you feel affects what you do.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on September 26, 2023
by Rev. Dave Gunderson, tLMFT
Did you forget where you left your glasses? No problem. Did you forget you wear glasses? Then you may have a problem. If you need to ask someone what day it is, no problem, but if you ask for that date three times in a row in less than five minutes, you may have a problem. That is my mother-in-law’s situation. While writing a check for her church offering, she asked me repeatedly what the date was because she suffers from dementia.
Mental Health
Posted on September 22, 2023
by Virginia Strubbe, CSW-PIP, OSW-C
Receiving the diagnosis of a terminal illness is often overwhelming and may bring about a great deal of emotions. You may have been feeling physically unwell, have had multiple medical appointments, or likely have received a great deal of information in a small amount of time. It can be expected to be unsure of the next steps. The following are some things to consider.
Godly Living
Posted on September 6, 2023
by Rev. Jonathan Conner
Shel Silverstein, the children’s poet (author of the well-loved Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Runny Babbit, and more), in the playful poem below, raises a question that plagues us all: What if…? In this article we will dare to answer the question.
Lutheran Family Service News
Posted on September 1, 2023
by Lindy Hinckley, tLMFT
Meet Lindy Hinckley, tLMFT, a marriage and family therapist serving clients in Deadwood, South Dakota, as well as the surrounding area including Sturgis and Rapid City, and throughout the state via telehealth. With a passion for fostering community and connection as an antidote to isolation, Lindy brings understanding and experience as a pastor’s wife and parent of a child with special needs.
