Where do I start this week? There is so much.
First I want to share what I think is a good thing. I have experienced over the past two decades or so the 5 stages of Loss and Grief. This is usually associated with a “response to an individual’s own terminal illness, the loss of a close relationship, or to the death of a valued being, human or animal.” The five stages are Denial and Isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. You can read more about the world’s take on this idea HERE.
I didn’t really understand what I was experiencing until recently. Now that I can look back, it is clear. In my case my loss and grief didn’t come from my “own terminal illness, the loss of a close relationship, or to the death of a valued being, human or animal.”
It came from the understanding that the world around me was changing. And it was changing in horrible ways. In my lifetime, Christian prayer has been removed from the public schools. Our kids are being fed propaganda, like the evolutionary theory, which is confusing vast numbers of young (and old) people when it comes to the reliability of the Bible. Abortion has been legalized. Marriage has now been redefined.
There is a specific event that took me to the 5th level of “acceptance.” I have written about it on this blog and it’s not important for anyone to know except that it happened in 2008.
Here is the world’s definition of the 5th level of loss and grief:
“Reaching this stage of mourning is a gift not afforded to everyone. Death may be sudden and unexpected or we may never see beyond our anger or denial. It is not necessarily a mark of bravery to resist the inevitable and to deny ourselves the opportunity to make our peace. This phase is marked by withdrawal and calm. This is not a period of happiness and must be distinguished from depression.”
I am thankful that God has allowed me to see beyond my anger and denial. The difference between the world’s view of these 5 stages and a Christian worldview is perhaps most different at the 5th level. How can I be withdrawn and calm when I see the ungodly things happening around me? I must be active and calm. It is the reality of Romans 8:28 and Ephesians 6.
There is so much going on in the world that I will focus on two (of the thousands of) items that scream the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
There is the situation in Norway. Here is an acquaintance of mine speaking out against the injustices there:
Watch this video and judge for yourselves:
I would like to thank my new friend, Octavian Curpas, for sending me these videos.
Greg Hunter was in rare form this week. A former member of the mainstream media, he exposes what is really happening in our government. It sounds like he is a Trump fan but he’s never endorsed the man. He is only upset at the treatment that Trump has received. We’ll have to vote for the lesser of two evils in November. Greg’s focus is on the criminal crony class.
It is no surprise to me that youngsters lie to me almost everyday in my current position as a substitute teacher. I will always confront those whom I know are lying. God is in control as Greg says at the end of every one of his weekly wrap-ups. This is how I stay sane. This truth allows me not to accept the evil on goings but to accept that God’s hand will never forsake believers in spite of the way things appear.
Chris Reimers
Note: How can I leave the events surrounding Israel out of this review? There is so much on this issue and I hope I’ll have the time to cover some of it next week. Greg discusses it a tiny bit at the end of his You Tube video.
Wings of the Wind 
Chris, this was really great to read and it has cleared up some things for me. I don’t know if you know I lost my son almost two years ago and the process of my grief was nothing like they said it would be . . . Denial = NO he was dead and there was no denying that. Isolation NO = I felt closer to God than ever before, Anger = Only at first because of the situation, Bargaining = NO , I know God was in control of all things and He had His reasons, Depression, NO, it was more like sadness and it still is for all that I am missing and he is missing with his family Acceptance = I accepted my son’s death from the get go. On the first morning after I arrived to where my son was I stood in the parking lot of the hotel I was staying at and gave it all to Jesus all the pain all the heartache and He took it from me and filled me with His peace which indeed I cannot explain. When I see what is happening in this world I know God is in control and I know I can trust Him and His purpose and plans. As I go through the list the only one I can relate to is SADNESS (not depression) I am so sad at the state of this world and the mess we have created in it . . . but, I know it has to be this way in order for Jesus to come back ……. sooooooooo that’s my take on it 🙂 ~ Blessings ~
Beautifully written, Deborah Ann.
It is interesting how the unchristian worldview and ungodly psychologists try to put labels on things and we Christians can have a completely different experience.
I’m sorry for your loss. I had a similar loss but it wasn’t one of my children. It was a cousin who had come to live with us as a young child. I loved her very much. She died in a car accident when she was 16. I experienced the same things you have: no denial, just a few hours of isolation because I could not tell anyone as I was in college and wouldn’t be seeing my girlfriend (now my wife of 35+ years) until later that evening. I had received a phone call while at college and I completely broke down as I let out my feelings to my friend later that evening. There was no bargaining and no depression. It did take me awhile to accept it. In fact, I recently pulled out a song I wrote about her and finally put the chords to them. I can now share my song without getting emotional.
I think we were able to experience what we did only by the grace of God and the presence of His Holy Spirit.
Interestingly, for me, I have gone through these five grieving’s in pretty much the same order the psych texts speak of when it comes to reaction to changes in the world. Denial and isolation were short lived as was bargaining. Depression has always been an issue but then it runs in the family. I have been less depressed in the last year then in the previous 20. Anger still rears its ugly head at times, but then God got angry so I’m in good company there. And acceptance…this is the hardest of all when one sees the injustices in the world. Still as you have stated:
“When I see what is happening in this world I know God is in control and I know I can trust Him and His purpose and plans.”
and
“I know it has to be this way in order for Jesus to come back…”
I appreciate your comment Deborah Ann and I continue to be blessed by all that you do on your blog.
God’s blessings…
Yes, it is hard to see the injustice, hatred, murder, rape, incest, and every other evil thing that fills the unsaved heart. Only God can save us from the wickedness of mankind . I know that we cannot produce the results that we seek until Jesus comes and does what only He can do. It is depressing and sometimes I just don’t want to know what is happening. In the good old days you only saw tidbits on the six o’clock news on a small, black and white TV. Now we are bombarded 24/7 with it and it is shown in all its color graphic horror on a 72″ surround sound system! It’s hard not to get depressed. I guess all we can do is pray for this lost world and trust the God will intervene when the time is right. It not hard to get angry about all that is going on and as I so believe . . . vengeance is God’s and His alone and I don’t ever want to get on His bad side! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers Chris. ~ Have a wonderful day with Jesus ~
Thank you for your kind words and your prayers, Deborah Ann.
I know we are all sinful but I am not concerned about you getting on God’s bad side.
You must be about my age because I was alive “in the good ole days” when there were no color T.V.s.
God’s blessings…
63 and counting the days before I get to go home😀
57 and also counting. 🙂
Reblogged this on Dumnezeu e în control.
I always appreciate a re-blog.
Thank you and God’s blessings…
Reblogged this on ANA TATAR ANDRAS.
Thank you for the re-blog. God’s blessings!