The Encourager

The Big Issue is a current affairs and entertainment magazine sold on the streets of Australia by the mentally ill, disabled, homeless or anyone struggling in life. You can be on the disability support pension and just earn a few extra dollars to boost your income to the amount we are allowed to earn like I do at times or some make it a full time occupation. You recive training, your first uniform free of a vest, t shirt and hat. You buy the magazine for half the cover price then sell it with the difference as your profit.You are given a set ‘pitch’ to sell it on. We are limited by local councils and shops but new places are opening up all the time.  If you don’t have the money to start off with they can loan you a few until you pay it back. The Big Issue comes out fortnightly and can be a good money earner as there are no set amounts you have to sell.  Anyone can be a big issue vendor, they will take on any one. I have even read of a blind man who sells it. I sell it with limited speech from a condition called aphasia. People with cerebal paly, scizophrenia, bi polar, people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction and limited limbs. “We offer a hand up not a hand out”. www.bigissue.org.au There are similair schemes in some other countries. Even buy one if you see a vendor on the street. They will have a flueresent vest, red hat and I.D badge.

As you can see I haven’t put much on this website in recent months. It’s because I run several Christian websites and I have been busy with a new one aimed at the physically disabled. I have done it as I have been more physically disabled lately needing my wheelchair I have been in permanently since November 2008 more and more. I encourage you to check it out at www.christiandisabledaustralia.net I hope to have talks available at church, youth, ladies groups and community meetings.  You can contact me at Colourful Dave P.O. Box X 2222 Perth W.A. 6847 or colourfuldave@gmail.com  I’m not including a phone number as it has been changing. In time I will be looking for someone to drive me, my wheelchair and and a box of Christian books for sale to take to meetings around the suburbs of Perth WA. The books and talks will be on mental and physical health issues. The driver will have a discount on any books related to disability / mental health I sell. Koorong Christian Bookstore are being generous in supporting me.  I’m looking for a way to have petrol costs covered, possibly through charging a fee for the meetings. Even if you cant do that please feel free to check out my new website at www.christiandisabledaustralia.net  There are now my books for sale on there and some Koorong books probably will be in time on the online store page.

I am writing this from personal experience. This is hard to write but I am doing it for the sake of shedding some light on a much misunderstood series of conditions.

When I was first diagnosed  with mental illness I was told I had schizophrenia. That was a very scary time for me and those close to me. I didn’t want to tell anyone. I wanted to run away and hide from this torment that was going on in my head.  I was very paranoid, especially quite sadly of my Mum and she suffered at least as much as I did, partly because her mother had previously died from alzeihmer’s disease. Then I came along too sick to tell her what was really wrong despite always still loving her as a son does towards his Mum.

I now skip several years, about 20 in fact and many more difficulties to about age 38 when a major diagnosis review was done in hospital and post hospital treatment. Doctors to me still seem to be diagnosing me as I am a hard to put a definite diagnosis on. They say it’s NOT MY FAULT. If only they would realise how difficult that is on me! Doctors are now saying the original diagnosis was wrong and that for various reasons one of the combinded  personality disorders is what I have. There are various phmaplets on various mental illnesses but doctorssay that we shouldn’t try to diagnose by reading a booklet. Doctors have spent many years at medical school and still can’t but definite diagnoses on some of my very real physical and mental illneses.

You may wondering why I am writing this. It’s to offer hope to other misunderstood and confused people like me. You may be wondering how to cope with your illness or your life and the hospitals and mental health clinic isn’t enough on it’s own. Some of the things when I feel like that that have helped me  are getting help from groups like like some groups listed on the links page like The Rainbow Project, June O’Connor Center’s and programs run by Ruah Community Services like Urban Network. The Lorikeet Centre is another good one all here in Perth W.A.  Your local community nurse or clinic should be able to put you in contact with some near you.

I also enjoy doing hobbies and acheiving realistic goals, not too high, not too low. Give yourself a goal and acheive it. Then another, acheive that one then another. Right now I’m making craft items and trying to sell them. If you are interested contact me on colourfuldave@gmail  or phone me Perth time best around 9am weekdays on 1300 55 727 then say you want  08 9349 8275. I have hats, and am doing bags and decorated denim. Do what you can and give it a go at it, no matter what level. Don’t give up. God isn’t finished with you or your loved one yet. Colourful Dave. P.S. Just remember that I have occaisonal speech loss thought now from a pysical condtion called ahpasia so it’s best to use the National Relay Service first then give them my number like listed above. The area code is needed even if wring from Perth. Local area code cost call. For more information on my condition diagnosed first by a doctor see www.aphasia.org.au

I have written three books both selling for various prices each AUD and can be bought by sending an Australian checque or money order made payable to Colourful Dave or by pay pal to P.O Box X2222 Perth 6847 Perth W.A. 6847 saying which ones you want. This is the general address for this website. The books are “Hope in a dark place” and talks of the history of Christians For Mental Health, an article on panic attacks by a sufferer, Lisa Buddrige, links to other groups and poems.

Up to date details on how to get them are on the Online Store page on www.christiandisabledaustralia.net

The second one is “Why suicide Lord?” and like the other one is aimed to give hope in difficult times while not ignoring them. It gives my personal story of recovery in brief as well as poems, tributes to those who have helped me overcome this and a few links onto those who can help people recover.

A new third one has been published by me to help people going through a new disability or illness.It is called “Your first days through a new disability or illness”, Encouragement and learning how to come from someone who has been there and is now helping others. ‘

If you know anyone who you think may be helped by these books then don’t hesitate in buying some direct from me the author. They can be autographed free if you type {prefered} or print clealy who you want which one or ones made made out to. NO REFUNDS AVAILABLE ON MISCHOICE . While it is made out to me for convenience they do help cover the many costs of this ministry such as sending out about 45 newsletters each time they go out and advertising. The more sales I get and money I get coming in such as subscribers paying for their stamps the more work I can do in this area. This ministry gets NO church or other financial support.  Thank you. Colourful Dave. Please note…not David Longworth. Correct name is Colourful Dave.  Strictly information not emergency contacts or personal problems

I nearly died. In the six weeks from November 2002 to 1st January 2003 I nearly died three times. The first time was not suicidal although I have written as the others were. I don’t remember in full what I was facing at the times and I don’t aim to focus on death, sucidal tendencies and dying, but I believe the issues are important because many face them, sadly even some Christians.

Obviously suicide isn’t the answer to problems as no matter how the person concerned may feel, many are left behind in deep pain and questions after suicide or even an attempt.

However those weren’t my thoughts at the time and I was taken to hospital by ambulance, things that have never been attention seeking or a stunt. Despite going through busy uncomfortable hospitals, God was with me all the time. I don’t suggest suicide to anyone, but if you need help please seek help from the appropriate authorities such as on the links page of this site.

After one attempt on my life God gave me these verses and others in Psalm 139 “I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heavenyou are there;if I go down to the place of the dead you are there.” Psalm 139 v 7 - 8 I stared death in the face and found God there. But that is not a a good place to test him. I don’t suggest you do it as you may not have the gift of life like I do. How appropriate those words were.

Though one day soon after all this happened I was feeling particuarl low so I rang a friend who prayed after I asked her to for me. I cried, she prayed although she felt useless to help God worked quickly and both my two case workers at the time {one a Christian} called offering help. One set up for my chemist to have all my tablets and repeat prescriptions,  helping me not to overdose, giving me weekly and sometimes daily supplies something I have kept to this day, even when shifting home to be on the safe side. The spiritual and the physical worked together.

Then, after my phone calls of support and prayer I had a great time alone with God.  For someone who has never felt suicidal I can understand that it’s hard to comprehend how someone can get that low in depression but unfortunately many do. However I am living proof that you can come out the other side of constantly feeling depressed. I don’t think I can seriously say I will never feel depressed again  or possibly not even never suicidal again. It’s a long journey out but there is recovery from suicidal tendencies. For me it meant counselling and realising that God loves me just as I am, despite my percieved imperfections….HE still loves ME! It’s a long journey but one that God is prepared to take with you. All it takes is you admitting you have a need. Seek him, Seek help. You may want to start with one of the links on this site,one of the groups………or you may need hospitilisation. Whatever seek that help. God will be there to meet you as he did me. Colourful Dave

This is a book review of a very informative booklet on Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. These are things I admit I don’t have any personal experience in apart from seeing women suffer when I have been in hospital. This booklet is only 32 pages long and from Intevasity Press. Further details at end of article. It is an American book, quite obvious in pounds instead of kilograms in weights of people mentioned. But none the less it is, as I said very informative and gives some American groups to contact for furher help. I have included some of theirs and Australian groups on the links page of this website. Not only does it cover what it’s like for people with both anorexia and bulimia in what are basically the “facts”, it gives stories of recovered women and says how becoming more often these days a growing number of men are struck down with eating disorders. It also covers how eating disorders happen to Christians sometimes, just like everything else in life, we aren’t immune as Christians. It talks of how a distorted understanding of the bibles teaching and fear of lack of faith can unfortunately contribute to an eating disorder of Christians in particular but not only. The booklet also talks of ways to approach a friend or yourself with these types of issues, although the authors believe there is no perfect way of dealing with the issues. I got the booklet on markdowns from Koorong [ see links].  Intervasity Press P.O.Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515 - 1426 U.S.A. www.ivpress.com e - mail; mail@ivpress.com  It is certainly a very good starting read and I have some support groups on the links page of this website or look in your local phone book.

Sometimes good things come in ordinary packages. Like this night in my sleep. Just an ordinary night, but I had a dream. Imagine this….. An ordinary group of Christians but one of them gets up and says [Holding a plain paper bag] ……You would think this is a plain paper bag but lets see what’s in it. The leader pulls out a large piece of paper. What’s this she wonders. Slowly reads it. Silence across the room. WOW. This is worth a lot. Its 100 American bonds. Worth a lot in America but whe’re in Australia. It would cost a lot to exchange these for what they’re worth. Let’s put these aside for a moment, somewhere safe and see what’s else in here.

Pulls out a plain apron. Nothing out of the ordinary. But what’s this pinned to it. A note. It says it can be used for serving too. This is getting intersting! What else is in here. Pulls out an ordinary loaf of bread. Then a wine glass. Then a bottle of wine. Thinks for a minute. With American bonds in hand goes to a point in the circle of believers and says “This is precious. What it took to bring it to you took great cost and sacrifice. Breaks the bread and says ‘The body of Christ broken for you.’ Likewise they take the cup ‘The body of Christ shed for you.’ In the same way the believers go around the room and serve each other Communion, The Lords Supper, The Eucharist. Many names, different ways, same simple meal. Thats what communion was to those first 12 disciples. Nothing out of the ordinary, Just ordinary bread and wine. The bible says they sang a hymn and went off into the night.

The disciples were ordinary men [and women]. Tax collectors,fishermen and the like. Nothing out of the ordinary. But when touched by Jesus, by the masters hands they were transformed into the extra - ordinary. You can be too. Your life. Your days and nights. Start your day with Jesus. Ask him to bless you and your times. Even if you never have before ask him to come in and transform you and believe me or rather believe him he will. He will transform you as he transformed those ordinary men into followers;disciples of him. Give your life to him. He’s changing lives all the time. Let him change yours too…….

Joni Eareckson Tada is the founder and president of Joni and friends [JAF], an organisation accelerating ministry in the disability community worldwide. A diving accident in 1967 left her [then a teenager] a quadraplegic [ paralized from the neck down]. One of the things that organisation has done is publish this New International Version of the Bible. From someone who doesn’t enjoy general reading much I can say that this bible has encouraged me to read the bible again. In the front is information about the work of JAF and two of Joni’s paintings done by a brush held in her mouth.

But it’s when you get into the bible itself that you really begin to benefit. As you turn over the pages you will find as well as the life changing word of the bible on the left of many pages ”Encouragement from the classics”. Words from people like E. Prentiss, Dwight L. Moody and Thomas a Kempis amongst others.There are also many other helps from Joni and from Dave and Jan Dravecky. They both know pain, Dave having been a former all star pitcher with the San Fransisco Giants until he lost his pitching arm to cancer and his wife Jan struggles with clinical depression. Yet these people have come out on top and have written many words of encouragement in this bible. There are also in several places throughout sections of 4 pages of 1. Questions in the valley 2. Questions in the desert 3. Questions in the oasis and 4. Questions in the high places with further bible reading to look up on real life questions that real people ask like, Does God really hear my prayers?,  What is the ”fear of the Lord”? and even What will I do in heaven”?

So if your bible is getting worn out or maybe you are I suggest you try getting a copy of this excelent easy to read version of God’s precious word. It will do you the world of good.  Maybe give a copy to someone you feel would read and appreciate it for a special occasion.?

The back cover of this book starts with….If your life is out of control and you feel hopeless, you haven’t read this book yet. Founder and president of Mercy Ministries, Nancy Alcorn  has been in the work of helping girls and young women with difficult problems like self harm for a long time having started Mercy Ministries in 1983. It is from this experience she has written a book to help mostly the girls themselves to find the answers in practical ways using scripture a lot in this book with young girls who cut themselves and other self harm. She has included also personal testimonys of girls whose lives HAVE been changed. Over 2000 young women the book says have been through the programs of Mercy Ministries. Chapter 5 is devoted to parents and those who care with tips on how to help and a prayer for parents. In the appendix are negative beliefs that would be common with more positive beliefs to replace them with bible verses backing them up. Finally there is information on the author and how to contact Mercy Ministries in various countries through their websites. Nancy says you can find hope and freedom if you apply the pinciples in this book. It goes into all the whys and how it happens at the root causes and helps young women know how to stop this behaviour permanently. This book was bought at Koorong. www.koorong.com  or the publishers www.winepressgroup.com  It’s from a series called The mercy for series. www.mercyministies.com.au  Mercy Ministries also in U.S.A. , Canada, U.K. and New Zealand. 

Subtitle; Findind a path back to mental and spiritual well being. Bought at Koorong Christian Bookstore. 192 pages. See links: Koorong

This book is recommended reading for anyone who is a Christian and is just “fed up” with their mental health professional,psychiatrist, case manager etc. The author is a Christian psychiatrist of many years experience, yes as far back as the bad old days of the 1960’s at least. He has seen many changes and has some interesting stories to tell as well as a very basic overview of most diseases currently understood. There is a whole chapter on depression. Some of the chapters include the role of the church in recovery, therapist and pastor, healing and wholeness and very importantly; church or clinic. At the back of the book are a few pages of useful addresses and websites, most being in the U.K. I personally recomend this book to  Christians involved in ministry to the mentally ill and those who are themselves. I was left with more hope in a profession we all find difficult at times. I’m sure they find it difficult too.