Tag Archives: kurtbennettbooks

Post Avatar Depression Syndrome — the Cure

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Post Avatar Depression Syndrome (PADS to coin an acronym): To bring those up to date who didn’t catch the post about Avatar from January 11 — fans on Avatar forums are saying they’re experiencing depression after seeing the movie. Some readers of this blog have questioned the validity this story. I saw a comment on Avatar Forums today that I believe makes it clear that the Avatar depression issue is real.

Yea, I kinda laughed when I saw the thread “how to deal with the depression when you realize Pandora isn’t actually real” because I thought I was the only one. Turns out that thread has some 14 thousand views now.

I looked for a thread on depression with 14,000 views but couldn’t find one. However the number of views for another thread on Avatar fans with depression has 2,399 views. Enough to tell us that the problem is real.

Your Life:

There are two cures for Post Avatar Depression Syndrome, an eternal cure, spoken of in the previous post, http://kurtbennettbooks.com/2010/01/11/avatar-leads-to-depression-for-some/ and a practical cure. First the practical.

Exercise: I once heard Woodburn Fire Chief Kevin Hendricks tell the story of his involvement in the response to the tragic December, 2008 terrorist bombing incident that “killed Senior Trooper William Hakim, who worked as a bomb squad technician for Oregon State Police, and Capt. Tom Tennant of the Woodburn Police Department.”  http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/police_identify_colleagues_kil.html When Chief Hendricks arrived efforts were being made to set up a command post across the street from the bank that was now in ruins as a result of the bomb. Hendricks was horrified because he knew the victims personally. In spite of his depression and stress he managed to think clearly enough to realize that no one had taken into consideration that there might be a secondary explosive device. Chief Hendricks directed emergency personnel to move the command post to the Woodburn Fire Station, a twenty minute walk, up the street. Only problem was, in his effort to get everyone out of the hot zone, Hendricks missed his ride so he had to walk. Hendricks recalled, “I’ll tell you what, that twenty minute walk did my head more good than I would have imagined.”

…physical training is of some value… 1 Timothy 4:8

Avoid TV: A University of Pittsburgh and Harvard Medical School study showed that for every hours of television watched each day, the risk of depression rose by 8%. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/03/science/sci-tv3

Focus on something positive in the here and now: When Moses encountered God in the burning bush he asked God His name and God answered, “I AM.” Exodus 3:14 Not I was. (or I will be) The point is that God is the God of the present. To lift out of depression and to experience God in your life you must live in the present. Find something positive to focus on in the here and now rather than dwell on your most recent viewing of Avatar. Avoid getting stuck in the past — move on. Go to church. Read your Bible. Pray!

Help others in need: My pastor http://joncourson.com/ often speaks of his ten step program for ridding yourself of depression: Step 1, Help someone in need. Step 2, repeat step 1 nine times. Jesus said,

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.“

Luke 6:38

And the eternal cure? Pray. Pray to God that you acknowledge your sin. Pray for forgiveness. Pray that you accept the work that Jesus did for you on the cross to make payment for your sin. Pray that you believe in His resurrection. Ask Jesus to become your Lord.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

John 17:3

Gilad Shalit

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Gilad Shalit — Wow, this video is like something out of a Hollywood movie — only it’s not — it’s real. Seems like the U.S. should help to free this guy.

From Wiki:

Gilad Shalit (Hebrew: גלעד שליט‎, born 28 August 1986) is an Israeli soldier who was captured[2] on 25 June 2006 by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid. He was abducted[3] through the Kerem Shalom crossing (in Israel), and has been held as aprisoner in the Gaza Strip by Hamas since.

Shalit, 19 years old at the time of his capture, held the rank of corporal in the IDF’sArmor Corps at the time of his abduction, but has since been promoted to staff sergeant.[1]

He was the first Israeli soldier captured[4][5] by Palestinian militants since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994.[6] Shalit holds French citizenship, a fact that encouraged France and the European Union to be involved to some extent in efforts to release him.[7] He also received Italian citizenship after his abduction.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

Hamas has refused requests from the International Committee of the Red Cross to allow the ICRC to visit Shalit. Several human rights organizations have stated that the terms and conditions of Shalit’s detention are contrary to international humanitarian law. In exchange for his release, Hamas is demanding the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, including many convicted of deadly terrorist attacks against Israelis.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which released a report in September 2009, called for Shalit to be released.[22]

If you were held by terrorists and had the opportunity to be released, but, it would mean the release of 1,000 imprisoned terrorists, would you tell your government to make the deal?

My take is that this is one of those situations where you don’t know how you’d react until you were in that actual circumstance. I would hope that I would have the courage to find a way to tell my government to hold fast and not make the deal.

In the words of Jesus, Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

I have to believe that if 1,000 terrorists were to be released, odds are that people are going to die at their hands. I doubt that Gilad would encourage such a deal.

Leadership take-away: To be a good leader we must put the needs and welfare  of other people ahead of ourselves. As soon as you put yourself before others, things go downhill fast. Jesus first — Others second — Yourself third.

Please remember Gilad Shalit in your prayers.

Traveler and the Chaplain

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…he that hath no money, come ye buy and eat… Isaiah 55:1

The hardcover as well as the PDF editions of Traveler and the Chaplain are available simply by clicking on this link http://kurtbennettbooks.com/traveler-and-the-chaplain_book/ or by clicking on the Buy Traveler and the Chaplain tab toward the top of the screen or in the right hand margin. The hardcover is offered with free shipping. The PDF version of Traveler and the Chaplain is offered at whatever you think it’s worth, as the Holy Spirit leads you, pay that amount. And if you can’t afford to pay at all then by all means download Traveler and the Chaplain anyway.

Also available at Amazon.com

Why I wrote the book:

Traveler and the Chaplain is an entertaining and easy to read story written in the spirit of the parables of Jesus. It can easily be read in one sitting and is ideal for Christians in any stage of life, from fathers, mothers, teachers, and coaches, to pastors, CEO’s and school principles.

I wrote the book to help Christians, including myself, learn how to live well. When we live well, we attract people to Jesus. When we live poorly, we repel people away from our Lord.

When you’ve finished it you’ll have learned how the timeless love and wisdom of Jesus Christ can enable you to excel in life and in leadership,  making you a better parent, teacher, coach, pastor, CEO, or school principal.  A better instrument for God to use, to influence others for Christ.

It’s my hope and prayer that God will use Traveler and the Chaplain to inspire you to greater effectiveness in influencing people for God’s kingdom.

kurt