HEALING GOD’S WAY

Addressing the mind-body-spirit connection.
Kiri Christina Hyatt, editor

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1. MINISTRY ARTICLE: THE DANGERS OF FANTASY, PART 2
   Kiri Christina Hyatt 2006 (c)

Last time I spoke on the subject of sexual fantasies and its dangers. This time I want to speak on another danger of fantasy. But first I want to repeat my disclaimer:

Not all fantasy is bad. There are a lot of good fiction books, including those in the fantasy genre to read. The recent block buster film based on the book ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’ is just one example of excellent fantasy. Not only is the story fun, but there are a number of moral lessons for the readers/viewers and Christian themes are abundant. There are a number of good Christian fiction writers producing some excellent entertainment for those of you who are bookworms.

So I am not against reading fiction or renting a Pixar movie this weekend.

Fantasy though can cause problems. Fantasy is not real life. It is fiction. Whether we talk about a good movie or book or just our own imagination, we must always remember that even movies based or inspired by a true story is not totally truth. There is a little fiction in it for it is impossible to tell a story that took place over several years in two hours without changing a few facts and condensing the story. We need to remember that fiction is not reality. It is not real life.

Have you noticed death is big business? Do you want to read a good murder mystery? You have plenty to choose from. Interested in a relaxing evening watching television? According to my TV guide, every night of the week there is a show focusing on death and murder.

I know Christians are actively watching these programs, but should we?

Hebrews 2:14-15 says:

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

Did you catch what the author of Hebrews said about death? It belongs to Satan. Christians should not be focusing on Satan’s domain, but on God. When we watch programs about murder and death we are focusing on Satan’s world.

The Bible tells us to focus on God:

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4).

I honestly believe reading murder mysteries or watching programs about murder and death opens us up to demonic strongholds. I say this with conviction and first hand experience.

A few years ago I went to California to visit my mother after she was placed in a Living Assisted Facility. I could not afford to stay in a motel so I found someone from a nearby Church who was willing to let me stay with her for a week. This woman is very involved in her church and deeply religious. She also enjoyed watching CSI. I had never seen this program before and had no idea what it was about, but that night as I watched it with her I quickly learned. In case you are as ignorant as I once was, CSI is an investigative type program. The purpose of each show is to solve a fictional murder using forensic tools and modern science. Each episode begins with the murder investigation and ends with the murderer being questioned and often admitting to what he or she had done.

As I said, I watched CSI while staying with a woman in California. Though I only watched the program that one time, I found myself being drawn to watch it when I returned home. I am usually not drawn this type of television and after a few months of watching my conscience began to trouble me. I just did not see any value in the program. When I tried to quit though I found it very difficult. I would determine not to watch the show and then find myself turning the TV on to watch it. I also started watching other shows that focused on murder. I honestly felt addicted to these shows, as if there was some unseen force pulling me to watch.

I watched these programs for over a year before I finally got victory. I tried several times to simply stop watching cold turkey, but each attempt failed. It was then that I began to realize there was an unseen force pulling me to watch. By watching programs focusing on the devil’s domain, I had opened myself up to demonic strongholds. It took prayer to free myself. I repented for the sin of watching and broke all agreement with the demons of death, and ordered them to go. Once I did that I never again had any desire to watch CSI or any other TV program focusing on death. The freedom was immediate.

Are you watching these types of TV programs? Do you read murder mysteries? Do you love to go to scary movies that focus on murder, guts and gore? Is the entertainment you enjoy the most focusing on the devil’s domain or God’s?

If you answered yes to any of these questions it is time you take a hard look at your entertainment choices. You may need to repent and break all contact with demons to free yourself from any strongholds.

If there is a TV program you like to watch but occasionally wonder if you should, now is a good time to ask God about it. Does this program honor the devil or demons in any way? If Jesus showed up at your door right as the program was about to come on, would you feel comfortable inviting Him to watch with you? If you are still not sure after answering these questions, the fact you have doubts about the program might mean God is trying to tell you this is not a good program for you to be watching. The same goes for any books you might be reading.

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2. MESSAGE FROM A FRIEND

They say such nice things about people at their funerals that it makes me sad to realize that I'm going to miss mine by just a few days. - Garrison Keillor

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Grandma's house was a good place to gather after church. We children and some of her grandchildren were gathered around. The conversation was about what it will be like in heaven and how wonderful it will be to be there. The adult conversation had finally started winding down, and before Grandma had a chance to express her thoughts, 4-year-old Tommy, who had been taking it all in, spoke up and said, "Well, all of you can go to heaven if you want; I'm staying here with Grandma."

By Beverly Townsend, Winlock, Washington

Source: Adventist Review, ISSN 0161-1119, (c) March 14, 2002,

3. SITE OF THE WEEK

What’s That Bug?

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/index.html

DISCLAIMER: The following news stories are provided as a source of scientific information on mind/body medical research, environmental issues, and other topics.   AOCCCI does not necessarily agree with all the viewpoints or suggestions expressed in these articles. Not all viewpoints and/or therapy modalities recommended in these secular news stories are compatible with Christianity. If you have any questions or doubts about a therapy mentioned in a news story below,feel free to contact AOCCCI for advice.   These news stories are provided as a public service only.  

4.1 One in six women suffers from domestic violence-WHO
    Nov 24, 2005
    By Stephanie Nebehay and Patricia Reaney

GENEVA/LONDON (Reuters) - One in six women worldwide suffers domestic violence -- some battered during pregnancy -- yet many remain silent about the assaults, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

In its first global study, the WHO also said physically- or sexually-abused women were more likely to suffer longer-term health problems, including distress and suicide attempts.

The United Nations agency called for changing behavior through education programmes and training more health workers and police to investigate signs of mistreatment.

"Women are more at risk from violence involving people they know at home than from strangers in the street. There is a feeling that the home is a safe haven and that pregnancy is a very protected period, but that is not the case," WHO's director-general Lee Jong-Wook told a news conference.

"Domestic violence remains largely hidden."

The Women's Health and Domestic Violence Against Women study is based on interviews with more than 24,000 women in 10 countries, ranging from Japan and Thailand to Ethiopia and Peru.

It paints a harrowing picture of broken bones, bruises, burns, cracked skulls, dislocated jaws, rape and fear. Husbands or intimate partners are the main perpetrators.

A Peruvian woman lost twins after being hit in the stomach by the father of her unborn babies, while a Brazilian sleeps in a locked bedroom to protect herself from the partner who has threatened to shoot her, according to the report.

EVERY 18 SECONDS

"Every 18 seconds, somewhere, a woman suffers violence or maltreatment ... We must put an end to this shameful practice," said Spain's health minister Elena Salgado, current president of WHO's annual health assembly.

Domestic violence can be sparked by dinner being late, not finishing the housework on time, disobeying or refusing to have sex, the report said. In many cases women agree that a man is justified in beating his wife under certain circumstances.

In terms of symptoms -- pain, dizziness, mental distress, miscarriages -- the findings across the 15 urban and rural settings were "remarkably consistent", according to Claudia Garcia-Moreno, the study's coordinator.

"Whether you are a cosmopolitan woman in Sao Paulo, Brazil or Japan, or a rural woman in Ethiopia or Peru, the association between violence and poor health remains," she told reporters.

"The striking thing we found is the degree that this violence still remains hidden. Between one-fifth and two-thirds of women interviewed had never spoken before to anyone of the experience of their partner's violence," she added.

This sense of helplessness was "a torture in itself".

Other countries covered in the 7-year study, issued on the eve of the U.N.'s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, included Samoa, Bangladesh, Namibia, Tanzania and Serbia and Montenegro.

Between 4 and 12 percent of women who had been pregnant reported being beaten during pregnancy -- more than 90 percent by the father of the unborn child, according to the report.

"Most of the violence that pregnant women were experiencing is a continuation of the violence going on before," said Lori Heise, a member of the core research team from the Washington-based group PATH.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

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4.2 Domestic Violence Takes Heavy Toll on Women
    May 31, 2006

(HealthDay News) -- A new study confirms the wide prevalence of domestic violence and its pervasive impact on women's physical and mental health.

A survey of more than 3,400 women found that 44 percent had experienced intimate partner violence. The more recent the violent incident and the longer it had persisted, the worse the victim's physical and mental health and social network were likely to be, the researchers found.

"This is an epidemic," Dr. Robert S. Thompson, senior investigator at Group Health Center for Health Studies, said in a prepared statement. "But it flies under the radar, because of the stigma and shame associated with it -- as well as the fear that many healthcare providers have of opening what some call a 'Pandora's Box' of difficult problems that they are unsure how to address."

In 5 percent to 13 percent of the women, domestic violence persisted for more than 20 years, with more than one partner responsible in 11 percent to 21 percent of the cases. Within the previous five years, 15 percent of the women had suffered from intimate partner violence, and 8 percent of the women had been affected within the previous year.

Compared to women with no such history, women recently victimized by violence were four times more likely to report symptoms of severe depression and almost three times more likely to report poor or fair health and more than one additional symptom. They were also likely to report lower social functioning.

Physical abuse -- slapping, hitting, kicking, or forced sex -- had a stronger impact on health that nonphysical abuse such as threats, chronic disparaging remarks, or controlling behavior. However, the researchers noted that both forms of abuse significantly damage women's health and often occur together.

"Intimate partner violence harms women's physical and mental health even more than do other common conditions, such as back pain and even several forms of cancer," research associate Amy E. Bonomi said in a prepared statement.

Interventions that might lower rates of domestic violence include doctors routinely asking female patients about the issue and, when necessary, referring them to appropriate services.

The findings appear in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about domestic violence.

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4.3 Switch off TV and switch on your memory
    August 28, 2006

Turning off the television, picking up a crossword and eating more fish could be the key to a better memory, an Australian survey has found.

Results of the on-line survey of almost 30,000 people, conducted as part of Australia's science week, also found people who read fiction had better memories than those who don't, while heavy drinkers found it more difficult to recall names.

But neuro-psychologist Nancy Pachana said television was not necessarily bad for memory, with wider health and diet and an active lifestyle more crucial to a good memory.

"Your memory is dependent on good health and good mental health," Pachana, from the University of Queensland's school of psychology, told Reuters Monday.

Dubbed the National Memory Test, the quiz attracted 29,500 people who were tested on tasks such as remembering a shopping list, recalling names, faces and occupations, long-term recall and spotting differences between two photographs.

Those who took part in the test were asked to fill in a survey on a range of habits, such as alcohol consumption, television viewing and reading habits.

The results found no differences between men and women, with the same scores for both groups on all the tasks. But it found television viewing had the main impact on results.

"Turn off the box, or at least don't view too much of it," the survey results said, adding those who watched less than one hour a day performed better at all memory tasks."

Those who drank less than two alcoholic drinks a day performed better at all memory tasks.

People who did crosswords were better at remembering shopping lists and recalling names, while eating fish once a week improved the ability to remember shopping lists.

However, it cautioned that while the test can give people an indication of their memory, the results have not been tested for statistical significance, and the internet survey meant it was possible that people could have cheated or lied.

Pachana said having an active mind was important for memory, and some television programs could be good for helping to improve the memory.

"TV can be a really passive activity, while reading is active, and any active activity is better," she said, adding TV quiz shows and news programs could be good for the mind.

"So TV is not all that bad. It just might be taking time away from doing something that is a bit more active for the mind."

She said health issues such as depression, obesity, lack of sleep and being stressed or worried could have an impact on a person's performance in a memory test.

The test is available on-line at www.nationalmemorytest.net.au.

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4.4 Can watching too much TV make a child autistic?
    By Fiona Macrae
    October 22, 2006

Watching too much television in childhood could cause autism, experts have warned.

They are suggesting parents limit their children's viewing - and say the under-twos should be barred from watching TV altogether.

Rates of autism are soaring, with ten times as many youngsters diagnosed with the condition as 30 years ago.

More than one in 100 British children has autism or a related condition such as Asperger's.

Autism charities say the rise is down to better awareness of the condition and improved diagnosis.

Others, however, believe the increase is linked to the MMR jab or even to chemicals found in pesticides.

The latest study, in the U.S., looked at whether there was a link between rising rates of autism and the increasing availability of children's TV, videos and DVDs.

The research team concluded that the results were "awfully suggestive" of a link between watching TV and autism.

As they were unable to obtain any statistics on toddlers' TV habits, they used rainfall levels in different parts of the country to help estimate how much time children spent playing outdoors.

They found that the wettest areas, where, presumably, children spent more time indoors watching TV, had the highest rates of autism.

Dr Michael Waldman, who led the study, said: "We ran the tests a number of different ways, and basically, every way we run it, we get the same thing. If it rains more, autism goes up. If it rains less autism goes down."

Researcher also found that areas with the most cable TV customers had the highest rates of autistic children.

Dr Waldman, from Cornell University in New York state, estimated that just under 40 per cent of autism diagnoses studied were linked to watching TV.

"Our view is there is no obvious thing correlated with both rain and cable TV access except television viewing," he said.

"We are not claiming we have definitive evidence. But we have evidence that is awfully suggestive of a link between watching TV and autism."

Controversy

He recommended those under two did not watch any TV at all, while older youngsters limited their viewing to an hour or two a day.

While it is not clear how watching TV could trigger the condition, it is possible the lack of social interaction could make children prone to autism more withdrawn.

If television is involved, the damage must be done early in life, as most cases of autism are diagnosed by age three.

The findings, presented at a health economics conference in the U.S. last week, have proved controversial.

Many parents reacted angrily to being told they could have harmed their children's health by letting them watch their favourite cartoons.

The study was released in the same week as research identifying a mutation in a gene that more than doubles the risk of autism.

The mutated gene is also involved in the development of the stomach and many of those with autism also suffer digestive problems.

Studies have also shown that older fathers are far more likely than younger ones to have autistic children.

Children born to men of 40 and over are nearly six times more likely to suffer from autism than those born to men under 30.

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4.5 Video Game Violence Goes Straight to Kids' Heads
    November 28, 2006

(HealthDay News) -- A study of adolescents finds that violent video games stir up the brain's emotional-response center while reducing activity in regions linked to self-control.

"This is the first time that it has been demonstrated that violent video games can affect brain physiology and the way the brain functions," said lead researcher Dr. Vincent Mathews, professor of radiology at Indiana University School of Medicine.

"After playing a violent video game, these adolescents had an increased activity in the amygdala, which is involved in emotional arousal," Mathews said. "At the same time, they had decreases in activity in parts of the brain which are involved in self-control," he added.

The findings were to be presented Tuesday in Chicago at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

Video games accounted for $10 billion in sales in the United States last year, but there is growing concern about the effects the games may have on those who play them.

In the study, Mathews's team randomly assigned 44 adolescents to play either a violent video game or a nonviolent video game for 30 minutes. They then had the adolescents undergo functional MRI (fMRI) brain scans while performing tasks that measured concentration and inhibition. fMRI measures real-time changes that occur when the brain is active.

The Indiana group found that, compared to children who weren't playing a violent video game, kids who played these games had more activation in the amygdala, a brain area closely linked to emotional arousal.

At the same time, their brains showed a reduced activation in prefrontal brain areas involved in inhibition, concentration and self-control.

"These findings raise concern that these types of video games are having some sort of effect on the brain and likely an effect on behavior as well," Mathews said.

"This is early evidence for a biological change supporting other research on violent video games," added David S. Bickham, a research scientist at the Center on Media and Child Health at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. "This is a first step in this kind of research, but it isn't conclusive," he said.

The research is opening up new areas in understanding the process of how violent media results in negative and aggressive social behaviors, Bickham said.

Bickham said parents need to be vigilant regarding the media they are letting into their homes, since children learn from all media they encounter. "This is more evidence that violent media can lead to aggressive and negative behaviors," he said.

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