Peer Life Coaches' Club

05/04/2024

A Page for Christian leaders? Just encountered this and saw it can be one source for the modern Christian leaders in the church from which they can benefit from...

It is, therefore, worth checking, guys!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557910686825

A Christian Leader himself who responded to God to become his Brothers' keeper - watching over their welfare and watching against errors they fall into.

16/12/2023

Do You Know God? (3:34)
Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs. Yet he loves God. Why?

Video transcript:

Do you know God? Do you know God as, what, who? What does He do for you? Why is He interested in us? Why would He ever have the time of day to listen to my prayer? Who am I compared to God, the creator of the universe? The alpha and omega. It's a big thought.

For me, God is everything. For me, there were many times in my life where I did not have peace in my life. And seeking the answers for many questions. And, of course, being born without limbs, asked God, why did this happen.

You know, we always talk to God more on a bad day. We ask God for things, we thank God for things, but do you get to know Him? Do you talk to Him apart from just asking Him for things, because if I had a friend, and I just called him up when I needed him, that's not really a friendship.

Did you know that He is excited to hear from you? Do you know that you were on His mind before the Earth began and he formed you in your mother's womb. That was such an amazing peace that I had at 15 years old. To know that I finally had someone who was going to be with me through it all. Who knows all my circumstances, who's bigger than my circumstances, not like my parents. My parents loved me, my parents were there for me, they were not going to leave me at all. But they couldn't change anything. And they couldn't heal my heart.

But God did. How cool is that, that he loves me so much that he sent His son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. Who am I that God would ever want to even talk to me, let alone let His son die for me. Jesus Christ, He died for my sins. But John 3:16 says God came and saved the world; He rescued us by sending His son Jesus Christ.

In verse 17, it says that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but to save us. And when the world thinks, well, oh, well Jesus is now the only way to truth and life, yeah, it's because He is the only one who died for our sins. He's the only one who claimed that He was God in the flesh, He's the only holy one. He was the only one who faced the devil, face to face, and won. He was the only one who could raise Himself from the dead, and when I believe in God, and receive Him as my lord and get to know Him as my friend, that same spirit of God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, the Holy Spirit, will raise me up from the dead. How cool is that?

I'm not gonna die, I may take my last breath here on Earth, but I have confidence in Him. Not only for salvation, but for comfort, for strength. And I can actually talk to Him. I might be good to you, but compared to God? Who's Nick Vujicic? No one. I might be good compared to some other people, but how good is good and how bad is bad, that's why we bring out the Bible and we say, "OK, let's not compare ourselves to each other. Let's compare ourselves to God."

Well, if we do that, we've got a little bit of a problem. If you think that having no arms and no legs is a problem, not knowing God is a bigger problem. And I want you to know that it's not too late. Yeah, tomorrow's not promised, but you have today.

04/12/2023

Setting Goals and Parental Support May Help Curb Teen Va**ng
By LaKeisha Fleming
Published on August 12, 2021
Fact checked by Nicholas Blackmer
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Key Takeaways
• A study shows that parental involvement and setting goals for the future may help steer kids from va**ng.
• Messages youth receive on va**ng may need to differ from anti-smoking campaigns to be effective.
• Although e-cigarette use has decreased over the past year, it is still at epidemic proportions.
E-ci******es have been the most widely used to***co product among youth since 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).1 While the practice, known as va**ng, has seen a recent modest decrease among teens, it is still at concerning levels.
A new study, published in Pediatrics, has uncovered ways to help curb teens’ use of e-ci******es. The study found that teens who set goals and have strong parental support are less likely to v**e.2

Research and Findings
Researchers with UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine provided surveys to local high school students. The 2,487 participants answered questions to determine if they used to***co products, and if so, how often. The survey also asked questions to find out if four “protective factors” equated to a lesser likelihood of them using to***co products.2
The protective factors asked about the impact of the student’s beliefs and goals for the future, their interactions and communication with their parents, their ability to rely on their friends, and their sense of feeling like they belong at school.2
I think the parental factor is particularly important because it shows us that perhaps parents can step in and, through the connections they foster with their kids, play a role in reducing the teens’ chance of engaging in harmful va**ng.
— ARMEEN POOR, MD
The study found that youth who had positive future orientation, such as setting goals, and parental support were up to 25% less likely to try va**ng or have recently taken part in the practice.2 The support of peers and feeling included at school had no bearing on the teens’ decision to try e-ci******es or smoke.
“I think the parental factor is particularly important because it shows us that perhaps parents can step in and, through the connections they foster with their kids, play a role in reducing the teens’ chance of engaging in harmful va**ng,” states Armeen Poor, MD, assistant professor of medicine at New York Medical College, attending physician in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Metropolitan Hospital and director of critical care services.
The findings relied on the students’ willingness to self-report the information, but the hope is that the anonymity allowed for honest answers. The information provides a gateway into the thinking and reasoning of youth and their decisions to use to***co products.
Talking to Kids About Smoking

Why the Results Matter
From assemblies to course literature, schools have invested time and energy into spreading the message to kids about the dangers of using to***co products. Tactics range from imploring to the desire to stay healthy, to attempting to scare them straight.
Government programs, like the Food and Drug Administration's “The Real Cost,” have tried to deter youth from va**ng and smoking.3 Even with the decline in 2020, there are still 3.6 million youth using e-ci******es and disposable ci******es.
E-ci******es can come in appealing flavors as well as in attractive packaging that looks like USB flash drives, pens, and other ordinary items. The packaging, along with advertising that touts va**ng as a way to quit smoking ci******es, can make it seem to be a safer option for teens.
But despite the e-ci******es’ benign appearance, they still contain ni****ne. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states in a report that highly addictive ni****ne can harm brain development, which continues into the early 20s.4 Furthermore, the CDC notes that kids who start using e-ci******es may be more likely to start smoking conventional ci******es in the future.5
By understanding what inputs kids really respond to when considering their decision to start va**ng, parents, educators, and officials can employ more successful methods in helping them to stop before they start.
“We have a lot of evidence to support prevention programs for other forms of substance use, particularly ci******es. However, we know that how teens perceive and use va**ng products differs from traditional to***co. Strategies we use to prevent va**ng may need to incorporate new approaches,” notes Nicholas Szoko, MD, a fellow at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine and lead author of the study.
Should Parents Be Concerned About Va**ng?

Supporting Your Child
Peer pressure is often strong and effective during the middle school and high school years. Yet, this study shows that parental involvement carries more weight when it comes to va**ng.
Being supportive and encouraging your child can be key in helping them decide not to v**e. And if your teen has experimented with va**ng and to***co products, support their desire to quit.
Have an open and honest dialogue with your teen about the pressures they are facing, including alcohol, to***co, and drug use. You also should share truthful facts and resources with them about the dangers of va**ng and try not to use guilt or fear to motivate them. Also, be sure to set an example for them in your own life by not smoking or getting help to quit.
With over 25% of youth in our sample reporting va**ng in the last 30 days and almost 50% reporting use of va**ng products in their lifetime, va**ng remains a major public health crisis.
— NICHOLAS SZOKO, MD
Smoking e-ci******es can cause harm now and in the future for your teen. Arm yourself with strategies to help prevent them from starting, or to guide them through quitting.
“With over 25% of youth in our sample reporting va**ng in the last 30 days and almost 50% reporting use of va**ng products in their lifetime, va**ng remains a major public health crisis,” Dr. Szoko concludes.
If your teen is struggling with va**ng or another substance, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
What This Means For You
Although advertising and peers can heavily influence your teen’s decisions, the impact you as a parent have carries enormous weight. As the study shows, parental involvement and a positive outlook on their future plans can make a significant difference in your teen's choices, both now and in the future. Continue to talk with them about the risks of va**ng and why they should avoid trying it as well as provide tips for dealing with peer pressure.
What Parents Need to Know About Juuling
5 Sources

By LaKeisha Fleming
LaKeisha Fleming is a prolific writer with over 20 years of experience writing for a variety of formats, from film and television scripts, to magazines articles and digital content. She has written for CNN, Tyler Perry Studios, Motherly, Atlanta Parent Magazine, Fayette Woman Magazine, and numerous others. She is passionate about parenting and family, as well as destigmatizing mental health issues. Her book, There Is No Heartbeat: From Miscarriage to Depression to Hope, is authentic, transparent, and providing hope to many. Visit her website at www.lakeishafleming.com.

27/11/2023

Joel’s Story – South Korea

Video transcript:

My heart was heavy. I suffered from depression and ideas of worthlessness.

I held other people's wrongs and sins in my life as a blanket of excuses why God could not exist.

I met the Holy Spirit of God. And in a moment, amongst one of the lowest points of life in contemplation of su***de, the years of living with the identity of worthlessness faded as [God] the Father embraced me and spoke love to the core part of me.

Jesus shattered my stone heart and gave me a new life, a lightness to walk in freedom.

I know this -- Jesus loved me and knew me first, and I know he's already pursuing you.

(Used by permission from 1Billion.org.)

https://vimeo.com/846704532

15/08/2022

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - How to Deal with the Anxiety
Here’s a reliable way to deal with the anxiety, stress of the Coronavirus or any worry, and live with greater peace…

For many, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has escalated to an alarming concern. The outbreak continues to add new countries, new deaths to its list.

However, you might feel anxiety over some other threat. Daily we are confronted with all sorts of reasons to feel stressed.

The list is so long...terrorism, climate change, racism, wars, government dysfunction, poverty, sexual assault, human slavery, natural disasters, personal finances, illness, job security, stressful relationships, addictions, etc.

It’s painful to itemize these.

We are no longer merely aware of what’s affecting us personally. The Internet has made us global citizens. We’re aware of serious problems in every corner of the world...every day...every minute.

News outlets feed our fear, our human tendency to pay attention to what is alarming.

However, most of what causes anxiety is very personal. It’s what’s going on in our lives.

It’s that sinking feeling that we can’t control the circumstances. We feel at risk. Powerless. It is the fear of something being done to us, and we can’t escape it nor do anything to change it.

Is there a way to experience peace in the midst of this? Yes.

Peace in the Midst of the Coronavirus
This article will give you real, reliable ways to gain peace in the face of the Coronavirus outbreak or other anxious-causing circumstances.

First, let’s add a word about medications. If you usually struggle with anxiety, if your anxiety causes you to spiral into depression and thoughts of self-harm, please see a doctor for medical help. There might be a chemical imbalance that requires medication. Sometimes there are patterns, pathways in our brains that might need medical help in order to form new pathways of thought.

Just like diabetics need insulin, there are medications that allow you to view concerns more objectively, more calmly. Medications have shown to significantly improve the lives of many who suffer with anxiety.

However, being able to view situations calmly and rationally is only part of a solution. It helps, but it stops short of providing real peace. It’s like a person who has a broken leg and stops walking on it. It helps. But they still have a broken leg.

Being able to hear the coronavirus is subsiding in your country helps, but there are so many other potential causes of anxiety. Life is challenging.

What you need is an inner peace that is enduring, that allows your mind and heart to rest, in spite of difficult situations.

A Reliable Approach in Anxious Situations
For years as an atheist, I searched for a philosophy that would always be reliable. I wanted one that would guide me through all of life, and “work” in any situation. I studied Sartre, Plato, Socrates, Dostoyevsky, Nietzsche, Hume, and on and on.

What I came to find out is that a philosophy was insufficient. It still left all the problems squarely on my shoulders.

Some people suggest, “Just view the circumstances differently. Tell yourself it’s not that bad.” It’s hard to view the Coronavirus (COVID-19) differently when thousands of people are being diagnosed with it and the number of deaths is climbing.

In my search for a genuine peace in spite of any circumstance, religion also seemed quite empty. I wasn’t looking for rituals, meditation, doctrines.

I knew the potential in life for real difficulties. I wanted to know an approach that would be reliable no matter what life threw at me.

Many people are hoping that science will find both a cure and prevention of the Coronavirus. However, as viruses go, it is also likely that it will be with us, even in mutated forms, for years. Science is not all-knowing or all-powerful.

As I was searching for a source of lasting peace, I became friends with someone whose life I admired. She often talked about God. It caused me to wonder if God actually existed.

The possibility of God’s existence started me on a long process of questioning, researching, and holding resolutely to a lot of strong defenses. The last thing I wanted was to be fooled into believing in something that wasn’t real.

Science Points to a Solution
After about a year and a half of serious searching, the evidence for God became too weighty to avoid. It was science that brought me to acknowledge God’s existence...the earth’s perfect position to the sun, the complex properties of water, the design of the human body, etc.

I asked God to come into my life in order to have a relationship with him.

I came to find out that indeed, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”1

Peace While Facing Fear
Knowing God exists and that he actually cares about us has a profound impact on our ability to be at peace no matter what the circumstances. Let me explain.

Picture an 8-year-old little boy being harassed by a bully. His lunch is taken each day. He’s physically pushed around, humiliated for fun. He tries talking to the bully, to no avail. He tries avoiding the bully, which also fails. He tells his teacher; it too does little good.

Then one day an older student (much bigger than the bully) compassionately steps in, and informs the bully that his days of terrorizing this student are over. The bullied student is now at peace. The bully still exists, but the 8-year-old can relax, because someone greater than him is taking care of him.

We are offered the same help in life. God is greater than any problem that confronts us, including this epidemic virus. He created us and is willing and wants to take care of us.

Peace in the Midst of This Virus
In the midst of life’s pressures, Jesus tenderly says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”2

This is the God who created the universe, created galaxies of stars and planets, billions of life and plant species, an intricate ecosystem and human life. “Nothing is too hard for him.”3 He invites us to come to him for help.

Jesus constantly described God as our “Father” in heaven who loves us.

One of our greatest fears with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is going through it alone, or not having the emotional or physical strength to deal with it, on behalf of ourselves or our loved ones. That’s true for anything that scares us. “Will I be able?”

Strength While Facing Challenges
God, who created you, knows everything about you. Your background. Events that have happened to you. Accomplishments. Dreams you have for your life (or lack thereof). Your pain. Your future. Relationships. Absolutely everything. Jesus said he’s aware of the smallest, insignificant details of your life, “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”4

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and known everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away...You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it…”5

He knows everything about you. The most secure relationship we can have in this world is a relationship with God, who loves us.

Guidance in the Darkness
God never intended that we would go through this life on our own. God wants to lead us into a different life with his guidance. We don’t need to keep stumbling in the dark, in uncertainty.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”6

We’re invited, “Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares for you.”7

This is what it’s like to be in a relationship with God, which he offers anyone. The Bible describes God as the wonderful counselor, everlasting father, prince of peace, mighty God. And he is all that.

Freedom from Doom
At the same time, let me underscore, being in a relationship with God does not mean we avoid life’s problems.

There was a time in my life when I encountered an event that I couldn’t do anything about. At four months of pregnancy, I was told there were problems. I knew God well enough that I could trust God with this, no matter what the outcome. Our child was born stillborn.

Because I was able to trust God with this, though there was great sadness, I never struggled with bitterness, anger or anxiety.

However, there was an emotion that caught me by surprise. After the death of our child, I began to struggle with fear over the possibility of my husband also dying. I asked God to speak to this fear, to show me how to view it properly.

My answer came soon when God led me to this statement in Psalms:

“Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you…”9

I knew that God does not promise that no one will ever die. That just isn’t something God promises. However, with God as my refuge, the one I trust, even if my husband died, God would not allow that to be “evil” in my life. God would not let it overcome me, destroy me, harm me. I would be ok.

“No evil shall be allowed to befall you.” God sets limits. If we will trust him, we can go through situations differently...with peace.

No Problem is Too Big, Including Coronavirus
Jesus said, “In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”10

The earth we’re on right now is spinning at about 1,000 miles per hour (1,600 km per hour). Yet we feel perfectly calm, enjoying the beauty of the sunrise and sunset this twirling creates.

The earth is also rotating around the sun, traveling 67,000 mph. Even at this speed, it maintains the perfect distance from the sun, not too far away, not too close.

In the same way that God is aware of the billions of galaxies, God is aware of every large and small detail of your life. And he loves you.

Someone Who Cares
He loves you, not because you or I deserve it, but because it is his nature to love and to take care of those who will trust him.

God says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”12

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”13

Jesus said, “My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”14 He is greater than any problem we can encounter.

Freedom from anxiety about the Coronavirus, (COVID-19) or any serious issue, is knowing that God is capable, he cares and will act on your behalf.

If you would like to begin a relationship with God and know his love for you, this explains how: How to Know God Personally.