Violence is one of the black marks of society, and unfortunately, one of our constants. Violence has two faces: public and private.

Public violence resides with war, riots, political revolutions etc. Private violence, though just as devastating, is more insidious. Private violence is used in surprise assaults, muggings and domestic abuses.

The two come from the same origin and yet differ. As such, we have a way to prepare and make ready for both if and when we face them.

Violence is a thought not easily processed, yet we as a society choose to keep it locked in the back of our minds where we don’t have to face it unless we choose to. Ironically, though, violence is not easily dismissed and, in fact, actively seeks its next random victim from the populace.

In Proverbs 24 we have a great insight that lays the way to preparing and overcoming violence. Solomon writes in verse 10, “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.” Earlier in verse 5 he writes, “A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.”

Complete strength is not just physical or spiritual, but a combination of the two. It is better defined this way: God tells Joshua in verse 6 of the first chapter to “Be strong and of good courage.” The Hebrew word for this is chazaq, and encompasses the true strength we must possess daily.

One must be prepared on both fronts. Remember what Momma said: “Better safe than sorry.” A person who has been attacked suffers not only physical damage but spiritual damage as well. Spiritual damage takes much longer to heal. We become more fearful and submissive, and oddly enough more prone to greater damage down the road.

Knowing these things, why not prepare?

Being both physically and spiritually strong is the key not only to surviving an attack, but also thriving after the fact.

Physical strength has its place during an attack, especially when accompanied with knowledge and skill, but there is something to be said for spiritual strength. If you face this challenge and melt internally you will not fight for your life like we all should.

Each one of us is meant for great things and we should not let some anonymous attacker — or, in some cases, those in our own home — have that power over our lives. Our lives are a gift and should not be gambled with or given away so easily. We must choose to stand and stand firm in the face of adversity and not let the attacker have that power over our spirit.

An attacker’s greatest tool is fear; his deadliest is a weapon. Being prepared for each is the key to survival.

So how does one get strong? Do you rattle off countless push-ups while chanting or singing to yourself “I will survive, I will survive”?

A proper mindset is a great start. One phrase I use to help focus is a Latin phrase, “vis pacem, para bellum,” or, “If you want peace, prepare for war.” Skill in successfully surviving an attack is not learned overnight.

It doesn’t magically appear out of nowhere when we are being attacked, and is certainly does not reside along with pride, thinking you can attack the attacker.

Instead, these matters are learned over time, conditioning our bodies and minds under stress to be able to effectively act/react to an attack. In that way, when it does happen we can call upon it as a honed instinct rather than blindly reacting and getting into a deadlier confrontation.

Effective self-defense is more about mental skill than physical skill. One of the easiest steps is to AVOID. If you seek, you will find; if you voluntarily put yourself in a dangerous situation, you will find danger!

Common sense, right? Yet we continue to celebrate the nightlife alone, open the door when no one else is around and repeatedly return to the place we are continually under threat and expect no danger to befall us. Then, when like a hammer, it falls hard, we wonder why.

Sometimes the best solution to a complex problem is a simple answer. I urge you to do some self-examination and see the open spots you leave for an attacker to take advantage of and prepare accordingly. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

Take the time and courage to strengthen yourself in all areas so that you can be victorious not only in surviving but in accomplishing what you were called to accomplish!

Stay blessed, stay strong, stay safe!

Keith Lane is owner and head instructor of R2F: Urban Survival.

ScienceDaily (Oct. 26, 2011) — Individuals who practice religion and spirituality report better physical and mental health than those who do not. To better understand this relationship and how spirituality/religion can be used for coping with significant health issues, University of Missouri researchers are examining what aspects of religion are most beneficial and for what populations. Now, MU health psychology researchers have found that religious and spiritual support improves health outcomes for both men and women who face chronic health conditions.

“Our findings reinforce the idea that religion/spirituality may help buffer the negative consequences of chronic health conditions,” said Stephanie Reid-Arndt, associate professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions. “We know that there are many ways of coping with stressful life situations, such as a chronic illness; involvement in religious/spiritual activities can be an effective coping strategy.”

Religious and spiritual support includes care from congregations, spiritual interventions, such as religious counseling and forgiveness practices, and assistance from pastors and hospital chaplains. The recent publication from the MU Center for Religion and the Professions research group, authored by Reid-Arndt, found that religious support is associated with better mental health outcomes for women and with better physical and mental health for men.

“Both genders benefit from social support — the ability to seek help from and rely on others — provided by fellow congregants and involvement in religious organizations,” said co-author Brick Johnstone, health psychology professor. “Encouragement to seek out religious and spiritual supports can assist individuals in coping with stress and physical symptoms related to health issues. Health care providers can urge patients to take advantage of these resources, which provide emotional care, financial assistance and opportunities for increased socialization.”

The study examined the role of gender in using spirituality/religiosity to cope with chronic health conditions and disabilities, including spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke and cancer. Using measures of religiousness/spirituality, general mental health and general health perception, the researchers found no differences between men and women in terms of self-reported levels of spiritual experiences, religious practices or congregational support. This finding contrasts with other studies that suggest women may be more spiritual or participate in religion more frequently than men.

“While women generally are more religious or spiritual than men, we found that both genders may increase their reliance on spiritual and religious resources as they face increased illness or disability,” Johnstone said.

For women, mental health is associated with daily spiritual experiences, forgiveness and religious/spiritual coping, the study found. This suggests that belief in a loving, supportive and forgiving higher power is related with positive mental coping for women with chronic conditions. For men, religious support — the perception of help, support and comfort from local congregations — was associated with better self-rated health.

Johnstone is director of the MU Spirituality and Health Research program. He has completed several studies examining the relationships that exist among religion, spirituality and health, particularly for individuals with different chronic disabling conditions and for those from different faith traditions.

The study was published in the Journal of Religion, Disability & Health. It was funded by the Center on Religion and the Professions at MU, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

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Journal Reference:

1. Stephanie Reid-Arndt, Marian Smith, Dong Pil Yoon, Brick Johnstone. Gender Differences in Spiritual Experiences, Religious Practices, and Congregational Support for Individuals with Significant Health Conditions. Journal of Religion, Disability & Health, 2011; 15 (2): 175 DOI: 10.1080/15228967.2011.566792

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Religious support, including care from congregations, religious counseling and assistance from pastors, is associated with better mental health outcomes for women and with better physical and mental health for men, according to a University of Missouri study. Credit: St. Katherine’s Church — UK

Individuals who practice religion and spirituality report better physical and mental health than those who do not. To better understand this relationship and how spirituality/religion can be used for coping with significant health issues, University of Missouri researchers are examining what aspects of religion are most beneficial and for what populations. Now, MU health psychology researchers have found that religious and spiritual support improves health outcomes for both men and women who face chronic health conditions.

“Our findings reinforce the idea that religion/spirituality may help buffer the negative consequences of chronic health conditions,” said Stephanie Reid-Arndt, associate professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions. “We know that there are many ways of coping with stressful life situations, such as a chronic illness; involvement in religious/spiritual activities can be an effective coping strategy.”

Religious and spiritual support includes care from congregations, spiritual interventions, such as religious counseling and forgiveness practices, and assistance from pastors and hospital chaplains. The recent publication from the MU Center for Religion and the Professions research group, authored by Reid-Arndt, found that religious support is associated with better mental health outcomes for women and with better physical and mental health for men.

“Both genders benefit from social support – the ability to seek help from and rely on others – provided by fellow congregants and involvement in religious organizations,” said co-author Brick Johnstone, health psychology professor. “Encouragement to seek out religious and spiritual supports can assist individuals in coping with stress and physical symptoms related to health issues. Health care providers can urge patients to take advantage of these resources, which provide emotional care, financial assistance and opportunities for increased socialization.”

The study examined the role of gender in using spirituality/religiosity to cope with chronic health conditions and disabilities, including spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke and cancer. Using measures of religiousness/spirituality, general mental health and general health perception, the researchers found no differences between men and women in terms of self-reported levels of spiritual experiences, religious practices or congregational support. This finding contrasts with other studies that suggest women may be more spiritual or participate in religion more frequently than men.

“While women generally are more religious or spiritual than men, we found that both genders may increase their reliance on spiritual and religious resources as they face increased illness or disability,” Johnstone said.

For women, mental health is associated with daily spiritual experiences, forgiveness and religious/spiritual coping, the study found. This suggests that belief in a loving, supportive and forgiving higher power is related with positive mental coping for women with chronic conditions. For men, religious support – the perception of help, support and comfort from local congregations – was associated with better self-rated health.

Johnstone is director of the MU Spirituality and Health Research program. He has completed several studies examining the relationships that exist among religion, spirituality and health, particularly for individuals with different chronic disabling conditions and for those from different faith traditions.

More information: The study, “Gender Differences in Spiritual Experiences, Religious Practices, and Congregational Support for Individuals with Significant Health Conditions,” was published in the Journal of Religion, Disability & Health.

Provided by University of Missouri-Columbia (news : web)

By MIKE SCOTT
Special to The Oakland Press

Nearly 50 Clawson residents gathered at the 12th annual Community Prayer Breakfast presented by the Clawson Community Coalition to support and celebrate the commission’s efforts to celebrate the importance of spirituality in building and maintaining a healthy community.

The coalition is a grassroots organization for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse and to improve the quality of life of residents of all ages. It helps to support the efforts of the Hunter Community Center, which hosts community youth and after-school programs throughout the year.

“Any support we receive from the community to spread our message that our students should live drug- and alcohol-free lives is important,” said Clawson High School Principal Ryan Sines. “The Hunter Community Center gives kids a safe place to be and the opportunity to learn new things and socialize with others.”

The prayer breakfast is organized largely through the efforts of Clawson resident Beverly Owens, an organizer with the Clawson Community Coalition and teen center supervisor at the Hunter Community Center.

The efforts of the coalition are dependent upon a wide range of residents, city and school district employees, Owens said.

Clawson Mayor Penny Leubs was on hand as well, and said that the prayer breakfast is an example of what makes the United States a place to celebrate freedoms.

“The coalition’s message to kids is that there are other ways you can live your life without having to resort to drugs,” Leubs said.

Guest speaker Pastor Jake Gaines of the Synagogue Baptist Church in Detroit told attendees that it is critical to never “quit caring” about others. He also encouraged people to deemphasize individualism.

The coalition meets at Hunter Community Center for one hour once a month in the evenings. To learn more, call 248-655-4200, ext. 4303, or email clawsoncoalition@clawson.k12.mi.us.

By MIKE SCOTT
Special to The Oakland Press

Nearly 50 Clawson residents gathered at the 12th annual Community Prayer Breakfast presented by the Clawson Community Coalition to support and celebrate the commission’s efforts to celebrate the importance of spirituality in building and maintaining a healthy community.

The coalition is a grassroots organization for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse and to improve the quality of life of residents of all ages. It helps to support the efforts of the Hunter Community Center, which hosts community youth and after-school programs throughout the year.

“Any support we receive from the community to spread our message that our students should live drug- and alcohol-free lives is important,” said Clawson High School Principal Ryan Sines. “The Hunter Community Center gives kids a safe place to be and the opportunity to learn new things and socialize with others.”

The prayer breakfast is organized largely through the efforts of Clawson resident Beverly Owens, an organizer with the Clawson Community Coalition and teen center supervisor at the Hunter Community Center.

The efforts of the coalition are dependent upon a wide range of residents, city and school district employees, Owens said.

Clawson Mayor Penny Leubs was on hand as well, and said that the prayer breakfast is an example of what makes the United States a place to celebrate freedoms.

“The coalition’s message to kids is that there are other ways you can live your life without having to resort to drugs,” Leubs said.

Guest speaker Pastor Jake Gaines of the Synagogue Baptist Church in Detroit told attendees that it is critical to never “quit caring” about others. He also encouraged people to deemphasize individualism.

The coalition meets at Hunter Community Center for one hour once a month in the evenings. To learn more, call 248-655-4200, ext. 4303, or email clawsoncoalition@clawson.k12.mi.us.

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RED PLAINS, OKLA. — The Red Plains Spirituality Center, an outgrowth of the former Red Plains Monastery, was closing. The Benedictine sisters of this Oklahoma monastery had faced a difficult decision. With the aging and shortage of sisters residing at their monastery, the sisters decided to become members of another Benedictine monastery, Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kan., which they formally did in 2009.

Benedictine Sr. Anne Shepard, prioress of the Mount St. Scholastica, and I first met together with the Red Plains sisters in May 2010. I had been asked to begin working with them as a facilitator for the process of transitioning their spirituality center and its programs as they continued their physical move from Piedmont, Okla., to Atchison. Some of their members had already made the move to Atchison and the six who were left, with the help of the Atchison community, were undertaking the task of not only closing the center’s buildings but also deciding how to pass on the legacy of their programs that had served men and women in Oklahoma for many years.

As we began our first meeting we pondered the scripture of the coming Sunday’s celebration of the Ascension, reflecting on Jesus’ words that disciples in the church have heard for centuries.

“It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:1-11). The Gospel too reminded disciples that they were to be witnesses to all Jesus had proclaimed (Luke 24:46-53). In the second reading for the day, Paul promised the spirit of wisdom, enlightenment and hope to all who respond to the call of Christ (Ephesians 1:17-23).

It seemed appropriate that the sisters of this Benedictine living group would begin their deliberations about passing on their heritage with readings the church community hears as a commissioning of disciples to do whatever was necessary to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

For more than 25 years, the staff of the Red Plains Spirituality Center had developed and led a Retreat in Daily Life experience for men and women of many faiths who wished to deepen a sense of the sacred in their lives by daily reflection and prayer using the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Aided by spiritual directors, participants met in groups for seven months. In addition, a formation program was designed and began to educate people as spiritual directors. In this course of study over four years, participants developed the practices and skills to continue as guides in this ministry with others as well as be group leaders for the Retreat in Daily Life.

At the beginning of 2011, more than 1,300 persons had participated in the Retreat in Daily Life and more than 100 persons had completed their certification in the Spiritual Director Formation Program through Red Plains.

I spent many months with the sisters, outlining, imagining, discussing, praying and deliberating, always with the coming Sunday’s scriptures. We explored multiple possibilities that would ensure these programs could continue to serve the people of Oklahoma.

Mary Diane SteltenkampThe sisters imagined passing off the formal leadership of the programs to one or more laypeople by the fall of 2011. That decision would mean discerning and mentoring lay leaders. In fall of 2010 several laywomen were identified who would be willing to undertake the leadership of these programs as the Sisters of Benedict Implementation Team. By March 2011 members of that team, Mary Diane Steltenkamp, Joanne Forgue and Kay Britton, began working with the sisters in anticipation of the time they would become responsible for the programs.

Kay BrittonJointly they addressed questions of sustainability, continuation, budgets — all the details overseen by the sisters for so many years.

Discussions about an umbrella organization began and eventually the joint decision of the Mount St. Scholastica community, the Red Plains sisters and the lay leaders was to accept the sponsorship offer of the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life of the Oklahoma City archdiocese. In an unusual approach, the members of Implementation Team are not diocesan employees or members of diocesan offices. Rather they form a new entity sanctioned and sponsored by the archbishop and diocesan leaders. Together they will carve out the future shape of this new leadership model.

Sept. 24, 2011, was chosen as the formal date to mark the passing of the legacy to lay leadership by a vespers prayer service witnessed by Archbishop Paul Coakley, diocesan leaders, community members of Mount St. Scholastica, and guests. Their invitation to that service quoted a scripture passage that has become their sustaining prayer: “Everything that you have heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses … pass it on to trustworthy people, so they in turn will teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

The sisters of Red Plains will begin their final move to Atchison in May 2012. During their final year in Oklahoma, the sisters will work under the lay leadership of the Implementation Team.

The sisters’ wrestling with decisions even while dealing with feelings of loss and leaving what was their home was hard work. Images of Christ’s paschal mystery of death and life abounded in discussions over the months. Expressions of trusting God’s providence and hoping for a future beyond what could be seen were plentiful.

By Advent of 2012 the last of the Red Plains sisters will have moved to Atchison, and there begin with their sisters a yearlong celebration of 150 years of ministry by Mount St. Scholastica. The Red Plains Spirituality Center will have formally closed but the history and legacy of the Red Plains sisters will be told in the story of their new adopted home.

The Implementation Team under the auspices of the archdiocese will continue the leadership of the Retreat in Daily Life and the Spiritual Director Formation Program. The participants in that fall’s retreats in Oklahoma will hear of the journey of the Red Plains sisters even as they begin to deepen their own spiritual journey. Those considering becoming spiritual directors will continue to follow their call in education to serve others.

The legacy of the Red Plains sisters, crafted and deepened at the foot of the cross, will find new life. Their walk in trust, not without pain and fear, passed the work of discipleship to trustworthy people so there might still be witnesses to the Good News proclaimed by Jesus Christ as it continues to be lived out in Oklahoma.

[Denise Simeone is a freelance consultant and a writer for Celebration magazine.]

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As James H. Cone stood at the podium giving a lecture on the role of religion in the black experience, the lectern could have doubled for a pulpit and Cone as a preacher as he spoke to a crowd that often responded with an enthusiastic “amen.”

Cone was the first of what will be several featured speakers in the three-day Black Religion & Spirituality in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities conference running through Tuesday at Kellogg Center.

The conference is co-hosted by MSU’s James Madison College and the African American and African Studies program.

Cone is a Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York.

In his speech, Cone spoke about the need for many to make the cross a glamorized ornament to take away from its painful past as a symbol of murder, which Cone said must be understood.

“Black religion is perhaps the most empowering force (in helping) African Americans cope with 246 years of slavery and 100 years of lynching,” he said. “I wanted to talk about that experience and what about it kept them sane so they could resist the forces that sought to destroy them.”

Rita Kika Edozie, the director of the African American and African Studies program and an associate professor of international relations, said the conference is designed to bring people from a variety of backgrounds together.

Along with a number of professors and pastors scheduled to speak over the next two days, Edozie said there will be panels made up of students to discuss issues of race and religion in today’s society.

“We want to continue dialogue (between) students, faculty and the community and (bring them) together,” she said. “We need to expand the student experience (from the classroom) into the community to see what’s going on in the real world.”

Leading Sunday evening’s festivities was MSU psychology professor Lee June who said the opportunity to listen to an expert in theology helps people learn from the truth instead of media distortions.

This is the sixth year of the conference and June said students have benefited in the past from the discussions of race, racism and oppression with members of previous generations.

“We do these conferences to look at how religion has played a role historically and how we can continue to maximize that role today,” he said. “The students who will be coming here will have cross generational dialogues and learn from each other.”

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Tirupati, Oct 21 : Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju today said that ”Education without spirituality is of no use. Speaking at the National Seminar on ‘Mental Health-Spirituality-Improving Quality of Life, jointly organised by the SPWDC and SV universities, Mr Raju said education mingled with spirituality will help in character building of a person to lead a qualitative life.”More than education what is required to the students of this generation is character. You can become true citizens of the nation only when you combine you intellectual capacities with spirituality”, he added.In her key note address, Prof Gopa Bharadwaj of Delhi University said, ”The concept of spirituality is inclusive and affects everybody.”It overlaps with that of religion, but unlike spirituality, religion is potentially divisive and adopted only by some.”In this mechanical age, I insist the students to have some spiritual blend of mind to make their life fruitful”, she added.SV University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Prabhakar Rao, said spirituality emphasises the healing of the person not just the disease.It views life as a journey, where good and bad experiences can help you to learn, develop and mature.”Yoga and meditation are two ingredients of spirituality. The students should practice them to lead a qualitative life”, he remarked.