James Durban, Aspergers and the Difference Between Diagnosing and Labeling

 I don't know everything about this guy but what I do know so far .. is simply amazing. He was diagnosed with Tourettes and Aspergers ( a form of Autism) early in life and yet has broken through with his voice and acting.

What I appreciate about James is that not only is he willing to try all these things despite his challenges - he's willing to admit he has the challenges, he even embraces them!

He knows the difference between a diagnosis and a label.

As I wrote in on article on my own struggle with mental illness, 

"Diagnosing is not labeling – please know the difference. Correct diagnosis can free someone – like the truth. The root problem is treated and the symptoms lessen or disappear altogether. Labeling ignores the root problem and only brings the person down further – they often even tend to become more like the label."

James can be ( and probably is) a huge role model for all of us but especially those who suffer with similar issues. Way to go James - way to get on stage,  tics and all.

I'm pulling for this kid.

 Read and watch his story here:
How James Durban is Overcoming Tourettes and Asperbergers

Perfect Peace (by Annie Johnson Flint)

Perfect Peace

by Annie Johnson Flint

 

I do not look back

 God knows the fruitless efforts,

The wasted hours, the sinning, the regrets;

I leave them all with Him who blots the record,

And mercifully forgives and then forgets.

I do not look forward

God sees all the future,

The road that, short or long, will lead me Home.

And He will face with me its every trial,

And bear for me the burdens that may come.

I do not look around me

Then would fears assail me,

So wild the tumult of earth’s restless seas,

So dark the world, so filled with woe and evil,

 So vain the hope of comfort or of ease.

I do not look in

For then am I most wretched,

My self hath not on which to stay my trust.

Nothing I see save failures and shortcomings,

And weak endeavors crumbling into dust.

But I look up –

 Into the face of Jesus.

For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled;

And there is joy and love and light for darkness,

And Perfect Peace, and every hope fulfilled.

Life is hard. God is good. So whats up?

***I wrote this as a youth devotional almost 3 years ago. What's funny is that now that I am a father, it rings even more true ( eg. the 2nd point )





Well we all learn that life is hard soon enough, life doesn’t seem fair either sometimes. I’ve been experiencing this lately a bit. The bitterness of life tends to set in – so often too early. Okay this devo is a little long but give it a chance :)

In my limited years on this planet I too have pondered the age old question: “Why do bad things happen when God is supposed to be good”. Let me be the first to say that I do not in any way have it all figured out – if I said I did, you ‘d probably stop reading this anyways. I do have a few thoughts that I’ve accumulated though and I guess I would like to share them tonight – for God’s glory I hope. There are three things I take into consideration when faced with this question.

1) Free will and sin. A lot of the garbage that goes on in our life and in the world is not God’s fault. One simple example on a world scale is that fact that there is food and enough to feed all humanity on this planet – but due to many reasons( a lot of them to do with corrupt governments in the third world) people are starving.

2) Don’t get me wrong - I don’t believe all suffering and illness on a personal level comes from sin – God is far more gracious than we give Him credit for. Here’s the thing guys and gals – for those of you wondering why God has let you go through what you are going through – try seeing it from His point of view – maybe he actually has our best interests at heart.

Sherry came home the other day and told me a story about one of her co-workers. This man and his wife and infant son were coming back from Vancouver to Vernon through the Coquihalla highway in the winter ( often dangerous if you know the area). It seems the child was in the “in-between” stage of having 2 different car seats – a super safe one for a younger kid and one more liberal one for an older child. Now the little boy had been traveling in the “big kid” car seat for most of the trip and was doing fine, it was dark, they were tired and the son was very cranky . For some reason though the father had a feeling about the car seat that night. He pulled over and insisted that the little boy go back into the “younger car seat” for extra safety – well this made the child furious – he threw a tantrum – the world was over as far as this kid was concerned. To be honest the man’s wife wasn’t too happy with him either – why bother the kid when he’s already cranky?. At any rate the father continued with the car seat change and set off driving again. It wasn’t long before they were rolling inside their car as it tumbled off the highway into the dark ditch. It took the full grown man 5 months to recover enough to come back to work and both parents believe that if it were not for the extra secure car seat - they’re baby may well not have lived. It turned out the child had not a scratch on him after the accident.

The point is this folks – when God allows us to go through something that to us seems uncomfortable – even horrible – He knows what He is doing and He is doing it with our best in mind – just like the father who wrestled his small son into the carseat.

I find that its often not right away that I understand why God allowed something in my life – its often in the long run that it makes more sense ( and it may not even be till heaven till we fully understand – cue faith)

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:2


3) The last short point I want bring up is this - Jesus died for you. He went through unspeakable torment physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally - on the cross - just for you. So when a little ( or a whole lot ) of trouble comes your way – wouldn’t you believe that He has the best in mind for you? Cue trust.

Hbr 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hbr 12:3
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Listen to the story of abortion survivor Gianna Jessen. I've never heard anything like it. Its both gut-wrenching and beautiful.


Gianna Jessen part 1
Gianna Jessen part 2

God and Suffering - Steven Curtis Chapman

 One of the most poignant commentaries on God and suffering from Steven Curtis Chapman. He lost his daughter when she was accidently run over by his son.

Steven Curtis Chapman part 1
Steven Curtis Chapman part 2
Steven Curtis Chapman part 3