“Stress is a killer,” a well-known fact that I found accurate… the hard way. I had heard the expression many times over my lifetime, but the reality of it hits home when you find yourself landed in the hospital with life-threatening symptoms. The bottom line diagnosis and remedy was echoed by several doctors… de-stress or die!
Encarta defines stress as: mental, emotional, or physical strain caused, e.g. by anxiety or overwork. It may cause such symptoms as raised blood pressure or depression.
Mental, emotional and physical strain – let’s see…. Yes, yes, and yes. Such are the pressures of keeping a world-wide television ministry on the air. To list the individual stressors would be way too…. well, stressful.
It’s not easy to do at this age, but I am now committed to de-stressing my life which requires me to change my mind about how I have handled certain pressures up until this point.
When you make a change of this magnitude, it’s not easy, but it can be done. I made a similar change years ago when I decided to help my body deal with diabetes by eating right.
Stress is a complex issue that you must work very hard to conquer, but you can do it. I recommend Dr. Don Colbert’s book, “Stress Less” as your guide. You can get this book, along with a complete package of other informational sources in our “De-Stress Your Life” package available on our website.
As God often does, He will work out the solution to a problem in the messenger first, so that it can then be given to many others. Lori and I will always bring the best of what we learn through life’s challenges so that you and yours can benefit from our research.
God loves you, and so do we!
Love,
Jim
Hi Jim,
Here is my prescription for stress relief—Try to watch at least one hour daily of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” on TV, or the web to get those 20 second belly laughs. (Works for me!)
God has used You and Lori’s ministry of restoration to give me hope again. (My life has been a mess because I let other people’s advice influence my decisions, instead of God. even though I am christian) It is a blessing to watch your TV show daily, some days I watch it 2 0r 3 times when I have time. Thank you both, and May God richly bless you.
Just wanted to tell you someone else who thought New York City would be the Babylon mentioned in Revelation that would be drunken on wine. I just watched the utube video on Evangelist A.A.Allen called The Destruction of America about the vision he had in 1954 while in New York City on top of the Empire State Building. It is worthwhile watching.
remeber this you are too blessed to be stressed and Let GO AND LET GOD HAVE ALL UR PROBLEMS amen gald u are doing better
Dear Jim, We are keeping you in our prayers. It is time to start enjoying all that God has given you. You have brought up the next generation well..now let them run with it! Relax, live, laugh and love! We love you and Lori so very much! Take care of yourself…we need you healthy. Our prayers are with you all!
Love, Jim and Brenda Wallis
DEAR JIM,
WOULD LIKE TO PASS A LESSON ON TO YOU THAT MY GOLDEN RETRIEVER, SHANNEE, TAUGHT ME. GOLDENS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR EASY GOING, LIFE IS MY PLAY GROUND, TYPE OF PERSONALITY. MY LIFE WAS NOTHING BUT STRESS. ALL THE DAILY CHORES OF WORKING A FULL TIME JOB, GARDENING, LAUNDRY, CLEANING, HANDLING THE BILLS AND OH YES, THE CONSTANT CHALLENGES OF CHILDREN. LIFE WAS NOTHING BUT A SERIES OF STRESSFUL RESPONSIBILITIES.
SHANNEE FOLLOWED ME EVERYWHERE. ONE DAY WHILE DOING THE BORING CHORE OF WEEDING, I TOSSED THE WEEDS OVER TO THE SIDE AND SHANNEE QUICKLY LEAPED UP GRABBED THE WEED PULLINGS IN MID AIR. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD AND RIPPED THEM APART, THEN BARKED AT ME AS IF TO SAY… “HURRY, DO IT AGAIN THIS IS FUN!” A BORING CHORE SOON BECAME A GAME.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE: WE HAD A VERY LARGE APPLE TREE AND AS THE APPLES BEGAN TO RIPEN, MANY OF THEM FELL TO THE GROUND. MULTITUDES OF BEES, WASPS AND YELLOW JACKETS ARRIVED ON THE FALLEN APPLES TO GATHER THEIR SWEET FEAST. THE BAD PART IS THEY GOT DRUNK. DID YOU EVER SEE A DRUNKEN BEE? IT WAS MY JOB TO THROW THE APPLES INTO THE HEDGE ROW SO NO ONE GOT STUNG. AS I THREW THE APPLES, SHANNEE CAME RUNNING OVER CATCHING AN APPLE AS GOOD AS ANY SHORT STOP IN BASEBALL. ONE CHUMP FROM HER STRONG JAWS AND THE APPLE TURNED INTO SMALL PIECES. AS QUICKLY AS I WOULD THROW ONE, SHE RESPONDED. THREW ONE TO THE LEFT THEN THE OTHER DIRECTION, AND A FEW BOUNCED GROUNDERS IN BETWEEN. SHE NEVER MISSED A ONE. WHAT JOB I ASKED MYSELF. THIS IS A REALLY FUN GAME!
THE LESSON IS SIMPLE. NO MATTER WHERE GOD PLACES YOU, BE LIKE A GOLDEN RETRIEVER, PLAY, PLAY AND PLAY. WE STILL HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES BUT DON’T BE AFRAID TO MAKE A GAME WITH THEM! MAKE LIFE YOUR GOLDEN RETRIEVER PLAY GROUND TOO!
Dear Jim,
I appreciate your heart for the lives of people!!!~~~Teaching the truth you have learned thru His word and thru your personal experience…Now, as Moses did, it’s time to delegate…I know that you already have, even by giving Zak Drew the leadership in the college…and I’m sure there are others…but you must continue, and then just oversee the good job they are capable and willing to do.
(I can see your past might bring fear when you do this, so trust God and love His people) He, too, will hold them accountable! It was knowing this fact that helped me raise 3 children as a single mom. I couldn’t be every where with them and they knew there were consequences for disobedience….the Lord Himself helped me parent them and watches over them today as God-fearing adults.
I, too, would love to be a part of your ministry. I will continue to stay in His word and prepare myself to be a good fit somewhere in the Kingdom of God.
Blessings to you and Lori
Ruth Albertson