"Continue the Conversation" with Dr. Don Allen

There is a sad reality! But we can help it change             According to National Institute of Health “ Every day, more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids. ” When we use the word Opioids we are referring to, pain medication that is prescribed by our doctors for various issues, including Dental work, surgeries, or broken bones they include such drugs as Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin and other drugs that are prescribed to deal with pain. Opioid also includes Heroin that generally bought of the street.   The individuals in law enforcement, medical community, and treatment providers are estimating the in 2017 that number could be in excess 150 per day.               Within the church I’m seeing more and more the desire or willingness to turn the responsibility for treatment   over to the secular community and para-church community (such ministries like: Rescue Missions, Christ based treatment programs, ministries like Salvation Army and Teen Challenge).   Despite

On Sunday, October 12, 2014 I asked this question, in a blog post on this site, and I think the question is still relevant! Suicide … How many more lives will be lost? Again and again I hear of pastors and Christian leaders that have choose to end their own lives. I remember an incident that happened when I was a young preacher in the town where I grew up. A pastor shot himself in the head in his office holding his Bible. This happened only a few hours after he was confronted by the church leadership over an affair that they had discovered he was having with one of his parishioners. Believing that his ministry and marriage were over, he chose to take his own life instead of coping with the shame and guilt. Some would say that his action was honorable; others would call him a coward. However, we don’t know what this pastor was thinking about that gave him permission to take his own life. And just like today, as we continue to hear the news of pastors/ministers comm