God's My Friend Again

These words came to me as a toe tapping song during a discussion at church.  

God’s My Friend Again

 

By Pat Jonas                   March 20, 2013

God’s my friend again, since I found that He’s within.

He’s not a power hiding in the sky.

He’s right here with me, in my heart so I can be

Serving Him and loving ‘til I die.

Chorus:  God’s my friend again, Yes, God’s my friend again.

He’s opened up my heart, I knew He could.

God’s my friend again, Yes, God’s my friend again.

His love is in my heart, my heart for good.

As you try to change, Good and evil call your name.

You can choose the way you want to be.

God will be aware, and show you that He cares

He wants your heart for all eternity.

Put your truth aside, and let God’s Truth abide

Listen to His heart inside of yours.

He will lead you on, to Jesus and beyond

Loving you until your soul’s secure.

Emmert Leroy Michael 1922-2013 Rest in Peace

Comments at the funeral service in Germantown, OH February 9,2013 by son-in-law Pat Jonas:

When I think of Emmert, in addition to what others have said, what comes to mind most is Family, Farm and Food.

 

You’ve seen the slide show here at the funeral home with backhoes, dozers, and dirt as well as childhood, Jefferson High School, the Army Air Corps tail gunner training for the B-17 in Kingman Arizona- where he married the woman of his dreams- and remained married for 69 years.  Parenthood, the farm on Liberty-Ellerton Road, more parenthood, the gun club, the hoops basket on the barn, the tennis court, and the boat followed.  

He had a crafty daughter (Polly) who liked to bake and sew and another daughter (Rebecca) who liked to sew, wash cars and mow lawns- and has been my wife since 1969.  Three sons later, Emmert moved them all  to a new farm in Farmersville on Chicken Bristle Road where he died peacefully on Tuesday morning.

All along the way, family was a huge factor in Emmert’s life.  Especially huge in size because his dad Harvey married a Wolf- Nettie to be specific.  The Wolf family seems to make up half of the Jefferson Alumni banquet every year.  Most of you might be related to each other, by the way because of the Wolf Factor.

His wife and kids could all fit into their favorite car- a red Pontiac Catalina.  They liked it so much that Brian has one exactly like it in his barn.  It all worked because Emmert knew and honored one of the secrets of manhood and fatherhood- men are dependent on women.  And didn’t he find the right one to be dependent on, Kathryn Baker, from the Baker farm on Frytown Road in Jefferson Township.

From the Harvey and Nettie Michael farm on Dayton-Farmersville Road to the Emmert and Kathryn Michael farm on Liberty- Ellerton Road to their farm on Chicken Bristle Road they used the land, that Emmert loved, to farm and grow, shoot and mow.  The airstrip in Farmersville on their farm supported the ownership of an airplane that many of you remember.  The heavy equipment fit perfectly for Emmert on his Chicken Bristle playground, where he returned from a series of medical interventions starting at Thanksgiving to relax, be with family and move on to the hereafter, where he is looking for a heavenly backhoe.

.

Food was important on the farm, especially bread and ice cream.  Apple butter and peanut brittle were special treats, but the ice cream topped the food hit parade.  He wasn’t really supposed to try to swallow food on his recent return home from Sycamore Hospital, but he wolfed down several dishes of ice cream comfortably last Saturday. God seemed to know and support what Emmert really needed at that moment.   “I’d rather have ice cream than money” his dad Harvey used to say.  And Emmert seemed to follow in his dad’s footsteps when it came to ice cream.

Family, Farm and Food- just a few aspects of the life of Emmert Michael. 

Christmas on the Ball at the BellHOP Cafe 12/8/2012

“Christmas on the Ball” at the BellHOP Café on  Saturday, 12/8/2012 Public Invited

Introductions and Welcome by Pat Jonas of BUMC and Heather of BellHOP Café in Bellbrook

Overview of Session including Health and Safety Warning and Disclaimer

               Make a Habit of toning, stretching and movement first- fitness later.  PACE YOURSELF

               Standing, Sitting on the ball- with/without bouncing, lying on the ball, lying on the floor

               Helps Heart, Upper Body, Core, Lower Body, Spine and Mood

Opening Prayer

Breathing on the ball.  Without- five whole breaths and five with bounces.

Standing:  Five reps each of twist (p117)*, front bend and side bend (p118), hug and 30 seconds of drape over ball (p115)

Recovery for two minutes

Sitting:  100-150 bounces with music, Hip Release (124), Pelvic tilt (p34), crunch (p36), back stretch (p35)

Water, fluids, bathroom break, ball repair/ reinflation 5-7 minutes

Health Tip:  Dr Synonymous (aka, Dr Jonas) Stress Reactions, Cortisol, and the Ball

Lying on ball: back toner (p50), rise and shine (p52), push up (p46)

Lying on floor: five reps each-lower body toner (p68), lift ball, squeeze ball

Sitting on ball: 2 minute bounce with music

Recovery, refreshments from BellHOP menu, fellowship

Next formal session 7 PM January 10 at BUMC (followed by 7PM Jan 14^th at BUMC)

Next informal session:  Your place- three times weekly 2-3 each standing, sitting, lying (five reps or 30 seconds-depending). Bouncing 2-4 minutes depending on energy and comfort.

More exercises at www.Ball-Exercises.com

*From Sculpt Your Body with Balls and Bands by Denise Austin, 2004 by St Martin’s Press

Depression: Many Faces and Many Seasons

By Pat Jonas, MD

"I know just how you feel. I was really depressed after my grandmother died when I was in high school." Someone may use a comment like this to be supportive of a friend who is feeling lost or down or blue or empty. The comment may be helpful or it may miss the mark, even leading to more feelings of emptiness in the sufferer.

Depression has many faces, and many meanings to individuals, families and communities. Most are familiar with transient feelings of loss, grief, emptiness, fear, or loneliness. Most adults have also heard of "clinical depression" separating it from the type of "common" depression that comes from life's many stressful or negative experiences and situations.

What kind of messages does the Bible give about depression? Here are a few verses that seem to set the stage for more understanding.

Depression can follow exhausting times (Judges 15:18)
God can encourage hurting people (2 Samuel 22:29-31)
Depression can follow success (1 Kings 19:3-4)
God helps those who feel crushed (Psalm 34:18)
Abraham had hope when there was no reason to hope (Romans 4:18-22)
God will wipe away depression (Revelation 21:4)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation.
Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? (Neh. 2:2)
My soul is weary of my life. (Job 10:1)
Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. (Ps. 69:1)
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. (Prov. 17:22)
Encyclopedia of Bible Facts.

What we refer to as Clinical Depression is defined medically by the National Institutes of Mental Health:

"Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad. But these feelings are usually short-lived and pass within a couple of days. When you have depression, it interferes with daily life and causes pain for both you and those who care about you. Depression is a common but serious illness.

Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. But the majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment. Medications, psychotherapies, and other methods can effectively treat people with depression."

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml

Clinical Depression may show up differently across the lifespan, from childhood to the senior citizen years. Yes, even children can feel the pain and emptiness of clinical depression.

Pastors, poets, authors, scholars, song writers and many others have described "common" depression in many ways, since it affects so many of us. Reference to sadness, discouragement, loss, loneliness and grief abounds in our hymns (e.g., "His Eye is on the Sparrow" starts with "Why should I feel discouraged?")

Physicians recognize the challenge in identifying and treating clinical depression, which doesn't arise or depart quickly. They also recognize how easy it is to misunderstand the seriousness of clinical depression because of the exposure we all have to sadness, loss and grief. Many persons who are "becoming themselves" again on medication and/ or psychotherapy for clinical depression stop the medication or therapy prematurely. A trusting relationship between patient and physician and/or psychotherapist becomes critical for success.

"If there be a hell upon earth it is to be found in a melancholy man's heart"
........Robert Burton in Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World.

If you and your loved ones are bouncing back from stress, loss and grief, prayerfully give thanks for your blessings. If you or your loved ones are feeling empty with emotional pain or continuous deep sadness in spite of your best efforts to cope with life situations, consider a visit to your physician or a mental health professional for further clinical exploration of a diagnosis and treatment plan. Clinical Depression may be a factor.

Liberty: The Town Pump

What do you remember about the town pump in Liberty?  I have some information that it was drinking water for some of the up town people who used well water for other purposes but didn't find the well water pure enough to drink.  The old town pump.  It's no longer there.  Neither is the apartment building behind the pump.  Who has pump stories to tell?

A "New" Church

After an exhaustive, nationwide search, we found our new church.  Well, maybe we shortened the search a bit when we realized that the Methodist church closest to our home (one mile) was the best fit for our situation.  After three weeks of attending, meeting people, eating the brownies they delivered to our home after we signed in as a visitor the first Sunday of our attendance, connecting to the Methodist language and format of the services, enjoying the music which included a talented gospel and all purpose quartet (with mandolin, too) and a group of instrumentalists and a music director who even writes music and plays the oboe, feeling welcome and comfortable, connecting to sermons and prayers and scripture and children's sermons, hearing a refreshing message about the discipleship of all, and catching a new "Christian" breath, we joined the Bellbrook United Methodist Church.

Faith and Family Medicine

"Faith and Family Medicine"

Hope United Methodist Church July 21, 2012

A.     Introduction of Presenter:  Pat Jonas, MD

B.     Review:  

a.      What is Family Medicine?

b.      How does a Christian Family Physician mix faith with patient care?

c.      What is the Human Centered Health Home? 

d.      What is the 5-5-5?

e.      How might prayer affect coronary arteries and heart function?

C.     Overview:

a.      Family Medicine

b.      Honoring God’s Creation, Validating Human Worth and Uniqueness, Sharing Uncertainty, Celebrating Successes

c.      Respecting, Protecting, Connecting, Inspecting, Detecting, Correcting, Reflecting

d.      The 5-5-5

                                                              i.     Eat 5 colors of food daily (M & M’s don’t count)

                                                             ii.     Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily

                                                            iii.     Practice five health behaviors

1.      Exercise (aka, Movement) e.g. “TV Toning Ball”

2.      Control Blood Pressure

3.      Control Weight (Body Mass Index)

4.      Control Cholesterol

5.      Control Stress

e.      Whole-Hearted Prayer balances the autonomic nervous system

                                                              i.     Decreases traditional “sympathetic over-drive”

                                                             ii.     Increases parasympathetic nervous system tone

                                                            iii.     Increases DHEA

                                                            iv.     Decreases cortisol, blood pressure, weight, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides

                                                             v.     Decreases plaque buildup, timing of heart attacks and strokes