Light on the Fringe: Finding Hope in the Darkness of Depression

by Gary H. Lovejoy and Gregory M. Knopf

"Light on the Fringe: Finding Hope in the Darkness of Depression" addresses the difficulty that many depressed Christians often have in understanding their experience from the perspective of their... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0984217703
• ISBN13: 9780984217700
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: In The Light Communications
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A review of the best book on depression!

Gary Lovejoy's book "Light on the Fringe" on depression is the best I have read in my experience. It is fresh and up-to-date information that I think everyone should read, even if they don't feel they are depressed. We all have our times, right!? I have seen depression on the rise whether it be from a diagnosis that you never wanted to hear to the financial crisis many find themsleves in right now. I work with women through Bible studies and they pour out their hearts with all kinds of problems and topping the list is depression and despair. Most of the time I see women trying to hide the fact or at best, just ignore their depression and allow it to fester beneath the surface. They can't find their way out of the darkness and certainly can't see any hope for their future!! Many feel "doomed" to this kind of life. But I have good news for you......read this book!! It is such a timely book I can't recommend it highly enough! It comes from a solid Biblical point of view and takes you on, what I like to call, a journey of hope! Each chapter is significant. Each chapter has healing in it as you apply the principals to your own life. I love the way the principals are summarized at the end of each chapter for quick reveiw. One of my favorite thoughts from the book is that we CAN grow through our pain (we all have it!) and be restored to a place of healing where we can fully reach our God given potential. A quote from the book that I love is: "Your thinking habits are not dependent on what others do or say....YOU are fully in charge of your response to adversity"! There are so many and not enough space but go out today and get the book Light on the Fringe: Finding Hope in the Darkness of Depressionand see for yourself what I am talking about. You will not regret that decisoin - I promise you!

This book offers hope...

U.S. News & World Report calls depression "the world's No. 2 killer." Nearly 19 million Americans struggle with the symptoms and effects of depression in any given year. Millions of Christians are included in that number. Sadly, the view that depression is somehow a sign of one's lack of faith and spirituality leaves depressed believers with unconquerable feelings of guilt, failure, and isolation from the rest of the faith community. More than 5 million Christians currently long to understand why they struggle with depression--and how that experience meshes with their faith. They are searching for a purpose in their suffering--a purpose, thank God, that does exist. Other books guide readers to the quickest cure through psychology or medicine or theology. This book integrates a sound theology with a professional assessment of the psychological dynamics of depression, giving readers a foundation to find hope and purpose in the midst of their experience of depression. False views of depression within the Church can leave Christians who suffer from depression with no idea how to integrate their experience with their faith. They struggle with guilt over their depression, and many believe it is somehow God's punishment for their sins or the inadequacies of their spiritual lives. This book exposes the misconceptions that distort Christians' views of their experiences with depressive symptoms. This book shows readers there can be a positive usefulness for depression in the wider perspective of the divine plan. It establishes a fundamental framework for understanding why people of faith can find themselves in the slough of depression and yet know that, first, there is a way out, and second, God can guide us through the experience in a way that is as life-changing as it is fulfilling of his heart's desire for us. Throughout history, God has called men and women prone to depression to do great things for the kingdom. He continues to do so today, allowing his followers to experience his compassion with new understanding and be strengthened in faith through the experience of depression. Unlike any other work, this book: * focuses on the experience of depression, not urging rushed treatment * discusses the positive life-changing results of depression when faith is integrated with treatment * explains the power of depression to strengthen faith * encourages readers to seek God's purpose for depression in his divine plan * combats religious misconceptions about depression * places symptoms, causes, and effects of depression within a context of systematic theology Through this book, readers will: * learn to see depression not as an illness to be cured but as an opportunity for positive change and development of a stronger faith in God * find practical answers to dealing with depression as a believer * discover freedom from guilt by understanding the Lord's purpose in depression * experience God's compassion with a new understanding * gai