I want to share this with those who are struggling with depression and suicide...it has helped me, and I hope it helps you.

"For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" 2 Cor. 4:17

I can't wait to get back to George fox in August and get away from my family!

All of these depressed confessions, and I'm like "Mom, we ran out of Bacon!" Oh! And while I'm confessing things, I am the one responsible for leaving the Cosmo magazines everywhere in the library. The school doesn't find Cosmo appropriate, but we're all adults, and sometimes people just need a good laugh. I dare you to read one of the embarrassing hookup stories and NOT laugh! Seriously, Cosmo can make can make anyone (virgin or not) laugh. Finally, I really hope that our football team kicks butt this year because GFU invested a ridiculous amount of money in it. Well have a great day my friends, and remember, there is no such thing as a perfect person :) so don't be too hard on yourself.

I saw Paul Halvorson the other day inside Fred Meyers and now I can't stop thinking about being with him. When you guys break up, I'll be there for you Paul!

Being at home has been a spiritual journey characterized by leaning the significance of unconditional love. You see, my younger brother and I have never gotten along. His personality happens to be the polar opposite of mine, so we frequently clash. However, I have never had anyone in my life I've cared for so much despite such. I love him so much, and it pains me to see him going through what he's going through right now. As he is now pubescent, he has become even more difficult to get along with as he has adopted the traits of what one would think of as an 'irrational teenager'. But this is the least of my worries for him. Around Christmas time, he tried to kill my parents during one of his manic outbursts of anger. These violent episodes are not uncommon for his mental state, but the intention to kill has never before been an issue, and thus the police got involved that night. As a family, we spent the holidays tending to him at a mental facility, talking with doctors, reviewing possible diagnoses, etc. He was diagnosed with bipolar, ODD, severe anxiety, depression, and ADHD. All of these combined with him being an adolescent boy has made for, in essence, a seemingly unreachable heart lost to the darkness of his mind. Needless to say, being home has been a major spiritual battle. I have no idea how my parents have put up with this all year while only calling the police a single time, but I respect them, I really do. This whole thing has had me baffled as to why I still love him so dearly even as he destroys and breaks things in my room during his rampages, cusses me out, spits on me (one time it even got in my mouth) and so on. Likewise for my parents, how they could still treasure him so dearly after all this is beyond me. Unconditional love is such an inexplicably amazing thing, and I am brought joy knowing that this is something that God has for all of us. Despite all of the darkness, despite all of the fear and anger, despite all of the demons that reside here in my household, I can truly say that it has not won over my heart. I am happier than I will ever be knowing that when my brother is healed, God will have transformed him into someone beyond my greatest imagination. Truthfully, there are seasons, certain weeks where the situation here is discouraging, and I lose sight of hope within the darkness. It is so easy for me to lose sight of God when the surrounding evil shoves itself into my vision. But I want to encourage everyone out there who is going through similar hardships at home and with family, because I know I'm not alone. To those of you amid the struggle, always remember that God restores.

I'm in a long distance relationship over the summer with my girlfriend from Fox, but last night I mistakenly cheated on her with someone from my home town. What do I do? To tell or not to tell?

Since I came home, I have hit rock bottom very hard. I have consumed more alcohol and drugs in the past 2 months than I ever have and I fear that I may harm me or the ones I love and I don't know what to do.

All these depression and suicide confessions make me super sad. Sad because I've been there. Sad because I can't help. Sad because there is no way I can tell someone how much better life is once you break through.
So...
Dear depressed confessors,
To those with situational depression, just do what you love, and in that you will find people worth loving and who love you. If that isn't working, talk to someone about it, not anonymously. There is good help in the pastoral counseling, I can tell you, and in the Health and Counseling Center at the school. Reach out.
And to those with chronic depression, you are so brave. Keep fighting. Reach out. And remember who loves you.
IF YOU ARE BREATHING AND HAVE FIVE MINUTES, READ THIS: http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/ It may save your life, or someone else's. There are more resources at the bottom of the page.