Over the past decade Nashville has become a hub for a coalition of churches, nonprofits and activists known as the Christian Orphan Care movement.

The movement is driven by a simple and compelling message, spread in sermons, books and bumper stickers: There are 150 million orphans in the world, and God wants you to help them right now.

This message has led hundreds of Middle Tennessee families to adopt children from overseas, not because of infertility but out of compassion.

But now the movement is at a crossroads.

International adoptions have plummeted in recent years, mainly because of accusations of corruption and child trafficking in some countries that prompted nations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Guatemala, Nepal and Ethiopia to shut or slow down their adoption programs.

And adoption alone can't solve the orphan crisis. Most of the children the United Nations classifies as orphans actually have at least one parent, but often the parents are too poor to feed their children. A few extra dollars a month, or a better job, could help those families stay together.

Leaders of the movement say it's evolving to meet this new reality. But its critics worry that there's too much money and emotion invested in international adoptions for any real change to take place.

My kids think I'm great. I'm not saying I am; I'm just saying they think I am. It's their default mode because I'm their parent. It's the same reason they think their mom is incredible (the difference however is that she really is). Most children put their parents on pedestals whether they like it or not. I know it will probably change as my kids move into adolescence, but for now, my three young sons think their daddy rarely can do any wrong.

The only problem is that their daddy not only can do a little wrong but actually does more wrong than he would care to admit. As much as I'd like for it not to be true, I can royally blow it on how to love Jesus as a husband and father. Frankly, I can be downright selfish, impatient, and unbelievably wrongheaded in full view of my kids. And it's in those times I've got a choice to make: either tuck tail and run from my responsibilities or look my kids in eyes and repent.

That's right. Repent. I should tell my children that [insert sinful thought, word, or behavior I just did] was wrong and that their daddy is both grateful for the grace of forgiveness in Christ and the gift he has to obey next time.

This type of interaction shouldn't be something that happens only when it's a full moon but a regular pattern in my family. Martin Luther once wrote that all the Christian life is to be one of repentance. And why shouldn't it be? If repentance, in essence, is turning from sinful ways to embrace those which glorify God, then healthy spiritual growth necessitates much repentance. Besides, repenting well in front of your children is a gift of grace unto itself.

As suicidal thoughts or behaviors are a psychiatric emergency, the involvement of properly-trained mental health professionals is necessary. For some people, this means making an appointment to see a therapist or a psychiatrist; for other people, it may mean calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency room. After they are evaluated by a mental health professional, some people may be able to continue outpatient treatment; others may require inpatient psychiatric hospitalization to manage their symptoms.

Ongoing psychiatric treatment is helpful for most people with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Some forms of psychotherapy—including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)—are useful in treatment of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy can also be a helpful part in the ongoing treatment of people mental illness, something which further decreases the risk of suicide.

Alcohol and drugs are very dangerous for people at risk of suicide. Addiction—also called alcohol or drug dependency—puts people at increased risk of suicide and can also worsen other mental illnesses which further increases this risk. Additionally, people who are intoxicated or withdrawing from drugs and alcohol are more impulsive. This impulsiveness can make people more likely to attempt suicide and perhaps less likely to ask for help with their troubling symptoms.