Book Review: Counseling the Hard Cases

Title: Counseling the Hard Cases: True Stories Illustrating the Sufficiency of God’s Resources in Scripture Editors: Stuart Scott and Heath Lambert Publisher: B&H, 2012; 318 pp. $32.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): I’ve been pastoring for over two decades. I have a deep appreciation for my seminary training and the churches in which I was raised, both […]

Discipleship Conference

This fall, our church will again be hosting our Biblical Counseling and Discipleship Conference. This conference will be held over three weekends in the months of September (21-22), October (12-13), and November (9-10). This conference fulfills the basic training requirement for becoming a certified counselor through NANC (currently, we are still the only training center […]

On the topic of work…

This past Sunday, we considered what Paul said to Titus about those who are slaves and how they are to work and specifically, with what kind of motive they are to work — as a testimony to and adornment of the truth of God (i.e., the gospel). Scripture has much to say about the topic […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles and blog posts I’ve spotted recently: Mike Riccardi [“Learning to Suffer Well: Trusting God’s Absolute Sovereignty”] writes, “…when we suffer, we should not seek to save God from His sovereignty. If we do that, we cut the legs out from under the solid, robust theology of God’s absolute sovereignty that we depend […]

Grab bag

Helpful resources for the growing Christian: Have you ever heard the statement, “I love him, but I don’t like him”? Me too. Too often. Rick Thomas demonstrates the idol behind the statement and how to address it in “Marriage problems.” How to handle public debate among Christians is a growing question and concern, though not […]

Journal of Biblical Counseling back in print

Four years after it ceased publication, CCEF is again publishing The Journal of Biblical Counseling. And now each issue is available for free reading online. And it can also be downloaded as a PDF for free. Or you may order printed copies for a nominal subscription fee. Here is David Powlison’s explanation of the new […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles recently spotted on the internet: Douglas Groothuis offers wise counsel on listening to sermons in “A short theology of listening.” An excerpt: Listen . . . with all your might; hear the living and active word. The teaching and preaching of God’s imperishable word is truly a sacred event whereby the Truth […]

Book blurbs

In the interest of “something is better than nothing,” here are a few blurbs and comments on some books I’ve recently completed reading: Title: Don’t Call it a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day Author: Kevin DeYoung (ed.) Publisher: Crossway, 2011; 252 pp. $16.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): Kevin DeYoung is fast becoming one […]

Sunday Leftovers (7/31/11)

In his book Licensed to Kill (a book about the mortification of sin), author Brian Hedges notes: One of the reasons some people fail to benefit from their study of Scripture is that they interpret it in gospel-ignoring, Christ-neglecting ways. Too many never overcome sin because they never benefit from the Bible because they have […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from the last week: The Telegraph provide a lengthy obituary of John Stott: “He turned his own church, located just a few yards from the headquarters of the BBC, into a showplace for a renewed form of evangelicalism. Strong lay leadership at All Souls set him free to become the trainer of […]

Biblical counseling training

This fall, our church (Grace Bible Church) will again be hosting a biblical counselor training conference. The 30-hour training, done over 3 weekends during the months of September, October, and November, fulfills the basic training requirement to become certified as a biblical counselor by NANC. The conference is very inexpensive ($75 for all three weekends) […]

He learned his lesson

First David was being chased relentlessly by Saul. He was discouraged and evidently despaired of receiving God’s promise of ascending to the throne of Israel. Then Jonathan came and encouraged his friend in the Lord. But you wonder, don’t you, “did he learn his lesson?” “Did the truths about God that Jonathan used to strengthen […]

Courage for the day

To my knowledge, no one has ever wanted to kill me. Oh sure, I’ve had people angry with me. I’ve had people want to use me as a punching bag (a couple did back in the junior high years). I’ve had people speak to me in angry and hostile tones. Some have shaken in rage […]

Grab bag

This week I counted the number of open tabs in my web browser. It was over 40. Time for a Grab Bag, me thinks. Many more churches are being proactive in providing biblical counseling for their people and the community (check out the GBCM webpage and the GBC biblical counselor training page as examples). Capitol […]

NANC certification complete!

Nearly four years after I began the process, (3 years, 11 months, to be exact), today I completed the NANC certification process. A couple of thoughts about the process: I am grateful for the rigor and demands of the process. The discipline of study for the basic training and the exams were good for my […]