Consider the physician. As he diagnoses you, he has only one basic question: “What’s wrong?” This is certainly a “negative” approach! If 99% of your body is in good health, your doctor is interested in only the 1% of your body that is not. If you have an infected fingernail and the rest of your body is healthy, he concentrates on the fingernail. If you have a pain in your abdomen, he does not overlook the abdomen. Instead he examines it thoroughly, even if the examination brings you … [Read more...]
May 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A Doctor’s Perspective
Dr. S.I. McMillen spent many years studying Jewish and Christian writings in search of biblical principles and directions for living. As a result of this research he wrote the bestseller book None of These Diseases, which describes the physical consequences of wrong living. He pointed out that there may be sin in the picture when aches and pains show up: Peace does not come in capsules! This is regrettable because medical science recognizes that emotions such as fear, sorrow, envy, resentment … [Read more...]
April 24, 2013 By
Normal Reactions To Reproof
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, (2 Timothy 2:24-25 NKJV). What is your reaction when a friend confides, “I’m going to be very frank with you.” Do you grasp his hand and pull him to a chair so he can sit down and tell you your shortcoming? Do you shout for joy that another glimpse of your true nature is … [Read more...]
April 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
How Sin Affects the Body
Are we sick, sinful, or both when we hurt? Medical researchers have recently expressed the opinion, that destructive emotions are caused by a chemical imbalance in the body. But I ask the question, is it possible that a chemical imbalance in the body could have been caused by destructive emotions? It seems obvious to me that since sin is so easily cleansed, the presence of sin should be explored first. A pastor questioned me about this issue. Someone in his congregation had suffered from … [Read more...]
April 10, 2013 By 1 Comment
Hindrances To Self-Discovery
The first step toward peace is to discover yourself. The second is to square up with the truth you find. You will get fleeting glimpses of your true self (and sometimes a very clear picture) as you interact with other people, as you read the Bible, and as others minister to you. Yet the average person usually resists facing up to his faults. Quite likely he will reject anyone who points out his error. Jesus Christ gave the precise explanation for this reaction when He said, “For everyone … [Read more...]
April 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Resistance to the Truth
Churches are criticized because their ministers upset people when they preach about the sinfulness of man and the inflexible standards of the Bible. Once I had a long conversation with a fellow counselor about the value of “deeper life” conferences, in which the details of the ideal Christian life are discussed. He felt very strongly against this type of conference. He believed it did irreparable damage because after such a conference a wave of very upset people came to him. That they could … [Read more...]
July 25, 2011 By
Focus: Biblical Counselor Training
Friday September 16, 2011 - Saturday September 17, 2011 400 S. Sunshine St Map and Directions | Register Description: This conference is designed to give the participant an introduction to Biblical Counseling. An overview of the teachings contained in two books, "The Heart of the Problem" and "The Word for the Wise" will be the focus. Where? First Baptist Church Branson Who is the Conference for? Any Christian who wants to sharpen their skills in helping themselves and others … [Read more...]
July 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Dealing With Anger
Question: Andy Cherry asks: I have a person I am counseling who is dealing with anger, but sees anger as an emotion that can either be destructive or constructive. How would you respond to this idea, and what approach would you take in counseling this person? Reply: Great question! In fact the most common issues that come up in counseling are anger and deception. All of us deal with anger in some form. The idea of categorizing anger as an emotion and that we are not in control of our own … [Read more...]
December 21, 2010 By
A Decade of Revival—1900-1910
Author: J. Edwin Orr Summary: Kerry L. Skinner The Timing of the Movement Why did it occur when it occured? Within ten years, the awful slaughter of World War I had started, and a gentler way of life passed into the twilight of history. Arnold Toynbee, reminiscing, recalled the trauma of the time, when half his classmates died in battle. Chapman’s biographer stated in review: “God in gracious providence was reaping a spiritual harvest before He … [Read more...]
December 21, 2010 By
Discovering an Evangelical Heritage
Author: Donald Dayton Review Summary: Kerry L. Skinner Prologue: *This book is a product of the author’s struggle to reconcile the seemingly irreconcilable heritage in his own experience: the Evangelical heritage in which he was reared and values bequeathed him by the student movements of the 1960’s. Though the author writes through his own struggles, the book gives great history of revival movements. Worth the read. *Dayton believed that the Evangelicals … [Read more...]
