Helping you grow in God's all-sufficient grace and truth
“Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.” – Psalm 119:24
The Puritans will be forever-famous for their soul-work, their application of the truths of Scripture to all of life, but especially to the issues of the heart. This faithful, pastoral work was the result of a conviction that all theology,
Continue readingPlurality of shepherds in a local congregation is the model of leadership we find in the New Testament church, which is a model first established in the Old Testament. Just as Jethro made it clear to Moses that solo shepherding
Continue readingHere is Psalm 130 put into the form of a hymn by Martin Luther. The actual hymn title is “From the Depths of Woe,” but I have titled this post after what I think is one of the most powerful
Continue readingYesterday’s post, The Mind, Body, and Medications, concluded with mention of the experience of Bob Somerville whose lengthy testimony concludes Dr. Laura Hendrickson’s chapter in the new book Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling. Dr. Somerville is an ACBC-certified biblical counselor and professor
Continue readingIn my ongoing study of the subject of mental/emotional illness, counseling, and the church; I found a very helpful chapter in the recently released book, Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling. The final chapter, “The Complex Mind/Body Connection,” is written by Dr. Laura
Continue readingPsalm 13 is one of the most heart-wrenchingly honest prayers in the Bible. Here is a soul in anguish. Here is a follower of God who wrestles day-in and day-out with what God is doing in his life. He feels
Continue readingAs I continue to work through Paul Tripp’s highly-diagnostic book, Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry, the Spirit sheds light on areas of my heart and life where biblical truth needs to be applied. Chapter Seven is
Continue readingMonday can be an awful day for pastors who take their calling seriously. Not only are they often spent at every level from giving all they have to the preaching of God’s Word and other duties that are incumbent upon
Continue readingDirecting each other to think upon the attributes of God is such a wonderfully biblical way to counsel one another. To meditate on God is to deliberately choose to think about Him—His works, nature, and attributes. This can be done
Continue readingHere’s a few things I’ve read in the past few days. Just a forewarning, the last two are pretty lengthy. Same-Sex Marriage as a Civil Right–Are Wrongs Rights? – Answers in Genesis asked Counseling One Another to recommend some resources
Continue readingStill my soul be still And do not fear Though winds of change may rage tomorrow God is at your side No longer dread The fires of unexpected sorrow God You are my God And I will trust in You
Continue readingThis past Monday, the pastors of our church spent the day in prayer at a nearby retreat center. Prior to the time in which we focused on praying for the leaders of the church, I read out loud the following
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In the ongoing and important discussion of the nature of mental illness, it seems to me that it would be helpful if we could be more deliberate in our distinction between “mental illness,” as a very large societal umbrella covering
Continue readingDay by Day is a classic hymn that our congregation loves. Often, when we have a hymn sing or testimony service, it is one of those selected. Its God-centered lyrics minister strength to the heart and naturally lead to prayer.
Continue readingRightly understood, the Christian life is a battle. We war not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of darkness in heavenly places (Eph 6:12). We fight the fight of faith. Consequently, there are many times we find
Continue readingThis morning, the Biblical Counseling Coalition posted a wise and thoughtful article on the subject of mental illness, written by Jeremy Pierre. Please take time to read it in full. Here’s the first few paragraphs: “Many are grieving with Rick
Continue reading“Nothing jars the mind and emotions like news of a suicide,” writes Brian Croft, pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and founder of Practical Shepherding. For this week’s series on suicide, Brian has graciously given me permission to reprint
Continue readingGod-centered music is a very important part of the way the Holy Spirit ministers to my heart in times of joy and times of sorrow—two emotions that are forever mixed, mingled together in the Christian experience. Of these two mutually-existent
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By God’s grace, I’m a husband, dad, grandpa, and pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Mayfield Hts, OH. I love Christ because He first loved me.
