“I’m Only Joking”

BCC StaffFor Those Seeking Hope5 Comments

Sarcasm is a style of conversation you hear almost daily. Late-night talk show hosts use cutting remarks to entertain audiences. Politicians use sarcasm to convince their constituents that the opponent is unworthy of their vote. And we use ironic criticisms in our daily communications with one another at work, home, or church. So is sarcasm a godly – or ungodly … Read More

Do You Ignore Your Spiritual Caller ID?

BCC StaffFor Those Seeking HopeLeave a Comment

Isn’t caller ID among the best phone features ever invented? When I get a call, I simply check my phone display and see who it is who wants to talk to me. I’m pretty much a “chatty Cathy” and will talk to almost anyone except when I don’t want to be interrupted. That’s why I love caller ID: I can decide … Read More

How to Listen to the Heart

BCC StaffFor Those Giving Help5 Comments

listen

Listen, ask, look – these three essentials help you hear the heart of a hurting person. When you hear the heart like Jesus, you give compassionate, effective counseling. Essential 1: Listen To help the hurting, you need to learn about your counselee. There are two simple, but critical aspects to gathering the necessary information. The first is the ability to … Read More

The Solution to Temptation

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Does temptation get the best of you sometimes? Brussels sprouts – yuck! The smell and taste disgust me. This vegetable is more of a deterrent than a temptation. If someone said I had to eat them before I could enjoy wonderfully delicious dark chocolate, I’d say “No Thanks” to both! Facing temptation is rarely this easy, however. When you and I … Read More

OCD: Giving Hope to a Troubled Counselee

BCC StaffFor Those Giving Help, For Those Seeking Hope4 Comments

OCD: Have you ministered to someone with obsessions and compulsions? I recently had an opportunity to speak with a young teen who suffers with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Being on the verge of tears she described the intensity of doing battle with relentless thoughts of being contaminated, 400 to 500 times an hour. Imagine having terrifying thoughts that keep coming like … Read More