Early this spring, a parent called our office looking for help. Their teenager was struggling—seriously, the kind of struggle that includes thoughts of not wanting to be alive—and the family had done everything we so often tell families to do. They had already found an adolescent psychiatrist and made the appointment. The trouble was the date. They had called in … Read More
Relationships—Are They Worth It?
Written by BCC Staff Counselor Sarah Ellis God created us in His image—an image designed for community—but what happens when you are fearful of engaging with others? Have you ever experienced that pit in your stomach or tightness in your chest when invited to a group outing? It is the very thing you want, but you wonder how you will … Read More
Hating Hate Without Hating Haters: What Did Jesus Teach Us About Hate?
This was a tough week in our country. In western Pennsylvania and multiple other communities across the country, hatred was on full display as bullets flew and lives were lost. The carnage and discourse over the last week has been unsettling as we all grapple with why our country continues to settle our divisions by shooting up political rallies, retail stores, nightclubs, … Read More
Brave or Safe?
This article is written by BCC counselor, Dr. Donna Hart. In this article, Donna shares what she has learned to challenge all of us to live bravely when God is calling you to make an impact. Is God calling you to be brave or safe in the way you live?
How to Be Light in the Darkness
I had a great talk with a friend who leads a family-strengthening organization who was quite disappointed in recent developments in our home state of Illinois. Despite rallying churches and families to seek to pass moral laws, our state is seemingly unconcerned with what God thinks about many moral issues. That he was disappointed was not a surprise to me. What … Read More
7 Insights on Staying Power
As we learn the staying power of Jesus and how he stepped into the crisis moments of our lives, we can help others. We too have the ability to endure. Please share this article by Dr. Donna Hart, which appeared first here on her blog, with the people you care about. Thanks. We often wonder how we should respond to … Read More
Wearing a miniskirt to the wedding?
Our lives as Christians are essentially pre-marital counseling preparing us for a wonderful wedding. All of us are the bride who will finally and eternally be united to our groom, Jesus Christ. Indeed, our lives on earth are the means God uses for a deeper goal. God’s Glorious Plan We can tend to conclude God doesn’t love us, or has … Read More
Have a Truly Beautiful Christmas!
Does a truly beautiful Christmas mean newly fallen snow, gingerbread houses, and piles of sparkly presents under the tree? Of course not. A truly beautiful Christmas is so much more. God adorns you on the inside, beginning in your thoughts. Yucky, God-dismissing thoughts are disgusting like dirty snow. But beautiful God-glorifying thoughts spill into new attitudes and new actions. What’s … Read More
When Thanksgiving Lacks Contentment
Contentment on Thanksgiving? Sometimes it abounds, sometimes it’s elusive. Today’s encouragement comes from guest writer Lynn Mosher, who uplifts the soul at her website. As I listened to a preacher on television one Sunday morning, he shared something that impressed me. So I knew I had to share with you. A Letter to Dear Abby Years ago, Jason Lehman’s grandmother … Read More
