How do you define yourself? People tend to think in categories, but don’t see that the parts make up the whole person — the man or woman or child who represents Jesus everywhere they go. By What You Do Let’s say a Christian man named Todd gets up in the morning and kisses his wife and kids before heading off … Read More
“I’m Only Joking”
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
Finding a Better Way in Ministry, Part 1
MINISTRY: Recently I found myself in a conflux of emotions. Too many things demanded my time, and I ran myself ragged: ministering very late into evening, trying to get up early and have a meaningful time with God, taking care of my wife and my children, responding to people from various local churches. My Life Became a Blur Drained and … Read More
How to Listen to the Heart
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
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
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
