Providing a free of charge Christian residential program for those in bondage to addictions
Providing a free of charge Christian residential program for those in bondage to addictions
One of the most discussed subjects in the world is “What is my purpose?” As a believer you will learn that is entirely the wrong question. That question causes us to focus on us. We were not created to fulfill our purpose but to fulfill God’s purpose. So it’s not; “What is my purpose,” but;… Read More »What Is My Purpose
Another rampant violation of God’s law among believers is the sin of unforgiveness. An unforgiving spirit can occur as a result of abandonment, rejection, hurt, pride, anger, unresolved conflict, jealousy, envy, covetousness, sensitivity, abuse (physical, verbal or sexual) just to name a few. The sense of being wronged, warranted or not, seems to be the… Read More »Unforgiveness
In my years of counseling at Bethel, I have seen much unforgiveness, resentment, rage, blame, slander and other self-centered attitudes. Self-centeredness naturally exhibits a lack of gentleness towards others. A person must first identify and repent of his own sin before he can exhibit a spirit of gentleness on those loved ones he has wounded… Read More »The Cry for Gentleness
As I counsel a person in trouble and tribulation, one of the first things I look for is how faithful he has been in attending the local church. Invariably I find that church attendance has declined drastically or has ceased altogether. Then I ask him about his salvation experience and most will proclaim that they… Read More »4th in a series on Christian Integrity
Let us continue the subject of Christian integrity by addressing deception. It is one thing to lie, but it is another to deceive. The liar lies out of habit and does not necessarily plan anything in his lying. He just wants to put himself in a good light. The deceiver has gone further in that… Read More »Third in a series on Christian Integrity
The most flagrant violation of Christian integrity is the lie. The problem with the lie is that it is presented as truth. It is not easily detected as a lie unless the one receiving the lie has information that refutes the lie. While that would be nice, it is not usually the case. And the… Read More »Second in a series on Christian Integrity
As a result of counseling over the years one of the things that concerns me is a lack of integrity in some professing Christians. The Oxford American Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus defines integrity as moral uprightness; honesty. An example of integrity is recorded for us in Job 2:3: “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you… Read More »The First in a series on Christian integrity…
One common problem in helping a person out of his sin and into a vital relationship with Jesus Christ is the unwillingness to receive counsel. We see this at Bethel when a man leaves without the approval of his counselor. I am reminded of Proverbs 3:5&6; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and… Read More »Refusal to Receive Counseling
Two things were emphasized in the Lord’s admonition to the woman caught in adultery; “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more”. Both ingredients are needed by the sinner. It seems to me in my years of counseling that more emphasis is given the first admonition; “Neither do I condemn you” than the… Read More »Sin Is The Problem!
Soon Thanksgiving and Christmas will be upon us. The holidays can be a time of joy or a time of brooding. Some will succumb to the latter and come under a cloud of loneliness. In reflecting upon their circumstances, a person may say to themselves; “Why does the Lord our God do these things?” Jeremiah… Read More »Holiday Loneliness