Piano Lessons and Biblical Counseling
Many times, I have watched those who come for counseling who want a quick path to maturity in their faith, or rapidly settle with just ‘good enough’ when things get hard. Yet Scripture presents us with far more than we ever bargained for! It shows us a life intended to be full of color, emotion, discipline, beauty, and skillful relational excellence founded upon God’s love and his good design..
Revenge or Forgiveness? - Philemon Pt. 4
The very center of Paul’s appeal for forgiveness is the reflection of Christ’s call for us all to forgive. While he could appeal to his authority over us and say, “I am God and I command you to forgive!” the Lord doesn't do that. He appeals to our relationship with him, his love and compassion for us, and tells us to emulate that forgiving relationship into the lives of others.
Ointment for an Open Wound
How will some manmade coconut oil mixed with wax and honey salve going to heal the aching in our hearts, grieving in our souls, the heartache of a loss, or emotions that run rapid ? What about our shortcomings, errors, immorality and misdoings? How will these open gaping sores ever be completely healed?
The Beauty of Forgiveness
If we intentionally make it our aim to forgive our “enemies” as Jesus did, what would your community look like?
Gorgeous. Stunning. Attractive. Dazzling. A bright light in a dark world!
Beautiful.
Passing the Baton
The joy of knowing that we have a part to play in the story of what God is doing through the ages is such a joy but also a responsibility! We are not to keep it only for ourselves but to entrust it to others who will do the same.
What Mary Didn’t Know…About Mary
While she had a rough outline of who her son would become, and what would happen to him, the truth is, little was told by the angel about what would happen to, well, Mary.
So, what did Mary know about Mary?
The Character of a Forgiver - Philemon Pt. 3
If you were the one who had been wronged and now true reconciliation was possible how would you respond? What would it look like if you held all the cards and the one who hurt you had his future or his very life in your hands?
Rocks, Bread, and Living for Sex
The reality is that many men are working hard to overcome a problem that they don’t even truly see as a real evil. They know it’s wrong, because that's what they've been taught, and they know that it hurts those they love. However, deep down in their hearts, in the moment of temptation, they believe that it is a good.
Building a Culture of Forgiveness - Philemon Pt. 2
While Philemon gives no doctrinal commands to us today, it practically demonstrates for us how to apply the principles for biblical forgiveness and reconciliation in the middle of a messy culture from the first century until today.
A Community of Forgiveness: Philemon - Part 1
What I love about this book is that Paul teaches us by example that estranged relationships still matter. Christ’s work of reconciling us to God, forgiving us of our sins, is beautifully reflected in our relationships when those who bear His name work towards reconciliation wherever possible.
Fixing My Collar - Being a True Friend (Video)
BCA counselor, Joe Leavell shares a story of embarrassment and friendship, and the type of true friend we desire to be at BCA. A doctor would not be a ‘friend’ if he withheld a cancer diagnosis, nor would we be a friend if we did not tell you the truth in love.
Monsoons in Your Marriage?
After years of marriage, has the love slowly continued to dry up? Is the word “desert” the right one to describe your relationship? Do you try grand sacrificial gestures, promises of change, exotic and expensive family trips, extravagant presents…hoping something will help?
These often do little to nothing to move the needle as you and your spouse continue to grow further and further apart.
What Gives Jesus the Right to Counsel?
What gives Jesus the right to tell us what to do?! He just expects us to accept his treatment plan? Life needs to be different now? Why does Jesus get to have any say over our lives at all?
Net-Working the Church
This is only one of a multitude of stories I could share of people who looked healthy externally when they showed up for church but behind the scenes, they were besieged with various major spiritual problems and everyone in the church was oblivious.
Giving God Dead Leaves
Several years ago, our youngest children got themselves in trouble when I caught them doing something they knew I had explicitly told them not to do. Our four-year-old daughter was troubled that I was upset over her disobedience. She decided she would give me a present to help smooth things over. She went out into our backyard and gathered a bouquet of dead leaves from off the ground. She presented them to me proudly and then said, "Are you happy now, Mommy?”
Church Hurt and the Missing Pastor
Many times, those who come to us for counseling because of church hurt, do so because of some significant difficulty in their life that their church family didn’t even notice. Worse, the church did notice and then did little to nothing to help.
Perfume Wars and Hidden Sins
It’s funny that in our pungent clashes, we thought we were getting away with it because we would make sure no one was looking. But to say our battle was hidden is laughable. Our sin works the same way. The effects of even the most hidden sin can be contained as effectively as the smell of our perfume war.
The Gospel is Better than Our Best Efforts (video)
While Scripture is full of tangible help for those who are hurting or seeking answers, our best efforts to obey God's commands in our own strength are not enough. Our efforts start with the Gospel which purifies our actions and motivates us to reflect Christ in worship through what we say and do. We have no desire to heap up 'law' but desire the help that we bring to flow from grace. This is why we center our counseling on the Gospel.
My Imaginary Kingdom
In those moments, I realized what I had so quickly allowed my heart to do – to get lost in my imagination of a life that God had not seen fit to give. I was imagining what would happen if that ticket held the ‘lucky’ numbers, and my life would be instantly different.
When the Lord is Not My Shepherd - A Contrast from the 23rd Psalm
A contrast of Psalm 23, showing how, if the idols of our heart were our shepherd, would lead us, how they use us, and the path of destruction they leave behind when they fail us.