I have served as a counselor now for fifteen years. I would like to say that during those years I have perfected my craft to the point that I witness stunning results with every person I serve. To make such a claim, however, would reek of dishonesty. The fact remains that even with fifteen years under my belt, I continue to encounter people and situations in which my perceived … [Read more...]
Mastering the art of silence
Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water; but a man of understanding draws it out.” (Prov. 20:5 HCSB) One of the hardest tools I learned in my graduate studies was the art of silence. For many of us, when we are in a conversation with another person, silence is so AWKWARD. Our instinct is to try to fill it quickly! To avoid silence, we ask questions. We try to relate by … [Read more...]
Inspiring and involving grandparents who lack purpose
If there’s one thing we expect grandparents in our churches to do, it’s spoil their grandkids. This is so ingrained in our mind-set that we speak of grandparents having the “privilege” of doing so. But is that all there is to the role? Is spoiling grandchildren the only way grandparents can influence their families, or is there something more pastors can help them see? The … [Read more...]
When does humor signal marital problems?
Have you ever noticed how some things correlate? The amount of air pressure in your tires affects the smoothness of your ride and the gas mileage of your vehicle. The amount of sleep you get influences your memory and mood. The nutrition of your diet affects your susceptibility to certain diseases. Consider another correlation that might not seem so obvious at first: the … [Read more...]
What constitutes a pastoral approach?
What does it mean to be “pastoral”? I’m a pastor. Have been for almost fifteen years. I love my job. I get to serve the God I love and work with the things our God loves most deeply: His Word and His church. As a local church pastor, I am 100 percent in favor of being “pastoral.” So long as the word means what the Bible means for it to mean. When I see the adjective … [Read more...]
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