GO KANSAS

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WHAT A TREAT - THERE IS NONE BETTER - SENT BY MY SISTER ELLEN
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JESUS, THERE IS NO OTHER NAME, THAT CAN MATCH THE NAME JESUS, OR HIS PERSON. JESUS.

"Yes! He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, this my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

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Christ is the most beautiful Person, and the most fitting Object for your love. There never was, nor will be found any person so lovely, so beautiful, and so every way deserving of your love as the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a matchless, transcendent, and incomparable beauty and excellency in Him!How passionately are some foolish men in love with the external beauty which they see in some women! They love the exact symmetry of parts, and lovely proportion of the body, the amiable features and lovely mixtures of colors in the face, the beauty of the eyes and features, their graceful motions, and amorous glances. How does this ravish the hearts of some foolish men, although the most beautiful woman in the world is no better than a mixture of clay, dirt, and corruption enclosed in a lovely skin; which sickness will cause to look pale and ashen and death will fully mar and spoil! But the amiableness and beauty of Christ is more transcendent and permanent, and therefore, a more fit object for your love. Christ is all fair without any spot; altogether lovely without any blemish or deformity!

IN CHRIST ONLY DO WE HAVE HIS STRENGTH, IN TIMES OF LOSS OF THOSE WE LOVE AND WHO HAVE AFFECTED OUR LIVES SO MUCH.

Stephen's (Ellen's son) teacher passed away last week. Stephen is a Senior and is enrolled to attend Libery University in Lynchburg this fall.

GOD HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR MANKIND IN TIME AND FOR ETERNITY. WE SEE TIME AND GOD SEES ETERNITY. WHAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE WITH CHRIST OFTEN MAKES NO SENSE WITH MANKIND. EVENTS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES AS BELIEVERS ARE DESIGNED BY CHRIST FOR HIS PURPOSES AND ARE IN HIS PLAN FOR HIMSELF.

I BELIEVE ALL OF TIME AND ETERNITY IS ABOUT THE GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST. I REALLY DO. IT'S NOT ABOUT US. I DON'T BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST IS SERVING US, BUT IT IS THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WE ARE HIS "SLAVE", TO SERVE AT HIS PLEASURE FOR HIS PURPOSE, AND HIS GLORY, IN TIME AND IN ETERNITY. YET, IT IS NOT I, BUT CHRIST THAT LIVES WITHIN US. GALATIANS 2:20.

I BELIEVE WE LIVE AND DIE ON JESUS CHRIST'S TIME SCHEDULE.

LAST YEAR DR. JERRY FALWELL DIED ON MAY 15, 2007. HE WAS 72 YEARS OLD, AND HAD BEEN PASTOR OF THOMAS ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH FOR 50 YEARS. IT SEEMS WITH OUR MIND, THAT HE HAD JUST BEGUN. HE SAID TO ME, "CHARLES, I HAVE MUCH TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT MAYBE NOT IN MY LIFETIME." HE DIED ONE MONTH TO THE DAY LATER.

THE YOUNG FAMILY ABOVE IS "THE MARKS" FAMILY, JENNIFER JENKINS (JJ) MARKS AND SCOTT HER HUSBAND AND THEIR SON. JJ WAS A TEACHER AT MY NEPHEW STEPHEN'S SCHOOL, OVILLA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, IN RED OAK, TEXAS.

JJ WAS 32. SHE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, SHE TAUGHT MATH AND COACHED TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DALLAS AND SANG IN THE SANCTUARY CHOIR. SHE HAD A DEGREE IN MATHEMATICS FROM LIBERY UNIVERSITY IN LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA IN 1997.

JJ WAS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT AND HAD A GOOD CHECKUP ON MONDAY. TUESDAY EVENING SHE FELT NAUSEATED, AND SHE WENT TO THE DOCTOR ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE BABY DIED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND JJ WENT INTO LABOR AND DIED ABOUT 6 A.M. AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. SCOTT WAS ON A MISSION TRIP AT THE TIME.

IN OUR MINDS, GOD TOOK A YOUNG LADY IN HER PRIME WITH YET MUCH TO DO. WHY? FOR WHAT EVER THE REASON, IT SEEMS JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN EACH OF US 'TIME' TO LIVE THIS EARTHLY LIFE, AND WHEN THAT 'TIME' IS COMPLETE, HE BY HIS PLEASURE TAKES THAT LIFE. THEREFORE, IT SEEMS EACH MOMENT OF LIFE IS IMPORTANT, FOR WE KNOW NOT, IF TODAY MAY BE OUR LAST IN TIME. TODAY LET'S FULFILL ALL THAT WE KNOW TO DO.

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FROM THE EMAILS I HAVE RECEIVED FROM ELLEN, JJ HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON STEPHEN AND THE LIVES OF THOSE SHE WAS AROUND. IT SEEMED HER LIFE WAS A REAL CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY.

OUR LIFE IS NOT OUR OWN, WE WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE. JESUS CHRIST PAID OUR SIN DEBT AND ADOPTED US AS HIS OWN CHILDREN.

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IN OUR HUMAN LIFE, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE EMOTIONS TO HURT AND FEEL THE LOSS OF THOSE WHOM WE LOVE. THE LOSS IS GREAT, OUR SADNESS IS DEEP, AND WE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME IN THIS LIFE.

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I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHEN I WAS A CHILD WHY MY DAD WOULD SHED TEARS WHEN HE WOULD TALK ABOUT HIS DAD WHO HAD DIED. BUT AFTER MY DAD DIED WHEN I WAS 18, I UNDERSTOOD. EVEN NOW SOME 40 YEARS LATER, I UNDERSTAND THE TEARS.

EVEN IN OUR GRIEF, IN OUR TEARS, IN OUR LOSS, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN, HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS SWEET INNER PEACE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST, THAT EVERY THING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT IN OUR FATHER'S HOUSE. ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US CAN GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO MOVE ON IN LIFE UNTIL THE LORD CALLS US HOME. IT'S GRACE THAT SUPPLIES OUR NEED OF STRENGTH IN THIS TIME OF DEEP SORROW.

GOD HAS A PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR THOSE WHOM HE HAS CHOSEN FOR ALL ETERNITY. FOR US NOW, WE ONLY SEE THE CLOUDED PRESENT, BUT GOD SEES ETERNITY.

COMPETENT TO COUNSEL BIBLICALLY

part four

Footnote: I like Union Mills Doughnuts......

WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE IN GIVING BIBLICAL COUNSEL

So how are we to address our problems and issues and needs in life?
The term that is used is "Nouthetic confrontation." Let’s look at the meaning of the term.
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All Christians should engage in it. "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and (for the moment we shall simply transliterate the next word) confronting one another nouthetically." Colossians 3:16.
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Paul wrote in Romans 15:14: that all Christians must teach and confront one another in a Nouthetic fashion. "Concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to confront one another nouthetically."
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Here is the point. Paul sees Christians meeting in nouthetic confrontation as normal every day activity. If they are filled with goodness and knowledge, they should be qualified and equipped to confront one another nouthetically. So in truth, you don’t need to be a preacher to counsel. The idea is that all Christians should be involved in this counsel.
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I also realized that public preaching, confronting people with their problems is a part of the preacher’s activity, but it’s not all he is to be engaging in. Public ministry is important, but so also is private ministry to individuals. While you would like to go home on Sunday Morning and watch NASCAR, or play golf during the week, there needs to be time when you confront individuals one on one.
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Note what Paul said about his ministry to the Ephesians: "Remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to confront each one nouthetically with tears."
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It seemed that I was confronting individuals every day in the Word.

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A part of ministry is daily, night and day, talking to people biblically about their life. Pastoral work is more than just getting ready for Sunday and Wednesday sermons. It’s that of course, but more it’s being involved in nouthetic activity. It’s the real work of pastoral work to engage in nouthetic activity.

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When you read Paul’s letters, you notice that he mentions a number of individuals in whom he invested a number of hours of work with. Paul not only preached on Mars Hill, but he dealt with people as individuals, as groups, and as families, and he confronted them nouthetically.
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Proof read by Charity Whisnant

COMPETENT TO COUNSEL BIBLICALLY


PART TWO:
PREFACE: THE OBJECTIVE OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING:
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You can see from the assorted disciplines of study that I have a variety of points of view as to how to do Biblical counsel. It’s interesting how MacArthur, Adams, Solomon, Gillham, Mack, Crabb, Gothard and Hawkins have the same Bible and same objectives but have different methods of reaching the goal.
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Some would say you need many sessions to solve people problem. Some would say a few. Solomon would say, you need about an hour. Some would just use the Bible, others would say read this book. Some would use all Scripture, short and sweet.
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PERSONAL COMMENT:

• I was in a church for four years, and never once did the pastors want me to do personal counseling at the church. Even when the objective is to train Christians to do biblical counseling. Today, counseling people could bring law suits. If you as a pastor, counsel, you could be held accountable for your counsel.
  
  
• SOME OBJECTIVES TO BIBLICAL COUNSELING
  

A system of biblical truth that brings together people, their problems, and the living God. With the conviction that:

• God’s Word should be our counseling authority
• Counseling is a part of the basic discipling ministry of the local church.
• God’s people can and should be trained to counsel effectively.
  

Do I need to say: "Jesus Christ is at the center of all true Christian counseling"? You would think not, but in many counseling sessions, problems are addressed as if Christ is not the answer from the Bible.

Counseling which does not move from one’s problem to the position of Scripture ceases to be biblical counseling. Scripture is our resource book to discover the direction one could take concerning the counseling of people with personal problems

PERSONAL NOTE:

• Having come back from the Nouthetic Counseling Seminars, I learned that in any counseling session, the first thing is to address the problems from the biblical point of view. I remember at one session saying, "Are you willing to look at your problems from Scripture?" "Are you willing to discover what your problems are as they are presented from Scripture?" "And are you willing to apply Christ’s solution to your problems?" Let’s discover what your problem is biblically and see if Christ has the answer to that issue in your life. I remember that when they said, "Yes." They really had no clue what was going to be revealed about their problems and the biblical solutions. I know that first couple was not ready to hear what the Word said they could do to solve their problems.
  
• Of course I had to learn what the real problem was. What was the root problem and the root cause? Then learn how to address the issue, and learn how to get those who I was counseling to receive what I was saying..
  
• Personally, one-on-one counseling and preaching/teaching on Sunday Morning is totally different I believe. Certainly some preaches in preaching will address every problem people have, and every sin that one has. And people will tune them out. Few people listen to a whole sermon. Few people really know how to apply the principles of Scripture.
  

Most people know the secular terms for their problems but do not know the scriptural term for their problems. Many people who have problems will not go to the Word, they will talk to their next door neighbor before they would talk to a believer. Many will seek out some secular person who might be able to help them. Most people know the humanistic or secular terms but not the spiritual terms.

Charles E. Whisnant

WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE IN GIVING BIBLICAL COUNSEL Next

INTRODUCTION: BIBLICAL COUNSELING

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I was preaching/teaching years ago, and I said, "God doesn’t need any philosophy, or secular psychology to accomplish His purposes for Believers. Scripture is sufficient for every emotional, spiritual need that Christians have." Of course that sounded pastoral. And I truly believed the statement was true. Any emotional stress or depression that one would have, can be dealt with by the Word of God. Okay!

That general statement came back to cause me to prove that statement. Usually a preacher will say, "Well, go read your Bible and you will be transformed, or find a remedy to all your problems in life." Or they will say, "My counsel is in my preaching and teaching, listen." We say all these things because we really don’t have a clue how to deal with people’s problems.

Christians don’t need to go to a secular Psychologist. Well, that might be true, but if we say that, then we need to be able to take a person to the Scripture and show them how Christ wants us to deal with life’s problems.

After I preached that message, I had the occasion to have a person in our church who asked me to counsel them biblically. Now up to that point, I had no real idea how to do that.
TRAINING: 80 and 90's

My early seminary training never really addressed biblical counseling, but while I was in Hyles-Anderson, Dr. Joe Combs taught a course on Pastoral Counseling and he used "Competent to Counsel" by Jay E. Adams.

I can’t remember how I was introduced to NANC. I knew NASCAR, but not NANC.

I couldn’t Google in the 80's and 90's, but doing so would have been good.

I can’t remember how I was introduce to "Lifetime Guarantee" Bill Gillham. Charity was most impressed with the Gillham’s. They have the most simple approach to Biblical counseling. Their set of tapes, and books were very practical and biblical.

Grace Fellowship International with Charles R. Solomon, also is good and a very simple approach to helping people understand their need for God’s grace. One of his books is "Counseling With The Mind of Christ." The Dynamics of Spirtuotherapy.

Gary R. Collins is general editor for the series of resources for Christian Counseling. There were thirty two volumes that I studied in the Christian Counselor’s Library

Larry Crabb’s books and material are good. He has the biblical approach to healing the deep wounds of the soul.

Then I enrolled in the Liberty University Life-Long Learning Master’s Program on Biblical Counseling, Dr. Ronald E. Hawkins, teacher.

I enrolled in the NANC , The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors. Faith Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN . For over six months I traveled to Kansas City, KS for training.

Also, I had been going to Bill Gothard’s Seminars for years and his approach to counseling good as well. The root causes, the root symptom and the root solutions to problems were addressed.

And I had enrolled in John MacArthur’s expository Biblical preaching ministry in 1983.

Charity and I went to several seminars where Jay E. Adams was speaking on the subject of biblical counseling. Another book of Adams. "The Language of Counseling" was very helpful.

I also appreciate the Master’s College, John MacArthur, Jr. and Wayne A. Mack’s material on Biblical Counseling. "Theological Foundations of Biblical Counseling and "Biblical Counseling and the Local Church." The volume "Introduction to Biblical Counseling" is great.

NEWSLETTERS, PUBLICATIONS, AND JOURNALS

Before I had Internet, I had Newsletter’s, Publications, and Journals sent to me via the US Mail, think of that. In the 90's:

• The Biblical Counselor: from NANC
• Christian Counseling Newsletter: Gary Collins
• Christian Mental Health For The Professional Therapist:
• Lifetime Guarantee: Bill and Anabel Gillham
• The Menninger Letter: Topeka, KS
• Minirth-Meier Christian Psychology For Today Publication. Paul Meier and Frank Minirth
• The Christian Journal of Psychology and Counseling AACC Gary Collins
• And the Journal’s Psychology and Theology
  

Now what is interesting here, the above list of works of study were done in a period while I was pastor/teacher at First Baptist Church in Altoona, Kansas from 1980-1996. I don’t think I had heard a lot, if any, about Christian or Biblical Counseling prior to the 1980's. In my youth, I didn’t know what counseling was by that term. But in the 60's and 70's I spent a lot of time one on one talking to teenagers and adults about their lives as Christians. The Bible was generally my only textbook. I believe for the most part the Bible does work in giving a lot of good advice and solutions, and principles for living life free from depression, and a lot of worry and a lot of hurtful stress. Some depression, discouragement, worry and stress is normal for all Christians. I remember saying, "I schedule worry for thirty minutes a week."

PART TWO:
PREFACE: THE OBJECTIVE OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING: Wednesday