Deus Misereatur

[I'm very grateful for this article published by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors  on 20 February 2025. Below is the beginning of the article. To read the rest follow the link at the bottom] Counseling the Conspiracy Theorist How does Scripture speak to the nature of conspiracy theories? Daniel Szczesniak There’s something about conspiracy theories that attracts us. The deep state, Russiagate, birther, Epstein, QAnon, and the New World Order are terms that have entered the public consciousness over the past few years. The grassy knoll, flat earth, chemtrails, and the moon landing have been popular subjects for years. There are endless debates about vaccines, voter fraud, the pandemic, and no doubt there will be many still to come about the recent Pennsylvania assassination attempt. Such theories capture our imagination while attempting to explain the inexplicable. In doing so, they provide structure to the chaos of the world around us. As Christians, we love to seek...

  In "Diary of a Country Priest" by Georges Bernanos, the story unfolds as the young, idealistic priest meets grace that impacts and confronts both priest and parishioner. Very much like Chaucer's medieval parson, who cared for his flock at great cost to himself. This pastoral sense is what lies behind a new 168-page softback by T. Dale Johnson Jr., Executive Director of The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and the Director of Counseling Programs and Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The whole premise of the volume is soul-care should be reclaimed by church leaders, and how the congregation can be the healthy environment for such soul-care. In a nutshell, the book is primarily focused on pastors and ministers returning to the biblical role of " prayer and the ministry of the word " (Acts 6:4). The ministry of the word includes preaching and bible teaching, but also formal and informal counse...

  Jay Adams is known among many biblical counselors and classic Presbyterians as the father of neuthetic counseling. Some years back he pulled together several short essays on the value and significance of faith during the counseling process that became this short 73-page paperback: “The Importance of Faith in Counseling”. This little manual has recently been repackaged and republished by the Institute for Nouthetic Studies. The chapters are short, and easy to digest. Adams whole premise is that the counseled need to be encouraged to grow in faith during counseling sessions. And the counselor also needs to develop stronger faith as well. But it’s not about faith-in-faith. Rather, Adams shows what real Christian faith is and how it focuses on and centers on who God is, what he has done, is doing, and will do for his people as declared in Sacred Scripture. In other words, you “will want to create a pervasive biblical atmosphere…it is God, not the counselor, with Whom the counselee pr...

Personal Counseling Journal by Rush Witt My rating: 5 of 5 stars Honestly, it's unfair to say I "read" this "Personal Counseling Journal." Instead, the 104 page paperback is a methodical series of blank, lined pages broken down into twelve counseling sessions with loads of room for counselees to jot down notes and observations from counseling sessions and homework. The top of the first page gives space to write down the date and location. Then at the bottom of the second page is room to scribble out the "Growth Assignments" for the specific session, along with aids for Scripture memorization. The next four ruled pages are intended for the person to inscribe observations, reflections, and thoughts about the "Growth Assignments and Additional Notes." There's a workbook section of several pages with two columns. One column prompts with "Put Off: Ungodly thoughts, words, and actions" and the other cues with "Put On: Godly t...

As a pastor, I find myself regularly in counseling situations. There are times when I feel completely inept or incompetent. So I often come back to this passage in Isaiah 11, and praying something like the following: You who are the shoot from the stump of Jesse, the branch from his roots that bears fruit, upon whom the Spirit of the LORD rests, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD, whose delight is in the fear of the LORD; and who does not judge by what your eyes see, or decide disputes by what your ears hear, but with righteousness you shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth (Isaiah 11.1-4). We call upon you for help! We are finite and thus fallible, we do judge by what our eyes see and decide disputes by what our ears hear. Therefore some of our decisions have failed, and some of our counsels have fallen through. Lord, have mercy on us and give us your aid. Guide ...

Biblical Counseling Basics: Roots, Beliefs, and Future by Jeremy Lelek My rating: 5 of 5 stars Counseling opportunities and situations hit us all. Neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members and family come seeking direction or help in a trying situation. Often times, whether as pastors or parishioners, we feel pretty helpless. To the rescue comes a new 288 page paperback "Biblical Counseling Basics: Roots, Beliefs, and Future". This resource is penned by Jeremy Lelek, PhD, president of the Association of Biblical Counselors and Metroplex Counseling, a licensed professional counselor in the state of Texas, and a lecturer. The volume primarily attempts to "unpack the single question, What is biblical counseling" (1)? It is written for moms, dads, ministers, and data processors, and meant to arouse the perception that to do biblical counseling is in your grasp. As noted in the subtitle, Lelek goes into the roots and genealogy of biblical counseling. He moves br...