Saturday, December 1, 2007
Sooner omnipresence
As I look forward to the Sooners beating Missouri tonight for the Big 12 Championship, I realize this season has been different from all other seasons for me as a fan. I've typically only watched OU games in the past, but this year, due to the ranking system, I've realized that the Sooners have been playing "in spirit" in every game, even when/where they are not taking the field. As a result, I've watched many more college games this year, routing for "our" team, in matches like Texas A&M vs Texas, and Kansas vs. LSU.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thanksgiving newsletter
Beloved,
I have much to be thankful for this year. My Thanksgiving newsletter highlights just a few of them:
http://www.opcnorman.org/Wycliffe/EricPyle/newsletters/heart_lang_exp_nov07.pdf
(also downloadable here)
http://www.opcnorman.org/Wycliffe/EricPyle/#Communications
I have much to be thankful for this year. My Thanksgiving newsletter highlights just a few of them:
http://www.opcnorman.org/Wycliffe/EricPyle/newsletters/heart_lang_exp_nov07.pdf
(also downloadable here)
http://www.opcnorman.org/Wycliffe/EricPyle/#Communications
- Fieldworks Thanksgiving
- Book Ends (seminary)
- Check IT Out in Hudson Valley, NY
- Important new partership opportunity (financial need)
- Prayer requests
Thankfully yours in Him,
Eric D. Pyle
ps. If you're using Acrobat Reader 7.0, clicking on my email "eric_pyle@wycliffe.org" at the bottom of the pdf seems to result in "pyle@wycliffe.org" which is incorrect. Please use "eric_pyle@wycliffe.org".
Webpage : http://www.opcNorman.org/Wycliffe/EricPyle/
Personal Address : 1520 Bradford St, Irving, TX 75061 (469-222-2865)
Wycliffe Bible Translators : P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, Florida 32862-8200
Saturday, September 29, 2007
[PTC 301-Ed Welch] What are five distinctive features of biblical counseling? (final exam study guide)
1. What are the distinctive features of biblical counseling?
**Make one of those features its approach to secular literature.
1) Coram Deo - Regardless of circumstances, we live all of life before God (and His word).
· God has spoken, not in every detail of life, but to the heart of every human problem.
§ **Open to reading all secular literature, but Scripture as foundation/standard over all.
§ We don’t live in a bifurcated world Or a tripart body.
People’s actions/attitudes towards others say something about their relationship to God.
God speaks profoundly on these issues and accessibly.
2) Christ and Him crucified is the answer to all counseling problems.
· The deepest human problem is sin, not suffering.
· Suffering has become the solution for becoming truly human in a world of sin
3) All people are essentially the same, and struggle with the same basic problems.
Mystifying cases have some root connection to these basic human problems.
4) Our approach is profound and highly accessible. A child can do it.
5) Active heart. Battlefield for worship. Progressive sanctification.
**Make one of those features its approach to secular literature.
1) Coram Deo - Regardless of circumstances, we live all of life before God (and His word).
· God has spoken, not in every detail of life, but to the heart of every human problem.
§ **Open to reading all secular literature, but Scripture as foundation/standard over all.
§ We don’t live in a bifurcated world Or a tripart body.
People’s actions/attitudes towards others say something about their relationship to God.
God speaks profoundly on these issues and accessibly.
2) Christ and Him crucified is the answer to all counseling problems.
· The deepest human problem is sin, not suffering.
· Suffering has become the solution for becoming truly human in a world of sin
3) All people are essentially the same, and struggle with the same basic problems.
Mystifying cases have some root connection to these basic human problems.
4) Our approach is profound and highly accessible. A child can do it.
5) Active heart. Battlefield for worship. Progressive sanctification.
[PTC 301-Ed Welch] ANOREXIA: final exam study guide - outline
5) Anorexia
a) Brief Description
• Anorexia is an expression of the heart to refuse to be in need, and a desire to be in control.
b) The Most important Question/Feature/Issue to consider
Control. A person uses food to find a system how to do life apart from God and apart from others. It’s a secret world where a person is their own god.
c) Issues you need to be particularly alert to in your relationship with the counselee
• Perfectionism/Legalism. They are burdened by expectations and laws of other people. They want a world where they can set their own laws.
• Privacy. They want a world under their control apart from others. Eating has a public social dimension with its own customs/expectations.
d) One significant biblical text relevant to the problem area, why the text is relevant.
• Galatians 2: withdrawal from table fellowship.
e) A biblical conceptualization (Causes? Roots?)
• Attention.
• Sexlessness. I want to get rid of my feminity.
• A means to be in control. Victim to being overly-controlled.
• Guilt – self-punishment.
f) Two homework assignments showing awareness of uniqueness of the problem.
1) Asking them to pray publically acknowledging their need for Jesus.
2) Set small goals to gradually increase food eating and eating with others.
g) Your basic method of approach
1) Have they been victimized? How does has life been treating you?
2) Talk about God – offer a path/vision to come along side.
His sovereignty/sufficiency vs. autonomy/legalisms.
They don’t need laws/structure.
They need Jesus.
His grace in establishing righteousness vs. perfectionism.
His beauty vs. beauty is only physical.
a) Brief Description
• Anorexia is an expression of the heart to refuse to be in need, and a desire to be in control.
b) The Most important Question/Feature/Issue to consider
Control. A person uses food to find a system how to do life apart from God and apart from others. It’s a secret world where a person is their own god.
c) Issues you need to be particularly alert to in your relationship with the counselee
• Perfectionism/Legalism. They are burdened by expectations and laws of other people. They want a world where they can set their own laws.
• Privacy. They want a world under their control apart from others. Eating has a public social dimension with its own customs/expectations.
d) One significant biblical text relevant to the problem area, why the text is relevant.
• Galatians 2: withdrawal from table fellowship.
e) A biblical conceptualization (Causes? Roots?)
• Attention.
• Sexlessness. I want to get rid of my feminity.
• A means to be in control. Victim to being overly-controlled.
• Guilt – self-punishment.
f) Two homework assignments showing awareness of uniqueness of the problem.
1) Asking them to pray publically acknowledging their need for Jesus.
2) Set small goals to gradually increase food eating and eating with others.
g) Your basic method of approach
1) Have they been victimized? How does has life been treating you?
2) Talk about God – offer a path/vision to come along side.
His sovereignty/sufficiency vs. autonomy/legalisms.
They don’t need laws/structure.
They need Jesus.
His grace in establishing righteousness vs. perfectionism.
His beauty vs. beauty is only physical.
revised chiastic structure for Sermon on the Mount
Here is my revised chiastic structure for the Sermon on the Mount. I'm not sure it's possible to be satisfied with one, since there seems to be multiple overlapping parallels.
[4:23-25] <Narrative> Great crowds follow Jesus for healing.
A. [5.01-02] <Narrative> - He ascends to catechize his disciples.
B. [5:03-10] Final blessing-mercy-peace for persecuted bearers of God's rule in ChristA. [7:28-29] <Narrative> - The crowds marvel at Jesus' authority.C. [5:11-16] New covenant prophets/priests/kings to yield God's glory among menB. [7:21-27] Final destruction for those who turn away from Christ's wordD. [5:17- 48] Christ came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets in us.C. [7:13-20] Beware of false prophets known by their fruitsE. [6:01-18] Give, Pray, Fast in secret towards our Father.D. [7:01-12] Do unto others...for this is the Law and the Prophets.
E. [6:19-34] Store-up treasure in heaven / Seek first His Kingdom.
[8:01] <Narrative> - Great crowds follow him for healing after he descends.
Another viable chiastic structure I've heard is to take the first eight beatitudes (5:3-10) as an outline for the entire sermon on the mount. Thus, the rest of the sermon on the mount as an exposition of each of those points in reverse order.
[PTC 301-Ed Welch] FEAR: final exam study guide - outline
4) Fear
a) Brief Description
Fear is the result of threatening circumstances in which it doesn’t seem like God’s presence matters, He doesn’t care or He is powerless to deliver. Thus, fear provides opportunity to trust in God to be with us to deliver from danger, or to deliver us through it.
b) The Most important Question/Feature/Issue to consider
Idolatry.
• Cause: People who trust in something that cannot provide eternal power/security will live in fear of losing it.
• Effect: People who are afraid of being in danger or feel threatened will often seek security in something other than God (e.g. medication).
c) Issues you need to be particularly alert to in your relationship with the counselee
• Idolatry. Trusting anything in the world to protect/deliver/gain-success.
• Fear flees, forgetting God. Fear wants to run, it doesn’t pause to remember God’s character and promises.
• Self-protection. A fearful person will be tempted to protect something he loves, even if means harming others or neglecting to help others.
d) One significant biblical text relevant to the problem area, why the text is relevant.
Matthew 5-7. (Sermon on the Mount)
Allegiance to Christ will result in persecution/loss of status/property. The sermon provides a host of reasons why we can trust our Father with our obedience to Christ in all circumstances, namely favor with God provides a kingdom that can never be lost.
e) A biblical conceptualization (Causes? Roots?)
1) fear of enemies, real & perceived.
2) death and its associates.
It feels like God is far away, like he is not protecting me.
3) trusting in Idols
Something I depended upon let me down.
4) the past being repeated.
I’ve been hurt before, and don’t trust you.
5) being alone.
f) Two homework assignments showing awareness of uniqueness of the problem.
1) Journal seeing the evidence of God in your life.
2) Study “I will be with you” passages.
g) Your basic method of approach
• First, I would determine the prominent cause of fear, if possible.
• Then I would re-imagine about what it would look like to trust and obey God when that occasion arises and grace is needed for that moment, looking for the Spirit’s progressive sanctification.
• Then, I would establish a study for focusing upon what it means for God to promise to “be with you” in the midst of the situation, and the response that entails for the person.
x) God gives grace for today. Don’t worry about not being able to face fears tomorrow.
a) Brief Description
Fear is the result of threatening circumstances in which it doesn’t seem like God’s presence matters, He doesn’t care or He is powerless to deliver. Thus, fear provides opportunity to trust in God to be with us to deliver from danger, or to deliver us through it.
b) The Most important Question/Feature/Issue to consider
Idolatry.
• Cause: People who trust in something that cannot provide eternal power/security will live in fear of losing it.
• Effect: People who are afraid of being in danger or feel threatened will often seek security in something other than God (e.g. medication).
c) Issues you need to be particularly alert to in your relationship with the counselee
• Idolatry. Trusting anything in the world to protect/deliver/gain-success.
• Fear flees, forgetting God. Fear wants to run, it doesn’t pause to remember God’s character and promises.
• Self-protection. A fearful person will be tempted to protect something he loves, even if means harming others or neglecting to help others.
d) One significant biblical text relevant to the problem area, why the text is relevant.
Matthew 5-7. (Sermon on the Mount)
Allegiance to Christ will result in persecution/loss of status/property. The sermon provides a host of reasons why we can trust our Father with our obedience to Christ in all circumstances, namely favor with God provides a kingdom that can never be lost.
e) A biblical conceptualization (Causes? Roots?)
1) fear of enemies, real & perceived.
2) death and its associates.
It feels like God is far away, like he is not protecting me.
3) trusting in Idols
Something I depended upon let me down.
4) the past being repeated.
I’ve been hurt before, and don’t trust you.
5) being alone.
f) Two homework assignments showing awareness of uniqueness of the problem.
1) Journal seeing the evidence of God in your life.
2) Study “I will be with you” passages.
g) Your basic method of approach
• First, I would determine the prominent cause of fear, if possible.
• Then I would re-imagine about what it would look like to trust and obey God when that occasion arises and grace is needed for that moment, looking for the Spirit’s progressive sanctification.
• Then, I would establish a study for focusing upon what it means for God to promise to “be with you” in the midst of the situation, and the response that entails for the person.
x) God gives grace for today. Don’t worry about not being able to face fears tomorrow.
[PTC 301-Ed Welch] ANGER: final exam study guide - outline
3) Anger
a) Brief Description
Anger exposes the heart’s allegiance to what a person considers is right and wrong. It says that your allegiance is primarily for your own welfare and pleasure. Usually anger against others reveals anger against God. Anger says, “God is not good/just” or “God does not give me what I want, when I want it.” God’s anger is not comparable with human experience: slow, loving, directed towards Jesus.
b) The Most important Question/Feature/Issue to consider
Anger illustrates the noetic effects of sin: Anger makes people foolish.
Anger blinds. Angry people often don’t know they are angry.
c) Issues you need to be particularly alert to in your relationship with the counselee
• Humility/Love. Angry people will tend to make you angry or cower.
• Thermometer. Anger has different degrees: hot (overt) anger; cold (covert) anger.
• Righteous indignation tends to be short-lived.
• Self-righteousness. Anger is usually saying more about what a person wants to bring about for himself.
d) One significant biblical text relevant to the problem area, why the text is relevant.
• Anger against a brother can feel right, or indifferent to your relationship with God, but actually reveals your relationship to God.
• 1 John 2:9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness…
• 1 John 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
e) A biblical conceptualization (Causes? Roots?)
What is anger saying?
A. (Victim) I am afraid, I have been hurt, I feel alone, powerless.
B. Expressing a moral judgment, I am right, you are wrong.
C. … and I am authorized to punish you.
D. I am jealous: I deserve it, you don’t.
E. I am guilty.
F. I want to treat others how I’ve been treated.
G. Leave me alone. I am tired.
f) Two homework assignments showing awareness of uniqueness of the problem.
1) Ask others “how have I been angry today?”
2) In anger, ask how you can still love the person.
g) Your basic method of approach
1) First, I would determine what anger is saying. Why are they angry? This would help determine whether anger is the root problem.
2) Then, I would invite them to understand how their anger affects other people around them, since they probably don’t see the damage they are doing.
3) Then, I would have them focus on their relationship to God; remind them of God’s character: his goodness, love, righteousness, graciousness, humility in Christ. What is God’s anger like? What is Christ like?
4) Then, I would look for little ways in which that Christ-likeness can make a change in how he relates to others over time, and point out the work of the Spirit in these areas.
a) Brief Description
Anger exposes the heart’s allegiance to what a person considers is right and wrong. It says that your allegiance is primarily for your own welfare and pleasure. Usually anger against others reveals anger against God. Anger says, “God is not good/just” or “God does not give me what I want, when I want it.” God’s anger is not comparable with human experience: slow, loving, directed towards Jesus.
b) The Most important Question/Feature/Issue to consider
Anger illustrates the noetic effects of sin: Anger makes people foolish.
Anger blinds. Angry people often don’t know they are angry.
c) Issues you need to be particularly alert to in your relationship with the counselee
• Humility/Love. Angry people will tend to make you angry or cower.
• Thermometer. Anger has different degrees: hot (overt) anger; cold (covert) anger.
• Righteous indignation tends to be short-lived.
• Self-righteousness. Anger is usually saying more about what a person wants to bring about for himself.
d) One significant biblical text relevant to the problem area, why the text is relevant.
• Anger against a brother can feel right, or indifferent to your relationship with God, but actually reveals your relationship to God.
• 1 John 2:9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness…
• 1 John 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
e) A biblical conceptualization (Causes? Roots?)
What is anger saying?
A. (Victim) I am afraid, I have been hurt, I feel alone, powerless.
B. Expressing a moral judgment, I am right, you are wrong.
C. … and I am authorized to punish you.
D. I am jealous: I deserve it, you don’t.
E. I am guilty.
F. I want to treat others how I’ve been treated.
G. Leave me alone. I am tired.
f) Two homework assignments showing awareness of uniqueness of the problem.
1) Ask others “how have I been angry today?”
2) In anger, ask how you can still love the person.
g) Your basic method of approach
1) First, I would determine what anger is saying. Why are they angry? This would help determine whether anger is the root problem.
2) Then, I would invite them to understand how their anger affects other people around them, since they probably don’t see the damage they are doing.
3) Then, I would have them focus on their relationship to God; remind them of God’s character: his goodness, love, righteousness, graciousness, humility in Christ. What is God’s anger like? What is Christ like?
4) Then, I would look for little ways in which that Christ-likeness can make a change in how he relates to others over time, and point out the work of the Spirit in these areas.
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