Using the analogy of an athlete playing for the team’s name rather than personal fame, the psalmists and Ezekiel challenge counselors and counselees to align their motives, trust God in trials, pursue renewal, and exalt God in community—all for His glory. When we understand the greater purpose, it impacts our counsel and our living. Continue Reading →
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I pause this afternoon to share a few words about my friend, Lou Priolo. After a short illness, my friend transitioned from this world to the next. When I received a text early that morning sharing the news, my mind went back to conversations we had shared in conferences, emails, texts, and over the phone. Lou was one of the first biblical counselors to influence me—as he did so many others like Martha Peace, Stuart Scott, and Mark Shaw, to name a few. In the early days, he primarily influenced me by his books; in the past many years, I am so grateful for our friendship. Below, I share a tribute to Lou from his own words. I have borrowed from a blog he wrote about death, as well as his closing paragraph in his tribute to Jay Adams upon Jay’s death. Continue Reading →
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It was a privilege to attend the 12th annual Biblical Counseling Coalition Leadership Summit. This year’s theme was Theological Application: The BCC Confessional Statement in Action. The BCC Council met at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. This three-day event provides opportunities for the Council to build collaborative relationships that strengthen churches, para-church organizations, and educational institutions through growing in relationship together while fostering conversations about theology and practice. Continue Reading →
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Music is good for the soul. In counseling, when we use lyrics that reflect the truth needed in our counselee’s life in a particular situation, we extend the work of counseling both horizontally into the week and vertically in the heart. Continue Reading →
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Have you been on Twitter recently? Some have referred to it as a “dumpster fire.” I do not disagree. As I observe various brothers and sisters-in-Christ engage each other online, my heart grieves as they seemingly fail to love God and each other well. Their words and attitude tell a different story than what they formally say they believe. Of course, indecorous speech is not only limited to Twitter. Facebook users, podcast producers, and YouTube streamers get in on the action as well. Continue Reading →
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