Soul Care Conference

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Soul Care retreat

Soul Care retreat

The fall Soul Care retreat for pastors was held last month at America’s Keswick in Whiting, New Jersey. John Woodward spoke on “Vital Dimensions of the Cross.” (See a PDF summary here). The next Pastor’s Conference there is scheduled for Feb. 2-5, 2015.

Here’s a testimony from one of the men who attended:

Dear Brother John,
Thank you so very much for your ministry at our recent Soul Care Conference. I sincerely believe it was the best we’ve had. The LORD ministered to my heart. I’m working through Dr. Solomon’s book Handbook to Happiness and am profiting greatly from it. The one point that helped me most was when you told us that God changes our past. Mine was an alcoholic home with a lot of fighting. My entire family was split up when I was ten. To discover my new identity in Christ is my only answer… My life is truly changed and I will be forever grateful. My wife keeps reminding that I’ve changed. When I ask how? She responds with “you aren’t protective of yourself any more.” That, in itself, is a huge help to my life. So, thank you for your kind help at Keswick.
-pastor from Connecticut

 

Discovering Who God Is and How He Sees You

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Rose Publishing is offering a free PDF of “Discovering Who God Is and How He Sees You” eChart. It introduces a book on this by Norm Wright.

“I have learned that who I am is not tied to physical abilities, roles, and emotional ties in life. Who I am is determined by my Creator, my Potter, Sovereign LORD. Who I am is determined by ‘Whose I am!’…Chapter three is the meat of the text: how to let go of your false identities and accepting God’s grace and His plan for you.”— Ann Sanger, customer review on Amazon

See the Rose page for access.

Daily Affirmation of Faith

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In a recent counseling session, the topic came up again: We need to set our mind on the Spirit, which is life and peace (Rom. 8:6). A helpful summary of the grace and truth realities is Victor Matthews’ article Daily Affirmation of Faith:

Today I deliberately choose to submit myself fully to God as He has made Himself known to me through the Holy Scriptures which I honestly accept as the only inspired, infallible, authoritative standard for all of life and practice. In this day I will not judge God, His work, myself or others on the basis of feelings or circumstances. In particular–I recognize by faith:

1. That the triune God is worthy of all honor, praise, and worship as the Creator, Sustainer, and End of all things. As my Creator I confess that God made me for Himself. In this day I therefore choose to live for Him (Rev. 5:9,10; Isa. 43:1, 7, 21; Rev. 4:11).

2. That God loved me and chose me in Christ before time began.

3. (Eph. 1:1-7). That God has proven His love to me in sending His Son to die in my place, whereby every provision has already been made for my past, present, and future needs through His representative work whereby I have been quickened, raised, seated with Christ in the heavenlies and anointed with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:6-11; 8:28-39; Phil. 1:6; 4:6, 7, 13, 19; Eph. 1:3; 2:5, 6; Acts 2:1-4, 33).

Continued… Here is the full article:  Daily Affirmation of Faith

Pioneer’s testimony

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In this recently recorded 15 minute video, Dr. Chuck Solomon shares how he came to know Christ as Savior, Lord, and Life. After his spiritual breakthrough in 1965, Chuck deepened his roots in the Abiding Life, and was then called to pioneer the Exchanged Life Counseling model, which he named Spirituotherapy. This testimony was produced as an introduction to the DVD album for our For Me to Live is Christ workbook (8 half hour lessons taught by John Woodward / available August 1st!)

CRS_FMTLICClick here for video

 

Daily in Christ Devotional

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We appreciate the value of biblical, daily devotional literature. A volume that has blessed our home is Daily in Christ by Dr. Neil Anderson with his wife, Joanne. It is now available free online. The readings have a grace and identity in Christ perspective. Why not bookmark it for your use and/or remember it as a resource to recommend.

862http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/dailyinchrist/

Finishing Well

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In Daniel Henderson’s blog, he tells of a meeting he had with Peter Lord in Florida:

“As we enjoyed these rich moments of fellowship he began to muse about all of his colleagues over the years who have not finished well.  Some he spoke of by name, expressing the heartache of watching very good and gifted men self-destruct through moral failure.  We also discussed some recent high-profile instances that have brought new devastation to the hearts and spiritual homes of the faithful…”

Later in the article Henderson mentions some “warning signs” that contribute to spiritual and moral failure:

“Devotions without devotion – Over the centuries we have created “forms” that we often use to describe our spiritual progress. …
Serving in place of seeking – I’ve often said that “if the Devil can’t make you bad, he’ll just keep you busy.” …
Duty without delight – Biblical standards, tradition, the needs of others, and the expectations of powerful voices in our lives can keep us on task with our duties of religious service.  However, the true life-giving sustenance for a fruitful life is the delight of abiding in Christ, drawing our satisfaction and supply from a loving experience of His life in us.  Trudging ahead with religious duty that does not spring from daily delight in Christ will lead us to empty pretense and grave spiritual vulnerability…” Read full post here.

This concern about helping leaders finish well is a core value of the “Fermata” spiritual clinics in Brazil. In these three day events for pastoral couples, the message and materials about identification are shared. Many testify of personal renewal and a new ministry potential through recognizing and appropriating Christ as Life.

See the testimony of Luis Palau as an example of the vital importance of a Galatians 2:20 breakthrough. This was Paul’s testimony…which also contributed to him finishing well (2 Tim. 4).

Pastors and Suicide

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The last year has been witness to a spate of pastors committing suicide.

At times, the pastor has left no note. For some, there is no apparent explanation for what Frank Page has called “a permanent solution to what is usually a temporary problem.”

When a pastor kills himself, there is always speculation about secret sins (addictions, affairs and the like), but I suspect—absent later revelations—the enormous pressure of the pastorate, coupled with depression, are the culprits…

This post at ChurchLeaders offers a variety of practical suggestions to encourage and protect the emotional and mental health of pastors. John Steven’s excellent book on the subject shows empathy for the temptation, yet gives hope with a new perspective on life through the fuller message of the Cross. See his book description here.

See the full ChurchLeaders article here.