AACC: Scripture and Soul

AACC Grace and Truth World Conference:
Day Three Reflections—Scripture and Soul

Friday at the AACC started early and went late.

In the morning, Ian Jones, a fellow BCSFN co-director, received the Gary Collins award for excellence in Christian counseling. Then Larry Crabb gave the plenary session on how the Trinity impacts our counseling.

Immediately after, I gave my BCSFN track presentation on How to Practice Comprehensive Biblical Counseling: Implementing a Dozen Dreams: http://bit.ly/3ShzlR

Had lunch with my Baker Books editor from Beyond the Suffering, Vicki Crumpton. She was a great editor and is a wonderful encourager and friend.

Enjoyed a great time of mutual encouragement, sharing, brainstorming, and connecting during the BCSFN Mixer.

Topped things off with the evening the Dinner Theatre.

That’s the “stuff.”

Here’s the inside story.

People are hungry for truly biblical counseling. They are tired of biblical counseling that is half biblical—giving Scripture but not soul; giving truth without love. But they are also tired of counseling that claims to be Christian but follows more of the world than the Word. People long for Scripture and soul. They long for biblical Christian counseling that follows the Apostle Paul’s model in 1 Thessalonians 2:8. “We loved you so much that we were delighted to give you not only the Scriptures but our own souls, because you were so dear to us.”

Bob

Grace and Truth: AACC Day One Reflections

Grace and Truth: AACC Day One Reflections

For me, this is really "day two" as I drove down Tuesday (6.5 hours). Tuesday afternoon/evening was fun reconnecting with fellow AACC folks...and trying to remember how to get from Point A to Point Z at the Grand Ole Opry. Personally, I prefer counseling conferences hosted in a local church...for many reasons. But that's just me.

Wednesday started for me with praying over and reviewing my presentation. I facilitated a three-hour pre-conference on how to develop a biblical counseling method/model. As I always do, I had many built in times for small group interaction to discuss and apply what we were learning.

The group in attendance was very encouraging, very engaged, very hungry and thirsty for relevant, practical ways to use God's Word to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide God's people.

People have already asked, "Is this available in written form?" Yes. Actually, what I presented today is half of my typically day-long seminar on How to Care Like Christ. I have manuscripted that entire seminar, word for word, into an e-document of 20,000 words. How to Care Like Christ: Using the Bible Accurately, Powerfully, and Lovingly in Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation. You can get it at: http://bit.ly/DEKwc

I then spent most of the afternoon at the BCSFN (Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network) Booth in the Exhibition area. It was a great chance to meet new friends, to reconnect with old friends, and to tell people about the BCSFN which is one of the Divisions within the AACC.

Then in the evening kick-off plenary event, the music was inspiring with Charles Billingsley, New Song, and Amy Grant. Dr. Tim Clinton shared his heart, including, "tragedy is when we spend our life in things that do not matter." Pastor Piper concluded the evening with his signature focus on the glory of God's grace. He challenged all pastors, counselors, and lay people to make counseling all about God and not about us.

The day also was a blast in reconnecting with Capital Bible Seminary students and faculty in the MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship (MACCD) Department.

Today I'll be introducing all the BCSFN Track speakers, meeting with friends, and attending several other events.

More later.

Bob

AACC World Conference: Grace and Truth

The American Association of Christian Counselors' World Conference

Grace and Truth

I'll be leaving Tuesday morning for and returning Sunday afternoon from the AACC's 2009 Grace and Truth World Conference.

Every other year we host 5,000-t0-7,000 pastors, lay people, educators, psychologists, social workers, professional counselors, missionaries, spiritual directors, and spiritual friends.

Great worship, plenary speakers, several hundred ministry "booths," 40 pre-conference presentations, and scores of track presentations combine with connecting to make this a premier event.

I'll be presenting a Pre-Conf Wednesday (9-Noon) on Developing a Biblical Methodology of Biblical Counseling.

Then Friday morning I'll lead a Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN) track on How to Practice Comprehensive Biblical Counseling (over 300 signed-up).

Friday night I'll faciliate the BCSFN Mixer: sharing our vision for biblical counseling and spiritual formation, hearing from among our over 5,000 BCSFN members how we can further equip them, and dreaming together.

I'd love to meet any of you in person. If you're attending, be sure to look me up.

I'll also try to Twitter and Facebook along the way to keep you posted.

For more info: http://www.aacc.net/

The big event is in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry--it's like a city all unto itself. Massive.

In Christ's Grace,

Bob

The Best of Christian Biblical Counseling

Kellemen’s Christian The Best Of Guide
The Best of Christian Biblical Counseling Associations

Kellemen’s Christian The Best of Guide: Making your life easier by finding, summarizing, evaluating, and posting the best resources on a wide variety of topics from a Christian perspective.

The Best of Christian Biblical Counseling Associations

*American Association of Christian Counseling: http://www.aacc.net/

The AACC is the largest counseling association of any type, any where in the world with nearly 50,000 members. Their web site offers links to resources, conferences, articles, links to counselors and counseling agencies, and much more.

*The Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network: http://bcsfn.aacc.net/

The BCSFN is a division of the AACC (I am a co-director). The web site provides resources for pastors, lay people, and Christian/biblical counselors including a daily blog, free resources, conferences, book reviews, and much more. The BCSFN seeks to build bridges of connection through positive presentations of biblical counseling that leads to formation into the image of Christ.

*Black African American Christian Counselors: http://www.aacc.net/divisions/baacc/

The BAACC is a division of the AACC. It seeks to equip counselors to understand intercultural issues that impact ministry and to suggest ways to enrich services for our ethnically diverse society from a Christian perspective.

*The Society for Christian Psychology: http://christianpsych.org/

The SCP is a division of the AACC. It seeks to equip believers to understand psychology from a thoroughly Christian perspective. Their web site offers resources, a weekly blog, articles, conferences, and more.

*Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries: http://www.faithlafayette.org/ministry4.aspx

FBCM is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Lafayette, Indiana. For over three decades, Faith has been leading the way in equipping lay people and pastors to be biblical counselors. Their web site offers information on numerous conferences around the country, plus resources for biblical counseling.

*The Christian Counseling and Education Foundation: http://www.ccef.org/

The CCEF seeks to restore Christ to counseling and to restore counseling to the church. Their web site includes numerous books and conferences, along with frequently updated articles on life issues.

*The Association of Biblical Counselors: http://www.christiancounseling.com/

The ABC is the “new kid on the block,” having been launched five years ago to provide equipping in biblical counseling. Their web site offers resources, articles, links to certified counselors, links to blogs, and much more. Their national and regional conferences equip lay people and pastors to speak the truth in love.

*National Association of Nouthetic Counseling: http://www.nanc.org/

The NANC provides training and certification for nouthetic (from a Greek word used in the New Testament meaning to confront out of concern for change) biblical counselors. They host conferences around the country to equip pastors and lay people. Their web site lists certified counselors and provides resources and links for biblical counseling.

*RPM Ministries: www.rpmministries.org

RPM Ministries is my ministry. I seek to equip God’s people to change lives with Christ changeless truth through Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation. The web site includes links, free resources, articles, book reviews, a blog, quotes of notes, and much more.

Important Stuff

*Your Guide: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., LCPC, is the Founder and CEO of RPM Ministries (www.rpmministries.org) through which he writes, speaks, and consults to equip God’s people to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth. He blogs daily at http://rpmministries.blogspot.com.

*My Necessary Disclaimer: Of course, I don’t endorse everything in every article, book, or link that you’ll find in Kellemen’s Christian The Best of Guide. I report, you decide.

*Your Suggestions Are Welcomed: Feel free to post comments and/or send emails (rpm.ministries@gmail.com) about resources that you think deserve attention in various categories covered in Kellemen’s Christian The Best of Guide.

Your Personal Invitation to Be Equipped

Be Equipped to Change Lives

I’d like to invite you to join me at the AACC’s World Conference from Wednesday, September 16, 2009 through Saturday, September 19, 2009 in Nashville, TN.

Our Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN) has many equipping events planned to empower you to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.

BCSFN Pre-Conference

The BCSFN will hold its first “Conference-within-a Conference” during the AACC World Pre-Conference on Wednesday, September 18.

In the morning session from 9:00 AM to Noon, I will present on Developing a Theology and Methodology of Biblical Counseling. Learn seven essential biblical counseling competencies necessary to build a truly scriptural approach to Christian counseling.

In the afternoon session from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, Ron Hawkins will present on Using the Bible Accurately and Effectively in Biblical Counseling.

To register for the Pre-Conference go here http://tinyurl.com/nw5z2p and then select the Pre-Conferences by Kellemen and Hawkins to join others interested in biblical counseling and spiritual formation equipping.

BCSFN Track Presentations

During the AACC World Conference, from Thursday, September 17 to Saturday, September 19, the BCSFN has its own track, where we will be hearing from the following speakers:

*Ian F. Jones, “Biblical Counseling in the Historical Church,” Thursday, September 17, 8:45 to 10:00 AM, Session 103.

*Gary Moon, “Discipleship vs. Apprenticeship: An Experiential Approach to Spiritual Growth,” Thursday, September 17, 2:15 to 3:30 PM, Session 203.

*Robert W. Kellemen, “How to Practice Comprehensive Biblical Counseling: Implementing a Dozen Dreams,” Friday, September 18, 8:45-10:00 AM, Session 303. Learn how to care like Christ by providing Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

*Scott E. Wiggington, “For Crying Out Loud: Reclaiming the Lost Language of Lament in Christian Counseling,” Friday, September 18, 2:15 to 3:30 PM, Session 403.

*Phil Monroe, “Engaging Biblical Texts in Trauma Therapy,” Friday, September 18, 4:15 to 5:30 PM, Session 503.

*John Thomas, “What’s Good About Feeling Bad: Developing a Theology of Suffering, Saturday, September 19, 8:45 to 10:00 AM, Session 603.

*Rick Marrs, “Making Christian Counseling More Christ-Centered,” Saturday, September 19, 2:15-3:30 PM, Session 703.

To register for the AACC World Conference Tracks, go here http://tinyurl.com/l284w6 and then select the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Foundations tracks when you sign-up.

BCSFN Mixer

Please join us on Friday evening for the BCSFN Mixer. Our time together will include fellowship, connecting, discussing the latest happenings in the BCSFN, and interacting about ways our division can better equip our members. We want to get to know you and benefit from your participation!

Register for the AACC World Conference

Please visit the following link to register for the 2009 AACC World Conference: http://www.aacc.net/conferences/2009-world-conference/

I look forward to connecting with each of you.

A New Friend, An Old Issue, A Fresh Perspective

A New Friend, An Old Issue, A Fresh Perspective

Yesterday, as I was putting the finishing touches on my updated Mission, Vision, Passion, Commission (MVP-C) Statement for RPM Ministries, the phone rang.

Thirty minutes later I had a new friend. During our talk, my new friend and I commiserated over the state of current Biblical/Christian counseling. Like me, my new friend bemoaned the fact that extremism seems to rule the day.

Either we have people claiming to be Christian counselors who do not build their models of counseling on the Bible, or people claiming to be Biblical counselors who do not relate to those who disagree with them in a Christlike way.

Hmm . . . Christian counselors who are not so very Biblical. And Biblical counselors who are not so very Christian.

Disappointing indeed.

It's an old issue. Sadly, few seem to be able to combine truth and love in Biblical/Christian counseling.

The ironic part? This issue of comprehensive truth and love was exactly what my updated RPM Ministries MVP-C Statement highlights.

In summary:

RPM Ministries exists to change lives with Christ's changeless truth through writing, speaking, and consulting focused on comprehensive, compassionate, culturally-informed Biblical/Christian counseling and spiritual formation.

It's not rocket science. It shouldn't be this hard. It shouldn't be so rare.

My new friend and I long for the day when Biblical/Christian counseling "integrates" truth and love.

My guess is, so do you.

My suspicion is, many people are growing weary of these "counseling wars."

My hunch is, many of us want to find a community of Christian/Biblical counselors who love the Word of God and who love the people of God.

I'd be glad to hear from others like my new friend.

In fact, I'm sure there are many who would like to hear from each other. Perhaps we could build a community of loving/truthing Christian/Biblical counselors.

Let's share our stories. Let's share our horror stories of not feeling like we fit anywhere because we refuse to join one "camp" or another. And then let's share our encouraging stories of our commitment to comprehensive, compassionate, culturally-informed Christian/Biblical counseling.