AACC Day Two Reflections: Community

AACC Grace and Truth World Conference: Day Two Reflections--Community

Here’s a recap of Thursday at the AACC World Conference.

Conferences like these are never only about the content, as important as that is.

They are also about community.

I was able to connect with many students and co-workers from Capital Bible Seminary’s MACCD (MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship) department. Had a great time reconnecting with Professor Chris Boucher and his whole family. Also spent some wonderful time with Terri Polm who was our full-time mentor of women and with Jim Nestle who was our full-time mentor of men. Met up with two dear friends, Pastor Harry Pilson and Sister Olivia Pilson—Olivia is one of our women mentors.

Many of our student graduates/alums stopped by at the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN) booth. It’s always so encouraging to hear how God is using people to impact others. I wish I could list every name.

Sister Ellen Barney and I talked for a long time. Sister Ellen was in the first two years of our program and has always been such an encourager. She also has trained lay women every year in LEAD: Lay Encouragers And Disciplers. Their church uses both Soul Physicians and Spiritual Friends to equip their women for one another ministry.

The World Conference is also always a great opportunity to reconnect with men and women from around the country and the world who also are equipping others. Had a great time at lunch with Dr. Ian Jones from Southwestern Seminary, a great time at dinner with Dr. Steve Greggo from Trinity. Spent time during the day with my good friend Dr. Eric Johnson from Southern Seminary, with Dr. Phil Monroe from Biblical Seminary, Dr. Miriam Parent from Trinity, Dr. Ron Hawkins from Liberty, and so many others.

Today, I will be off soon to hear Dr. Larry Crabb present a plenary message on the impact of Trinitarian theology on biblical counseling. It will be a special privilege to close that plenary session in prayer, since I studied under Larry at Grace Seminary. His personal mentoring, friendship, teaching, and writings have impacted me in many ways.

Then I’ll race off (lots of racing here!) to present my track session on How to Practice Comprehensive Biblical Counseling: Implementing a Dozen Dreams. We’ll be looking together at ways to ensure that our counseling is Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed.

A full day will follow after that. Lord willing, I will share about it on Saturday morning.

Thanks for following the journey.

Bob

Two Keys to Unlocking the Door to Success

Two Keys to Unlocking the Door to Success:
Community and Commitment

In Outliers, Gladwell makes two important points about success.

Community

First, success in any endeavor is not simply about the individual, but about the individual’s community of support: family, background, history, upbringing, networks, friends, connections, co-workers.

We may say, “Duh!” However, most books on “success” look almost entirely at the individual attributes and neglect the societal and communal. This is a “sign of the times” with our dis-connected society.

The take away: Whether online or in the “real world,” social networking is vital for “success.” Or, put another way, “Synergy is energy” as Pam Perry might say. Or, as Goleman would say, “It takes emotional intelligence.” That is, we need to relate well, to care, to connect.

Commitment

Second, the communal does not obliterate the individual. A second not-so-secret secret to success is the “10,000 Hour Principle.” Successful people, whether athletes, authors, or business persons, don't achieve success until they have put in at least 10,000 hours of work. That means 4 hours a day, five days a week, fifty weeks a year, for ten years.

I authored my first book in 2004. That’s not yet five years ago. Without a “big name” background behind it, I have worked hard for five years. I’ve made some progress. I now have three published books with the fourth on the way. I edit two Journals, etc. But, I still have five years to go! I am only half way toward my ten years. And, have I put in a half day’s work per day the last five years on writing and promoting? No.

The take away: to the turtle goes the victory. It is not a sprint. It is a marathon. At least a ten year marathon to “success” in any endeavor. Are we staying at “it” long enough? Do we endure the “dips” and plow through the mounds? Or, do we quit at the five-year mark?

So:

1. Are we connecting? It Does Take a Village!

2. Are we committed? It’s a 10,000 Hour Marathon!

The VineLine 1:1

RPM Ministries: The VineLine

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the first “edition” of The VineLine: the e-newsletter of RPM Ministries.

The VineLine is not your normal ministry mailer that says, “Pray for me and send me money!” It’s not wrong to ask for prayer and financial support, and I will ask for prayer (see below), but I want The VineLine to be different. I want to connect and give.

Connecting:

I’m wanting The VineLine to connect you to each other. If you have a prayer request that you want me to pray for privately or that you want me to share publicly in the next emailing of The VineLine, then please send me your request (rpm.ministries@gmail.com).

Giving:

I’m wanting The VineLine to give—to provide you with resources. So, each email “issue” I will highlight a link to my free resources and a link to one of my Truth for Life blogs.

What Is RPM Ministries?

You’ll see those links just below. But first, some of you may be wondering, “What in the world is RPM Ministries?” Well, for the “full version,” go to www.rpmbooks.org (we’re in the process of changing the address to www.rpmministries.org).

Here’s the Readers’ Digest version: RPM is an acrostic for Resurrection Power Multipliers, based upon Paul’s prayer in Philippians 3:10. “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.”

RPM Ministries exists to equip you “to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth” through the ministries of soul care and spiritual direction.

I seek to fulfill this calling through my writing (books, articles, free resources, book reviews, and my blog) and speaking (seminars, conferences, preaching, and teaching) ministries.

Links to Free Resources:

Now, for your free resources:

1. To read about Olympias—truly a champion in the “spiritual Olympics,” go to: http://www.rpmbooks.org/2008/03/spiritual-sister-to-church-father-much.html.

2. To enjoy four detailed PowerPoint presentations on Beyond the Suffering go to: http://www.rpmbooks.org/free_resources.html. Then move down to Beyond the Suffering documents and look under “All-Day Seminar PowerPoints.”

Prayer Partners and Spiritual Friends

Once again, if you have prayer requests, either public or private, please email me at rpm.ministries@gmail.com.

Here are a few ministry prayer requests and updates.

1. Please pray for tonight’s broadcast on CDR Radio of my radio interview about Soul Physicians—that people would be excited and encouraged about biblical counseling.

2. Please pray for the March 31 radio interview with KGFT Radio about Soul Physicians—that people would be excited and encouraged about biblical counseling.

3. Please pray for my April 10 American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) Pre-Conference (Three Hour) Presentation on “What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?”

4. Please pray for my April 12 AACC Presentation on “Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction.”

5. Please pray for my April 20 Sunday message (three services) at Faith Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN on 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 on “Biblical Sufferology.”

6. Please pray for my April 27 Sunday message at New Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana on Psalm 1:1-6 on “Blessed Is
the Man.” This is the sixth anniversary service for Pastor Charles Floyd, II.

7. Please pray for Susan Ellis and me as we are co-authoring Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Feminine Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors. Our research is complete, and the first three (of thirteen) chapters have been written.

Thanks for being my spiritual friend.

If you know of others who you think would enjoy The VineLine, please forward it to them and/or ask them to email me to be placed on the group email list.

If you would, for any reason, prefer not to receive The VineLine, I understand. Please simply email me back with a subject line of “Please Remove.”

In Christ’s Grace,

Bob