One With Christ

Who I Am To Christ, Part Four—One With Christ

Christ-Esteem: The world talks about “self-esteem.” But God’s Word teaches us about “Christ-esteem”—how God views us, sees us, accepts us, and loves us through Christ. Knowing how God relates to us because of our relationship to Christ is vital to glorifying God, defeating the lies of Satan, and ministering powerfully.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

As you read the following summaries:

*Meditate on the verses and on the truth they share about you.

*Reject the lies of Satan about how God views you.

*Thank God for who you are to Christ.

*Select one verse/truth per day and specifically apply it to your life and relationships.

My Relationship to God through Christ

Ephesians 1:4-6—I am accepted in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:5—I was predestined to be adopted as God’s son.

Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14—I am forgiven and redeemed.

Ephesians 1:13—I have been included in Christ.

Ephesians 1:13—I have been marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:14—I am God’s precious, treasured possession.

Ephesians 2:10—I am God’s poem, opus, epic, masterpiece.

Ephesians 2:13—Once far away, Christ has brought me near to God.

Ephesians 2:19—Together with all believers, I am a fellow citizen of God’s kingdom.

Ephesians 2:19—Together with all believers, I am a member of God’s family.

Ephesians 2:22—I am a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 3:6; 4:25; 5:30—Together with all the saints, I am a member of Christ’s body.

Ephesians 3:6—Together with all the saints, I share in the promise of Christ.

Ephesians 3:12—I may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:18—God’s love for me is wider than east and west, longer than north and south, higher than the stars, and deeper than the galaxy.

Ephesians 3:19—I am filled with the fullness of God.

Ephesians 4:12—Together with all God’s children, I claim the title, “God’s people.”

Ephesians 4:30—I am sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of final redemption.

Ephesians 5:1—I am a dearly loved child of God.

Ephesians 5:2—Christ loves me.

Ephesians 5:25—Together with all Christians, I am the Church, loved so much by Christ that he died for me.

Ephesians 5:29—Christ nourishes me.

Ephesians 5:29—Christ cherishes me.

Ephesians 5:31-32—Together with all the saints, I am one with Christ.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

A Hero Passes

A Hero Passes: Sidney Howard Vernon (1917-2009)

Those who read my Twitter tweets, my Facebook updates, and my blog posts have surely noted my unusual silence over the past 48 hours.

Thursday, August 13, 2009, my Father-in-law, Sidney Howard Vernon, went home to be with his Lord at age 92. My wife (Shirley), daughter (Marie), and I are in Richmond, VA with Shirley's Mom (Hilda), brother (Charles), and extended family.

You never heard of Sidney Vernon. But he was a hero. He is now in God's hall of faith. He is part of that great cloud of witnesses.

Married to the same woman for 60 years. Yes, 60 years! He loved his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and even his son-in-law. He never met a stranger. He provided for his family physically and spiritually. He worked hard. He laughed often and deeply. He told life stories that made you realize how desperately we all need God. A committed Christian, he is at peace with God. And though we grieve and miss him, we are at peace with God also.

I'll pretty much be away from "technology" the next few days. But I had to stop by to explain why. And more importantly, to encourage us all to remember that being a hero is NOT about being well-known. Being a hero is about knowing and loving God and knowing and loving one another.

Please pray for Hilda, Shirley, and Charles as they and we grieve as those who have sure hope.

And hug and love your family just a little bit more this weekend.

In Christ's Grace,

Bob (The son-in-law of a hero)

Cultivating Christlike Intercultural Relational Competency: TEAM

Cultivating Christlike Intercultural Relational Competency
A Christ-Centered TEAM Approach

Do you long to relate and minister effectively in our culturally diverse society?

Cultivating Christlike Intercultural Relational Competency will equip you to develop four core biblical intercultural relational skills.

Be empowered to relate like Christ.

Enjoy engaging PowerPoint presentations, stirring vignettes,
moving personal applications, and intercultural ministry implications.

Facilitated by Dr. Bob Kellemen

Bob is a nationally-known speaker, writer, consultant, educator, pastor, and counselor. He’s the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction, Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, Sacred Friendships, and God’s Healing for Life’s Losses. He has equipped thousands of lay people, pastors, and counselors as Chairman of the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Discipleship Department (Capital Bible Seminary), as Director of the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network, and as Founder/CEO of RPM Ministries.

Our Vision

After successful participation in Cultivating Christlike Intercultural Relational Competency, Christians of all races will be able to implement the TEAM intercultural relational competencies of:

T: Taking another person’s earthly perspective through empathy and culturally-informed listening.

E: Engaging in bridge-building spiritual conversations through focusing on God’s eternal perspective.

A: Abolishing barriers through forgiveness and reconciliation.

M: Making intercultural peace through spiritual renewal.

Our Passion

Cultivating Intercultural Competency is based upon the biblical conviction that God in Christ is moving all of history toward an eternity where “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language” will stand before the Lamb in united worship (Revelation 7:9-10). Our goal is to equip one another to relate now in light of our eternal future so that God is glorified and others are attracted to Christ by our love.

Contact Us:

To host or attend an RPM Ministries presentation on Cultivating Christlike Intercultural Relational Competency, contact us at:

RPM Ministries
PO Box 270, Crown Point, IN 46308, 219-662-8138
www.rpmministries.org, rpm.ministries@gmail.com
Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth
Christ-Centered, Comprehensive, Compassionate,

and Culturally-Informed Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation

The Heroes of Black Church History Seminar

The Heroes of Black Church History
Celebrate the Legacy of African American Christianity

A One Day Seminar Presented by Dr. Bob Kellemen

Do you long to learn from African American heroes of the faith

how God uses suffering to move His people to a place of healing hope?

Dr. Kellemen equips Christians of all races to be empowered by the

Heroes of Black Church history to minister God’s healing hope to one another.

Dr. Bob Kellemen

Bob is a nationally-known speaker, writer, consultant, educator, pastor, and counselor. He’s the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction, Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, Sacred Friendships, and God’s Healing for Life’s Losses. He has equipped thousands of lay people, pastors, and counselors as Chairman of the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Discipleship Department (Capital Bible Seminary), as Director of the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network, and as Founder/CEO of RPM Ministries.

At the Seminar, Christians of All Races Will:

*Be empowered by the founding fathers of the African American church about how to be a godly male leader.

*Be equipped by the heroic sisters of the spirit of the African American church to be a powerful female spiritual friend.

*Be enriched by past African American husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers concerning how to nurture and enjoy godly living in the home.

*Be enlightened to apply proven ways to help people find healing hope in the midst of deep pain by identifying with past African American believers.

*Be enabled to minister more effectively in cross-cultural settings by uncovering the buried treasure of wisdom contained in the legacy of African American soul care and spiritual direction.

*Be encouraged to skillfully practice the historic soul care arts of sustaining, healing, reconciling, and guiding.

*Be enthused to build healing communities where Christians find courage and comfort in God and each other.

Endorsed by Pastor Tony Evans

“Dr. Kellemen’s work shows us how the pain experienced by people from the African American culture can be redeemed to give life to people from any race or culture. The captivating true stories and first-hand narratives have a therapeutic and healing quality. After you engage Beyond the Suffering, you will have a deeper understanding of how God forged character in people through their suffering and be able to apply many valuable insights to your personal life and future ministry.”

Heroes of Black Church History Seminar Schedule

8:15-8:45 Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:45-8:55 Worship

8:55-9:00 Greeting and Prayer

9:00-10:30 Session One: So Great a Cloud of Witnesses: Following the Ancient Paths

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:00 Session Two: Watered with Our Tears: Communal Comfort and Family Faithfulness

12:00-1:00 Lunch Fellowship Together

1:00-1:10 Worship

1:10-2:30 Session Three: The Old Ship of Zion: Uniting in Christ

2:30-2:45 Break

2:45-4:00 Session Four: This Far by Faith: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy

To Host or Attend a Seminar, Contact:

RPM Ministries
PO Box 270, Crown Point, IN 46308, 219-662-8138

http://www.rpmministries.org/, rpm.ministries@gmail.com
Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth
Christ-Centered, Comprehensive, Compassionate,

and Culturally-informed Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation

Care Like Christ

Care Like Christ

I understand that you care deeply for people, but that you can find it frustrating to obtain equipping that empowers you to care like Christ.

That’s why RPM Ministries offers Changing Lives Seminars to equip and empower you to use the Bible accurately, powerfully, and lovingly in your personal relationships.

Here’s the information you need to be equipped and empowered at three upcoming Changing Lives Seminars. I’d love to see you and connect in person.

Upcoming RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminars

1. When: Saturday, September 26, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

*Where: Community Evangelical Free Church, 4501 Franklin St., Harrisburg, PA 17111.

*What: RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar: How to Care Like Christ

*Why: In one day learn how to understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically! Learn how to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide one another to become more like Christ.

*How: To register online please visit: http://bit.ly/P6mlX. Click here for more information: http://bit.ly/p8bjc. To talk to a real live person contact Pastor John Heater at 717-545-1354.

2. When: Saturday, October 10, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

*Where: Grace Baptist Church, 7210 Race Track Road, Bowie, MD 20715.

*What: RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar: How to Care Like Christ

*Why: In one day learn how to understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically! Learn how to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide one another to become more like Christ.

*How: Learn more at: http://bit.ly/lX5PG. To register contact Pastor Mark Tanious at 301-262-1767.

3. When: Saturday, October 31, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

*Where: Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 1615 Third Street, N.W., Washington DC.

*What: RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar: How to Care Like Christ

*Why: In one day learn how to understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically! Learn how to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide one another to become more like Christ.

*How: Contact the Church Office at 202-667-1833 to register. Ask for Minister Charles Traylor and the Changing Lives Seminar. Visit the church website at: http://bit.ly/N35Cd.

Note: If your church, para-church group, ministry, or school would like to host an RPM Seminar or would like to have Dr. Kellemen present for you, please contact us at: rpm.ministries@gmail.com.

Note: For more information about the Changing Lives Seminar please visit: http://bit.ly/o7TxX.

Changing Lives Seminars

RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar

Do you care deeply for people, but find it difficult to obtain equipping that empowers you to care like Christ?

Are you ready to learn the art of Christ Care?

*Learn How to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

*Learn How to Care Like Christ

*Learn How to Use the Bible Accurately, Powerfully, and Lovingly in Your Personal Relationships

A One-Day Seminar Presented by Dr. Bob Kellemen

Bob is a nationally-known speaker, writer, consultant, educator, and counselor. He’s the author of Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, Beyond the Suffering, Sacred Friendships, and God’s Healing for Life’s Losses. He has equipped thousands of lay people, pastors, and counselors as Chairman of the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Discipleship Department (Capital Bible Seminary), as Director of the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network, and as Founder/CEO of RPM Ministries.

Learn Biblical Answers to Life's Seven Ultimate Questions

1. What is truth? Where do we find answers?

2. Who is God?

3. Who am I?

4. What went wrong? Why do I sin and suffer?

5. How do people change?

6. Where am I headed?

7. How can I help?

Be Equipped for One Another Ministry
as a Spiritual Friend, Biblical Counselor, and Soul Physician:

*Learn how to understand people biblically: Discover how God designed us to live, love, and relate.

*Learn how to diagnose problems scripturally: Uncover what went wrong—why do we do the things we do?

*Learn how to prescribe God’s solutions effectively: Apply Christ’s answers for our daily life problems.

*Learn how to weep with those who weep: Offer sustaining care for discouraged people—empathize with people.

*Learn how to give hope to the hurting: Offer healing comfort for suffering people—encourage people as you relate God’s truth to daily life.

*Learn how to be a dispenser of grace: Offer reconciling care-fronting for sinning people—enlighten people as you speak the truth in love.

*Learn how to disciple, coach, and mentor: Offer guiding counsel for growing people—empower people to tap into Christ’s resurrection power.

Changing Lives Seminar Schedule

8:30-9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00-12:00 Morning Session with Two Breaks

How to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth:
Become a Christ-Centered, Comprehensive, Compassionate,
and Culturally-Informed Soul Physician

Everyone talks about biblical counseling, but how do we make biblical counseling truly biblical? Learn how to use God’s Word accurately, powerfully, and lovingly. Be equipped to become an artful soul physician by developing a Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical model of people helping, counseling, and one another ministry that values and applies the sufficiency, supremacy, authority, and relevancy of Scripture to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.

12:00-1:00 Lunch Fellowship Together

1:00-4:00 Afternoon Session with Two Breaks

How to Care Like Christ:
Become an Empathizing, Encouraging, Enlightening,

and Empowering Spiritual Friend

Everyone wants to “do biblical counseling” and to “be a spiritual friend,” but what does it actually “look like” in practice? Learn how to use God’s Word to empathize, encourage, enlighten, and empower others. Be equipped to become a skillful spiritual friend by developing the biblical soul care and spiritual direction arts of sustaining, healing, reconciling, and guiding to care like Christ.

Contact Us:

To host or to attend an RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar contact us:

RPM Ministries
PO Box 270, Crown Point, IN 46308, 219-662-8138
www.rpmministries.org, rpm.ministries@gmail.com

Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

Christ-Centered, Comprehensive, Compassionate, and Culturally-Informed Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation

Be Equipped

Be Equipped to Change Lives with

Christ’s Changeless Truth

I understand that you care deeply for people, but that you can find it frustrating to obtain equipping that empowers you to care like Christ.

That’s why I write, speak, and consult about Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation that equips you to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.

Here’s the information you need to be equipped and empowered at upcoming seminars, conferences, and speaking engagements. I’d love to see you and meet you in person.

1. When: Wednesday, September 15, 9 AM to Noon

*Where: At the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference in Nashville.

*What: Pre-Conference Presentation: How to Develop a Theology and Methodology of Biblical Counseling

*Why: In one morning learn the seven truths that every spiritual friend, spiritual director, pastor, and biblical counselor must apply to change lives and care like Christ.

*How: Go here to register: http://bit.ly/povwo

2. When: Friday, September 18, 8:45-10:00 AM

*Where: At the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference in Nashville.

*What: Biblical Counseling Track Presentation: How to Practice Comprehensive Biblical Counseling: Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

*Why: In 75 minutes learn the dozen components that will change how Christians practice biblical counseling in the next generation.

*How: Go here to register: http://bit.ly/1TEbg

*How: Go here to sign up: http://bit.ly/RO9T0

3. When: Wednesday, September 23, 2:00-4:00 PM

*Where: Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL

*What: Panel Discussion: Embracing Minority Impact in Higher Education

*Why: Hear frank discussion about how and why Evangelical higher education can more effectively equip students of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities for biblical ministry.

*How: Contact us at rpm.ministries@gmail.com for more information.

4. When: Saturday, September 26, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

*Where: Community Evangelical Free Church, 4501 Franklin St., Harrisburg, PA 17111.

*What: RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar: How to Care Like Christ

*Why: In one day learn how to understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically! Learn how to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide one another to become more like Christ.

*How: See costs, benefits, details, and register online at: http://bit.ly/P6mlX. For more information contact Pastor John Heater at 717-545-1354.

5. When: Saturday, October 10, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

*Where: Grace Baptist Church, 7210 Race Track Road, Bowie, MD 20715.

*What: RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar: How to Care Like Christ

*Why: In one day learn how to understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically! Learn how to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide one another to become more like Christ.

*How: Learn more at: http://bit.ly/lX5PG. To register contact Pastor Mark Tanious at 301-262-1767.

6. When: Friday, October 23, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

*Where: North Park University and North Park Theological Seminary, 3225 West Foster Ave., Chicago, IL 60625, 773-244-6200.

*What: North Park University Student Diversity Leadership Conference. Presentation: Cultivating Christ-Centered TEAM Intercultural Competency

*Why: Learn and apply four central biblical competencies for relating interculturally.

*How: Go here to register: http://bit.ly/10Psrw. For the schedule, visit: http://bit.ly/19nqsb.

7. When: Saturday, October 31, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

*Where: Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 1615 Third Street, N.W., Washington DC.

*What: RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar: How to Care Like Christ

*Why: In one day learn how to understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically! Learn how to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide one another to become more like Christ.

*How: Contact the Church Office at 202-667-1833 to register. Ask for Minister Charles Traylor and the Changing Lives Seminar. Visit the church website at: http://bit.ly/N35Cd.

*Note: If your church, para-church group, ministry, or school would like to host an RPM Seminar or would like to have Dr. Kellemen present for you, please contact us at: rpm.ministries@gmail.com.

The Road to Hope: Vibia Perpetua, Part II

The Road to Hope: Vibia Perpetua, Part II

Note: For Part I, read Sunday’s blog post at http://bit.ly/10gzOt.

Learn More/Grow Stronger: Read Perpetua’s life story and the story of over fifty amazing women in Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith: http://bit.ly/YmaM1

“As If” Empathy

On the day of Perpetua’s final hearing before being martyred for her faith in 203 AD, the guards rushed Perpetua to the prisoners’ platform. Her father appeared with her infant son, guilting her and imploring her to “have pity on your son!” He caused such an uproar, that Governor Hilarion ordered him thrown out, and he was beaten with a rod.

Perpetua writes of this horrible incident. “My father’s injury hurt me as much as if I myself had been beaten. And I grieved because of his pathetic old age.”

Perpetua provides a classic portrait of biblical empathy. Her as if experience of her father’s pain is the essence of sustaining soul care—making the agony of others our very own.

Summoning Christ’s Strength

Perpetua not only finds in Christ the strength to empathize with her father, she also summons Christ’s power to console and encourage her family and her fellow martyrs.

“In my anxiety for the infant I spoke to my mother about him, tried to console my brother and asked that they care for my son. I suffered intensely because I sensed their agony on my account. These were the trials I had to endure for many days.”

Incredibly, Perpetua’s greatest pain was her ache for others who hurt for her!

A few days passed after the hearing and before the battle in the arena commenced. During this interval, Perpetua witnessed to her persecutors and ministered to other detainees.

“Pudens, the official in charge of the prison (the official who had gradually come to admire us for our persistence), admitted many prisoners to our cell so that we might mutually encourage each other.”

Facing death, Perpetua shared words of life with all who would listen.

The Road to Hope: Maintaining Perpetual Persistence

Felicitas (Perpetua’s friend and fellow prisoner) was in her eighth month of pregnancy. As the day of the contest approached, she became very distressed that her martyrdom might be delayed, since the law forbade the execution of a pregnant woman. An eyewitness to their eventual death shares his account of their journey together.

“Her friends in martyrdom were equally sad at the thought of abandoning such a good friend to travel alone on the same road to hope. And so, two days before the contest, united in grief they prayed to the Lord.” Immediately after their prayers, her labor pains began and Felicitas gave birth to a girl whom one of her sisters reared as her own.

This eyewitness records their witness for Christ to the very end. “On the day before the public games, as they were eating the last meal commonly called the free meal, they tried as much as possible to make it instead an agape. In the same spirit they were exhorting the people, warning them to remember the judgment of God, asking them to be witnesses of the prisoners’ joy in suffering, and ridiculing the curiosity of the crowd. . . . Then they all left the prison amazed, and many of them began to believe.”

To the very end, Perpetua maintains her perpetual persistence. “The day of their victory dawned, and with joyful countenances they marched from the prison to the arena as though on their way to heaven. If there was any trembling, it was from joy, not fear. Perpetua followed with a quick step as a true spouse of Christ, the darling of God, her brightly flashing eyes quelling the gaze of the crowd.”

Stubbornly Resisting to the End

As they were led through the gates, they were ordered to put on different clothes; the men, those of the priests of Saturn, the women, those of the priestesses of Ceres. “But that noble woman stubbornly resisted even to the end. She said, ‘We’ve come this far voluntarily in order to protect our rights, and we’ve pledged our lives not to recapitulate on any such matter as this. We made this agreement with you.’ Injustice bowed to justice and the guard conceded that they could enter the arena in their ordinary dress. Perpetua was singing victory psalms as if already crushing the head of the Egyptian.”

Here we witness not only Perpetua’s courageous example of persistence, but also her model of biblical confrontation. She provides riveting testimony to Christ’s power at work in the inner life of a Christian woman whose spirit could never be overpowered.

Read More/Grow Stronger: Read Perpetua’s life story and the story of over fifty amazing women in Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith: http://bit.ly/YmaM1

The Best of Multicultural Ministry and Intercultural Relationships, Part Two

Kellemen’s Christian The Best Of Guide
The Best of Multicultural Ministry and Intercultural Relationships
Part Two

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. Posted each Monday on my blog at http://bit.ly/h0XGH

Note: Today's post is excerpted from African American History, Life, Christianity, and Ministry: An Annotated Resource Guide, By Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D., LCPC. For information on the full version: http://bit.ly/f1AvT

*Note: For Part One, please visit: http://bit.ly/2BXt0

*Esterline, David, ed. Shaping Beloved Community: Multicultural Theological Education. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 2006.

Many Christians talk about multicultural ministry. Esterline and his team outline how to teach, train, and equip ministers in a multicultural seminary setting. Personally, teaching in a seminary with no majority culture in the Washington, D. C. area, I found Esterline’s views practical, helpful, and realistic.

*Gilbreath, Edward. Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical’s Inside View of White Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2006.

Edward Gilbreath has written a powerful and priceless book on reconciliation in Evangelical circles—or the sad, disappointing lack thereof. Writing with openness and candor, Gilbreath shares his own experiences in Evangelicalism and the process and progress of his journey. He then narrates the wider Evangelical scene historically and today, especially in para-church and church life. His book combines hope and realism, human action and trust in God’s direction. The practical examples of churches that do it and barriers that hinder reconciliation are worth the price of the book.

*Griffin, John. Black Like Me. Reprint Edition. New York: NAL Trade, 2003.

In 1959, John Howard Griffin temporarily abandoned his privileged life as a Southern White male, medically darkened his skin, and posed as a Black man in the deep South. Some rightly question whether a short period of immersion such as this can allow the pain of racism to etch onto and penetrate into one’s soul. Of course it cannot. It cannot allow for the decade after decade after decade build-up of racist attitudes and history. Nor can it allow for the day after day after day of soul-numbing hatred. Still, for its time, this book was revolutionary. And even for our time today, Black Like Me can at least provide Whites with some small slice of the horrors of racism.

*June, Lee, Sabrina Black, and Willie Richardson. Counseling in African-American Communities: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.

Counseling in African-American Communities: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues presents a well-researched, practically-developed, biblical methodology for pastors, lay people, and counselors working from a Christian perspective and/or working with the Christian client. Though focused on African-Americans, the material can quite effectively be used cross-culturally.

The editors, June and Black, divide the book into four parts. Part I delves into various addictions, their nature, development, and treatment. Part II focuses upon family issues. Part III highlights mental health matters. Part IV is entitled, “Confronting Other Critical Issues,” and includes matters such as conflict, faith, demonology, unemployment, and research in clinical practice.

In each chapter within each section, the research is presented in easy-to-digest form, almost always with helpful charts. Interspersed within each chapter, the reader finds real-life vignettes that bring the material to life. The foundation of every chapter is the biblical counseling diagnosis and treatment plan. The authors use theological concepts as well as specific principles from pertinent passages to build a biblical approach to the topic. Finally, every chapter includes a brief, helpful bibliography for further research.

The book’s audience is clearly the helper—the professional counselor, pastor, or lay care-giver. The lay person himself/herself, struggling with a particular issue, could benefit through reading the pertinent chapter(s). However, the intent of the book is not primarily to be a “self-help” manual. Counseling in African-American Communities provides a comprehensive introduction to a biblical perspective on a wide-range of issues facing counselors, pastors, and spiritual friends.

*Kellemen, Robert W. and Karole A. Edwards. Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007.

Beyond the Suffering is a one-of-a-kind African American narrative. It is not simply a history of America, not simply a history of African Americans, not simply a history of African American Christianity, but a narrative of how African American Christians ministered to one another. As the title suggests, the book tells how African American believers helped one another to move beyond their horrific suffering to a place of healing and hope.

The characters are the African American believers themselves. The plot is their real-life battles told in their empowering words. The authors are a co-authoring team, one an African American female, the other a Caucasian male. Together, they embrace the legacy of how African Americans sustained, healed, reconciled, and guided one another in the faith.

Written in an engaging style that allows African Americans to tell their own story, Beyond the Suffering reads like a novel. It empowers African Americans and all people of all races and nationalities to love like Christ loved even in the worst of circumstances. Readers not only are riveted by the powerful historical chronicles, but are also equipped to apply soul care and spiritual direction principles to their own lives and ministries.

*McNeil, Brenda Salter. The Heart of Racial Justice: How Soul Change Leads to Societal Change. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.

Brenda Salter McNeil has written a ground-breaking book on racial reconciliation. The subtitle alone speaks volumes about the core change needed: soul change. Only when the individual is changed by the infinite love of Christ can society then even begin to be changed. Writing with wit and wisdom, experience and truth, and speaking the truth in love, The Heart of Racial Justice offers a stirring, practical model for positive racial change and reconciliation.
*Ortiz, Manuel. One New People: Models for Developing Multiethnic Churches. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Manuel Ortiz has written a very practical “why and how to” book on developing multicultural congregations. He provides transcultural and time-tested models for moving a church (change management) culture from monolithic to multicultural. Though dated (and thus the demographics tend to be outdated), the principles and practices are timeless.

*Sande, Ken. The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict. Third revised updated edition. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.

Ken Sande has spent a lifetime studying, teaching, and applying biblical principles of conflict resolution. His credentials as a lawyer and student of the Bible combine to make him eminently qualify to write this work. Though the subtitle emphasizes the resolution of personal conflict, The Peacemaker and its principles can be used in corporate/church conflict resolution situations, also. With each principle, Sande presents the biblical foundation as well as practical applications.

*Steele, Shelby. White Guilt: How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2006.

Shelby Steele writes about race in the style and substance of Bill Cosby. Both men speak as successful Black men who have lived their “up-by-the-boot-straps” philosophy. Both men also insist that African Americans must maintain personal responsibility for their present condition, while recognizing that White Americans were responsible for the horrors of the Black past.

Steele’s basic premise concludes that, yes, African Americans were horribly treated and that at the onset of the 60s Civil Rights movement, a “balancing act” was necessary to provide disenfranchised Blacks with a “fair start.” However, Steele affirms that along the way, something went wrong. This something, he calls “White Guilt.” Liberal Whites, in particular, attempted, in Steele’s view, to gain the moral high ground by punishing current White Americans for the past guilt of White America.

In the process, and as a result, Blacks who now, according to Steele, had a more or less level playing field, were re-classified as an entire race of people in need of a White hand up and a White hand out. Thus, liberal White guilt was still White racism: “We are better than you and you need our help to survive.” When African Americans accepted this Faustian bargain, they wandered off the path of meritocracy (you earn success) to mediocrity (you are given an easy way toward success), according to Steele.

Being raised in Gary, Indiana in the 60s and 70s, and living in the 90s and early 00s in D.C., and now having returned to the Gary region, I have, as a White male, witnessed the eras of which Steele speaks. Much of what he says resonates with me. In fact, I would give him five stars for White Guilt except for a few issues.

First, I don’t see the end of racism of which he seems to speak. I still hear it and see it, albeit, in subtle ways, and even more subtle policy-making. Additionally, I’m not convinced that the playing field is always level. Certainly, I am convinced that African Americans have total equality of ability. I’m simply not sure that everywhere in America they have total equality of opportunity. One final point of departure: by his definition of White guile, we may take away from the historical reality that there was true White guilt. False guilty feelings and faulty guilt-driven policies may mask the reality that there was (and is) true guilt. European Americans did indeed despicably mistreat and literally beat down African Americans. I would be saddened if Steele’s title caused anyone to minimize the suffering. In fact, it is in admitting and facing the suffering that we see the true resilience and character of individual and corporate African Americans who rose above and went beyond the suffering.

*Walker, Clarence. Biblical Counseling with African Americans. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.

Biblical Counseling with African Americans is an excellent contribution to multicultural counseling from a Christian perspective. Walker integrates biblical theology, research on African American culture, and his own extensive counseling practice to weave together a very practical and thorough book. Some books of this genre tend to be heavy on theory or on methodology. Walker nicely balances the two, linking understanding to practice. The book is now a little dated in terms of research works quoted (most coming from the 70s and 80s), but besides that it has withstood the test of time.

*Wimberly, Edward. African American Pastoral Care. Nashville: Abingdon, 1991.

African American Pastoral Care is Wimberly’s 1991 “sequel” to his 1979 Pastoral Care in the Black Church. In his newer work, Wimberly continues his important focus on sustaining, healing, reconciling, and guiding, while highlighting a new emphasis: pastoral care through narrative. Narrative therapy has been a growing model for at least two decades. Wimberly nicely blends the historical African American use of oral tradition with the insights of post-modern narrative therapy.

In his introduction and first chapter, Wimberly concisely explains the nature of narrative story-telling in African American pastoral care. In each subsequent chapter, he demonstrates how this model can be used in various counseling issues such as addiction, bereavement, life stages, marriage, and family matters.

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.

From Victim to Victor: Vibia Perpetua, Part I

From Victim to Victor: Vibia Perpetua, Part I

Note: Taken from Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith: http://bit.ly/YmaM1

Giving Voice to the Voiceless

When we think of the early church, our minds focus on the Church Fathers. Sadly, we normally fail even to consider the Church Mothers. Yet, these godly women heroically waged spiritual warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Their loses and their victories, their pain and their joy, their walk with Christ and their journey with one another are all an inheritance from which each of us are eligible to draw. There is a mighty company of gallant women believers from whom we can learn.

Vibia Perpetua (181-203) heads that company. The early Church preserved her manuscript, The Martyrdom of Perpetua, as a martyr’s relic because it is one of the oldest and most descriptive accounts of death for Christ. It is also the earliest known document written by a Christian woman.

Anyone who has ever suffered for the faith or has been oppressed by the powerful can carry on a conversation and feel a bond with Perpetua. In fact, in the introduction to her story, we read that it was “written expressly for God’s honor and humans’ encouragement” to testify to the grace of God and to edify God’s grace-bought people.[i]

Of course, even reading the word “martyr” likely causes us to imagine that Perpetua was a spiritual “super woman” whose life and ministry we could not possibly emulate. The story of her life, however, demonstrates just the opposite.

The Story of Her Life

Perpetua lived in Carthage in North Africa during the persecution of Christians under Septimius Severus. At the time of her arrest in 202 AD, she was a twenty-one-year-old mother of an infant son. Born into a wealthy, prominent, but unbelieving family, she was a recent convert with a father who continually attempted to weaken her faith and a husband who was, for reasons unknown to us, out of the picture. Nothing in Perpetua’s situation or background prepared her for the titanic spiritual struggle God called her to face.

Perpetua, her brother, her servant (Felicitas), and two other new converts were discipled by Saturus. We learn from Perpetua of the arrest of all these faithful followers of Christ. “At this time we were baptized and the Spirit instructed me not to request anything from the baptismal waters except endurance of physical suffering. A few days later we were imprisoned.”[ii]

A Light in the Darkness: Experiencing the Pain of Others

Perpetua candidly faces her fears and expresses her internal and external suffering. “I was terrified because never before had I experienced such darkness. What a terrible day! Because of crowded conditions and rough treatment by the soldiers the heat was unbearable. My condition was aggravated by my anxiety for my baby.”[iii]

This very human woman exudes superhuman strength. In the midst of her agony, she empathizes with and consoles others. Her father, completely exhausted from his anxiety, came from the city to beg Perpetua to recant and offer sacrifice to the emperor. “I was very upset because of my father’s condition. He was the only member of my family who would find no reason for joy in my suffering. I tried to comfort him saying, ‘Whatever God wants at this tribunal will happen, for remember that our power comes not from ourselves but from God.’ But utterly dejected, my father left me.”[iv]

Note: Read Part II of Perpetua’s life in tomorrow’s blog post. Read her whole life story and the story of over fifty additional amazing women in Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith: http://bit.ly/YmaM1

[i]“The Martyrdom of Perpetua,” in Wilson-Kastner, A Lost Tradition, 19.
[ii]Ibid., 20.
[iii]Ibid.
[iv]Ibid., 22.

More Media Bias Against Sarah Palin

There You Go Again:

More Media Bias Against Sarah Palin

President Ronald Reagan, in his debate with President Jimmy Carter, uttered the famous words, “There you go again” to express his conviction that Carter consistently mis-represented Reagan.

As I’ve pondered the contrasting response of the media to Sen. Mel Martinez’ early resignation compared to Gov. Sarah Palin’s early resignation, I couldn’t help but think, “There you go again!”

Now, I am not anti-Mel Martinez. Nor in this post am I addressing whether or not Gov. Palin is “presidential material.”

But here’s the thing. It is clear that the liberal media consistently, unfairly, and viciously attacks and mis-represents Gov. Palin. Their hypocritical response to the resignation of Sen. Martinez is just one recent example.

Comparisons

Let’s compare a little . . .

1. Sen. Martinez is resigning early because of his “faith, family, and country.” Gov. Palin gave the same reasons. Yet she was attacked. Martinez was not.

2. As a Senator, Martinez has no politically elected individual in line to take his place, leaving his constituency at the mercy of a government appointment. Gov. Palin had Lt. Governor Sean Parnell waiting in the wings—an experienced, conservative, elected official. Yet she was attacked. Martinez was not.

3. Sen. Martinez said, “I have no specific plan for my future other than the fact that it’s going to be in private life.” Gov. Palin was similarly open to future possibilities. Yet she was attacked. Martinez was not.

4. Sen. Martinez indicated that since he had previously announced that he would not run for re-election in 2010, that to stay as a lame duck would be a disservice for his constituency. Gov. Palin made very similar statements. Yet she was attacked. Martinez was not.

5. A comparison with another Senator from the past—Bob Dole—is equally instructive. Sen. Dole left his Senate seat early in order to prepare for his run against President Bill Clinton. He was not attacked for being unable to cut it in office. No one ever said that this meant Dole could never handle the pressure of the Presidency.

Why?

So just why is the media so vindictive against Gov. Sarah Palin? Why the cruel, unfair, imbalanced attacks?

It’s simple.

The liberal media simply can’t stand a conservative woman—especially a woman who is conservative both politically and religiously.

They can only view her through their biased liberal lenses that tell them that politically and religiously conservative individuals lack intelligence and intellectual curiosity.

Of course, they said the same of President Ronald Reagan.

Of course, they’ve treated Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas the same.

The liberal media elite will do anything to savage the reputation of a committed conservative.

Book Review: Strength in Numbers

Strength in Numbers:
The Team Approach to Biblical Counseling

Book Details

*Title: Strength in Numbers
*Author: Dr. Mark E. Shaw
*Publisher: Focus Publishing (2009)
*Category: Church, Biblical Counseling, Ministry

Reviewed By: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., LCPC, Author of Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, Beyond the Suffering, Sacred Friendships, and God’s Healing for Life’s Losses.

Recommended: Strength in Numbers is a helpful introduction to biblical counseling done two-by-two by God’s people in the local church.

Review: Biblical Counseling Two-by-Two

Dr. Mark Shaw, author of Strength in Numbers, is passionate about team biblical counseling. By “team” he means counseling in tandem—in teams of two. The title, subtitle, and cover image (a team of eight holding hands) initially led me to think the book was about how to become a church where biblical counseling principles of Christian living infiltrate the DNA of everything a church does. Though Pastor Shaw’s writings support that concept, readers should realize that “team” in this book means co-counseling with one other person.

Team Biblical Counseling

Shaw builds his approach to two-person counseling from passages such as Luke 10:1; Mark 11:1-2; and Mark 6:7, where Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two. Shaw also uses Paul’s ministry with Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy to support his tandem counseling theory. Additionally, Shaw shares a litany of reasons why tandem counseling can be better for the counselors and for the counselee.

What Shaw pictures and promotes involves two counselors in every counseling session. Sometimes his model would involve a “Paul/Barnabas” pairing of a more experienced biblical counselor mentoring a counselor-in-training. Other times his model includes a “David/Jonathan” pairing of two equally experienced counselors working together with a counselee in ongoing sessions.

Wisely, Shaw acknowledges that “the Lord is not limited to one model of ministry…” (p. 41). In other words, while Shaw prefers and practices two-person counseling, he does not claim that it is the only right approach or that “traditional” one-person counseling is “wrong.” This is important since other verses could be marshaled that teach and illustrate one-to-one ministry, and theological and logical reasons could be offered in support of individual ministry. Also, church history is replete with examples of individual spiritual direction from the Church Fathers, through the Reformers, to the Puritans.

What Is Biblical Counseling?

Even before addressing team biblical counseling, Shaw introduces his readers to what he means by biblical counseling. First, he distinguishes it from secular psychological therapy and from “integrationist” approaches (which he defines briefly as “mixing” biblical truth and man-centered theory).

Second, Shaw relates biblical counseling to soul care. “Biblical counseling reclaims the care of souls to the body of Christ” (p. 9). He seeks to reclaim the care of souls to the rightful owner—Christ and His church.

Third, he offers definitions of biblical counseling. “The goal of ministry in a biblical counseling and discipleship context is to lovingly confront someone when their thinking is unbiblical” (p. 13). “The biblical counselor is called to speak the truth of God’s Word in the love of the Holy Spirit to hurting souls” (p. 18). “Biblical counseling is micro-discipleship, meaning that we focus upon one specific problem area at a time in an effort to help the counselee grow in Christ” (p. 33).

Shaw is to be applauded for his clear emphasis on both the truth and love components. Some biblical counseling has been caricatured as neglecting the relational, loving aspect. But Shaw consistently insists on integrating truth and relationship. “Let’s counsel others with the balance of compassion and doctrine. Let’s present the truth of God’s Word in the love of the Holy Spirit” (p. 13).

Shaw’s definitions and illustrations in the book can give the impression at times that biblical counseling is only or primarily problem-focused (confrontation of unbiblical thinking, focusing upon specific problem areas, etc.). This is a common definitional emphasis issue in modern biblical counseling.

Biblically and historically, “counseling” has been broader than sin-focused, confrontation-focused, and problem-focused. It has, instead, focused comprehensively on the person’s whole life through soul care that offers biblical sustaining and healing for suffering and through spiritual direction that offers reconciling and guiding for struggles against sin, both with the goal of personal sanctification that glorifies God.

While Shaw’s emphasis on love, on hurting souls, on counseling as whole life discipleship, and on returning soul care to the church surely indicates a comprehensive approach to suffering and sin, readers might be better served by more expansive definitions and illustrations of the nature of biblical counseling. A Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed approach to spiritual friendship empowers biblical counseling to blend seamlessly into the fabric of the ministry of the Body of Christ.

The Nuts and Bolts

While Strength in Numbers will not teach readers how to “do” biblical counseling, it does teach pastors a model for implementing team biblical counseling in the local church. Like other books on lay counseling in the church, Shaw suggests a three-tiered ministry. The level one minister is the supervisor; the level two ministers are leaders-in-training; and the level three ministers are lay biblical counselors.

Shaw outlines a step-by-step developmental process. The level one leader is to be trained, typically by an outside biblical counseling accrediting organization, and then brings that training back to the local church. That primary supervisor then recruits a team of leaders-in-training, duplicating the training received outside. That group then recruits lay people from the church who receive at least thirty hours of biblical counseling training. Once the training is completed, co-counseling begins. Ongoing theory/practice equipping is required. Shaw addresses issues of advertising, organizing, administration, assigning cases, and other nuts and bolts matters.

Team Biblical Counseling in the Local Church

Strength in Numbers is a helpful introduction to biblical counseling done two-by-two by God’s people in the local church. It encourages readers to counsel based upon the sufficiency of Scripture and it encourages pastors to equip their people for the work of ministry. It is biblical, practical, balanced, and an easy, enjoyable read.

A Child of Promise

Who I Am To Christ, Part Three—A Child of Promise

Christ-Esteem: The world talks about “self-esteem.” But God’s Word teaches us about “Christ-esteem”—how God views us, sees us, accepts us, and loves us through Christ. Knowing how God relates to us because of our relationship to Christ is vital to glorifying God, defeating the lies of Satan, and ministering powerfully.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

As you read the following summaries:

*Meditate on the verses and on the truth they share about you.

*Reject the lies of Satan about how God views you.

*Thank God for who you are to Christ.

*Select one verse/truth per day and specifically apply it to your life and relationships.

My Relationship to God through Christ

1 Corinthians 1:9-10—I am called into intimate fellowship with the Son.

1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12; 5:23—Together with all the saints, I am the Body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:22—I am sealed by the Spirit, secure in Father’s forever love.

2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14—I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit, guaranteed my eternal inheritance as a member of God’s family.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19—I am reconciled to the Father by the Son and my sins will never be counted against me.

2 Corinthians 6:18—The Father says of me, “You will be my sons and daughters.”

2 Corinthians 11:2—Together with God’s people, I am espoused to Christ as His pure virgin bride.

Galatians 3:26; Galatians 4:6-7—I am an adult son/daughter of God.

Galatians 3:27—I am baptized into Christ.

Galatians 3:27—I am clothed with Christ.

Galatians 3:28—Together with all believers, we are one in Christ.

Galatians 3:29—I belong to Christ.

Galatians 3:29—I am an heir of promise.

Galatians 4:5—I have received the full rights of an adult son/daughter of God.

Galatians 4:7, 31—I am no longer a slave, but a son or daughter.

Galatians 4:28—I am a child of promise.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

Joint Heirs with Jesus

Who I Am To Christ, Part Two—Joint Heirs with Jesus

Christ-Esteem: The world talks about “self-esteem.” But God’s Word teaches us about “Christ-esteem”—how God views us, sees us, accepts us, and loves us through Christ. Knowing how God relates to us because of our relationship to Christ is vital to glorifying God, defeating the lies of Satan, and ministering powerfully.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

As you read the following summaries:

*Meditate on the verses and on the truth they share about you.

*Reject the lies of Satan about how God views you.

*Thank God for who you are to Christ.

*Select one verse/truth per day and specifically apply it to your life and relationships.

My Relationship to God through Christ

Acts 10:43—My sins are forgiven.

Acts 20:28—I am Christ’s flock.

Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2—Together with all the saints, I am God’s Church.

Romans 1:7—I am loved by God.

Romans 4:7-8—My transgressions are forgiven and my sins are covered.

Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:14-17; Colossians 1:21-22—I have peace with God.

Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18—I have full, free, confident, bold access to God.

Romans 5:5—God has poured out His love into my heart.

Romans 5:6-8—God demonstrated His love for me in that while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me.

Romans 5:9—I am saved, delivered from wrath.

Romans 5:10-11; Colossians 1:20—I am reconciled to God.

Romans 8:1, 33-34—I will never be condemned because I am in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:14—I am among those called, “sons of God.”

Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6—I have received the Spirit of sonship so I can cry, “Abba, Daddy.”

Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7; Ephesians 3:6; Titus 3:7—I am an heir of God.

Romans 8:17—I am a joint-heir with Jesus.

Romans 8:23—I am adopted into Father’s forever family.

Romans 8:31—God is for me, never against me.

Romans 8:37-39—Nothing, nor anyone, anywhere can ever separate me from God’s love for me in Christ.

Romans 9:25—Along with all Christians, God says of me, “You are my people.”

Romans 9:25—God says of me, “You are my loved one.”

Romans 9:26—I am a son of the living God.

Romans 10:11—I will never be put to shame.

Romans 11:5—I am chosen by grace.

Romans 14:3—I am accepted by God.

Romans 15:7—I am accepted by Christ.

Romans 15:16—I am an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

The Black Pro-Life Movement

Join the Black Pro-Life Movement

Join the new Black Pro-Life Movement group on Facebook: http://bit.ly/Se4zv

View the amazing video by by Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the horrors of abortion. http://bit.ly/12TZdg

Here's the introduction to the new group by one of its founder, Kimberly Cash Tate.

Did you know that abortion is the #1 killer in the black community? Fifty-percent of black offspring are aborted each year. That’s more than 1,500 black children each day. Since Roe v. Wade, more than 50 million babies have been killed in the womb. More than 14 million of these were black babies. For too long, New York advertising agencies and the media have sown the lie that “pro-life” is a white issue for “right-wing extremists.” The facts tell the truth. This isn’t an issue for one group of people or one political party. This is a human issue of epic proportion. It is an issue—like slavery in its day—that requires us to stand boldly for life, truth, and justice.

We are taking a stand. We are standing in the gap for the innocent who are being led away to slaughter. We are standing in the gap for the mothers who have been deceived into thinking it’s their body—only to be left with the pain and shame of knowing they’ve killed their own child. We are exposing the lies and plans of those who seek to advance this lucrative business of abortion. We are aligning ourselves with Jesus Christ and the Word of God, not bowing to a political party or political agenda.

This group exists to do the following:

EDUCATE and INFORM about abortion in our nation and in the black community in particular;

IMPART TRUTH from the Word of God, so that we can possess the mind of God on this important issue;

PRAY for a move of God in our land to abolish the evil of abortion; and

SPUR YOU to spread the word so that others will join this movement and learn the truth.

This group is open to all. Join us!

“Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back.If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?And does He not know it who keeps your soul?And will He not render to man according to his work?”~~ Proverbs 24:11-12 NASB

Christ-Esteem

Who I Am To Christ, Part One--Christ-Esteem

Christ-Esteem: The world talks about “self-esteem.” But God’s Word teaches us about “Christ-esteem”—how God views us, sees us, accepts us, and loves us through Christ. Knowing how God relates to us because of our relationship to Christ is vital to glorifying God, defeating the lies of Satan, and ministering powerfully.

As you read the following summaries:

*Meditate on the verses and on the truth they share about you.

*Reject the lies of Satan about how God views you.

*Thank God for who you are to Christ.

*Select one verse/truth per day and specifically apply it to your life and relationships.

My Relationship to God through Christ

Matthew 6:26—I am are very valuable to Christ.

Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:5—I am God’s forgiven son/daughter.

Matthew 9:36-38—I am the Good Shepherd’s shepherded sheep.

Matthew 10:31; Luke 12:7—I am of great worth to God.

Matthew 12:12—I am of much value to Christ.

Matthew 18:10-14—I am God’s precious, protected little one.

Mark 3:34-35—I am Christ’s brother or sister.

Luke 6:35—I am a son or daughter of the Most High God.

Luke 12:4—I am Christ’s friend.

Luke 20:36; John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17; 1 John 3:2—I am a child of God.

John 1:13—I am a child born of God.

John 3:6—I am born of the Spirit.

John 3:16—I am so loved by Father that He gave His only begotten Son to die for me so that I could live with Him forever.

John 8:35—I am God’s forever son/daughter.

John 10:28-30—I am eternally secure in God’s holy love.

John 13:33—God says of me, “You are my child.”

John 15:5—I am a branch abiding in Christ the Vine.

John 15:9—Jesus says of me, “As My Father has loved Me, so I have loved you.”

John 15:14—Jesus says to me, “You are my friend.”

John 15:15—Jesus says to me, “I no longer call you servant, but friend.”

John 16:27—Jesus whispers to me, “The Father Himself loves you.”

John 17:23—Jesus says of me, “The Father loves you as He loves me.”

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

The Sufficiency of Scripture and the Science of Psychology

The Sufficiency of Scripture and the Science of Psychology

Yesterday I connected with a new friend on Facebook. He posed some vitally-important questions to me about the sufficiency of Scripture and the science of psychology.

These are much-debated and extremely-significant issues. His wording of the questions is the best, most succinct that I’ve seen.

Questions to Ponder

“Bob, I’d like your opinion about some things:

1. Do you think there are any useful principles that the science of psychology has come up with that are in harmony with the Word of God?

2. In your opinion are all of the truths that a Christian psychologist can effectively apply to his counselees found in the Bible?

3. If not, can you give any examples of such truths that are not found in the Bible?”

Your Thoughts?

So what do you think? How would you respond to each of these well-worded questions about the relationship between the sufficiency of Scripture and the science of psychology?

The Best of Books on Multicultural Ministry

Kellemen’s Christian The Best Of Guide
The Best of Books on Multicultural Ministry and Intercultural Relationships

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 Books on
Multicultural Ministry and Intercultural Relationships
Part One

Note: Excerpted from African American History, Life, Christianity, and Ministry: An Annotated Resource Guide, By Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D., LCPC. For information on the full version: http://bit.ly/f1AvT

*Anderson, David. Gracism: The Art of Inclusion. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2007.

Pastor David Anderson builds a thoughtful, practical, balanced Christian approach to multiculturalism. He avoids the extremes of color-blindness and of affirmative action. Skillfully he explains the biblical injunction to care for the marginalized. Gracism is a must read for anyone who longs to build bridges leading to racial healing, harmony, and reconciliation. Its balance between theology, philosophy, and methodology makes it a uniquely practical manual.

*Anderson, David. Multicultural Ministry: Finding Your Church’s Unique Rhythm. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.

Pastor David Anderson has “been there, done that.” As a seasoned pastor of a multi-cultural church in a multi-cultural community, Pastor Anderson writes both with biblical insight and personal experience. A well-written, practical, and hopeful book, Multicultural Ministry is a foundational book for everyone interested in racial harmony and mutual ministry.

*Anderson, David, and Brent Zuercher. Letters Across the Divide: Two Friends Explore Racism, Friendship, and Faith. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.

Pastor David Anderson and author Brent Zuercher have penned a groundbreaking and distinctive book. What happens when two friends of different races explore racism and faith? Letters across the Divide happens. For a firsthand account of what honest, open, bold, and loving multicultural relationships could look like, read this book.

*Breckenridge, James, and Lillian Breckenridge. What Color Is Your God?: Multicultural Education in the Church. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995.

As the subtitle suggests, What Color Is Your God educates pastors in foundational cultural understanding. Covering ethnic groups in America, this primer shows church leaders how to value cultural differences. It also highlights transcultural biblical principles and probes how various cultures apply or misapply these eternal principles in daily life.

*Conde-Frazier, Elizabeth, Steve Kang, and Gary Parrett. A Many Colored Kingdom: Multicultural Dynamics for Spiritual Formation. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.

A Many Colored Kingdom provides ground breaking insight into the theology and methodology of spiritual formation from and in a multicultural perspective. The co-authors themselves live and breathe what they write, researching and writing with passion and precision. This book richly celebrates the diverse contributions to Christian spirituality necessary to fully engage and embrace the infinite, multifaceted beauty and glory of Christ.

*Cooper, Rodney. We Stand Together: Reconciling Men of Different Color. Chicago: Moody, 1995.

We Stand Together would be a five-star book if it were not now somewhat dated. Editor Rodney Cooper is a leading Black Evangelical educator. Active in the 90s in the Promise Keepers’ movement, he surrounded himself with men of diverse ethnic groups to edit this primer on how men of different races can understand, forgive, reconcile with one another, and minister together.

*Emerson, Michael. Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Please, don’t read this book without reading the “sequel” (see below): United by Faith. Divided by Faith outlines the problem, as understood through a dissertation research project, of race relations in Evangelicalism in America in the 1990s. The results are troubling and at times could even produce hopelessness. However, facts are facts, and this sort of detailed quantitative and qualitative study is all-too-rare in Evangelical circles.

Emerson’s premise is that much of what White Evangelicals do to unite across racial lines end up being counter-productive. He does so by showing a concise history of Evangelical thought about racism from Colonial times to the Civil Rights movement. His core thesis is that most work done is too individualistic—one person trying alone to cross racial boundaries. His basic suggestion is the cross-cultural congregation. Unfortunately, until one reads United by Faith, how to accomplish this goal is left to the reader’s imagination—which may by now have been stunted by all the piles of statistics suggesting that Evangelical racial reconciliation is futile. However, the power of God, starting with one person’s commitment to cross-cultural relationships, can start a chain reaction—and lead to hope.

*Emerson, Michael. United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation as an Answer to the Problem of Race. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

Emerson has convened a multicultural team of co-authors to follow-up his earlier work Divided by Faith. In this work, Emerson argues that Evangelicals, when they have done anything at all to work toward racial reconciliation, have been to individualistic in their approach.

Emerson then argues that the biblical and effective approach is the multicultural congregation in which no one race makes up more than 80% of the congregation. The authors explain the biblical and social need for such congregations. They then follow with hope-giving success stories which provide the philosophy, principles, and practices necessary to obtain the biblical social vision of the multicultural people of God.

Implied, but not highlighted or extracted in detail, is the truth that such congregations can and should then do two things: 1.) Be a visible testimony exhorting the world to “go and do likewise.” 2.) Take a stand against societal racism and promote racial reconciliation and justice.

*Kellemen, Robert W. and Karole A. Edwards. Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007.

Beyond the Suffering is a one-of-a-kind African American narrative. It is not simply a history of America, not simply a history of African Americans, not simply a history of African American Christianity, but a narrative of how African American Christians ministered to one another. As the title suggests, the book tells how African American believers helped one another to move beyond their horrific suffering to a place of healing and hope.

The characters are the African American believers themselves. The plot is their real-life battles told in their empowering words. The authors are a co-authoring team, one an African American female, the other a Caucasian male. Together, they embrace the legacy of how African Americans sustained, healed, reconciled, and guided one another in the faith.

Written in an engaging style that allows African Americans to tell their own story, Beyond the Suffering reads like a novel. It empowers African Americans and all people of all races and nationalities to love like Christ loved even in the worst of circumstances. Readers not only are riveted by the powerful historical chronicles, but are also equipped to apply soul care and spiritual direction principles to their own lives and ministries.

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.