Tag: Christian Maturity
Self-Care
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian Life, Christian Maturity
As a licensed psychologist and minister, I companion with people as they find their way—usually through some adverse circumstance or series of events that has left those persons functioning at less than their very best. One of the things I often do as part of that process is give people permission to care well for … MORE
Pursuing Purity of Heart Through Chastity
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Christianity, Purity
(This is the second in a series on Monastic Ideals.) Chastity was a monastic practice that moved the false self toward purity of heart. It is a way toward freedom to love self and others with the love of God.
The Value of Monastic Ideals
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Christianity, Community, Grace, Love, Monasticism, Spiritual Life
Love for God is one of the essential beginning places for the Christian ascent to holiness. As I mature, I have realized my ability to love others flows through the relationship I have with God. In some ways, living into Christian holiness is like throwing a fine piece of pottery; it comes from a long … MORE
Three Ps to Help Find Your ONE Thing
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian, Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Priorities, Productivity, Purpose
I recently read a book suggesting that people want less. According to Gary Keller and Jay Papason in The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results, people want less on their plates, they want less responsibility—basically, they want less everything. However, the authors explain that people also want more. Folks want more productivity, … MORE
Cow
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Grace, Kindness
Crisis! There she was, just waddling down the street – the neighbor’s Jersey milk cow. I had started down the road on my morning run when I encountered a cow walking toward me in the middle of the road. Picture Elsie, the Bordon milk representative, but add a tongue rolling out of her mouth and … MORE
Officiating the Officiating: Hold the Comments…
Bill Fowler, YTI Church Relations and Professor of New Testament and Practical Theology
Tags: Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Pastor
Just Trying to Be Helpful Basketball is my game and I enjoy watching it at every level. My colleague, David, was going to be watching his (eighth-grade) son’s last game of the season (starting point guard for the varsity team) and I went to cheer Luke on. Throughout the game I felt it necessary to … MORE
A Little Knowledge Can Be a Dangerous Thing…
Bill Fowler, YTI Church Relations and Professor of New Testament and Practical Theology
Tags: Biblical Truth, Christian Maturity, Struggle
Especially If It Is Biblical Knowledge We have all seen it; equip a beginner with some knowledge that he or she has never before possessed and you unintentionally create a monster. Okay, not a monster, but someone who suddenly assumes “expert” status and begins to dictate to anyone who will listen, how to…whatever. And if … MORE
Out of Our Comfort Zone
Bill Fowler, YTI Church Relations and Professor of New Testament and Practical Theology
Tags: Christian Maturity, Comfort, Jesus, Suffering
Little Endurance of Pain As 21st century Americans, we have a narrow range of endurance in regard to discomfort. When the temperature rises or falls beyond a 6-10 degree margin of “tolerance” we head toward the thermostat and either adjust the A/C or crank up the furnace. On warm days, we have ice for our … MORE
How to Read the Bible Without It Changing You Much
Bill Fowler, YTI Church Relations and Professor of New Testament and Practical Theology
Tags: Bible, Christian Life, Christian Maturity, God's Love
The Life Changing Word of God The Bible is powerful (Hebrews 4:12), bondage-breaking (John 8:32), life-changing truth. Paul insists that we can be “transformed by the renewing of our minds” and there is no better source of renewal than the Word of God. Continuing in the Word will lead us to the truth that sets … MORE