Epistle for August 22, 2003

#1 · August 21, 2003, 1:27 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on August 21, 2003, 1:27 pm
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E-pistle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation August 22, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In this quarter Dr. Scarborough will be teaching from Esther 1-10 and Habakkuk in the Old Testament
and Galatians 1-6, I Timothy 1-6, and II John in the New Testament

In This Issue:
Esther 8:1-17
I Timothy 2:1-5
DEGREES

Light and Gladness, Joy and Honor
(Esther 8:1-17)

I Concentration: on the events of this chapter
1. King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the property of Haman; she introduced
Mordecai as her relative, and he was given Haman's property and his position
as prime minister, vv. 1-2.
2. Esther asked the king to revoke his earlier decree which would kill all the Jews
in the empire, but Ahasuerus reminded her that a royal decree of the Persians
could never be annulled; however, a new decree could be issued allowing the
Jews to defend themselves, vv. 3-8.
3. Seventy days after Haman's original decree to destroy the Jews (perhaps symbolic
of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity), the new decree was written, sealed, and
published throughout all the provinces, vv. 9-14.
4. Mordecai was highly honored by the king, and the Jews everywhere celebrated their
deliverance, vv. 15-17.
II. Meditation: on the blessings given to Mordecai by King Ahasuerus
1. He was elevated to a position of power and authority . . . receiving the king's signet ring, v. 2.
2. He received great riches and abundance, which once had belonged to Haman, v. 2.
3. He was dressed in royal apparel and given a golden crown, v. 15.
4. He was honored by the people as one through whom God had poured out His blessings
and deliverance, v. 15.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of verse 16
"The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor."
1. Light = spiritual illumination, John 9:5.
2. Gladness = an outward expression of pleasure; cheerfulness, Psalm 100:2.
3. Joy = the inner quality of spiritual exhilaration produced as one of the fruits of the
Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22.
4. Honor = high respect, renown, or glory, Ephesians 2:6.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Thank God for His unchanging and unchangeable words of promise.
2. Thank God for His provision of a way of escape and deliverance when everything
seems hopeless.
3. Thank God for His divine destiny that can use a humble, submissive person
(like Mordecai, and, I trust, like me) to accomplish His providential purposes.
4. Thank God that through Jesus Christ, His Son, I can receive the spiritual blessings
of light, gladness, joy, and honor.

Men . . . Everywhere
(I Timothy 2:1-15)

I. Concentration: on verse 8
"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting," (I Timothy 2:8)
Christian men typically have problems in these four areas of their lives:
(1) Spirit (2) Mind (3) Emotions (4) Will

II. Meditation and Revelation: on PRAYER . . . "in the spirit"
Men don't like to ask for help or directions. They are independent, self-sufficient, rugged
individualists. Prayer acknowledges our weakness and inadequacy; it acknowledges God's
power, wisdom, and provision. A major problem of Christian men is prayerlessness.

III. Meditation and Revelation: on HOLY HANDS . . . "in the mind"
Men live daily in a wicked, perverse, corrupt, violent, demonic society where it is practically
impossible in their own strength to remain pure in mind and clean in thoughts, Psalm 24:3-4.
How can a man get his hands clean and how can he keep them that way? (I John 1:7, 9)

IV. Meditation and Revelation: on WITHOUT WRATH . . . "in the emotions"
Wrath is an uncontrolled, violent emotion: hot anger, rage, fury . . . losing temper! In man's
psyche, just below the surface of "civilized," lurks this anger . . . wrath. Why is anger a
common emotion in the heart of men? It all goes back to Adam. With him, we also feel the
frustration of dashed dreams, disappointed ambitions, unrealized hopes, missed destiny.
Such crushing defeatedness of "what could have been" . . . what should have been . . . produces
a seething resentment . . . anger . . . wrath. The opposite of wrath is love . . . God's love.
See Matthew 5:44 and I Corinthians 13:4-8.

V. Meditation and Revelation: on WITHOUT DOUBTING . . . "in the will"
Men typically are highly skeptical, suspicious, untrusting. Why is doubting such a common
characteristic of men? This also goes back to the garden of Eden, where even then, the
difference between the basic attitudes of men and women were obvious. Eve was more
trusting, more easily persuaded, more naive than Adam. Both were guilty, but Eve was
deceived while Adam deliberately disobeyed. Just as it is easier for a woman than a man
to love, so also it is easier for a woman than a man to trust . . . to have faith.
"Without doubting" means to have strong, active faith.

VI. Applications: as a Christian man, I need to . . .
1. Pray . . . enter into spiritual communion with God.
2. With holy hands . . . strive for spiritual purity of the mind.
3. Without wrath . . . allow God's love to control my emotions.
4. Without doubting . . . choose to believe, to have faith (an act of my will).

Pillsbury Institute Introduces New
M.A., Ph.D., & Psy.D. Degree Programs

M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credit hours - $3,000)
Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credit hours - $4,000)
Psy.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling *(42 credit hours - $3,150)
*(Only available for persons who already hold an earned doctoral degree)

Students at Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity (PIAC) now may receive pastoral counseling training using the curriculum and distance learning format developed by the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA) of Sarasota, Florida. These high quality materials consist of 41 courses in ten academic tracks, and also include advanced studies, clinical supervision (internship), practicum, thesis and examination, plus licensing and certification in eight possible specialty areas.

Important Notice: The successful completion of all academic requirements using NCCA curriculum and the conferring of the MA, PhD, or PsyD degrees by PIAC does not include membership in NCCA, nor does it qualify the graduate to receive any certification or licensing from NCCA.

Upon graduation, the student will be issued a degree diploma (MA, PhD, or PsyD) and a complete transcript of the NCCA studies completed at PIAC. The student has the option of presenting this official transcript to NCCA to show the courses completed at PIAC. The student then may choose to apply for membership in NCCA and to apply for acceptance into an advanced program of study designed to qualify him or her for NCCA certification and licensing as a Christian pastoral counselor. Small fees are charged by NCCA for both of these options.

NCCA has several additional requirements for the licensing process, including:
(1) a supervised practicum plus thesis for MA graduates (dissertation for PhD and PsyD graduates),
(2) the obtaining of ministerial credentials (if the applicant does not have such documentation already),
and
(3) an ethical examination posed by NCCA's National Licensing Board of Examiners.

Each successful candidate receives NCCA Board Certification as a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (LCPC) or as a Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor (LCCC). More than 1,700 persons in the United States have been trained and certified by NCCA as licensed Christian counselors, making it the largest such credentialing agency in the nation.
(Over 4,000 counselors have been licensed world-wide by NCCA)

The NCCA Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (LCPC) certification is not the same as a State's Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Helen Keller said: "No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an
uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let Pillsbury Institute open new doorways to education for your future. Call us at
314-739-1121 or e-mail info@freewayfoundation.org and ask about our distance
learning.

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation August 22, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In this quarter Dr. Scarborough will be teaching from Esther 1-10 and Habakkuk in the Old Testament
and Galatians 1-6, I Timothy 1-6, and II John in the New Testament

In This Issue:
Esther 8:1-17
I Timothy 2:1-5
DEGREES

Light and Gladness, Joy and Honor
(Esther 8:1-17)

I Concentration: on the events of this chapter
1. King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the property of Haman; she introduced
Mordecai as her relative, and he was given Haman's property and his position
as prime minister, vv. 1-2.
2. Esther asked the king to revoke his earlier decree which would kill all the Jews
in the empire, but Ahasuerus reminded her that a royal decree of the Persians
could never be annulled; however, a new decree could be issued allowing the
Jews to defend themselves, vv. 3-8.
3. Seventy days after Haman's original decree to destroy the Jews (perhaps symbolic
of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity), the new decree was written, sealed, and
published throughout all the provinces, vv. 9-14.
4. Mordecai was highly honored by the king, and the Jews everywhere celebrated their
deliverance, vv. 15-17.
II. Meditation: on the blessings given to Mordecai by King Ahasuerus
1. He was elevated to a position of power and authority . . . receiving the king's signet ring, v. 2.
2. He received great riches and abundance, which once had belonged to Haman, v. 2.
3. He was dressed in royal apparel and given a golden crown, v. 15.
4. He was honored by the people as one through whom God had poured out His blessings
and deliverance, v. 15.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of verse 16
"The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor."
1. Light = spiritual illumination, John 9:5.
2. Gladness = an outward expression of pleasure; cheerfulness, Psalm 100:2.
3. Joy = the inner quality of spiritual exhilaration produced as one of the fruits of the
Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22.
4. Honor = high respect, renown, or glory, Ephesians 2:6.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Thank God for His unchanging and unchangeable words of promise.
2. Thank God for His provision of a way of escape and deliverance when everything
seems hopeless.
3. Thank God for His divine destiny that can use a humble, submissive person
(like Mordecai, and, I trust, like me) to accomplish His providential purposes.
4. Thank God that through Jesus Christ, His Son, I can receive the spiritual blessings
of light, gladness, joy, and honor.

Men . . . Everywhere
(I Timothy 2:1-15)

I. Concentration: on verse 8
"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting," (I Timothy 2:8)
Christian men typically have problems in these four areas of their lives:
(1) Spirit (2) Mind (3) Emotions (4) Will

II. Meditation and Revelation: on PRAYER . . . "in the spirit"
Men don't like to ask for help or directions. They are independent, self-sufficient, rugged
individualists. Prayer acknowledges our weakness and inadequacy; it acknowledges God's
power, wisdom, and provision. A major problem of Christian men is prayerlessness.

III. Meditation and Revelation: on HOLY HANDS . . . "in the mind"
Men live daily in a wicked, perverse, corrupt, violent, demonic society where it is practically
impossible in their own strength to remain pure in mind and clean in thoughts, Psalm 24:3-4.
How can a man get his hands clean and how can he keep them that way? (I John 1:7, 9)

IV. Meditation and Revelation: on WITHOUT WRATH . . . "in the emotions"
Wrath is an uncontrolled, violent emotion: hot anger, rage, fury . . . losing temper! In man's
psyche, just below the surface of "civilized," lurks this anger . . . wrath. Why is anger a
common emotion in the heart of men? It all goes back to Adam. With him, we also feel the
frustration of dashed dreams, disappointed ambitions, unrealized hopes, missed destiny.
Such crushing defeatedness of "what could have been" . . . what should have been . . . produces
a seething resentment . . . anger . . . wrath. The opposite of wrath is love . . . God's love.
See Matthew 5:44 and I Corinthians 13:4-8.

V. Meditation and Revelation: on WITHOUT DOUBTING . . . "in the will"
Men typically are highly skeptical, suspicious, untrusting. Why is doubting such a common
characteristic of men? This also goes back to the garden of Eden, where even then, the
difference between the basic attitudes of men and women were obvious. Eve was more
trusting, more easily persuaded, more naive than Adam. Both were guilty, but Eve was
deceived while Adam deliberately disobeyed. Just as it is easier for a woman than a man
to love, so also it is easier for a woman than a man to trust . . . to have faith.
"Without doubting" means to have strong, active faith.

VI. Applications: as a Christian man, I need to . . .
1. Pray . . . enter into spiritual communion with God.
2. With holy hands . . . strive for spiritual purity of the mind.
3. Without wrath . . . allow God's love to control my emotions.
4. Without doubting . . . choose to believe, to have faith (an act of my will).

Pillsbury Institute Introduces New
M.A., Ph.D., & Psy.D. Degree Programs

M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credit hours - $3,000)
Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credit hours - $4,000)
Psy.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling *(42 credit hours - $3,150)
*(Only available for persons who already hold an earned doctoral degree)

Students at Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity (PIAC) now may receive pastoral counseling training using the curriculum and distance learning format developed by the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA) of Sarasota, Florida. These high quality materials consist of 41 courses in ten academic tracks, and also include advanced studies, clinical supervision (internship), practicum, thesis and examination, plus licensing and certification in eight possible specialty areas.

Important Notice: The successful completion of all academic requirements using NCCA curriculum and the conferring of the MA, PhD, or PsyD degrees by PIAC does not include membership in NCCA, nor does it qualify the graduate to receive any certification or licensing from NCCA.

Upon graduation, the student will be issued a degree diploma (MA, PhD, or PsyD) and a complete transcript of the NCCA studies completed at PIAC. The student has the option of presenting this official transcript to NCCA to show the courses completed at PIAC. The student then may choose to apply for membership in NCCA and to apply for acceptance into an advanced program of study designed to qualify him or her for NCCA certification and licensing as a Christian pastoral counselor. Small fees are charged by NCCA for both of these options.

NCCA has several additional requirements for the licensing process, including:
(1) a supervised practicum plus thesis for MA graduates (dissertation for PhD and PsyD graduates),
(2) the obtaining of ministerial credentials (if the applicant does not have such documentation already),
and
(3) an ethical examination posed by NCCA's National Licensing Board of Examiners.

Each successful candidate receives NCCA Board Certification as a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (LCPC) or as a Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor (LCCC). More than 1,700 persons in the United States have been trained and certified by NCCA as licensed Christian counselors, making it the largest such credentialing agency in the nation.
(Over 4,000 counselors have been licensed world-wide by NCCA)

The NCCA Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor (LCPC) certification is not the same as a State's Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Helen Keller said: "No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an
uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let Pillsbury Institute open new doorways to education for your future. Call us at
314-739-1121 or e-mail info@freewayfoundation.org and ask about our distance
learning.