Epistle for February 20, 2004

#1 · February 19, 2004, 4:18 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on February 19, 2004, 4:18 pm
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E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation February 20, 2004

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

This first Quarter of 2004, I shall be sharing with you my "Personal & Practical" notes and applications on Genesis 13-24
and Matthew 1-13. (I used the first 12 chapters of Genesis in the "E-pistle" during December, 2001.) I plan
to continue these book studies in the Old and New Testaments for the next several months.
In This Issue:
Genesis 20:1-18
Matthew 8:1-34
Tuition Rates
Abraham Back-slides Again!
(Genesis 20:1-18)
I. Concentration: on the heathen king, Abimelech
1. Abimelech was king of the Philistines in Gerar, vv. 1-2; Genesis 26:1.
2. Abimelech lusted after and sent for Sarah, Abraham's wife, v. 2.
3. Abimelech was warned by the Lord in a dream not to take another man's wife, v. 3.
4. Abimelech pled his innocence and integrity, on the basis of his ignorance of the fact
that Abraham and Sarah were married, vv. 4-6.
II. Meditation: on God's dealings with Abimelech
1. In obedience to the Lord's revelation and warning, Abimelech returned Sarah to Abraham, vv. 7-14.
2. In effect, Abimelech spoke for the Lord when he strongly rebuked Abraham for his sin of deceit,
asking him, "What did you have in view, that you did this thing?" vv. 9-10.
3. Abimelech exhibited a God-like, generous, forgiving spirit, vv. 14-16.
4. God, through Abraham's intercessory prayers, healed Abimelech's wife and female servants,
so that they were able to bear children, vv. 17-18.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of this chapter
1. Wandering off into heathen territory (Egypt, Genesis 12 and Gerar, Genesis 20) often leads to
sin and to the loss of integrity and credibility.
2. The Lord sometimes reveals His will to unlikely persons, occasionally using those "unworthy"
individuals to proclaim spiritual truths to His chosen leaders.
3. One evidence of a person's spiritual interaction with the Lord is an inner transformation: a
change from a selfish to a generous heart, from a vindictive to a forgiving spirit.
4. Intercessory prayer is used by the Lord to bring life, healing, and productivity out of death,
illness, and barrenness.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Deliberately choose to live my life within the center of God's will . . . not wandering away
like a careless, straying sheep, Isaiah 53:6.
2. Be alert, humble, and teachable . . . receiving the Lord's rebukes and instructions from
whatever sources He chooses to use.
3. Daily spend quality time in the presence of the Lord, so that my life starts to exhibit His
Godly characteristics . . . so that I start being conformed to the image of God's son,
Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 3:18.
4. Pray for God's love, mercy, and grace on specific persons and situations even as I
acknowledge that my own personal sins may have been a contributing factor to the problem.

Two Cities With Opposite Responses
(Matthew 8:1-34)

I. Concentration: on the miracles of Jesus in this chapter
1. Jesus healed a leper by reaching out His hand to touch this unclean man; He healed the servant
of a Roman centurion, and commended that Gentile soldier for his great faith. vv. 1-13.
2. Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, and when the word got out multitudes gathered; He healed
all those who came to Him in Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah 53:4, vv. 14-17.
3. After a brief teaching about the cost of discipleship, Jesus got into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee;
when a storm arose, He calmed the waves and rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith, vv. 18-27.
4. Jesus healed two demon-possessed men near Gadara, and the citizens of that city asked Him to
depart because the demons had entered into their swine and drowned them, vv. 28-34.

II. Meditation: some important soul-searching questions
1. Do I really want Jesus actively involved in my life? My City?
2. Have I discovered God's purposes in His miracles for me?
3. Do I really believe that God is able, that He wants to, and that He indeed will perform miracles
in my behalf?
4. Which is more important to me . . . money or ministry?

III. Revelation: on the spiritual lessons seen in this chapter
1. Jesus was the same (Hebrews 13:8), but no two cities (Capernaum and Gadara) were totally different
in their response to His presence and power (vv. 16 and 34).
2. Jesus healed:
(1) to help hurting people,
(2) to reveal God's love,
(3) to illustrate a spiritual truth, and
(4) to fulfill prophetic Scripture, v. 17.
3. Jesus can and will operate miraculously only within an atmosphere of faith, v. 10. (See Matthew 13:58.)
4. Cities and persons who prioritize economics above the ministering of deliverance to suffering citizens
forfeit God's presence, v. 34.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Open myself to Jesus' presence; invite Him into my environment.
2. Meditate daily to understand God's purposes in dealing with me.
3. With vibrant faith, expect that God will supply my every need.
4. Prioritize spiritual values above material ones.

Earn Your M.A. or Ph.D. at Pillsbury Institute;
Become a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor

M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credits - $750 down)
Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credits - $810 down)

Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity, St. Louis. offers pastoral counseling training at only $90 per credit hour. National Christian Counselors Association distance learning format allows completion within 12-16 months. Program includes basic and advanced curriculum, clinical supervision, practicums, thesis, NCCA licensure and board certification in your choice of eight counseling specializations.

For additional information, see www.pillsburyinstitute.org or phone toll-free 1-888-737-3392.

Tuition Fees for 2004
The Board of Directors of the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity has established the following tuition rates, effective January 1, 2004:
Undergraduate tuition: $60 per credit hour
Graduate-level tuition: $90 per credit hour

Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credit hours) - $4,860
$810 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 27 months
M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credit hours) - $3,600
$750 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 19 months
Psy.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling (42 credit hours) - $3,780
$780 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 20 months (SECOND DEGREE ONLY)
D.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring (48 credit hours) - $4,320
$720 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 24 months
M.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring (32 credit hours) - $2,880
$630 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 15 months
Bachelor of Biblical Counseling or Biblical Studies (final year: 32 credit hours) - $1,920
$570 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 9 months

Iron-clad Money-back Guarantee

* $50 registration fee will be refunded if the applicant is not accepted as a student.
* Initial payment will be refunded - no questions asked - if the student decides to withdraw
for any reason within 30 days of registration.
* $50 graduation fee will be waived for students who complete their regular tuition payments
ahead of schedule.
NOTICE: Entering students who submit a registration form for a degree program will have 60 days in which to complete the process, including the payment of the initial fee. After 60 days, the entering student who has not completed the process will be placed on inactive status, the registration form will become invalid, and the $50 registration fee will be forfeited.
These tuition fee increases are the first to be implemented since the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity was founded in 1992. However, the costs still remain substantially lower than all other comparable distance learning graduate schools because Pillsbury Institute is owned, controlled, and operated by the FreeWay Foundation.
The FreeWay Foundation is a non-profit ministry which provides "practical teaching and training for successful living." The Foundation pays the salaries and benefits of Pillsbury Institute's administration, staff, and faculty members. The Institute is housed at no charge in FreeWay Foundation's spacious modern building on a beautiful 2 acre campus in northwest St. Louis County. Since the overhead costs of the school are minimal, these substantial savings are passed along to the student in the form of lower tuition rates.

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

"I find the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
-Thomas Jefferson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation February 20, 2004

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

This first Quarter of 2004, I shall be sharing with you my "Personal & Practical" notes and applications on Genesis 13-24
and Matthew 1-13. (I used the first 12 chapters of Genesis in the "E-pistle" during December, 2001.) I plan
to continue these book studies in the Old and New Testaments for the next several months.
In This Issue:
Genesis 20:1-18
Matthew 8:1-34
Tuition Rates
Abraham Back-slides Again!
(Genesis 20:1-18)
I. Concentration: on the heathen king, Abimelech
1. Abimelech was king of the Philistines in Gerar, vv. 1-2; Genesis 26:1.
2. Abimelech lusted after and sent for Sarah, Abraham's wife, v. 2.
3. Abimelech was warned by the Lord in a dream not to take another man's wife, v. 3.
4. Abimelech pled his innocence and integrity, on the basis of his ignorance of the fact
that Abraham and Sarah were married, vv. 4-6.
II. Meditation: on God's dealings with Abimelech
1. In obedience to the Lord's revelation and warning, Abimelech returned Sarah to Abraham, vv. 7-14.
2. In effect, Abimelech spoke for the Lord when he strongly rebuked Abraham for his sin of deceit,
asking him, "What did you have in view, that you did this thing?" vv. 9-10.
3. Abimelech exhibited a God-like, generous, forgiving spirit, vv. 14-16.
4. God, through Abraham's intercessory prayers, healed Abimelech's wife and female servants,
so that they were able to bear children, vv. 17-18.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of this chapter
1. Wandering off into heathen territory (Egypt, Genesis 12 and Gerar, Genesis 20) often leads to
sin and to the loss of integrity and credibility.
2. The Lord sometimes reveals His will to unlikely persons, occasionally using those "unworthy"
individuals to proclaim spiritual truths to His chosen leaders.
3. One evidence of a person's spiritual interaction with the Lord is an inner transformation: a
change from a selfish to a generous heart, from a vindictive to a forgiving spirit.
4. Intercessory prayer is used by the Lord to bring life, healing, and productivity out of death,
illness, and barrenness.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Deliberately choose to live my life within the center of God's will . . . not wandering away
like a careless, straying sheep, Isaiah 53:6.
2. Be alert, humble, and teachable . . . receiving the Lord's rebukes and instructions from
whatever sources He chooses to use.
3. Daily spend quality time in the presence of the Lord, so that my life starts to exhibit His
Godly characteristics . . . so that I start being conformed to the image of God's son,
Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 3:18.
4. Pray for God's love, mercy, and grace on specific persons and situations even as I
acknowledge that my own personal sins may have been a contributing factor to the problem.

Two Cities With Opposite Responses
(Matthew 8:1-34)

I. Concentration: on the miracles of Jesus in this chapter
1. Jesus healed a leper by reaching out His hand to touch this unclean man; He healed the servant
of a Roman centurion, and commended that Gentile soldier for his great faith. vv. 1-13.
2. Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, and when the word got out multitudes gathered; He healed
all those who came to Him in Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah 53:4, vv. 14-17.
3. After a brief teaching about the cost of discipleship, Jesus got into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee;
when a storm arose, He calmed the waves and rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith, vv. 18-27.
4. Jesus healed two demon-possessed men near Gadara, and the citizens of that city asked Him to
depart because the demons had entered into their swine and drowned them, vv. 28-34.

II. Meditation: some important soul-searching questions
1. Do I really want Jesus actively involved in my life? My City?
2. Have I discovered God's purposes in His miracles for me?
3. Do I really believe that God is able, that He wants to, and that He indeed will perform miracles
in my behalf?
4. Which is more important to me . . . money or ministry?

III. Revelation: on the spiritual lessons seen in this chapter
1. Jesus was the same (Hebrews 13:8), but no two cities (Capernaum and Gadara) were totally different
in their response to His presence and power (vv. 16 and 34).
2. Jesus healed:
(1) to help hurting people,
(2) to reveal God's love,
(3) to illustrate a spiritual truth, and
(4) to fulfill prophetic Scripture, v. 17.
3. Jesus can and will operate miraculously only within an atmosphere of faith, v. 10. (See Matthew 13:58.)
4. Cities and persons who prioritize economics above the ministering of deliverance to suffering citizens
forfeit God's presence, v. 34.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Open myself to Jesus' presence; invite Him into my environment.
2. Meditate daily to understand God's purposes in dealing with me.
3. With vibrant faith, expect that God will supply my every need.
4. Prioritize spiritual values above material ones.

Earn Your M.A. or Ph.D. at Pillsbury Institute;
Become a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor

M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credits - $750 down)
Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credits - $810 down)

Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity, St. Louis. offers pastoral counseling training at only $90 per credit hour. National Christian Counselors Association distance learning format allows completion within 12-16 months. Program includes basic and advanced curriculum, clinical supervision, practicums, thesis, NCCA licensure and board certification in your choice of eight counseling specializations.

For additional information, see http://www.pillsburyinstitute.org or phone toll-free 1-888-737-3392.

Tuition Fees for 2004
The Board of Directors of the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity has established the following tuition rates, effective January 1, 2004:
Undergraduate tuition: $60 per credit hour
Graduate-level tuition: $90 per credit hour

Ph.D. in Christian Counseling Psychology (54 credit hours) - $4,860
$810 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 27 months
M.A. in Christian Counseling Psychology (40 credit hours) - $3,600
$750 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 19 months
Psy.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling (42 credit hours) - $3,780
$780 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 20 months (SECOND DEGREE ONLY)
D.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring (48 credit hours) - $4,320
$720 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 24 months
M.Min. in Biblical Counseling or Spiritual Mentoring (32 credit hours) - $2,880
$630 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 15 months
Bachelor of Biblical Counseling or Biblical Studies (final year: 32 credit hours) - $1,920
$570 initial payment plus $150 monthly for 9 months

Iron-clad Money-back Guarantee

* $50 registration fee will be refunded if the applicant is not accepted as a student.
* Initial payment will be refunded - no questions asked - if the student decides to withdraw
for any reason within 30 days of registration.
* $50 graduation fee will be waived for students who complete their regular tuition payments
ahead of schedule.
NOTICE: Entering students who submit a registration form for a degree program will have 60 days in which to complete the process, including the payment of the initial fee. After 60 days, the entering student who has not completed the process will be placed on inactive status, the registration form will become invalid, and the $50 registration fee will be forfeited.
These tuition fee increases are the first to be implemented since the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity was founded in 1992. However, the costs still remain substantially lower than all other comparable distance learning graduate schools because Pillsbury Institute is owned, controlled, and operated by the FreeWay Foundation.
The FreeWay Foundation is a non-profit ministry which provides "practical teaching and training for successful living." The Foundation pays the salaries and benefits of Pillsbury Institute's administration, staff, and faculty members. The Institute is housed at no charge in FreeWay Foundation's spacious modern building on a beautiful 2 acre campus in northwest St. Louis County. Since the overhead costs of the school are minimal, these substantial savings are passed along to the student in the form of lower tuition rates.

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

"I find the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
-Thomas Jefferson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------