Epistle for January 23, 2004

#1 · January 22, 2004, 5:28 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on January 22, 2004, 5:28 pm
Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation January 23, 2004

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

This first quarter of 2004, I shall be sharing with you my "Personal & Practical" notes and applications on Genesis 13-14
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 16:1-16
Matthew 4:1-11
Tuition for PIAC
A Triangle of Domestic Disruption
(Genesis 16:1-16)

I. Concentration: on the characters in this chapter
1. Sarai - Abram's wife who was barren . . . could not bear him children, v. 1.
2. Abram - God's "Man of Faith" who had these glaring weaknesses:
(1) Committed a cluster of sins on his trip into Egypt (Genesis 12),
(2) Mistakenly thought his servant, Eliezer, would produce him an heir (Genesis 15:2-3),
(3) Allowed his wife, Sarai, to exercise leadership and authority in his home, vv. 2, 5-6.
(4) Violated God's plan by using Sarai's maid, Hagar, as a surrogate mother, v. 3.
3. Hagar - Sarai's Egyptian maid, who was given to Abram (like a piece of property) and
became pregnant by him, v. 4.
4. Ishmael - son of Abram and Hagar, v. 15.

II. Meditation: on the victimized life of Hagar
1. Hagar was born an Egyptian; became a slave, v. 1.
2. Hagar was given to Abram; became pregnant, vv. 2-4.
3. Hagar became the center of a domestic "triangle of trouble;" she was despised and probably
beaten by the wife, Sarai, vv. 4-6.
4. Hagar became so desperate that she ran away, v. 6.

III. Revelation: on the angel's words to Hagar (vv. 7-10)
1. "Where have you come from?"
Reflect on your past history.
2. "Where are you going?"
Consider your future destiny.
3. "Return" and "submit."
In humble obedience, trust God for protection and provision.
4. "I will multiply your children."
Receive by faith God's promised blessings.

IV. Applications: on how God deals with me (as He dealt with Hagar)
1. God gives His promises of blessing, vv. 11-12.
2. God reveals Himself: "The-God-Who-Lives-and-Sees-Me," vv. 13-14.
3. God demands obedient submission to his will, v. 15.
4. God fulfills His word; "Ishmael" means "God hears," v. 16.

Resisting and Overcoming Temptation
(Matthew 4:1-11)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Satan tempted Jesus to sin by avoiding the cross and establishing
His kingdom some other way, vv. 1-11.
2. Jesus began His ministry in Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah 9:1-2 and 42:7; He
preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," vv. 12-17.
3. Jesus called four fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) to become
"fishers of men," vv. 18-22.
4. Jesus preached throughout Galilee and healed multitudes of diseased,
afflicted, and demon-possessed people, v. 23-25.
II. Meditation: on Jesus' temptation experiences
1. Jesus was in a physically weakened condition (from 40 days fasting) when
Satan attacked Him, 1-2.
2. Jesus was tempted in ALL POINTS, yet without sin, Hebrews 4:15.
3. His basic temptation was to avoid the cross . . . which was God's main
purpose for His life . . . His divine destiny.
4. Satan always attacks with these three types of temptation:
I John 2:16 Genesis 3:6 Matthew 4:1-11
a. Lust of the flesh Good for food Stones to bread
b. Lust of the eye Pleasant to eyes Showed all kingdoms
c. Pride of life Desired for wisdom Angels will protect you
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen here
1. Physically, Jesus may have been weakened, but His fasting for 40 days
strengthened Him spiritually, (Mark 9:29 . . . "only by fasting")
2. Jesus did not overcome temptation through His divine power, but through
His "always-right" human choices.
3. The days Jesus spent in solitude included meditation on Scripture.
4. Jesus saw beyond the "innocent" temptations to the basic issue . . .
fulfilling the Father's will or not.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to learn these truths and practice them
1. Fasting is a vital New Testament spiritual exercises; I need to enter into
regular periods of true fasting.
2. The spiritual battle is in the mind; Satan desires "thought-control"; I need to
think on true, noble, just . . . things (Philippians 4:8) which feed my soul.
3. True meditation is God-directed and Bible-based; I need to spend more time
listening to God speak to my heart.
4. Every temptation (yielded to OR resisted) affects our God-given purpose in life;
(see James 1:2-4); I need to consider God's destiny for my life whenever temptations
arise . . . looking for God's promised way of escape, I Corinthians 10:13.

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, visit 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 DOCTORATE 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 registrations.
* $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.

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

George Adams quote: "There are high spots in all of our lives, and most of them
come about through encouragement from someone else."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation January 23, 2004

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

This first quarter of 2004, I shall be sharing with you my "Personal & Practical" notes and applications on Genesis 13-14
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 16:1-16
Matthew 4:1-11
Tuition for PIAC
A Triangle of Domestic Disruption
(Genesis 16:1-16)

I. Concentration: on the characters in this chapter
1. Sarai - Abram's wife who was barren . . . could not bear him children, v. 1.
2. Abram - God's "Man of Faith" who had these glaring weaknesses:
(1) Committed a cluster of sins on his trip into Egypt (Genesis 12),
(2) Mistakenly thought his servant, Eliezer, would produce him an heir (Genesis 15:2-3),
(3) Allowed his wife, Sarai, to exercise leadership and authority in his home, vv. 2, 5-6.
(4) Violated God's plan by using Sarai's maid, Hagar, as a surrogate mother, v. 3.
3. Hagar - Sarai's Egyptian maid, who was given to Abram (like a piece of property) and
became pregnant by him, v. 4.
4. Ishmael - son of Abram and Hagar, v. 15.

II. Meditation: on the victimized life of Hagar
1. Hagar was born an Egyptian; became a slave, v. 1.
2. Hagar was given to Abram; became pregnant, vv. 2-4.
3. Hagar became the center of a domestic "triangle of trouble;" she was despised and probably
beaten by the wife, Sarai, vv. 4-6.
4. Hagar became so desperate that she ran away, v. 6.

III. Revelation: on the angel's words to Hagar (vv. 7-10)
1. "Where have you come from?"
Reflect on your past history.
2. "Where are you going?"
Consider your future destiny.
3. "Return" and "submit."
In humble obedience, trust God for protection and provision.
4. "I will multiply your children."
Receive by faith God's promised blessings.

IV. Applications: on how God deals with me (as He dealt with Hagar)
1. God gives His promises of blessing, vv. 11-12.
2. God reveals Himself: "The-God-Who-Lives-and-Sees-Me," vv. 13-14.
3. God demands obedient submission to his will, v. 15.
4. God fulfills His word; "Ishmael" means "God hears," v. 16.

Resisting and Overcoming Temptation
(Matthew 4:1-11)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Satan tempted Jesus to sin by avoiding the cross and establishing
His kingdom some other way, vv. 1-11.
2. Jesus began His ministry in Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah 9:1-2 and 42:7; He
preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," vv. 12-17.
3. Jesus called four fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) to become
"fishers of men," vv. 18-22.
4. Jesus preached throughout Galilee and healed multitudes of diseased,
afflicted, and demon-possessed people, v. 23-25.
II. Meditation: on Jesus' temptation experiences
1. Jesus was in a physically weakened condition (from 40 days fasting) when
Satan attacked Him, 1-2.
2. Jesus was tempted in ALL POINTS, yet without sin, Hebrews 4:15.
3. His basic temptation was to avoid the cross . . . which was God's main
purpose for His life . . . His divine destiny.
4. Satan always attacks with these three types of temptation:
I John 2:16 Genesis 3:6 Matthew 4:1-11
a. Lust of the flesh Good for food Stones to bread
b. Lust of the eye Pleasant to eyes Showed all kingdoms
c. Pride of life Desired for wisdom Angels will protect you
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen here
1. Physically, Jesus may have been weakened, but His fasting for 40 days
strengthened Him spiritually, (Mark 9:29 . . . "only by fasting")
2. Jesus did not overcome temptation through His divine power, but through
His "always-right" human choices.
3. The days Jesus spent in solitude included meditation on Scripture.
4. Jesus saw beyond the "innocent" temptations to the basic issue . . .
fulfilling the Father's will or not.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to learn these truths and practice them
1. Fasting is a vital New Testament spiritual exercises; I need to enter into
regular periods of true fasting.
2. The spiritual battle is in the mind; Satan desires "thought-control"; I need to
think on true, noble, just . . . things (Philippians 4:8) which feed my soul.
3. True meditation is God-directed and Bible-based; I need to spend more time
listening to God speak to my heart.
4. Every temptation (yielded to OR resisted) affects our God-given purpose in life;
(see James 1:2-4); I need to consider God's destiny for my life whenever temptations
arise . . . looking for God's promised way of escape, I Corinthians 10:13.

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, visit 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 DOCTORATE 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 registrations.
* $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.

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

George Adams quote: "There are high spots in all of our lives, and most of them
come about through encouragement from someone else."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------