Epistle for March 12, 2004

#1 · March 11, 2004, 6:35 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on March 11, 2004, 6:35 pm
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E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation March 12, 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 23:1-20
Matthew 11:1-30
Tuition
Abraham Purchases a Burial Plot
(Genesis 23:1-20)
I. Concentration: on the death of Sarah
1. After separating from his nephew, Lot, Abraham settled near Hebron
(Mamre), Genesis 13:18, a major city in the hill country of Judah
about 19 miles south of Jerusalem and 15 miles west of the Dead Sea.
2. Sarah, Abraham's wife, died in Hebron at the age of 127 years, vv. 1-2.
3. At this time, her son, Isaac, was 37 years old, Genesis 17:17.
4. Since Abraham was a nomad, he had no land of his own, but he needed a
permanent place to bury and memorialize his dead wife, vv. 3-4.
II. Meditation: on the burial cave purchased by Abraham
1. After some interesting negotiations (vv. 5-17), Abraham paid Ephron 400
shekels of silver for a field, a cave, and the surrounding trees . . . to be
used as a family cemetery plot.
2. Abraham and Sarah were buried there, Genesis 23:19; 25:9.
3. Isaac and Rebekah were buried there, Genesis 35:29; 49:31.
4. Jacob and Leah were buried there, Genesis 49:31; 50:13.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of this chapter
1. All human beings shall die, and it is entirely appropriate to honor their lives
with a memorial at their burial site.
2. Abraham insisted on paying Ephron's full asking-price for the land, although
it probably was not worth 400 shekels, and he could have received it as a gift.
The true value of a spiritual act is determined by its cost . . . the price
paid, II Samuel 24:24.
3. Abraham officially and legally purchased the land, receiving a permanent
"title-deed," vv. 16-18. (We, also, have a certain inheritance).
4. Thus, Abraham came into possession of the first part of the land of Canaan,
which God had promised to him and his family, vv. 19-20.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Accept God's ideal of a marriage: through good and bad (for richer or poorer;
in sickness and health) . . . it is "until death do us part."
2. Be absolutely fair and scrupulously honest in all my business dealings, refusing
to take unfair advantage of another person.
3. Know that, although this world is not my home . . . I am only a pilgrim here . . .
my (temporary) ownership/stewardship of private property is fitting and proper
in the eyes of God.
4. Realize that the joyful fulfillment of God's promises to me often is accompanied
by a season of testing, grief, and sorrow. (Abraham got part of the Promised
Land, but it was connected to the death of Sarah.)

Jesus' "Rest" Is The Best
(Matthew 11:1-30)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. John the Baptist sent his disciples to receive assurance from Jesus
that He indeed was the Messiah, vv. 1-6.
2. Jesus commended John as a great prophet . . . as Elijah who was to
come, vv. 7-19.
3. Jesus pronounced woe upon several unrepentant cities, vv. 20-24.
4. Jesus invited weary persons to come to Him for rest, vv. 25-30.

II. Meditation: on the truths seen in verses 28-30
1. Jesus' invitation to "rest" immediately followed His prayer of thanksgiving
that the Father had revealed Himself to "babes" . . . to the disciples,
vv. 25-26; Jesus claimed that the Father had delivered all things into His
hands . . . that He was in full control of everything, v. 27.
2. Jesus taught that no one knows the Son except the Father, v. 27; He also
stated here that no one can know the Father except the Son and those to
whom the Son has revealed the Father, v. 27; see John 14:9.
3. Jesus invited physically tired and spiritually weary (sin-burdened) people to
Himself; to those who come, He GIVES rest, v. 28.
4. Jesus next invites them to learn from (and about) Him; those who "take His
yoke" and learn of Him FIND rest for their souls, v. 29.

III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen in these truths
1. The first "rest" represents our salvation . . . a free gift.
2. This offer is saving grace resulting in spiritual peace with God.
3. The second "rest" represents sanctification . . . a process of spiritual growth
toward Christ-like maturity, II Peter 3:18.
4. This second invitation is to make a discovery through studying with Jesus and
about Jesus.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. "REST" in the assurance of my salvation, which is a gift from almighty God,
Ephesians 2:8-9.
2. Know that Jesus' presence with me brings true peace, Mark 4:37-41.
3. Learn more about Jesus, through the revelation ministry of the Holy Spirit, so
that I may grow in spiritual stature . . . to be like Him, Ephesians 4:13.
4. Perceive Jesus' "REST" as both a GIFT and a DISCOVERY; He is the "AUTHOR
AND FINISHER OF MY FAITH," Hebrews 12:2; praise and thank Him!

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 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 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.

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

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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To unsubscribe, send ANY messag

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation March 12, 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 23:1-20
Matthew 11:1-30
Tuition
Abraham Purchases a Burial Plot
(Genesis 23:1-20)
I. Concentration: on the death of Sarah
1. After separating from his nephew, Lot, Abraham settled near Hebron
(Mamre), Genesis 13:18, a major city in the hill country of Judah
about 19 miles south of Jerusalem and 15 miles west of the Dead Sea.
2. Sarah, Abraham's wife, died in Hebron at the age of 127 years, vv. 1-2.
3. At this time, her son, Isaac, was 37 years old, Genesis 17:17.
4. Since Abraham was a nomad, he had no land of his own, but he needed a
permanent place to bury and memorialize his dead wife, vv. 3-4.
II. Meditation: on the burial cave purchased by Abraham
1. After some interesting negotiations (vv. 5-17), Abraham paid Ephron 400
shekels of silver for a field, a cave, and the surrounding trees . . . to be
used as a family cemetery plot.
2. Abraham and Sarah were buried there, Genesis 23:19; 25:9.
3. Isaac and Rebekah were buried there, Genesis 35:29; 49:31.
4. Jacob and Leah were buried there, Genesis 49:31; 50:13.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of this chapter
1. All human beings shall die, and it is entirely appropriate to honor their lives
with a memorial at their burial site.
2. Abraham insisted on paying Ephron's full asking-price for the land, although
it probably was not worth 400 shekels, and he could have received it as a gift.
The true value of a spiritual act is determined by its cost . . . the price
paid, II Samuel 24:24.
3. Abraham officially and legally purchased the land, receiving a permanent
"title-deed," vv. 16-18. (We, also, have a certain inheritance).
4. Thus, Abraham came into possession of the first part of the land of Canaan,
which God had promised to him and his family, vv. 19-20.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Accept God's ideal of a marriage: through good and bad (for richer or poorer;
in sickness and health) . . . it is "until death do us part."
2. Be absolutely fair and scrupulously honest in all my business dealings, refusing
to take unfair advantage of another person.
3. Know that, although this world is not my home . . . I am only a pilgrim here . . .
my (temporary) ownership/stewardship of private property is fitting and proper
in the eyes of God.
4. Realize that the joyful fulfillment of God's promises to me often is accompanied
by a season of testing, grief, and sorrow. (Abraham got part of the Promised
Land, but it was connected to the death of Sarah.)

Jesus' "Rest" Is The Best
(Matthew 11:1-30)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. John the Baptist sent his disciples to receive assurance from Jesus
that He indeed was the Messiah, vv. 1-6.
2. Jesus commended John as a great prophet . . . as Elijah who was to
come, vv. 7-19.
3. Jesus pronounced woe upon several unrepentant cities, vv. 20-24.
4. Jesus invited weary persons to come to Him for rest, vv. 25-30.

II. Meditation: on the truths seen in verses 28-30
1. Jesus' invitation to "rest" immediately followed His prayer of thanksgiving
that the Father had revealed Himself to "babes" . . . to the disciples,
vv. 25-26; Jesus claimed that the Father had delivered all things into His
hands . . . that He was in full control of everything, v. 27.
2. Jesus taught that no one knows the Son except the Father, v. 27; He also
stated here that no one can know the Father except the Son and those to
whom the Son has revealed the Father, v. 27; see John 14:9.
3. Jesus invited physically tired and spiritually weary (sin-burdened) people to
Himself; to those who come, He GIVES rest, v. 28.
4. Jesus next invites them to learn from (and about) Him; those who "take His
yoke" and learn of Him FIND rest for their souls, v. 29.

III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen in these truths
1. The first "rest" represents our salvation . . . a free gift.
2. This offer is saving grace resulting in spiritual peace with God.
3. The second "rest" represents sanctification . . . a process of spiritual growth
toward Christ-like maturity, II Peter 3:18.
4. This second invitation is to make a discovery through studying with Jesus and
about Jesus.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. "REST" in the assurance of my salvation, which is a gift from almighty God,
Ephesians 2:8-9.
2. Know that Jesus' presence with me brings true peace, Mark 4:37-41.
3. Learn more about Jesus, through the revelation ministry of the Holy Spirit, so
that I may grow in spiritual stature . . . to be like Him, Ephesians 4:13.
4. Perceive Jesus' "REST" as both a GIFT and a DISCOVERY; He is the "AUTHOR
AND FINISHER OF MY FAITH," Hebrews 12:2; praise and thank Him!

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 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 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.

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

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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