Epistle for May 2, 2003

#1 · May 2, 2003, 11:31 am

Quote from Forum Archives on May 2, 2003, 11:31 am
Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation May 2, 2003

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

Dr. Scarborough will be doing studies on the entire books of Nehemiah and Hebrews
during this quarter (April - June)

In this Issue:
Nehemiah 5:1-19
Hebrews 5:1-14
PIAC introduces:
M.A., Ph.D., & Psy. D. Degrees

A Politician Who Wouldn't Take Money!
(Nehemiah 5:1-19)

I. Concentration: on the events in this chapter
1. A famine, with its accompanying economic crisis had struck before Nehemiah arrived
in Jerusalem, forcing many families into poverty and slavery: these poor people cried
out to Governor Nehemiah for justice against oppression and heavy taxation, vv. 1-5.
2. In anger, and after serious thought, Nehemiah called a great assembly and rebuked the
nobles and rulers for charging their fellow Jews interest, confiscating their property, and
selling into slavery those who could not pay their debts; Nehemiah ordered them to cease
these practices and to release and restore those who had been oppressed, vv. 6-11.
3. The guilty persons agreed to obey the commands of Governor Nehemiah, and he put them
under a sacred oath with a curse if they failed to do as they had promised, vv. 12-13.
4. During his entire 12-year administration, Nehemiah accepted no salary (taxes; tribute)
to pay for his expenses or those of his servants; although it was customary for the people
to support the governor and his officials, Nehemiah paid his own way, recognizing that
God would reward him for his generosity, vv. 14-19.

II. Meditation: on the spiritual principles seen here
1. God is concerned about the economic condition of His people, in addition to His primary
concern about their spiritual condition.
2. God's laws demand mercy toward the poor and needy; He forbids oppressing His people
who have fallen into poverty, Leviticus 25:36-47.
3. Economic practices (business dealings) are subject to the Lord's spiritual principles which
establish what is right and wrong on the basis of God's standards of ethics and morality.
4. Government officials and/or religious leaders should not draw exorbitant salaries or proift
excessively from their positions of authority. "The laborer is worthy of his wages,"
I Timothy 5:18 . . . but a godly person of prominence will be sensitive to the disparity
between "the haves and the have-nots" and give generously and work diligently to help
the poor and needy.

III. Revelation and Applications: as a Christian leader, I need to . . .
1. Realize that God knows and sees all my deeds, including how I make, invest, spend,
and give money.
2. Obey God's instructions by treating all persons with mercy and compassion.
3. Live a life of integrity, according to God's standards of Christian ethics and morality.
4. Work faithfully to earn my wages; give generously to support God's kingdom enterprises
and to help those in need.

Learning Obedience Through Suffering
(Hebrews 5:1-14)

I. Concentration: on the Old Testament High Priest
1. They were human beings, v. 1.
2. They were sinners ("subject to weakness"), enabling them to have some compassion
on the ignorant and those going astray, v. 2.
3. They had to offer sacrifices for their own sins before making sacrifices for the sins of
the people, v. 3.
4. They held this honorable office (High Priest) temporarily, and by God's sovereign will, vv. 1,4.

II. Meditation: on the contrasts with Jesus, our High Priest
1. Jesus was more than human; He was God's only begotten Son . . . divinity in human flesh, v. 5.
2. Jesus is God's appointed High Priest forever, vv. 6, 10. (See Hebrews 7:25)
3. Jesus has His prayers heard because of His unwavering faith in God and His unceasing fear
(reverence) for the Father, v. 7.
4. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, learning (by experience) that obedience involves suffering . . .
thus becoming the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, vv. 8-9.

III. Revelation: on the responses to these truths by some believers
1. Too many Christians have become dull of hearing (spiritually deaf; unperceptive; unappreciative)
toward Christ's on-going intercessory ministry for them as the great High Priest, v. 11.
2. Too many Christians, who now should be teaching God's word, still need to be taught;
they require spiritual milk instead of solid food, v. 12.
3. Too many Christians are unskilled in righteousness . . . are spiritual babies, unable to walk
in right relationship with God and man, v. 13.
4. Too many Christians, through lack of spiritual exercise (Bible study, meditation, prayer,
and fasting), remain weak and immature, unable to discern good from evil, v. 14.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Perceive Christ's on-going intercession for me as God's High Priest.
2. Allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten my mind so that I many learn and be able to teach
others God's word.
3. Grow in grace and knowledge toward spiritual maturity . . . "to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ," Ephesians 4:13.
4. Exercise personal discipline in my spiritual life, so that I may be able to see and
understand things from God's perspective.

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

Confucius said "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

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 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 documents 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.

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation May 2, 2003

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

Dr. Scarborough will be doing studies on the entire books of Nehemiah and Hebrews
during this quarter (April - June)

In this Issue:
Nehemiah 5:1-19
Hebrews 5:1-14
PIAC introduces:
M.A., Ph.D., & Psy. D. Degrees

A Politician Who Wouldn't Take Money!
(Nehemiah 5:1-19)

I. Concentration: on the events in this chapter
1. A famine, with its accompanying economic crisis had struck before Nehemiah arrived
in Jerusalem, forcing many families into poverty and slavery: these poor people cried
out to Governor Nehemiah for justice against oppression and heavy taxation, vv. 1-5.
2. In anger, and after serious thought, Nehemiah called a great assembly and rebuked the
nobles and rulers for charging their fellow Jews interest, confiscating their property, and
selling into slavery those who could not pay their debts; Nehemiah ordered them to cease
these practices and to release and restore those who had been oppressed, vv. 6-11.
3. The guilty persons agreed to obey the commands of Governor Nehemiah, and he put them
under a sacred oath with a curse if they failed to do as they had promised, vv. 12-13.
4. During his entire 12-year administration, Nehemiah accepted no salary (taxes; tribute)
to pay for his expenses or those of his servants; although it was customary for the people
to support the governor and his officials, Nehemiah paid his own way, recognizing that
God would reward him for his generosity, vv. 14-19.

II. Meditation: on the spiritual principles seen here
1. God is concerned about the economic condition of His people, in addition to His primary
concern about their spiritual condition.
2. God's laws demand mercy toward the poor and needy; He forbids oppressing His people
who have fallen into poverty, Leviticus 25:36-47.
3. Economic practices (business dealings) are subject to the Lord's spiritual principles which
establish what is right and wrong on the basis of God's standards of ethics and morality.
4. Government officials and/or religious leaders should not draw exorbitant salaries or proift
excessively from their positions of authority. "The laborer is worthy of his wages,"
I Timothy 5:18 . . . but a godly person of prominence will be sensitive to the disparity
between "the haves and the have-nots" and give generously and work diligently to help
the poor and needy.

III. Revelation and Applications: as a Christian leader, I need to . . .
1. Realize that God knows and sees all my deeds, including how I make, invest, spend,
and give money.
2. Obey God's instructions by treating all persons with mercy and compassion.
3. Live a life of integrity, according to God's standards of Christian ethics and morality.
4. Work faithfully to earn my wages; give generously to support God's kingdom enterprises
and to help those in need.

Learning Obedience Through Suffering
(Hebrews 5:1-14)

I. Concentration: on the Old Testament High Priest
1. They were human beings, v. 1.
2. They were sinners ("subject to weakness"), enabling them to have some compassion
on the ignorant and those going astray, v. 2.
3. They had to offer sacrifices for their own sins before making sacrifices for the sins of
the people, v. 3.
4. They held this honorable office (High Priest) temporarily, and by God's sovereign will, vv. 1,4.

II. Meditation: on the contrasts with Jesus, our High Priest
1. Jesus was more than human; He was God's only begotten Son . . . divinity in human flesh, v. 5.
2. Jesus is God's appointed High Priest forever, vv. 6, 10. (See Hebrews 7:25)
3. Jesus has His prayers heard because of His unwavering faith in God and His unceasing fear
(reverence) for the Father, v. 7.
4. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, learning (by experience) that obedience involves suffering . . .
thus becoming the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, vv. 8-9.

III. Revelation: on the responses to these truths by some believers
1. Too many Christians have become dull of hearing (spiritually deaf; unperceptive; unappreciative)
toward Christ's on-going intercessory ministry for them as the great High Priest, v. 11.
2. Too many Christians, who now should be teaching God's word, still need to be taught;
they require spiritual milk instead of solid food, v. 12.
3. Too many Christians are unskilled in righteousness . . . are spiritual babies, unable to walk
in right relationship with God and man, v. 13.
4. Too many Christians, through lack of spiritual exercise (Bible study, meditation, prayer,
and fasting), remain weak and immature, unable to discern good from evil, v. 14.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Perceive Christ's on-going intercession for me as God's High Priest.
2. Allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten my mind so that I many learn and be able to teach
others God's word.
3. Grow in grace and knowledge toward spiritual maturity . . . "to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ," Ephesians 4:13.
4. Exercise personal discipline in my spiritual life, so that I may be able to see and
understand things from God's perspective.

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

Confucius said "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

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 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 documents 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.