Epistle for September 3, 2004

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E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation September 3, 2004

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

In This Issue:
"Israel Blesses Joseph's Sons"
"How Is It You Do Not Understand?"
PIAC degree titles

Israel Blesses Joseph's Sons
(Genesis 48:1-22)

I. Concentration: on Israel's testimony about his spiritual pilgrimage
1. Israel, on his death bed, gathered his strength to speak with Joseph and his two sons,
Manasseh and Ephraim, vv. 1-2.
2. Israel told them how God had appeared to him in a vision at Luz (Bethel), v. 3; Genesis 29:12-19.
3. Israel reviewed God's covenant promises to him and to them, v. 4.
4. Israel recounted the death of Joseph's mother (Rachel) and her burial . . . at the future site of
Messiah's birthplace Ephrath (Bethlehem), v. 7; Micah 5:2.

II. Meditation: on Israel's blessings upon Joseph and his sons
1. Israel worshipped God, giving thanks for His mercy in allowing him to "see" his sons and
grandsons, vv. 8-12.
2. Going against Joseph's wishes and ancient tradition, Israel, under God's guidance, deliberately
gave the "right hand (greater) blessing" to Joseph's second son, Ephraim, and the "left hand (lesser)
blessing" to his first son Manasseh, vv. 13-14, 17-20.
3. Israel blessed Joseph and his sons with the formal "Abraham and Isaac" family blessing, giving these
two grandsons equal shares of the inheritance in the Promised Land . . . essentially giving Joseph the
"eldest son's double share" of his father's estate, vv. 15-16, 21-22.
4. Israel (Jacob) pronounced these blessings BY FAITH, believing that God would bring to pass the words
he spoke, Hebrews 11:21.

III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of these events
1. It is beneficial to the family for the patriarch (oldest member) to review God's providential care and
divine guidance over the years.
2. God's will and purpose often goes against human wisdom and tradition.
3. Christians are heirs to the promised blessings contained in God's covenant with Abraham,
Galatians 3:7-9, 13-14, 26-29.
4. The key to Godly living is faith in the Lord, for without faith it is impossible to please Him, Hebrews 11:6.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Speak regularly to my family about God's spiritual dealings with me over all the years of my life.
2. Realize that the Lord is not bound by human wisdom or tradition, but that He delights in doing a "new thing"
to accomplish His diving will and purposes, Isaiah 43:18-19.
3. Rejoice that I have received the blessing of "Abraham's Seed" (Galatians 3:16) . . . that the Lord Jesus
Christ is my personal Savior.
4. Cultivate a living faith and a growing confidence in my Lord, the Almighty "mountain-moving" God,
Matthew 21:21-22.

How Is It You Do Not Understand?
(Mark 8:1-38)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Jesus fed the four thousand, vv. 1-10.
2. The religious leaders came seeking a sign, and Jesus warned the
disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, vv. 11-21.
3. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida, vv. 22-26.
4. Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah, vv. 27-30.
5. Jesus predicted His death and resurrection, vv. 31-33.
6. Jesus told His disciples to take up the cross and follow Him; He also taught
them the spiritual value of a human soul, vv. 34-38.

II. Meditation: on Jesus' teachings' about spiritual discernment
1. There was a shortage of bread (due to carelessness?), v. 14.
2. Jesus made a spiritual application about bread and hypocrisy, but the disciples
missed the point, vv. 15-16. (See Luke 12:1)
3. Jesus perceived their dullness and guided them to a clearer understanding of the
truth: of who He was, vv. 17-21, 29.
4. Jesus challenged the disciples to see, to hear, to remember, and to understand, vv. 17-21.

III. Revelation: on overcoming a hardened heart, vv. 17-18 (Mark 6:52)
1. SEE - look at; observe; have spiritual perception.
2. HEAR - listen; pay attention; cultivate "tuning in" to the Spirit.
3. REMEMBER - recall former blessings: provision, protection, etc.
4. UNDERSTAND - comprehend; grasp the significance of what God is doing and why,
along with the implications for His future actions.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Realize that sometimes shortages of the necessities of life are due to my own
carelessness; at other times they are part of God's plan . . . so I may learn not to
worry or be unduly concerned about such earthly problems.
2. Recognize that although the physical realm is important, the spiritual realm is much
more important.
3. See, hear, remember, and understand God's provision for me in the past . . . including
the "surplus" that was left over after all my physical needs were met.
4. Comprehend that hard-heartedness (toward God and man) is linked with fear and
doubt . . . the disciples could not perceive spiritual things because of their "heart condition."
PRAYER: Lord, give me a tender, sensitive heart of faith to perceive, listen,
reflect, and comprehend your work in me. Amen.

Pillsbury Institute NCCA Degree Titles
(Effective July 1, 2004)

Christian Master of Arts (C.M.A.)
in (Clinical) Counseling Psychology (or)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling (or)
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy

Christian Doctor of Philosophy (C.Ph.D.)
in (Clinical) Counseling Psychology (or)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling (or)
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy

Christian Doctor of Psychology (C .Psy.D.)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling (or)
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy (Second Doctorate Only)

NOTE:
The student has the option of whether to include the area of concentration ("In . . . ")
on his or her diploma. This information always will appear on the student transcript.

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

"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow
is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
- Abraham Lincoln
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY messag

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

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

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation September 3, 2004

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

In This Issue:
"Israel Blesses Joseph's Sons"
"How Is It You Do Not Understand?"
PIAC degree titles

Israel Blesses Joseph's Sons
(Genesis 48:1-22)

I. Concentration: on Israel's testimony about his spiritual pilgrimage
1. Israel, on his death bed, gathered his strength to speak with Joseph and his two sons,
Manasseh and Ephraim, vv. 1-2.
2. Israel told them how God had appeared to him in a vision at Luz (Bethel), v. 3; Genesis 29:12-19.
3. Israel reviewed God's covenant promises to him and to them, v. 4.
4. Israel recounted the death of Joseph's mother (Rachel) and her burial . . . at the future site of
Messiah's birthplace Ephrath (Bethlehem), v. 7; Micah 5:2.

II. Meditation: on Israel's blessings upon Joseph and his sons
1. Israel worshipped God, giving thanks for His mercy in allowing him to "see" his sons and
grandsons, vv. 8-12.
2. Going against Joseph's wishes and ancient tradition, Israel, under God's guidance, deliberately
gave the "right hand (greater) blessing" to Joseph's second son, Ephraim, and the "left hand (lesser)
blessing" to his first son Manasseh, vv. 13-14, 17-20.
3. Israel blessed Joseph and his sons with the formal "Abraham and Isaac" family blessing, giving these
two grandsons equal shares of the inheritance in the Promised Land . . . essentially giving Joseph the
"eldest son's double share" of his father's estate, vv. 15-16, 21-22.
4. Israel (Jacob) pronounced these blessings BY FAITH, believing that God would bring to pass the words
he spoke, Hebrews 11:21.

III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of these events
1. It is beneficial to the family for the patriarch (oldest member) to review God's providential care and
divine guidance over the years.
2. God's will and purpose often goes against human wisdom and tradition.
3. Christians are heirs to the promised blessings contained in God's covenant with Abraham,
Galatians 3:7-9, 13-14, 26-29.
4. The key to Godly living is faith in the Lord, for without faith it is impossible to please Him, Hebrews 11:6.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Speak regularly to my family about God's spiritual dealings with me over all the years of my life.
2. Realize that the Lord is not bound by human wisdom or tradition, but that He delights in doing a "new thing"
to accomplish His diving will and purposes, Isaiah 43:18-19.
3. Rejoice that I have received the blessing of "Abraham's Seed" (Galatians 3:16) . . . that the Lord Jesus
Christ is my personal Savior.
4. Cultivate a living faith and a growing confidence in my Lord, the Almighty "mountain-moving" God,
Matthew 21:21-22.

How Is It You Do Not Understand?
(Mark 8:1-38)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Jesus fed the four thousand, vv. 1-10.
2. The religious leaders came seeking a sign, and Jesus warned the
disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, vv. 11-21.
3. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida, vv. 22-26.
4. Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah, vv. 27-30.
5. Jesus predicted His death and resurrection, vv. 31-33.
6. Jesus told His disciples to take up the cross and follow Him; He also taught
them the spiritual value of a human soul, vv. 34-38.

II. Meditation: on Jesus' teachings' about spiritual discernment
1. There was a shortage of bread (due to carelessness?), v. 14.
2. Jesus made a spiritual application about bread and hypocrisy, but the disciples
missed the point, vv. 15-16. (See Luke 12:1)
3. Jesus perceived their dullness and guided them to a clearer understanding of the
truth: of who He was, vv. 17-21, 29.
4. Jesus challenged the disciples to see, to hear, to remember, and to understand, vv. 17-21.

III. Revelation: on overcoming a hardened heart, vv. 17-18 (Mark 6:52)
1. SEE - look at; observe; have spiritual perception.
2. HEAR - listen; pay attention; cultivate "tuning in" to the Spirit.
3. REMEMBER - recall former blessings: provision, protection, etc.
4. UNDERSTAND - comprehend; grasp the significance of what God is doing and why,
along with the implications for His future actions.

IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Realize that sometimes shortages of the necessities of life are due to my own
carelessness; at other times they are part of God's plan . . . so I may learn not to
worry or be unduly concerned about such earthly problems.
2. Recognize that although the physical realm is important, the spiritual realm is much
more important.
3. See, hear, remember, and understand God's provision for me in the past . . . including
the "surplus" that was left over after all my physical needs were met.
4. Comprehend that hard-heartedness (toward God and man) is linked with fear and
doubt . . . the disciples could not perceive spiritual things because of their "heart condition."
PRAYER: Lord, give me a tender, sensitive heart of faith to perceive, listen,
reflect, and comprehend your work in me. Amen.

Pillsbury Institute NCCA Degree Titles
(Effective July 1, 2004)

Christian Master of Arts (C.M.A.)
in (Clinical) Counseling Psychology (or)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling (or)
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy

Christian Doctor of Philosophy (C.Ph.D.)
in (Clinical) Counseling Psychology (or)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling (or)
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy

Christian Doctor of Psychology (C .Psy.D.)
in (Clinical) Pastoral Counseling (or)
in (Clinical) Temperament Therapy (Second Doctorate Only)

NOTE:
The student has the option of whether to include the area of concentration ("In . . . ")
on his or her diploma. This information always will appear on the student transcript.

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

"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow
is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
- Abraham Lincoln
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY messag