values
In my belief and values I see the world through the lens of Christianity. I am a Christian Counselor which means that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the redemption of His blood that was provided for me on the Cross of Calvary. My favorite verse in the Bible is
Philippians 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
My counseling is Christian-based and all of my academic training was sought after at reputable conservative Christian Higher Education institutions. Some would be turned off by such a statement but if that is the case I want you to know that I am not exclusive to counseling people who only are of the same faith. I connect with people from many backgrounds, and I welcome the opportunity to work with you as a compassionate and empathetic provider even if your belief, values, religious views or background are different than mine because I enjoy our common human endeavor that seeks to find paths of peace and life. At the core, I believe we are all human. I believe we are made to exist. We are not alone. At the very least, my humanity will interact with yours in a commitment of well being to move forward and overcome obstacles or achieve goals.
The Path of Counseling is frequently something that both the counselor and the client influence, but the Path is most determined and chosen by the client as the counselor is trained to provide ears that hear, eyes that see, a heart that endures, and expertise of academia and experience. Our process of healing is unique as you engage in developing, trying on, attempting, and remaining aware of your Worldview.
The Worldview that each of us ascribe to is made of truth and lies. The source of my absolute truth which drives my Worldview, in my personal, professional, and political opinion is of utmost importance. All efforts to find absolutes, maintain them to the point of sacrifice, and use them to redeem my calling, are my daily resolve. A large part of my source of absolute truth is Biblical Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a]may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Footnotes:
2 Timothy 3:17 Or that you, a man of God,
My personal opinion is very dear to me and is rarely revealed in session. As a person who engages in various roles for my family, I pursue them in ways that I have known, been taught, and passed down through the family system that I was born into and now resolve to daily create a safe system with my wife for my children and those who are not clients and who I engage in my personal circles.
My professional opinion is something that is learned, reviewed, experienced and sought by me on a daily basis to be improved and founded on principles of science, principles of psychology, principles of theology and principles of common sense which do no harm, remain congruent, and are maintained with integrity and purpose. The priority I also place on safety in my professional arena is high and one of my greatest assets.
My political opinion will not be provided or processed because of the natural nature of politics to create division. Of course, its purpose would be congruent with the other opinions. A client may reveal their own affiliation and focus to their hearts content.
My pastime opinions are related to the NFC East Division, Western Conference Southwest Division, American League West Division, PAC-12 South Division, Big Ten, and FCS. Most of this is related to the connections that I have within my personal circles.
Biblical References of wisdom
Some Biblical wisdom that influences my counseling and reasoning is as follows:
To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.
You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Footnotes:
Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
Of David. A maskil.[a]
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.[b]5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
[ נ Nun ] Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Imitating Christ’s Humility
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in youto will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
New International Version (NIV)
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