by Mark Shaw | Mar 29, 2011 | Truth in Love Staff
The epidemic I see most often in biblical marriage counseling cases I am privileged to serve in are passive husbands and assertive wives. The two go hand in hand, unfortunatlely, and I blame the husband for much of this problem (though wives are not totally without...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 27, 2011 | Truth in Love Staff
To wives: Want a transformed marriage? Then, why don’t you change first? Allow the Lord to do a work in your heart and learn to submit to Him, then pray for Him to work on your husband’s heart next – all the while, your husband is witnessing your...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 14, 2011 | Marriage, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
Malachi 2:16 is often quoted (NKJV): “For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts.” So why does God hate divorce so much? This verse tells us that it clothes a person in violence,...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 8, 2011 | Marriage
Too many people have a view of God as though He is a genie in a bottle to whom they make wishes! God is to serve them rather than the other way around. I just heard a sermon where it was NOT about God but what about He can do for the person to make them...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 4, 2011 | Marriage
A recent, truthful Charlie Sheen quote is: “I am on a drug: It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it once, you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body.” If you’ve...
by Mark Shaw | Feb 24, 2011 | family, Truth in Love Staff
With Christmas a distant memory that occurred two months ago, maybe now it’s “safe” to critique the typical philosophy of most American parents (even Christians): “Give your children EVERYTHING they want, materially speaking, and especially at...
by Mark Shaw | Feb 12, 2011 | family, Posts by Mark
In my latest book, I wrote on the topic of parenting. I think the best summation of what the book is about comes from Dr. Tedd Tripp’s endorsement of it. Dr. Tripp, author of Shepherding a Child’s Heart, said this about the book: I think this is a great...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 31, 2011 | Jesus Only
I read this mission statement from an organization that offers psychological care and training to the CHURCH. They are seeking to integrate psychological ideas of mankind (many of which oppose the Word of God) with biblical truths. Here is what they believe (from...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 28, 2011 | Jesus Only, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
At self-help meetings, one is encouraged to get a sponsor which is someone to disciple them in the principles of the secular, self-help program. The problem is that a sponsor may not be a Christian. So how can someone learn about Christ from a person who is NOT a...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 5, 2011 | Biblical Counseling, Jesus Only, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
Truth in Love Ministries is NOT a one man show! We have a TEAM of people running the administration of the ministry as well as teams of biblical counselors. We are a TEAM in every way and I depend so heavily on everyone involved in the ministry. What triggered this...
by Mark Shaw | Jan 3, 2011 | Jesus Only
You hear people say that “Jesus is in your heart” but is He really? Where is Jesus now? In my heart? No, in bodily form, Jesus is not inside of me! Jesus has a new body after His resurrection! Buddha died. Other false gods and prophets died, too. Jesus...
by Mark Shaw | Dec 27, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark
As we close out 2010, I wanted to relay a statistic I heard recently that said that 41% of AMERICANS were mentally ill. In America, we are creeping up on almost HALF of all Americans have some type of so-called “mental illness.” In other words, 41% of...
by Mark Shaw | Dec 21, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
Words are important. I was thinking about this during a session I had years ago where the father was portrayed as an “abuser” when really he had mistreated one of his family members physically once. It was a one time occurrence yet he was characterized as...
by Mark Shaw | Dec 9, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
I was reading through Lamentations and considering this very tragic book of the Bible. The book is one of the most depressing books of the Bible because it deals with the justice of God to punish sinners, even His own chosen people, the Israelites. It’s a sad...
by Mark Shaw | Nov 29, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark
How do I choose a “higher power”? Isn’t that a contradiction? By definition, a “higher power” is stronger and higher than me, right? If I choose a “higher power,” then is that really a higher power if I can choose it? Who...
by Mark Shaw | Nov 28, 2010 | Truth in Love Staff
Read in the November 26, 2010, Birmingham News a quote from Billy Bob Thornton that revealed his worldview. He was talking about the characters in his new movie called “Faster” (not an endorsement of the movie, by the way, although it might be ok, just...
by Mark Shaw | Nov 21, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Church Life, Partnerships, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
Think of one of your favorite preachers/teachers either in the Birmingham area or around the country. Quite likely, this pastor would be a godly man, full of integrity and passion for Christ and the lost, and very knowledgeable. So would this pastor be a good...
by Mark Shaw | Nov 17, 2010 | Church Life, Missions, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
I think I’ll coin a new word: Churchianity. Sometimes, I don’t see a lot of Christianity. Instead, I only see “churchianity.” What is churchianity? Churchianity is the busy-ness, spectator sport of attending a weekly corporate worship service...
by Mark Shaw | Nov 3, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Church Life, Life Lessons, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
I thank the Lord for the great Bible teachers I have had in Sunday school, church, seminary, and in my personal life. I am still learning so much about the Word of God and realize I have so far to go. It’s always sad to me to talk to people in counseling who are...
by Mark Shaw | Oct 30, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
…put in the hard work and sacrifice required to get there. This is true of counselees and it’s true of me! I want the result but do I want to pay my dues? In other words, people want well-behaved children. They want that end result. However, they are not...
