by Mark Shaw | Jun 24, 2010 | Posts by Mark, Scripture, Truth in Love Staff
One of my favorite verses is in Ephesians 1:4 and simply says: “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world…” There is much more in that chapter but this little statement reminds me that there is no good deed I can do to earn...
by Mark Shaw | Jun 21, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Life Lessons, Posts by Mark
Most Christians love those who are being oppressed: the poor, needy, those affected unjustly, etc. But Christianity calls us to love those who are OUR oppressors. In other words, do you love those who treat you unfairly and unjustly? Do you love those who treat you...
by Mark Shaw | Jun 20, 2010 | Devotions, Posts by Mark
I listened to several teachings and sermons one week and I must’ve heard every one of them give at least one C.S. Lewis quote in each of those lessons. C.S. Lewis – what a thinker! We love to read him today but would we want C.S. Lewis in our churches?...
by Mark Shaw | Jun 16, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
I believe that we are living in the last days. When I read the book of Acts and see how the early church functioned in Acts 2 & 4 specifically, I see a caring group of believers sharing material possessions, praying, worshipping, and living out the call together....
by Mark Shaw | Jun 15, 2010 | Announcements, Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark
Do your addiction support group meetings allow Cross talking? Well, I break that self-help support group meeting rule of “no cross talking” and many other ideas of mankind in my latest book called: Cross Talking. It’s a daily devotional designed to...
by Mark Shaw | May 18, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, TRANSFORMED, Truth in Love Staff
When I think about that great man of faith, George Muller, I am emboldened in my faith! He was a man who started an orphanage and prayed never asking any person for financial support. What a great man of faith he was and his motive was sincere: to glorify God. Now,...
by Mark Shaw | May 17, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
Recently, someone heard a “Christian therapist” say on a national radio show that the church is not equipped to deal with the “blended family issues” that he “specializes” in “treating” – on an on – which is...
by Mark Shaw | May 13, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
Paul David Tripp coined the phrase “personal ministry” for biblical counseling which is really discipleship (Matt. 28:18-20). You have the pulpit ministry in churches. You have small groups. AND now you can have “personal ministry” which is...
by Mark Shaw | May 9, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
Recently, I heard a discussion between 2 of my mentors about biblical counseling. I think they missed the heart of the issue when discussing biblical counseling as a “special calling.” Biblical counseling is NOT a special calling. Nowhere in the Bible is...
by Mark Shaw | May 5, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
I remember hearing that phrase long ago and now it makes sense to me: firsthand! I have been finding out that several churches are implementing a Truth in Love model of counseling – even a few in our local area! How cool is it that churches would imitate this...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 29, 2010 | Devotions, Posts by Mark, TRANSFORMED, Truth in Love Staff
Some of you may not get the joke but some of you will – I can imagine someone saying to me: “Mark is finally admitting he is in recovery after neck surgery!” One of the heartbeats of our ministry is that Christ “transforms” us from...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 25, 2010 | Devotions, Posts by Mark
Job 1:21 And he said,”Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” What do we enter this world with? Nothing. We are born helpless, totally dependent upon...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 24, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Scripture
I read a blog recently that someone said somthing like this: “We don’t want to scare anyone away from God with too much truth.” What? How can you “scare” someone away from God who is ALREADY away from God in the first place? All people...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 19, 2010 | Posts by Mark, Vs. Psychology
When will the madness stop? Our culture in America is so psychologized that even wearing deodorant can meet our “emotional needs”!!! On one of our deodorant packages, it says (this is true): “Extra Responsive in Emotional Moments”* *releasing...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 12, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark
People today look to the latest book, the latest trend, and the latest program to solve problems. But God tells us to look to Christ. He alone is the answer. Christianity is not a program. It’s a relational process of knowing God, being discipled by others,...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 5, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff, Vs. Psychology
Read this article from WORLD magazine: http://www.worldmag.com/articles/16573 This article articulates well the problem of “overdiagnosing” that is ALREADY occurring in our culture today. It’s already happening and this new DSM version will only make...
by Mark Shaw | Apr 5, 2010 | Posts by Mark, Truth in Love Staff
Mixing bunnies and eggs with Resurrection Day is one example of mixing the secular with the sacred things of Christ. Another example occurs when we blend some of the ideas propagated by secular psychology. These ideas cannot be “integrated” or mixed...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 19, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Scripture, Truth in Love Staff, Vs. Psychology
Seems like many shows keep coming out on this “tsunami” of a problem commonly called “addiction” (the Bible calls it “enslavement” and “idolatry” which still holds the person responsible for sinful choices that feed the...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 12, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, Teaching, Truth in Love Staff
Remember James 4:6 states: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The picture I think of is playing tennis against God. When we are proud, we are on the opposite side of the net against God and there is no way we are going to win against Him in...
by Mark Shaw | Mar 5, 2010 | Biblical Counseling, Posts by Mark, TRANSFORMED, Truth in Love Staff
Shouldn’t be a surprise that marijuana causes problems with our mental health but I don’t think people realize how much doing illicit drugs affects someone’s ability to think and make good decisions that please the Lord. Are we seeing more...
