March 2009

Biblical Counseling - Does Nothing Else Work?

I was intrigued by an article I read recently, "Why Biblical Counseling Works and NOTHING Else Does." It is on the website of the Texas-based Center for Christian Counseling, and is written by the Center's founder and president, Jerry Meade.

He separates three types of approaches - secular psychotherapy; what he describes as "integrated Christian counseling;" and what he calls "authentic biblical counseling." (Continue reading...)

Christian Counseling - Four Useful Websites

The internet now offers a vast array of resources for Christian counselors and those seeking counseling services. Here is a personal selection of four that excel. (Continue reading...)

Who Wouldn't Want A Christian Real Estate Agent?

When we sold our house, about eight years ago, we had no problem in finding an agent to help us. A lady in our church, a good Christian, was regarded as perhaps the finest real estate agent in the area. Our only concern was that she specialized in the top end of the market, and our home was – to put it mildly – far from “top end.”

We had a meeting and she assured us that she paid as much attention to the cheaper homes as to the deluxe. And she did. We got a price about twenty per cent higher than we were expecting (admittedly in a hot market).

“Christian real estate” seems to be a blossoming industry. And why not? Buying or selling a property can be a traumatic experience – emotionally draining, with possible legal and financial pitfalls along the way. Which Christian wouldn’t want a brother or sister in the Lord in charge of the process? (Continue reading...)

What On Earth Is A Christian Mortgage?

What on earth is a Christian mortgage? Enter the term in Google and you get more than 13,000 responses.

I guess it’s a mortgage that’s arranged by a Christian mortgage company.

Which of course raises the next question, what is a Christian mortgage company? Presumably it’s an enterprise run by Christians, and operating on some kind of Christian principles. (Continue reading...)

Christians in Debt - Going for the Good Life

This is an article I wrote several years ago, after receiving a copy of the book "The Total Money Makeover," written by a Christian financial adviser, Dave Ramsey. He repeatedly urged people to get out of debt and build up their savings.

The book was published in 2003 (it has since been updated). If only more people had followed his advice.

I recalled how I saw it repeatedly at my church – good Christian families in pursuit of the good life and deeply in debt. Many had big home mortgages. Some husbands and wives were working demanding hours to pay back the bank and to save the money needed to send their kids to expensive private schools. (Continue reading...)

When a Christian Friend Goes Bankrupt

Here is a sad story that I first wrote about a few years ago. It concerns a Christian friend who went bankrupt.

In some ways it was his own fault. He had little income, and what he had he seemed to spend unwisely.

That is not to say that he indulged in luxuries or in buying extravagant items. However, rather than saving he seemed to spend everything. For example, when through circumstances he received a rather large sum, instead of saving it he took a holiday overseas to visit relatives he had not seen in many years.

So he never had much, and when problems struck - some health issues, a couple of car collisions, a sudden dip in his already-low income - he had nothing to fall back on. He started running up big debts on his credit card. (Continue reading...)

Christian Debt Consolidation - Why Is It Christian?

The concept of debt consolidation is quite simple. It involves the consolidating of a person's debts - or as many of them as possible - into one big lump sum. Many of these debts are likely to come from credit cards. Others might involve the purchase of household items on credit, or loans to buy homes, cars or furniture.

A debt consolidator will work to lump as much of this debt into one sum, with one regular payment, rather than many. The consolidation of many smaller amounts into one larger sum might lead to the payment of a lower interest rate.

But check out the internet and you will find many debt consolidation companies describing themselves as "Christian." What does that mean? Are these companies somehow more caring, more compassionate, more humble, more serving, more...Christian? (Continue reading...)

Christian Speed Dating - Does It Work? And Is It Christian?

Speed dating has become a feature of the modern dating scene. Essentially it involves roughly equal numbers of men and women coming together in a large room. Usually the women sit in place at a table, and the men circulate, spending several minutes with each lady. It is a way to meet a large number of singles in an evening.

Relationship agencies in several countries offer speed dating events that are aimed specifically for Christians. In the words of a British website named Christian Speed Dating:

We appreciate that it can be hard to met other like minded individuals, and that it is often important to Christians for a potential partner to hold similar beliefs to themselves. The Bible tells us that we should seek out a Christian partner, but when we have exhausted our own church where do you look next? (Continue reading...)

Online Christian Dating - So Many Websites - Where Do You Start?

The internet is buzzing with a multitude of relationship sites. Some are aimed specifically at Christians. So if you are a Christian looking to find a partner online, where do you begin? Here are half-a-dozen websites that may provide guidance. (Continue reading...)

Christian Drug Rehab - Personal Testimonies to the Power of the Lord

One of the most moving parts of a church service can be the personal testimonies, when people attest to the profound difference that Christ has made in their lives.

And those who have been to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting will likely have been touched by the personal stories of those struggling to battle their addiction, as they reach out to a higher power.

Here on the internet you can also find moving testimonies of success in beating drug addictions, at various of the Christian drug rehab sites. (Continue reading...)

Christian Drug Counseling - What Does It Do?

Christian drug counseling can involve the use of spiritual means to beat a drug abuse problem - similar perhaps to the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous, which calls on people to seek the help of God.

Or it might simply mean treatment by Christians, perhaps even at a church or other Christian facility. (Continue reading...)

Considering Christian Marriage Counseling? - Six Websites You Need To Visit

Going to a marriage counselor is a big step, for Christians and non-Christians alike. Fortunately for Christians, there is a network of Christian counselors who can help. Here is a selection of websites with further information on Christian marriage counseling. (Continue reading...)

Time to Spice Up Your Marriage? - Advice From Four Christian Websites

Even the best Christian marriage can run into periods of stress. Things may get so bad that some kind of counseling becomes necessary. But often all that is needed is a quick marriage pick-me-up - something that will add a bit of spice to the relationship.

The internet is full of guidance, some of it quite bawdy, even obscene. So here are some hints, taken from four Christian websites. (Continue reading...)

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