Regret always begins as an opportunity; hence the disappointment. There was something we wanted to be an enduring part of our life that disappeared, was forfeited, or was lost. Regret is never just a moment, but a painful and pivotal change in our life story.When we neglect mourning the hope that birthed our regret or focus exclusively on the moment in which regret began there are two negative consequences: (a) whatever guidance we receive feels light-weight and cliché, and (b) we miss most of what God has been, is, and wants to do.In this presentation I walk through the life of Moses in light of his most regrettable moment (Numbers 20:1-13) to illustrate how God’s works redemptively in the midst of the things we regret most deeply.Presentation Handout: EQUIP_Dealing with Regret_Notes See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Regret always begins as an opportunity; hence the disappointment. There was something we wanted to be an enduring part of our life that disappeared, was forfeited, or was lost. Regret is never just a moment, but a painful and pivotal change in our life story.When we neglect mourning the hope that birthed our regret or focus exclusively on the moment in which regret began there are two negative consequences: (a) whatever guidance we receive feels light-weight and cliché, and (b) we miss most of what God has been, is, and wants to do.In this presentation I walk through the life of Moses in light of his most regrettable moment (Numbers 20:1-13) to illustrate how God’s works redemptively in the midst of the things we regret most deeply.Presentation Handout: <a href="http://bradhambrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/EQUIP_Dealing-with-Regret_Notes.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EQUIP_Dealing with Regret_Notes</a> See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Dealing with Regret

The panelist in this podcast are:Chris Ball, M.A.Executive Director at Bridgehaven’s Downtown Raleigh OfficeChris majored in Psychology and Religious Studies at UNC-Charlotte, before moving to the Raleigh area to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling.Chris gained experience counseling in the addiction field for three years before transitioning to Bridgehaven. He specializes in counseling those struggling with addictions (alcohol and other drug usage, family/spousal recovery support, pornography), sexuality (same sex attraction, sexual abuse, adultery), and psychiatric issues (PTSD, Bipolar, depression).Mark Cheltenham, M.D.Contract PsychiatristMark contracts with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety treating juvenile, and adult offenders. He received his medical training from both the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Howard University College of Medicine.After graduating from Howard University College of Medicine, Mark completed both his general internship and residency in psychiatry at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C.Becky Jorgenson, M.A., LPC, NCC, NCTMOwner and Founder of Mosaic Counseling Center, PLLCBecky Jorgenson is both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Music Teacher. She graduated from Liberty University in 2009 with a MA in Professional Counseling and earned a BA in Music from Campbell University in 2004.She provides holistic counseling services in a variety of treatment areas including the following: anxiety disorders, mood/depressive disorders, abuse, trauma, self-harm, eating disorders, post-abortion, behavioral issues, adjustment, career, spirituality, human sex trafficking, and grief. She specializes in working with adolescents (11-17) and young adults (18-30); Becky also enjoys working with children (4+).Karla Siu, MSW, LCSWClinical Program Director at El Futuro, Inc. (www.elfuturo-nc.org)Karla Siu grew up in Honduras, Tokyo and Virginia. She has worked in welfare reform, community mental health, research on biculturalism, and services to Latino domestic violence offenders. Karla has special expertise in serving families and children, conducting play therapy, and assisting in recovery from trauma, depression, addictions, eating disorders, anxiety, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses.She co-authored a paper on cultural issues in treating Latino-Hispanic families with domestic violence issues, published in 2009. Karla has been an active member of the Summit Church since 2004. Karla has helped with establishing the Summit En Español campus and has also provided support to the Summit’s various counseling ministries throughout the years.Karla serves the Latino community in North Carolina through her work at El Futuro since 2006. Karla currently serves on the board of directors of JusticeMatters, a non-profit Christian organization that provides empowering legal services by mobilizing legal professionals and law students to invest their resources in our community for the common good.Caroline Von Helms, M.A.Staff Counselor at Bridgehaven Counseling AssociatesCaroline is a native of North Carolina, and a graduate of North Carolina State University. Caroline earned a masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and a masters degree in Christian Education.Caroline worked as a licensed professional counselor supervisor and licensed marriage and family therapist supervisor while in Dallas, and spent a large portion of her time helping children and families during difficult transitions. She also worked with foster care and adoption agencies, as well as the local Juvenile Probation Department providing family counseling.She also partnered with local churches to provide counseling training on issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, parenting, grief, marital issues, and transitional issues with individuals and families. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The panelist in this podcast are: <h3>Chris Ball, M.A.</h3><h3>Executive Director at Bridgehaven’s Downtown Raleigh Office</h3> Chris majored in Psychology and Religious Studies at UNC-Charlotte, before moving to the Raleigh area to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling.Chris gained experience counseling in the addiction field for three years before transitioning to Bridgehaven. He specializes in counseling those struggling with addictions (alcohol and other drug usage, family/spousal recovery support, pornography), sexuality (same sex attraction, sexual abuse, adultery), and psychiatric issues (PTSD, Bipolar, depression). <h3>Mark Cheltenham, M.D.</h3><h3>Contract Psychiatrist</h3> Mark contracts with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety treating juvenile, and adult offenders. He received his medical training from both the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Howard University College of Medicine.After graduating from Howard University College of Medicine, Mark completed both his general internship and residency in psychiatry at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. <h3>Becky Jorgenson, M.A., LPC, NCC, NCTM</h3><h3>Owner and Founder of Mosaic Counseling Center, PLLC</h3> Becky Jorgenson is both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Music Teacher. She graduated from Liberty University in 2009 with a MA in Professional Counseling and earned a BA in Music from Campbell University in 2004.She provides holistic counseling services in a variety of treatment areas including the following: anxiety disorders, mood/depressive disorders, abuse, trauma, self-harm, eating disorders, post-abortion, behavioral issues, adjustment, career, spirituality, human sex trafficking, and grief. She specializes in working with adolescents (11-17) and young adults (18-30); Becky also enjoys working with children (4+). <h3>Karla Siu, MSW, LCSW</h3><h3>Clinical Program Director at El Futuro, Inc. (<a href="http://www.elfuturo-nc.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.elfuturo-nc.org</a>)</h3> Karla Siu grew up in Honduras, Tokyo and Virginia. She has worked in welfare reform, community mental health, research on biculturalism, and services to Latino domestic violence offenders. Karla has special expertise in serving families and children, conducting play therapy, and assisting in recovery from trauma, depression, addictions, eating disorders, anxiety, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses.She co-authored a paper on cultural issues in treating Latino-Hispanic families with domestic violence issues, published in 2009. Karla has been an active member of the Summit Church since 2004. Karla has helped with establishing the Summit En Español campus and has also provided support to the Summit’s various counseling ministries throughout the years.Karla serves the Latino community in North Carolina through her work at El Futuro since 2006. Karla currently serves on the board of directors of JusticeMatters, a non-profit Christian organization that provides empowering legal services by mobilizing legal professionals and law students to invest their resources in our community for the common good. <h3>Caroline Von Helms, M.A.</h3><h3>Staff Counselor at Bridgehaven Counseling Associates</h3> Caroline is a native of North Carolina, and a graduate of North Carolina State University. Caroline earned a masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and a masters degree in Christian Education.Caroline worked as a licensed professional counselor supervisor and licensed marriage and family therapist supervisor while in Dallas, and spent a large portion of her time helping children and families during difficult transitions. She also worked with foster care and adoption agencies, as well as the local Juvenile Probation Department providing family counseling.She also partnered with local churches to provide counseling training on issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, parenting, grief, marital issues, and transitional issues with individuals and families. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Towards a Christian Perspective on Mental Illness

This is a difficult subject to address, because of its complexity and highly personal nature. Everyone is affected by mental illness; either personally or someone they love. People you care about have experienced depression, ADD, addiction, bipolar, or other mental health struggle. For you the phrase “mental illness” may be a safe haven of explanation, a label that carries stigma, or a mystery that is hard to understand.This is why mental illness is a subject that must be discussed in the church; otherwise, our silence hurts people by leaving them to struggle in isolation. How does the mind relate to the body? How do our emotions relate to our faith? These are important questions that everyone grapples with and are essential to holistic discipleship. This is merely an attempt at “a” Christian perspective; not “the” Christian perspective. I believe there are others who, based upon personal experience, professional expertise, or doctrinal background, can and hopefully will add to this discussion. My desire is to start a conversation rather than speak the final word.This presentation is a “perspective on” more than a “response to” mental illness. Christians have a response to sin, injustice, and other moral matters that we oppose and seek to eliminate. Christians have a perspective on politics, calamities, and other experiences in which we want to influence or offer care. My goal is to influence conversations about mental illness in the church and, thereby, equip us to be more skilled at caring for one another.For the moment, I will defer an attempt at defining mental illness. At this point, it is enough to say that it is a term on which even the experts disagree; that this is a large part of what makes this conversation difficult. When the central term in any discussion lacks a clear definition, the rest of the conversation will always be challenging. Let me state one important assumption before we begin; an assumption that I anticipate most readers want to know in order to determine whose “team” I am on or what my “agenda” is in writing:I am assuming there are a relatively equal number of people who avoid getting help (i.e., counseling or medication) because of the stigma of mental illness as there are people who use the labels of mental illness as a crutch to avoid taking responsibility for important choices in their life. Whether the two groups divide into a neat 50-50 split in the culture at-large or in your specific circle of relationships, I believe it is generally agreed that there are a large number of people in both camps. Too often, discussions like this one are intended only to change the perspective of one side of the issue. This, I believe, biases those presentations. My attempt is to be balanced by acknowledging both sides. This will make some parts of the presentation more tedious as we examine questions from both sides. One-sided presentations have the advantage of being simpler and clearer. But, in this case, the result of being one-sided would make the presentation simplistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is a difficult subject to address, because of its complexity and highly personal nature. Everyone is affected by mental illness; either personally or someone they love. People you care about have experienced depression, ADD, addiction, bipolar, or other mental health struggle. For you the phrase “mental illness” may be a safe haven of explanation, a label that carries stigma, or a mystery that is hard to understand.This is why mental illness is a subject that must be discussed in the church; otherwise, our silence hurts people by leaving them to struggle in isolation. How does the mind relate to the body? How do our emotions relate to our faith? These are important questions that everyone grapples with and are essential to holistic discipleship. This is merely an attempt at “a” Christian perspective; not “the” Christian perspective. I believe there are others who, based upon personal experience, professional expertise, or doctrinal background, can and hopefully will add to this discussion. My desire is to start a conversation rather than speak the final word.This presentation is a “perspective on” more than a “response to” mental illness. Christians have a response to sin, injustice, and other moral matters that we oppose and seek to eliminate. Christians have a perspective on politics, calamities, and other experiences in which we want to influence or offer care. My goal is to influence conversations about mental illness in the church and, thereby, equip us to be more skilled at caring for one another.For the moment, I will defer an attempt at defining mental illness. At this point, it is enough to say that it is a term on which even the experts disagree; that this is a large part of what makes this conversation difficult. When the central term in any discussion lacks a clear definition, the rest of the conversation will always be challenging. Let me state one important assumption before we begin; an assumption that I anticipate most readers want to know in order to determine whose “team” I am on or what my “agenda” is in writing: I am assuming there are a relatively equal number of people who avoid getting help (i.e., counseling or medication) because of the stigma of mental illness as there are people who use the labels of mental illness as a crutch to avoid taking responsibility for important choices in their life. Whether the two groups divide into a neat 50-50 split in the culture at-large or in your specific circle of relationships, I believe it is generally agreed that there are a large number of people in both camps. Too often, discussions like this one are intended only to change the perspective of one side of the issue. This, I believe, biases those presentations. My attempt is to be balanced by acknowledging both sides. This will make some parts of the presentation more tedious as we examine questions from both sides. One-sided presentations have the advantage of being simpler and clearer. But, in this case, the result of being one-sided would make the presentation simplistic. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Burnout is never caused by a single area of life. Burn out is a function of our total life management. One area of life cannot get out of order without overt choices of neglect being made other areas of life. This means that if we managed the others areas of our life well, it would have contained the area (i.e., work, ministry, parenting, etc…) that was the primary cause of burnout. We must resist the temptation to blame life, or even one area of our life management, for the experience of burnout. Burnout is a result of how we have managed our life as a whole.So we might begin our assessment of burnout’s cause with this foundational statement—burnout is the result of living beyond our means with the time God has provided. It is common to say that someone is “living beyond their means” financially. There is a cultural epidemic of people spending more than they earn. The majority of Americans have a negative net-worth; we owe more than we own. We will use this parallel of financial and time management many times, so begin to think in these categories. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Burnout is never caused by a single area of life. Burn out is a function of our total life management. One area of life cannot get out of order without overt choices of neglect being made other areas of life. This means that if we managed the others areas of our life well, it would have contained the area (i.e., work, ministry, parenting, etc…) that was the primary cause of burnout. We must resist the temptation to blame life, or even one area of our life management, for the experience of burnout. Burnout is a result of how we have managed our life as a whole.So we might begin our assessment of burnout’s cause with this foundational statement—burnout is the result of living beyond our means with the time God has provided. It is common to say that someone is “living beyond their means” financially. There is a cultural epidemic of people spending more than they earn. The majority of Americans have a negative net-worth; we owe more than we own. We will use this parallel of financial and time management many times, so begin to think in these categories. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Burnout

When we care for one another wisely three things should happen: (a) the person being cared for should be blessed, (b) the love of Christ should become more tangible, and (c) our faith should grow.Sometimes our attempts of caring can be done unwisely, resulting in unintended consequences: (a) the person being cared for is enabled, (b) the love of Christ is misrepresented, and (c) the care-giver becomes exhausted.A PDF of the one-page notes for this presentation is available here: 10 Keys to Ensure Caring Is HelpingOn this page we want to provide principles of wise care-giving to ensure that our small groups are places of wise, Christ-honoring care that mutually bless the recipient and giver of care.1. Avoid the rescuer mentality. When you begin to bear the weight of responsibility for someone else’s life unwise decisions always follow. Your role is to come alongside an individual or family to do what is within your power to assist them; not rescue them from things outside your control.2. Do not replace the legal system. If something illegal happens, either to or by the person you are helping, your first responsibility is to report that to the appropriate legal authority. The church is called to submit to and assist with the implementation of the laws of the government over us (Rom. 13:1-7).3. Know your role within the church. The call to be “all things to all people” (I Cor. 9:22) is given to the church at large and not any one individual or group within a church. Trying to “be the church” rather than effectively play your role within the church will result in personal burnout and people getting hurt.4. Never do what someone can/should do for themselves. This is the tell-tale sign that assistance is becoming enablement. If a task is hard or confusing, then find a way that helps (i.e., explain, go with, research, encourage, remove obstacles, etc…) without replacing the effort of your friend.5. Create “halfway” steps. When helping does require doing something for or giving money to your friend, then it is wise to create a clear halfway step to ensure your friend is willing to be a good steward of your kindness. A question to help you find a halfway step is, “What would my friend have to begin to do in order for my kindness not to evaporate in life’s stress?” This principle ensures that your kindness leads your friend to freedom instead of a new, unhealthy dependence upon you or your group.6. Model a healthy life and relationship. Making exceptions to “healthy” is what gets most people into a crisis. Modeling how to deal with difficult situations without violating the basic principles of “healthy” is often as important as any of the logistical or financial assistance you provide.7. Know your physical, emotional, and financial limits. Creating a second crisis does not help the first one. Scripture calls us to be generous “as we are able” (Deut. 16:17). When we go beyond this, we model a reactive approach to crises that fails to disciple those we are helping in how to make wise decisions in hard times.8. Never allow “team splitting” to occur. Talking negatively of one person in order to affirm and get more from another should be directly and immediately confronted as wrong. It is a form of manipulation disguised as a compliment and tries to get one party to do more because another is doing less.9. Do not allow yourself to be motivated-manipulated by guilt. Guilt is motivational junk food; it gives short boosts of energy followed by long periods of fatigue. When you feel yourself being motivated by guilt (internally or externally) talk with your ministry support person in order to prevent burnout.10. If you’re not sure, ask your ministry support person. Helping never means having all the answers, or even always knowing the next question to ask. When you feel stuck or trapped in a helping situation, ask for help. This is allowing the church to be the Body of Christ to you as you strive to be part of the Body of Christ for someone else. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When we care for one another wisely three things should happen: (a) the person being cared for should be blessed, (b) the love of Christ should become more tangible, and (c) our faith should grow.Sometimes our attempts of caring can be done unwisely, resulting in unintended consequences: (a) the person being cared for is enabled, (b) the love of Christ is misrepresented, and (c) the care-giver becomes exhausted.A PDF of the one-page notes for this presentation is available here: <a href="http://bradhambrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/10-Keys-to-Ensure-Caring-Is-Helping.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">10 Keys to Ensure Caring Is Helping</a>On this page we want to provide principles of wise care-giving to ensure that our small groups are places of wise, Christ-honoring care that mutually bless the recipient and giver of care.1. Avoid the rescuer mentality. When you begin to bear the weight of responsibility for someone else’s life unwise decisions always follow. Your role is to come alongside an individual or family to do what is within your power to assist them; not rescue them from things outside your control.2. Do not replace the legal system. If something illegal happens, either to or by the person you are helping, your first responsibility is to report that to the appropriate legal authority. The church is called to submit to and assist with the implementation of the laws of the government over us (Rom. 13:1-7).3. Know your role within the church. The call to be “all things to all people” (I Cor. 9:22) is given to the church at large and not any one individual or group within a church. Trying to “be the church” rather than effectively play your role within the church will result in personal burnout and people getting hurt.4. Never do what someone can/should do for themselves. This is the tell-tale sign that assistance is becoming enablement. If a task is hard or confusing, then find a way that helps (i.e., explain, go with, research, encourage, remove obstacles, etc…) without replacing the effort of your friend.5. Create “halfway” steps. When helping does require doing something for or giving money to your friend, then it is wise to create a clear halfway step to ensure your friend is willing to be a good steward of your kindness. A question to help you find a halfway step is, “What would my friend have to begin to do in order for my kindness not to evaporate in life’s stress?” This principle ensures that your kindness leads your friend to freedom instead of a new, unhealthy dependence upon you or your group.6. Model a healthy life and relationship. Making exceptions to “healthy” is what gets most people into a crisis. Modeling how to deal with difficult situations without violating the basic principles of “healthy” is often as important as any of the logistical or financial assistance you provide.7. Know your physical, emotional, and financial limits. Creating a second crisis does not help the first one. Scripture calls us to be generous “as we are able” (Deut. 16:17). When we go beyond this, we model a reactive approach to crises that fails to disciple those we are helping in how to make wise decisions in hard times.8. Never allow “team splitting” to occur. Talking negatively of one person in order to affirm and get more from another should be directly and immediately confronted as wrong. It is a form of manipulation disguised as a compliment and tries to get one party to do more because another is doing less.9. Do not allow yourself to be motivated-manipulated by guilt. Guilt is motivational junk food; it gives short boosts of energy followed by long periods of fatigue. When you feel yourself being motivated by guilt (internally or externally) talk with your ministry support person in order to prevent burnout.10. If you’re not sure, ask your ministry support person. Helping never means having all the answers, or even always knowing the next question to ask. When you feel stuck or trapped in a helping situation, ask for help. This is allowing the church to be the Body of Christ to you as you strive to be part of the Body of Christ for someone else. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

10 Keys to Ensure Caring Is Helping

The following presentation was given at the EQUIP Leadership Forum of the Summit Church (Durham, NC). The purpose of this talk was the present the exciting opportunities and unique challenges involved with trying to offer a comprehensive counseling ministry. This talk is divided into three sections:The Unique Opportunities and Challenges of Summit’s Counseling MinistryHow the Pieces of the Summit’s Counseling Ministry Are Designed to Fuel One AnotherWhat This All Means for Individual Ministries within the Summit’s Counseling Ministry See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The following presentation was given at the EQUIP Leadership Forum of the Summit Church (Durham, NC). The purpose of this talk was the present the exciting opportunities and unique challenges involved with trying to offer a comprehensive counseling ministry. This talk is divided into three sections: <ol><li>The Unique Opportunities and Challenges of Summit’s Counseling Ministry</li><li>How the Pieces of the Summit’s Counseling Ministry Are Designed to Fuel One Another</li><li>What This All Means for Individual Ministries within the Summit’s Counseling Ministry</li></ol> See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Summit Counseling Ministry — Vision, Challenges, & Pieces

The Search for Restoration See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Search for Restoration See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Hope & Restoration After Sexual Abuse - Part 3

The Search for Peace See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Search for Peace See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Hope & Restoration After Sexual Abuse - Part 2

Understanding the Disruption See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Understanding the Disruption See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Hope & Restoration After Sexual Abuse - Part 1

On April 12, 2016 The Sam James Institute of The Summit Church hosted a forum built around the subject of my book Do Ask, Do Tell, Let’s Talk: How and Why Christians Should Have Gay Friends. The forum consisted of a presentation that over viewed the content of the book followed by a panel discussion with individuals who either experience same sex attraction or have extensive ministry-counseling experience in the area of same sex attraction. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On April 12, 2016 The Sam James Institute of The Summit Church hosted a forum built around the subject of my book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ask-Tell-Lets-Talk-Christians/dp/1941114113/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1460042398&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=brad+hambrick" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Do Ask, Do Tell, Let’s Talk: How and Why Christians Should Have Gay Friends</a>. The forum consisted of a presentation that over viewed the content of the book followed by a panel discussion with individuals who either experience same sex attraction or have extensive ministry-counseling experience in the area of same sex attraction. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Do Ask, Do Tell, Let's Talk - Part 2

The podcast from BradHambrick.com provides resources that churches can use to launch ministries, not just understand subjects. The G4 and GCM ministry resources are formatted to allow churches to launch peer-based support group or mentoring ministries that seeks to provide clinically-informed biblical counseling. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do Ask, Do Tell, Let's Talk - Part 1

Biblical Wisdom refers to the principled pursuit of pleasure, not to fill a void, but to fulfill a calling. Wisdom requires fearing (seeking the approval of) God more than fearing (seeking the approval of) man. The restraint of wisdom does not diminish the intensity of pleasure, but prolongs the time frame in which pleasure can be savored and the freedom of conscience with which pleasure can be remembered. Wisdom cannot be reduced to a set of principles or propositions because it is an expression of God’s character in the midst of relationships. Wisdom is a virtue that allows all other blessings to remain good rather than spoiling into burdens.Wisdom does not belong to academia and does not require a high IQ. Brilliance is, in many ways, capable of more folly than ignorance. Wisdom, in its essence, is simple. It is often because solutions are less complex than our problems that we dismiss wisdom. No one wants to hear that finances boil down to spending less than you make or dieting is only burning more calories than you consume. But we’re glad to get into a complex pyramid scheme or fad diet.Wisdom requires things like patience, self-control, listening well, and contentment. The absence of these virtues will destroy whatever can be created or obtained through the strategic implementation of massive quantities of knowledge. Wisdom is not against action, passion, speaking, and ambition. But wisdom is willing to forego these without feeling cheated and does not consider them “higher virtues” than their alternatives.  “There are three classes of men—lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, lovers of gain.” – Plato Wisdom allows the “risks” we take in confidence to fulfill our purpose to be “acts of faith” instead of blind folly. Wisdom allows us to adapt to the preferences and culture of others without surrendering our identity. Wisdom allows our sense of security to withstand the criticism or misunderstanding of others without us giving way to being calloused or closed-minded.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Biblical Wisdom refers to the principled pursuit of pleasure, not to fill a void, but to fulfill a calling. Wisdom requires fearing (seeking the approval of) God more than fearing (seeking the approval of) man. The restraint of wisdom does not diminish the intensity of pleasure, but prolongs the time frame in which pleasure can be savored and the freedom of conscience with which pleasure can be remembered. Wisdom cannot be reduced to a set of principles or propositions because it is an expression of God’s character in the midst of relationships. Wisdom is a virtue that allows all other blessings to remain good rather than spoiling into burdens.Wisdom does not belong to academia and does not require a high IQ. Brilliance is, in many ways, capable of more folly than ignorance. Wisdom, in its essence, is simple. It is often because solutions are less complex than our problems that we dismiss wisdom. No one wants to hear that finances boil down to spending less than you make or dieting is only burning more calories than you consume. But we’re glad to get into a complex pyramid scheme or fad diet.Wisdom requires things like patience, self-control, listening well, and contentment. The absence of these virtues will destroy whatever can be created or obtained through the strategic implementation of massive quantities of knowledge. Wisdom is not against action, passion, speaking, and ambition. But wisdom is willing to forego these without feeling cheated and does not consider them “higher virtues” than their alternatives. <blockquote> “There are three classes of men—lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, lovers of gain.” – Plato </blockquote> Wisdom allows the “risks” we take in confidence to fulfill our purpose to be “acts of faith” instead of blind folly. Wisdom allows us to adapt to the preferences and culture of others without surrendering our identity. Wisdom allows our sense of security to withstand the criticism or misunderstanding of others without us giving way to being calloused or closed-minded.  See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Finding Your Confidence, Identity, & Security in Christ - Part 6

Biblical security is a disposition of stability that allows for a patient and an increasingly accurate interpretation of personal performance, interpersonal interactions, and circumstances in the midst of situations that are as yet uncertain, incomplete, challenging, or negative. Biblical security acknowledges that failure, criticism, and personal sin will occur; however, it does not allow the legitimate guilt, disappointment, or embarrassment of these events to create instability or dash hope.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Biblical security is a disposition of stability that allows for a patient and an increasingly accurate interpretation of personal performance, interpersonal interactions, and circumstances in the midst of situations that are as yet uncertain, incomplete, challenging, or negative. Biblical security acknowledges that failure, criticism, and personal sin will occur; however, it does not allow the legitimate guilt, disappointment, or embarrassment of these events to create instability or dash hope.  See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Finding Your Confidence, Identity, & Security in Christ - Part 5

Biblical confidence is the demeanor that exhibits a positive expectation that God will enable us to accomplish any good work He has calls for us to do. This demeanor results in an increasingly shorter period of hesitation and level of anxiety when attempting a task; and a greater degree of peace and fulfillment while planning, carrying out, and evaluating a task. After the task is complete, biblical confidence reduces the degree of pressure to repeat or exceed the accomplishment and the temptation to pride.This chapter focuses on how to develop this demeanor in a Christ-centered fashion. Your goal in reading the rest of the chapter is to identify beliefs, fears, values, expectations, and interpretations of life which prevent you from experiencing biblical confidence. Questions are provided at the end of the chapter to assist you in reflecting on the material and gaining personal insight into your struggle with confidence.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Biblical confidence is the demeanor that exhibits a positive expectation that God will enable us to accomplish any good work He has calls for us to do. This demeanor results in an increasingly shorter period of hesitation and level of anxiety when attempting a task; and a greater degree of peace and fulfillment while planning, carrying out, and evaluating a task. After the task is complete, biblical confidence reduces the degree of pressure to repeat or exceed the accomplishment and the temptation to pride.This chapter focuses on how to develop this demeanor in a Christ-centered fashion. Your goal in reading the rest of the chapter is to identify beliefs, fears, values, expectations, and interpretations of life which prevent you from experiencing biblical confidence. Questions are provided at the end of the chapter to assist you in reflecting on the material and gaining personal insight into your struggle with confidence.  See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Finding Your Confidence, Identity, & Security in Christ - Part 4

Biblical Purpose is an over-arching objective in life that brings cohesion and direction to the apparent disconnectedness of life. Purpose is what allows an individual to measure progress and have a sense of accomplishment. Purpose defines why you do things (i.e., big picture), more than what you do (i.e., little tasks).We must realize the same action can stem from multiple purposes. For example, how many different purposes are there for why a young boy would help an old lady across the street? A short list includes: sincere compassion; to earn a Boy Scott badge; she is his grandmother and he will get a guilt trip if he lets her cross alone; he works on commission at the business across the street and hopes to make a sale; or she is the grandmother of the girl he wants to date and he hopes she will put in a good word for him. Because the same what (action) can emerge from many whys (purposes), focusing only upon what we should be doing can easily truncate the Christian faith to an unsatisfying set of duties. Only when the actions of faith are practiced in a love for God (worship being our “ultimate purpose”) and in keeping with our created design (the key to discovering our “particular purpose”) will our acts of obedience fill the nagging void in our heart.In America, life carries many relatively predictable elements: many years of education, working even more years to support oneself and possibly a family, the challenges of starting a career, an intense time of reassessment at mid-life, and adjusting to a slower pace as one ages. Without some grander purpose, life can become so predictable or seemingly pointless that it promotes depression or disillusionment (Ecclesiastes 1:2-11). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Biblical Purpose is an over-arching objective in life that brings cohesion and direction to the apparent disconnectedness of life. Purpose is what allows an individual to measure progress and have a sense of accomplishment. Purpose defines why you do things (i.e., big picture), more than what you do (i.e., little tasks).We must realize the same action can stem from multiple purposes. For example, how many different purposes are there for why a young boy would help an old lady across the street? A short list includes: sincere compassion; to earn a Boy Scott badge; she is his grandmother and he will get a guilt trip if he lets her cross alone; he works on commission at the business across the street and hopes to make a sale; or she is the grandmother of the girl he wants to date and he hopes she will put in a good word for him. Because the same what (action) can emerge from many whys (purposes), focusing only upon what we should be doing can easily truncate the Christian faith to an unsatisfying set of duties. Only when the actions of faith are practiced in a love for God (worship being our “ultimate purpose”) and in keeping with our created design (the key to discovering our “particular purpose”) will our acts of obedience fill the nagging void in our heart.In America, life carries many relatively predictable elements: many years of education, working even more years to support oneself and possibly a family, the challenges of starting a career, an intense time of reassessment at mid-life, and adjusting to a slower pace as one ages. Without some grander purpose, life can become so predictable or seemingly pointless that it promotes depression or disillusionment (Ecclesiastes 1:2-11). See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Finding Your Confidence, Identity, & Security in Christ - Part 3

Biblical Identity refers to the defining ideas, labels, and relational roles which make our actions or emotions seem right and natural. Identity, when healthy, remains constant even when circumstances and peer groups change. Identity should remain stable when no one is looking, everyone is looking, when you are with the love of your life, or an ardent enemy.Identity is one of the defining marks of human motivation. We act out of who we think we are. Identity is one of the primary ways that the heart expresses what it loves most. Identity is a primary way that we make choices and judgments; often before we are conscious or intentional about either.By identifying ourselves as a loser, a salesman, a good/bad parent, an athlete, a dunce, the guy who knows how to get things, or other label we implicitly make many choices. Those identity statements exclude some options and make others seem “obvious.” Changes in identity have a strong gravitational pull upon our behavior and the emotions.A good way to begin to identify your sense of identity is to consider how you introduce yourself to strangers. What are the roles or stories you share about yourself? What do you want to know about other people? These questions reveal your instincts about how you define yourself and relate to people. Another question that can reveal one’s source of identity is, “How do you define success?”Health of key relationships Occupational accomplishmentEducational advancementSports allegiancesHobby involvement / skillPolitical stancesSocio-economic statusAppearance, attractiveness, attire, etc…You may be wondering, does identity have this much influence? Think back to the last time you heard someone speak out against a popular position. The response was likely some form of, “Who do they think they are?” This question was often raised against Jesus, “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, ‘Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” (Luke 5:21, cf. Matthew 21:10, John 12:34). It is common to trace from actions back to identity. But this is an assessment we usually only do in retrospect (after the action in question). What may feel new or awkward about this chapter is that we engaging the question pro-actively; seeking to intentionally forge a biblical sense of identity in order to promote a Christ-honoring life. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Biblical Identity refers to the defining ideas, labels, and relational roles which make our actions or emotions seem right and natural. Identity, when healthy, remains constant even when circumstances and peer groups change. Identity should remain stable when no one is looking, everyone is looking, when you are with the love of your life, or an ardent enemy.Identity is one of the defining marks of human motivation. We act out of who we think we are. Identity is one of the primary ways that the heart expresses what it loves most. Identity is a primary way that we make choices and judgments; often before we are conscious or intentional about either.By identifying ourselves as a loser, a salesman, a good/bad parent, an athlete, a dunce, the guy who knows how to get things, or other label we implicitly make many choices. Those identity statements exclude some options and make others seem “obvious.” Changes in identity have a strong gravitational pull upon our behavior and the emotions.A good way to begin to identify your sense of identity is to consider how you introduce yourself to strangers. What are the roles or stories you share about yourself? What do you want to know about other people? These questions reveal your instincts about how you define yourself and relate to people. Another question that can reveal one’s source of identity is, “How do you define success?” <ul><li>Health of key relationships </li><li>Occupational accomplishment</li><li>Educational advancement</li><li>Sports allegiances</li><li>Hobby involvement / skill</li><li>Political stances</li><li>Socio-economic status</li><li>Appearance, attractiveness, attire, etc…</li></ul> You may be wondering, does identity have this much influence? Think back to the last time you heard someone speak out against a popular position. The response was likely some form of, “Who do they think they are?” This question was often raised against Jesus, “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, ‘Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” (Luke 5:21, cf. Matthew 21:10, John 12:34). It is common to trace from actions back to identity. But this is an assessment we usually only do in retrospect (after the action in question). What may feel new or awkward about this chapter is that we engaging the question pro-actively; seeking to intentionally forge a biblical sense of identity in order to promote a Christ-honoring life. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Finding Your Confidence, Identity, & Security in Christ - Part 2

Is self-esteem a goal (something to be obtained) or a method (means of obtaining something)?In order to answer this question well, we will have to define our terms. Often there is confusion in these kinds of conversations because people use the same word to mean many different things. We can get anything from bottled water to an ice cream sandwich from a “Coke” machine; not to mention that many people refer to Coca-Cola’s rival Pepsi as a “Coke.”We should begin to realize that when a word means everything or anything, it quickly begins to mean nothing. This is a big part of the confusion that surrounds self-esteem. The concept has begun to explain everything, so that it becomes of very little practical value.That is why we want to begin by determining whether self-esteem is a noun / goal (something to be pursued or attained) or a verb / method (a way of pursuing a desired result). Our conclusion will be that self-esteem is actually a verb that is commonly used as a noun. But in order to see this, it will be helpful to define several terms that are used synonymously with self-esteem. Confidence: A positive expectation that circumstances will not be over-whelming or defeating.Identity: A consistent sense of self that is not dependent upon circumstances or peer affirmation.Purpose: A direction or life agenda that is motivating and gives meaning to the “smaller” decisions.Security: A disposition of stability in the midst of uncertainty that allows for clarity of thought and intentionality of decisions.Wisdom: The ability to make decisions according to preset, effective principles resulting in a productive and enjoyable life.These five words are goals that can be pursued. They are matters of character, emotional fortitude, or skill. Self-esteem, however, is a method or theory of how to pursue confidence, identity, purpose, security, and wisdom. What, then, is self-esteem? Self-Esteem: A belief system which proposes that by loving myself and appraising my own self-worth to be high I will obtain confidence, identity, purpose, security, and wisdom.This seminar is contrasting two questions: Do people lack confidence, identity, purpose, security, and wisdom because they don’t love themselves enough? Do they lack these things because their focus upon self has distracted them from the true source of confidence, identity, purpose, security, and wisdom?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is self-esteem a goal (something to be obtained) or a method (means of obtaining something)?In order to answer this question well, we will have to define our terms. Often there is confusion in these kinds of conversations because people use the same word to mean many different things. We can get anything from bottled water to an ice cream sandwich from a “Coke” machine; not to mention that many people refer to Coca-Cola’s rival Pepsi as a “Coke.”We should begin to realize that when a word means everything or anything, it quickly begins to mean nothing. This is a big part of the confusion that surrounds self-esteem. The concept has begun to explain everything, so that it becomes of very little practical value.That is why we want to begin by determining whether self-esteem is a noun / goal (something to be pursued or attained) or a verb / method (a way of pursuing a desired result). Our conclusion will be that self-esteem is actually a verb that is commonly used as a noun. But in order to see this, it will be helpful to define several terms that are used synonymously with self-esteem. <ol><li>Confidence: A positive expectation that circumstances will not be over-whelming or defeating.</li><li>Identity: A consistent sense of self that is not dependent upon circumstances or peer affirmation.</li><li>Purpose: A direction or life agenda that is motivating and gives meaning to the “smaller” decisions.</li><li>Security: A disposition of stability in the midst of uncertainty that allows for clarity of thought and intentionality of decisions.</li><li>Wisdom: The ability to make decisions according to preset, effective principles resulting in a productive and enjoyable life.</li></ol> These five words are goals that can be pursued. They are matters of character, emotional fortitude, or skill. Self-esteem, however, is a method or theory of how to pursue confidence, identity, purpose, security, and wisdom. What, then, is self-esteem? <ul><li>Self-Esteem: A belief system which proposes that by loving myself and appraising my own self-worth to be high I will obtain confidence, identity, purpose, security, and wisdom.</li></ul> This seminar is contrasting two questions: <ol><li>Do people lack confidence, identity, purpose, security, and wisdom because they don’t love themselves enough? </li><li>Do they lack these things because their focus upon self has distracted them from the true source of confidence, identity, purpose, security, and wisdom? </li></ol> See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Finding Your Confidence, Identity, & Security In Christ - Part 1

The podcast from <a href="http://BradHambrick.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BradHambrick.com</a> provides resources that churches can use to launch ministries, not just understand subjects. The G4 and GCM ministry resources are formatted to allow churches to launch peer-based support group or mentoring ministries that seeks to provide clinically-informed biblical counseling. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Brad Hambrick

The best self improvement podcast episodes. From improving productivity, to finding purpose in your life to what constitutes freedom, this topic is on anything and everything that can help people to improve their lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Self Improvement, Growth & Development

The best podcast episodes about true crime. For any thrill seeking podcast listeners who just can't get enough of the captivating stories of murderers and criminals. This topic has all the best episodes from many different true crime podcasts.  Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!