Council of Counselors: Justice-Grace Balance / Sexual Addiction Thinking / Sources of True Change / Worry & Joy / Community & Addiction

This is a weekly post that highlights resources from other counselors that I have found helpful. The counselors may be from the biblical counseling, Christian psychology, integration, or secular counseling traditions. By linking to a post, I am not giving it my full endorsement, I am merely indicating that I believe it made a unique contribution or raised an important subject for consideration.

My Confession: Toward A More Balanced Gospel by Paul Tripp

I am writing today, on the day following the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., because I have a humbling confession to make. For all of my passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ, which has been accurate and faithful to the best of my ability, the gospel that I have held so dear has been, in reality, a truncated and incomplete gospel.

One-Sided Thinking by Samuel Beecher

It is astounding to me the powerful nature of one-sided thinking like that described above. My ability to think in such black and white terms as “attractive to me” and “unattractive to me” as if that was how everyone saw reality, when in fact there was a greater depth of understanding I had completely missed. But what further interests me in this insight is its revelation of how the sex-addict loses the ability to see clearly: how a one-sided thinking is naturally developed through consumption of pornography.

• If this post benefits you, you might also enjoy the section on “cognitive-emotional effects” in Examining the Impact of Your Addiction on You.

5 Sources of True Change by David Powlison

These are the fruitful characteristics of a flourishing life. No one does any of this for you. You are not passive. You are not a puppet or a robot. You are 100 percent responsible, and yet you are 100 percent dependent on outside help. Any other way of putting it makes you either far too independent or far too passive. Notice, too, that none of these active verbs is a one-and-done. These are a way of life.

• If you’re thinking about change, you might benefit from my post The Dangerous Double Meaning of “Better”.

When Worry Steals Your Joy by Christa Threlfall

I’ve felt really sympathetic to the Israelites this week. You remember how God led them away from Pharoah after years of captivity and then they freak out when they realize they don’t have food and water? Sometimes I hear people say they can’t imagine how the Israelites could doubt God after seeing the Red Sea split wide open. But I feel like the Israelites and I are on the exact same page. Their heart is just like mine: prone to unbelief and worry.

• If you appreciated Christa’s testimony, you might also like Learning to Doubt Our Fears.

The Best Treatment For Drug Addicts Is Community by CJ Arlotta

Being alone could be the worst possible scenario for those suffering from drug addiction. Without any outside help, these individuals remain chained to their environment, which unfortunately makes it difficult for them to resist temptation. By working together, controlled substance abusers can find the path to sobriety.

• If you are struggling with addiction and see the need for community, you might begin with this post How to Effectively Tell Others About Your Addictive Struggle.

What I’m Reading

The Quotable Lewis by Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root. This book presents more than 1,500 quotes from Lewis’s writings, providing ready access to his thoughts on a variety of topics. An exhaustive index references key words and concepts, allowing readers to easily find quotes on any subject of interest. Also included are many photographs of Lewis and his close circle of friends.

Why does C.S. Lewis’ writing remain so popular? As an Oxford scholar, Christian apologist, and author of the Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis wrote prolifically in many genres, covering a wide spectrum of topics. His soaring imagination is anchored in a unifying concept of who God is, who we are as God’s fallen creatures, the destiny of humankind, and the need for redemption and perfection in Christ.

Tweets of the Week

Meaningful Meme

On the Lighter Side

Because, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” Proverbs 17:22.