We have a new course offering in the Doctorate and PhD levels at Focus. It is " Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, " it is finished except for the final exam, which I am completing as I write this note to our FGRMC Family. It's an excellent and thorough course on Christian Counseling. We have one student who has just finished everything but her final paper, and the final. It is course any pastor would find helpful as well.

We have three more lessons to finish in our Spiritual Warfare course. I have had issues with our audio recordings. Hopefully, updating our software will help with the process. Hope to have that course series complete by the end of the month for all of you.

God bless and please continue to support and pray for FBC, as we try to finish up the year in a very positive way.
General Bishop Boer has been of real encouragement to me. His work as Chancellor of the school has been invaluable to me.
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I also want to thank Bishop Tice for putting up with my little questions here and there. His patience with me is greatly appreciated. Blessings and peace to all.

Lesson 8 is available in this current series of study. We will have our audio lesson up in the next few days.  After which there are two more lessons that will be presented, and it will conclude our series of study.

Helmet of Salvation, Lesson 8

Here is our next audio installment on our Short Courses series of study. Enjoy

 
“First seek the counsel of the Lord.”
(1 Kings 22:5 NIV)

Boundaries
How to Set Them—How to Keep Them
June Hunt

Is your life really your life or is it controlled by someone else? Is your time really your time or is it manipulated by someone else? Is your schedule really your schedule or is it dictated by someone else? If your response is, “That’s me!” then you need boundaries.

Do you say yes to everyone and no to no one? Do you find yourself easily taken advantage of? Do you have to grease every squeaky wheel? If so, then you need boundaries.

Are there not enough hours in the day to do all you have to do? Are you feeling stretched beyond your limits? Are you meeting yourself coming and going? If so, then you need boundaries.

Do you try to be everything to everyone? Do you think everyone’s need is your need to meet? Is your life swallowed up in someone else’s life? If so, then you need boundaries.

Are you overcommitted, in over your head, burning the candle at both ends? Do you try to please everyone, yet often please no one? If so, then you need boundaries.

You need to know where your responsibilities end and someone else’s begin. You need to say yes to God and no to everything that’s not His will. You need … boundaries!

Like nations, relationships rise and fall based on the boundaries that guard and protect them. If we try to be everyone’s best friend, we will be no one’s best friend. We all have limits on our time and on our emotional and physical energy.
We cannot be or do everything for anyone, much less everyone, so we must choose who we will be and what we will do regarding the individuals God brings into our lives. Jesus established boundaries for His relationships by … prioritizing the Father … discipling the twelve … and being intimate with the few. He also set boundaries on His actions.…

“Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.… By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”
(John 5:19, 30)

Wanted to share this message I shared with the congregation today. I thought it would be of benefit to our students, faculty and friends of FBC. I appreciate all of your prayers and assistance as we continue to expand the ministry of FBC, and see it become an even greater tool for the FGRMC & beyond.

​Resolving The Issue Of Indifference
 
 
Job 38:1-11
 
The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? "Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb?—when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped'?"
 
A lack of knowledge is a crippling affliction when it comes to your faith walk.
 
Job questioned God’s intent, His love. Job wondered, was God blind, did He not see what was happening? God then responded not answering his questions, but challenging his faith. God was waiting for him to realize something, and had confidence in Job that he would persevere. What did He want Job to understand? That He believed in him and that he was an overcomer. He hadn’t abandoned him, but He was working something special out through him. When God did show up, He wiped the tears from his eyes and showed his benevolent love, we soon then read that Job received double the blessings he had previously. Plus, God revealed through his trials those whom were his friends, and gave a fresh revelation to Job about who God is, and how He operates.
 
God didn’t abandon Job, and He was not indifferent toward him during his entire struggles at all. He was there all the time!
 
Mark 4:35-41
 
When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
 
The disciples thought Jesus didn’t care if they perished. That He just lay there asleep and was blind toward the circumstances all around them. However, when He woke up! He was not unaware, He was not afraid, He was not dismayed, and gave them a lesson about faith in Him that we cherish to this day.
 
God is not indifferent toward us at all. He is in the boat, but He wants to see what you will do with that deposit of faith He has given to you.
 
Do You Recognize Whose Got Your Back?
 
I remember one day when a bunch of neighborhood kids were picking on me and started to hit and curse me. Three boys just were putting a whooping on me. Then my brother Steve showed up. All of a sudden boldness came over me, and I got up one more time. We were still outnumbered it would seem, but without even throwing one more punch, the bullies ran away. Not even one punch. Amazing! We had overcome, I was not alone. The enemy was defeated without another blow.
 
I Challenge You Brother And Sister In Christ. Don’t try to take on the whole world! Start with taking on that family issue unresolved, that racial issue at work, that hate you see exposed in someone’s life, the hurting children in your neighborhood, the need for a better education opportunity in someone’s life. Don’t get discouraged looking at the problems of the world. Look unto the author and the finisher of our faith, the God who spoke all things into existence. For when you put your faith in Him and and allow yourself to be anointed by the Holy Ghost. There is no obstacle you can’t tackle. No job you can’t do. No mountain you can’t move. For my God is the God of the impossible, who wants to work through you.
 
Martin Luther King, Jesus of Nazareth. Gandhi, Rosa Parks, and so many more. They all made a difference. They drew a line in the sand and said NO MORE! God is going to turn this around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if I am the only one standing up right now, with God on my side I am a movement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amen, Amen.
 

Our next prep review questions are available for students at FBC, and those individually studying our Short Course series on " Spiritual Warfare ".

We also have a new course we are developing in our Christian Counseling program of study at the PhD level. We will begin posting the course and some of its contents for your consideration. I know we have folks studying for Christian Counseling degrees at different levels, whom might want to consider it for further study.

I do appreciate all the students, faculty and friends whom assist me at FBC. Dr. Boer, Dr. Tice and the FGRMC Council of Elders are all an encouragement to my soul.

Prep Review Lesson 7 The Shield of Faith.

Our next audio lesson in the Short Courses series on " Armed For Spiritual Warfare " is available. It is on the " Shoes Of Readiness. " We talk about the importance of preparation in His service, and walking in the peace of God.

Prep Quiz " Shoes Of Readiness
The Shoes Of Readiness

Prep Questions are available for study on Lesson 5 The Breastplate Of Righteousness. Enjoy your studies and thank you for your involvement in the Short Courses series at Focus Bible College.

Lesson 5 Prep Question The Breastplate Of Righteousness