Back to School

For all the kiddos out there, and for ME! That's right, I went back to school this week. It is something I have been considering doing for a long time, and last week, I decided to take the plunge and go for it. I am enrolled at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Ankeny, IA. I am taking 1 course this fall - Master's level - called Introduction to Biblical Counseling. It is in "Module" format, which means it only actually meets for a week in the classroom, for 5 hours a day, and then I have a few months to finish the required work. The goal is to eventually finish my Master's degree in Biblical Counseling (or Nouthetic Counseling - I think that's how it's spelled), which will take many more classes than just this one. It will actually take several years to accomplish this because the classes are offered on a very limited basis, and class times overlap, so I will have to wait until I can fit them all in. And, they don't offer all of them in Ankeny, so I will have to go to Indiana once I have 3-5 of the classes completed here in Iowa. I am staying at my parents a few nights this week so I don't have to commute so far every day.

Last night was the first night of class. And, it is pretty much what I expected. Theologically speaking, some of the material will probably test me and my current Biblical knowledge and understanding (which is a great thing - I'm excited). But the general principles are logical, and for someone like me, a Christian who has worked in secular psychology/psychiatry for so long, a breath of fresh air and so very encouraging. I have come to trust and rely on some of what I have learned in my secular studies, as I have tried to filter the information through the Word of God and find what could be applicable/useful for Christians in our society and culture. I am not sure how all of that will fall together. There is so much information between these sometimes seemingly overlapping and sometimes obviously polar-opposite schools of thought - I have a lot of work to do.

May God give me discernment as only He can as I attempt to navigate this flood of information that I feel He has called me to use to change myself, and by His grace alone, be able to one day effectively disciple His own with His Word as my guide.