CCEF

Aack, I just stumbled across an amazing new blog! The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation covers topics on which I frequently muse. With a minor in psychology and an unrelenting interest in the subject, I did try to enroll in courses on Biblical counseling at one point. That has been put on hold in this season of my life, but I have been reading and contemplating quite a bit on the theology of suffering. Joni and Friends offers a whole course on this subject and is working to integrate it and other disability education classes into seminary coursework nationwide.


I want to share this great article titled "No More Minimizing Pain." It talks about how silly it is to operate as if there is a Pain-O-Meter and corresponding Compassion-O-Meter. "Oh, well, my pain is only a five compared to the suffering of the world." In a moment of unveiled honesty (is that redundant?),  let me share that I do this regarding any personal unpleasantness all day long! My admittedly odd hobby of reading about human atrocities and the fight for justice often throws me off-kilter in my ability to accept and process personal griefs. This has actually been a topic much on my mind.


Okay, I can't help it. As long as we are on the topic, another well-written article is "What Has Helped You in Your Troubles?" Finally, "The Value of Grief" (the last part in a series) and "Letting Go of Pain" manage to both be helpful without being contradictory.

Five girls in India

After an emotionally draining day, I am so glad to read that my favorite newspaper columnist, Nicolas Kristof, has partnered with one of my favorite ministries to write a success story in the fight against human trafficking. Kristof accompanied an International Justice Mission investigator on a raid/rescue in India, where human trafficking is commonplace. Five girls were rescued, including a ten-year-old who was shortly to be sold for rape for the first time.

To be frank, sometimes I cannot properly rejoice in these success stories because I think of the hundreds of thousands of people who were NOT rescued. Perhaps it was the pairing of Kristoff with IJM or the detail about the ten-year-old--tonight I do rejoice.

Conference Videos!

For those of you intrigued by the Mighty Waters Conference, the videos of the speakers are now up! As I have previewed in another post, there's some excellent content (i.e. good stuff). Major fan of Gary Haugen right here! Prior to these videos being posted, I had planned to cover Brenda Salter McNeil's talk in another post because I think she did an excellent job of revitalizing the Great Commission. Obviously, God does not need revitalizing, but rather our understanding of what to do with the Gospel. Eric Mextas' talk is not so broad, but definitely engaging. I find him an intriguing individual: New York Republican and Pentecostal Episcopalian, not to mention Yale English major Veggie Tales screen writer. 

And on that note, I leave you for today.

Tokyo Taxi

National Geographic photo of the day for June 27

Hu Jia released!

Tonight I found myself unexpectedly gladdened to read of the release of Chinese dissident Hu Jia. A political activist, Hu Jia served a three year jail sentence for repeatedly speaking against human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese government. Even now he remains under virtual house arrest. I commend his courage and marvel at a world in which a Chinese blogger's stirrings are heard around the globe. 


So few people have an opportunity to have their cries heard. Why this man? Why did part of his life story appear on my computer screen tonight and cause me joy? What was special about him as opposed to others who have risked and even forfeited their lives to speak against injustice? What largely untold stories are his inspiration? 


As I ponder what gave this man and his wife the courage to speak, I hope that my life inspires people to greater things.