NANC certification: update on where I stand

I'm thrilled to be able to say that I recently finished the theology portion of my NANC certification exam! Other than some final review, it's ready to go. Next comes the counseling portion (part two of two) of the exam. It's been slow going for me--lots of 'life' happening in the midst of studying--but I have enjoyed it very much.

Below are the theology exam questions. Each question requires an essay answer of a page to a page and a half.

Bibliology
1. The Bible is spoken of as “inspired.” What does this mean? Completed
2. What is the relationship between infallibility and authority? Completed
3. What is the Bible’s authority on theological controversies? Completed
4. Compare and contrast the Bible and its authority to general revelation and its authority. Completed
5. Many Christians today speak of continuing revelation. Relate this concept to inspiration and sufficiency of the Scripture. Relate this concept to the issue of miracles, prophecy and tongues. Completed


Theology Proper
1. State briefly the biblical basis for, and formulate the doctrine of, the Trinity. Completed
2. List and develop five attributes of God and how they relate to the believer’s life and counseling. Completed
3. State briefly the biblical basis for, and formulate the doctrine of, God’s omniscience. Relate this doctrine to the teaching of “open theism.” Completed


Anthropology
1. Who and what is man? Completed
2. What role does anthropology play in counseling theory and practice? Completed


Christology
1. Why did Christ die? Completed
2. He was “tempted in all things as we are” (Heb. 4:15). Discuss and relate to counseling theory and practice. Completed


Soteriology
1. “Justification by faith alone.” Discuss the meaning of this phrase. Completed
2. Sanctification is said to be past, present, and future. Discuss, including the idea of “union with Christ.” Completed
3. Do Christians persevere? What relationship does this have to counseling? Completed


Pneumatology
1. Who or what is the Holy Spirit? Completed
2. What role does this Spirit play in the believer’s life and the counseling process? Completed
3. Does the Holy Spirit guide Christians? If so, what means and methods does He use? Completed


Ecclesiology
1. What is the church? Completed
2. What role does the church play in the believer’s life and the counseling process? Completed
3. What is the biblical teaching on women being ordained as officers of the church? Completed
4. What authority, if any, does the church have over individuals and the counseling process? Completed


General Questions
1. Are you involved in a larger group, organization, or denomination, which disagrees with NANC’s Statement of Faith? If so, how do you differ from your larger group? Explain what you are doing to influence your group towards NANC’s position. Completed
2. If received as a NANC member, can you unequivocally sign the membership covenant? Completed

Sort of like the Energizer Bunny, I'm still going...

Updated: 10/30/09

...on my NANC exams!

I've listed the Theology exam questions below and noted where I stand on each question--composing, drafted, editing, or completed. There's also a Counseling exam that I've been picking away at, but I have by far made the most progress on the Theology exam.

I appreciate your prayers as I hope to become certified in 2010!


Bibliology
1. The Bible is spoken of as “inspired.” What does this mean? Completed!
2. What is the relationship between infallibility and authority? Completed!
3. What is the Bible’s authority on theological controversies? Completed!
4. Compare and contrast the Bible and its authority to general revelation and its authority. Completed!
5. Many Christians today speak of continuing revelation. Relate this concept to inspiration and sufficiency of the Scripture. Relate this concept to the issue of miracles, prophecy and tongues. Completed!


Theology Proper
1. State briefly the biblical basis for, and formulate the doctrine of, the Trinity. Completed!
2. List and develop five attributes of God and how they relate to the believer’s life and counseling. Completed!
3. State briefly the biblical basis for, and formulate the doctrine of, God’s omniscience. Relate this doctrine to the teaching of “open theism.” Completed!


Anthropology
1. Who and what is man? Completed!
2. What role does anthropology play in counseling theory and practice? Completed!


Christology
1. Why did Christ die? Editing
2. He was “tempted in all things as we are” (Heb. 4:15). Discuss and relate to counseling theory and practice. Editing


Soteriology
1. “Justification by faith alone.” Discuss the meaning of this phrase. Drafted
2. Sanctification is said to be past, present, and future. Discuss, including the idea of “union with Christ.” Drafted
3. Do Christians persevere? What relationship does this have to counseling? Drafted


Pneumatology
1. Who or what is the Holy Spirit? Drafted
2. What role does this Spirit play in the believer’s life and the counseling process? Drafted
3. Does the Holy Spirit guide Christians? If so, what means and methods does He use? Drafted


Ecclesiology
1. What is the church? Drafted
2. What role does the church play in the believer’s life and the counseling process? Drafted
3. What is the biblical teaching on women being ordained as officers of the church? Drafted
4. What authority, if any, does the church have over individuals and the counseling process? Drafted


General Questions
1. Are you involved in a larger group, organization, or denomination, which disagrees with NANC’s Statement of Faith? If so, how do you differ from your larger group? Explain what you are doing to influence your group towards NANC’s position. Completed
2. If received as a NANC member, can you unequivocally sign the membership covenant? Completed

What Biblical Counseling Does for the Counselor

I can personally testify of the truth expressed in the quote below--it's a compassionate and humbling warning to any of us involved in Biblical counseling:

The counselor...will never fail to recognize the sin, habitual remnants of sin, and temptations that affect his own life as he deals with the same in others...warned over and over again of the possibilities for denying His God by a lifestyle that besmirches His Name...If he isn't wise enough to learn from what he sees, he has no right counseling others.

Read the whole post HERE.

Still plugging away...

...on my NANC Theology exam. I would appreciate your prayers!


Bibliology
1. The Bible is spoken of as “inspired.” What does this mean? Finalized
2. What is the relationship between infallibility and authority? Finalized
3. What is the Bible’s authority on theological controversies? Finalized
4. Compare and contrast the Bible and its authority to general revelation and its authority. Finalized
5. Many Christians today speak of continuing revelation. Relate this concept to inspiration and sufficiency of the Scripture. Relate this concept to the issue of miracles, prophecy and tongues. Editing


Theology Proper
1. State briefly the biblical basis for, and formulate the doctrine of, the Trinity. Editing
2. List and develop five attributes of God and how they relate to the believer’s life and counseling. Editing
3. State briefly the biblical basis for, and formulate the doctrine of, God’s omniscience. Relate this doctrine to the teaching of “open theism.” Editing


Anthropology
1. Who and what is man? Editing
2. What role does anthropology play in counseling theory and practice? Editing


Christology
1. Why did Christ die? Editing
2. He was “tempted in all things as we are” (Heb. 4:15). Discuss and relate to counseling theory and practice. Editing


Soteriology
1. “Justification by faith alone.” Discuss the meaning of this phrase. Editing
2. Sanctification is said to be past, present, and future. Discuss, including the idea of “union with Christ.” Editing
3. Do Christians persevere? What relationship does this have to counseling? Editing


Pneumatology
1. Who or what is the Holy Spirit? Editing
2. What role does this Spirit play in the believer’s life and the counseling process? Editing
3. Does the Holy Spirit guide Christians? If so, what means and methods does He use?Composing


Ecclesiology
1. What is the church?
2. What role does the church play in the believer’s life and the counseling process?
3. What is the biblical teaching on women being ordained as officers of the church?
4. What authority, if any, does the church have over individuals and the counseling process?


General Questions
1. Are you involved in a larger group, organization, or denomination, which disagrees with NANC’s Statement of Faith? If so, how do you differ from your larger group? Explain what you are doing to influence your group towards NANC’s position. Finalized
2. If received as a NANC member, can you unequivocally sign the membership covenant? Finalized

NANC '08 ~ A Brief Overview in Pictures

I attended the annual NANC conference again this year with my husband, along with two other couples from our church. This time in St. Louis, Missouri.

The weather was beautiful pretty much the whole time we were in town. Right after the conference we took a quick tour of the Arch park and museum.

That's our hotel on the left, The Millennium, where the conference was held.

In case you don't recognize the gentleman in this picture, it's Jay Adams--that's one of the ladies from our church who happens to be one of only three NANC certified women in Oklahoma (I'm hoping to join their ranks soon!), and of course me on the right.

This is none other than Martha Peace--what a gracious woman! She was busy coordinating and assisting other booth vendors but made time for this picture. I've had the pleasure of being around her many times over the years (retreats, conferences, visits to our church) and she's always been a delight to be around--and I love her Georgia accent!

These are the other two couples from our church--we've attended the last three annual NANC conferences together and always enjoyed our time together. The man closest in the picture is also NANC certified--one of only two or three in Oklahoma--hoping that will increase soon, too!

And finally, this is just me being silly for the camera! The NANC hat was a gift from the Mary (she's in the Jay Adams picture with me above), she's been encouraging me regularly as I pursue my NANC certification! Don't give up on me Mary, I'm working on it!! :-)

Hear me now and believe me later: "continued" revelation today

I'm working on the last question in the Bibliology section of my NANC Theology exam, "Many Christians today speak of continuing revelation. Relate this concept to inspiration and sufficiency of the Scripture. Relate this concept to the issue of miracles, prophesy and tongues." So, after reading Berkhof, Adams, and Ryrie I decided to consult my $9.99 copy of Grudem's Systematic Theology, which I blogged briefly about last year, so I could verify my understanding of the charismatic/pentecostal view and practice--having been one myself.

What stands out to me both as a former charismatic and a now aspiring Biblical counselor is Grudem's statement, "If prophesy does not contain God's very words, then what is it? In what sense is it from God?". My instinctive question is, "What possible authority or purpose could this sort of 'prophesy' have for Christians and the Church today seeing that God has already 'granted to us everything pertaining to life and Godliness' (2 Peter 1:3)?"

Grudem goes on to build a case that he believes the apostle

"Paul indicates that God could bring something spontaneously to mind so that the person prophesying would report it in his or her own words...uses the word revelation in a broader sense...of communication from God that does not result in written Scripture or words equal to written Scripture in authority...simply referring to something that God may suddenly bring to mind, or something that God may impress on someone's consciousness in such as way that the person has a sense that it is from God..."

To which I ask, Is this not what the Holy Spirit does for all believers--both individually and corporately--without any 'fanfare', or the tag of 'prophesy'?.

Sadly, Grudem goes on to do something that I have found quite common and damaging within the charismatic/pentecostal movement. He relates a story he heard to illustrate and lend credibility to his position--apparently he did not witness this event, which is most often the case among my charismatic/pentecostal brethren, and sadly was my habit as well.

Here's the story Grudem provides (found in chapter 53:A, 5),

"I have heard a report of this happening in a clearly noncharismatic Baptist church in America. A missionary speaker paused in the middle of his message and said something like this: 'I didn't plan to say this, but it seems the Lord is indicating that someone in this church has just walked out on his wife and family. If that is so, let me tell you that God wants you to return to them and learn to follow God's pattern for family life.' The missionary did not know it, but in the unlit balcony sat a man who had entered the church moments before for the first time in his life. The description fitted him exactly, and he made himself known, acknowledged his sin, and began to seek after God."

Grudem further explains,

"In this way, prophesy serves as a 'sign' for believers (1 Cor. 14:22)--it is a clear demonstration that God is definitely at work in their midst, a 'sign' of God's hand of blessing on the congregation."

My follow-up questions are:

1) As we watch the Church begin to encourage, seek, and embrace this new definition and practice of 'prophesy', does it not undermine the Body's commitment to the sufficiency of Scripture? At what point will my 'prophesy' override and/or take precedence over what God has already sufficiently revealed in His Word? How soon till we willingly follow our 'hunches', our 'feelings', our 'impressions', or those of others merely because we desire a 'sign'.

2) How does my seeking after and embracing these 'prophesies' 'build me up in a way that Scripture has not already provided and accomplishes as 2 Timothy 3:16 declares?

3) When will we, as the Body of Christ, stop seeking after 'signs' and find our joy and contentment in Him as we devote our minds and our energy to seeking to know Him and please Him as He has revealed Himself in His Word?

I'm Going to be a Little Busy ~ Theology Exam for NANC Certification

Just wanted you to know that my posting is likely to become even MORE sporadic as I attempt to devote more time to completing my NANC Certification exams.

I've listed the Theology exam questions below and noted where I stand on that question--composing, editing, finialized, etc. There's also a Counseling exam that I've been picking away at, but I have by far made the most progress on the Theology exam.

I would appreciate your prayers!


Bibliology
1. The Bible is spoken of as “inspired.” What does this mean? Editing
2. What is the relationship between infallibility and authority? Editing
3. What is the Bible’s authority on theological controversies? Editing
4. Compare and contrast the Bible and its authority to general revelation and its authority. Editing
5. Many Christians today speak of continuing revelation. Relate this concept to inspiration and sufficiency of the Scripture. Relate this concept to the issue of miracles, prophecy and tongues. Composing


Theology Proper
1. State briefly the biblical basis for, and formulate the doctrine of, the Trinity. Composing
2. List and develop five attributes of God and how they relate to the believer’s life and counseling.
3. State briefly the biblical basis for, and formulate the doctrine of, God’s omniscience. Relate this doctrine to the teaching of “open theism.”


Anthropology
1. Who and what is man? Composing
2. What role does anthropology play in counseling theory and practice? Composing


Christology
1. Why did Christ die? Composing
2. He was “tempted in all things as we are” (Heb. 4:15). Discuss and relate to counseling theory and practice. Composing


Soteriology
1. “Justification by faith alone.” Discuss the meaning of this phrase. Composing 2. Sanctification is said to be past, present, and future. Discuss, including the idea of “union with Christ.” Composing
3. Do Christians persevere? What relationship does this have to counseling?


Pneumatology
1. Who or what is the Holy Spirit?
2. What role does this Spirit play in the believer’s life and the counseling process?
3. Does the Holy Spirit guide Christians? If so, what means and methods does He use?


Ecclesiology
1. What is the church?
2. What role does the church play in the believer’s life and the counseling process?
3. What is the biblical teaching on women being ordained as officers of the church?
4. What authority, if any, does the church have over individuals and the counseling process?


General Questions
1. Are you involved in a larger group, organization, or denomination, which disagrees with NANC’s Statement of Faith? If so, how do you differ from your larger group? Explain what you are doing to influence your group towards NANC’s position. Editing
2. If received as a NANC member, can you unequivocally sign the membership covenant? Editing

2007 NANC Conference ~ a brief overview (finally!)

As I mentioned earlier, we attended the 2007 Annual NANC Conference recently. This was our second NANC conference to attend and it was time well spent!

The general session speakers and their topics were:

Jay Adams - "What is the Christian Life?"
Mark Dever - "Loving Christ Above All Else"
Randy Patten - "What is True Biblical Change?"
Paul Tripp - "The Gospel for Believers"
Steve Viars - "Reaching for the Heart in Counseling"
David Powlison - "Where Do We Go From Here?"

In addition to enjoying and learning much from the general session speakers, we also had the pleasure of selecting five different workshops from a list of well over 50 possible workshops! So, to maximize my/our benefits I tried to select workshops that no one else from our church (eight of us) planned to attend. Here are the workshops I attended:

Martha Peace - "Counseling Tips: Getting to the Heart of the Matter in a Timely Way"
Bill Moore - "Identifying the Counselee's Problem from a Biblical Perspective"
Dr. Robert Jones - "Making Our Counseling More Christ-Centered"
Ron Allchin - "Counseling Teens From Proverbs"
Dr. Laura Hendrickson - "The Autism Spectrum"

If you aren't familiar with some or any of these people, I highly recommend you follow the links provided and get to know them!

I hope to elaborate on some of the general sessions and workshops, but to be honest, I don't know when!! I have set a "loose" goal of earning my NANC certification this coming year, so that will occupy much of my "blogging time"!!

NANC conference, anyone?

UPDATE (10/05/07): I'm humbled and deeply grateful to have found out last night that an anonymous giver paid for my portion of the conference. The Lord knows who you are--thank you, thank you...

Anyone out there planning to attend this year's annual NANC conference? :-) Would love to meet you in person!