Category: Books

7 Quotes from You Who? by Rachel Jankovic

Rachel Jankovic is a wife and mother who serves at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. She’s written You Who? to combat the slitheringly subtle philosophy of existentialism. Put simply, existentialism (defined by Sarte) is the philosophy that your identity and meaning are what you make them. You exist, then you determine  what you are/who you are. Jankovic’s goal is to unveil the soft, and often undetectable inroads existentialism has made into the lives of Christians. While primarily written for a female audience, the book should be read by men as well. Jankovic’s book is bound to offend you for all the right reasons. I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Here are 7 favorite quotes:

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  • In Christianity, the self is always a tool and never a destination.
  • If your essence is in your choices, anything that takes away your own free will and choices is obviously the enemy.
  • A unique human life has unique human value. It does not need to do anything to have value. The value is found in what God did in creating it.
  • “Let go and let God.” Let him? Who exactly do you think he is?
  • Friends, there is no hope for you that is not Jesus. There is nothing interesting about you if it is not resurrected in him.
  • The longing to do something importantthat would just matter is just another form of unbelief. Every Christian is always in the middle of spiritual action.
  • For the world, “Who am I?” Is actually a much bigger question because it is the question of “Who is my god?”… For the Christian, the question of “Who am I?” Is actually just another way of asking, “Who is He?”

7 Quotes from The Pastor and Counseling by Jeremy Pierre & Deepak Reju

Counseling is not a strength of mine. But, as a pastor it’s a part of the job and so I want to grow into the counseling ministry. This year I’ll be reading three books on the subject. I just finished this short into by Jeremy Pierre and Deepak Reju: The Pastor and Counseling. The book divides into three sections: Concepts, Process, and Context. I explain those three here but I bring them up to highlight part of section three: Context.

The real strength of books from the 9Marks organization is their focus on the local congregation. No pastoral counseling can be separated out of the church context in which it occurs. Your church culture either encourages gospel-centered counseling or it discourages it. Pierre and Reju offer helpful ideas on cultivating a church discipleship culture that supports the pastor/member counseling relationship.

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Here are 7 of my favorite quotes:

Loving someone means showing concern for his well-being, even if you are unable to fix his particular troubles.

The scent of superiority rather than humility is a stench to Jesus, since it is the opposite of his example.

A pastor should commend anyone who seeks help. Even if you later discover that the presenting trouble has little to do with the actual problem, you can celebrate the God-given humility the person is demonstrating in recognizing his or her need for help.

Be sure to open you Bible during the first meeting. If God’s Word really matters to the process of change. you need to show it.

Don’t be easy or simplistic in labeling what a person’s heart is worshipping. You are not on an idol hunt, as if these things could be easily labeled.

For your people’s sake, don’t accept their starting points or conclusions. Help them to consider other frames, other angles, other lighting that better draw attention to the redemptive hope in the picture.

We should strive to make church a place where being anonymous or nominal is difficult to pull off.

Members who seek counseling should understand from the beginning that as a ministry of discipleship, counseling is a part of a broader accountability to the church. Counseling is therefore a safe place for those struggling against sin, even if they fall often in that struggle. But counseling is not a safe place for those who willfully continue patterns of clear and unrepentant sin.

Have a Biblical counseling book your enjoy? Recommend it in the comments.