Life experiences have a way of shaping who we are, what we can become and how we affect others. Everything from growing up with solid parents, to even losing a parent or becoming disabled can have a prodigious impact on the way we live our lives and influence the world around us. My conversion to Christianity has altered my worldview, and allowed me to see things around me with a completely different perspective. Elements such as doing things in excellence for the Lord, the desire to help others succeed and to become the best me that I can be in this life are all areas affected. Naturally these facets pour over into my academic goals and aspirations here at CCU. Therefore because of my conversion to Christianity, my academic work has been laudable and my goals are in line with the commandments God has set before us to reach the lost. …show more content…
The Bible tells us that, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23, English Standard Version). This meritorious proclamation indicates that whatever vocation we are called to, whether school, work or even parenting, do it with greatness. As I have adopted this verse more intensely, my grades have been very good and the satisfaction I feel as a result, is remarkable.
Next, my conversion to Christianity has brought me through an immense amount of trial and tribulation—as has everyone. Because of this liberation, I have a burden and joy in telling others of how to get their deliverance as well. Furthermore, this burden has carried over into my academic target, which is Psychology, and more specifically addiction counseling. Addiction counseling will hopefully allow me the platform to further impact others for Christ and see them set free from the same gnarly addictions that tore my life apart for so many years. And my conversion brought me to this
The start of this article focuses on a Christian client named George who is plagued with feelings of worthlessness, depression, low self-esteem, and suicide. His mother had also battled depression, and his father had an abusive relationship with alcohol, which caused his father to have verbally and physically abusive altercations with George and his mother. The abusive experiences that George was exposed to as a child paved the way for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as an adult (Garzon, 2005). With all of these factors present in this client’s life, a treatment plan was created that involved scripture interventions. The author made sure to touch on the fact that every client is unique in the hopes that counselors would be aware that one type of scripture intervention might work for one client and not work for another. The article highlights three guiding values when considering these types of interventions; “respect for the client’s autonomy/freedom, sensitivity to and empathy for the client’s religious and spiritual beliefs, and flexibility and responsiveness to the client’s religious and spiritual beliefs.”(Garzon, 2005). ...
Mary I have grown academically. Students come to school and learn so much. We learn skills and lessons that prepare us not only for high school or college but for the rest of our lives. We learn all these things from our teachers. Our teachers care about each one of us and want us to do well. They work very hard so that we can have the education we do. They also strive to be good role models for their students. They set a good example and teach us good values. We are taught how to treat people with love and respect. What's so amazing is that not only are we taught these values but you can see the students acting on these values everyday. For example, when we went to the Camp Duncan retreat we participated in some activities that taught us some about what it means to be Christian and how we should build each other up instead of tearing people down. After these activities you could see everyone being really nice to eachother, people talking to people they usually don’t, and just using what we had learned that day. It’s so amazing to see all the ways God works in our
One day in grade five, I decided to find myself. Most people are not "lost" when they are eleven years old, but in my own naïve, inexperienced world, I needed a change. My teacher was the indirect cause of this awakening. She was Jewish and opened our closed WASP-y minds to a whole new world of Judaism. We explored the Jewish holidays, learned about the Holocaust, and watched Fiddler on the Roof. This brief yet fascinating view into the world of another religion captured my attention and compelled me to investigate further. I hungrily searched for books on Judaism and bombarded my teacher and my two classmates who were half-Jewish with questions. I decided, after careful (or so I thought) deliberations, that I wanted to convert to Judaism. I did not (and still do not) know why Judaism intrigued me so. Perhaps their high degree of suffering as a people seemed romantic to me. On the other hand, maybe it had to do with the fact that my religion (as my more Roman friends are quick to point out) does not seem to have any clear and decisive beliefs. It could have been the fact that Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God and are still waiting for the Messiah to appear, which seemed to be a good reason as to why there was so much wrong with the world. Whatever it was, it drew me in and launched me into a world of discovery and discouragement.
May, G. (1988). Addiction & Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
A Comparison of Two Religious Conversion Experiences A religious conversion is a process of change where religious beliefs previously ignored or unappreciated become significant due to a specific experience or a change in view over time. They are either long term, dramatic or involving a deepening of faith that may lead to the adoption of new beliefs or the prioritising of an individual's faith. Conversions are not exclusive and occur in most religions. The conversion of St Paul on the road to Damascus is the most influential conversion experience in the Christian tradition. St Paul was a major persecutor of Christians and following a conversion became an apostle and the author of one third of the New Testament.
Christianity means more to me than a religion it is my lifestyle. Being a Christian has taught me so much in my 17 years of life. I have erudite where I came from and where I belong. I have learned how to be a optimistic person and spread positivity with others. Recently I went to Puerto Rico to visit my family and there I met a numerous amount of vagrant people who did not food on a daily basis nor a home to come to after a elongated day. I felt so pleased to be able to bless those individuals with nutrition, water, and clothes. Before I developed into who I am now I did not have goals and accomplishments I did not really have a determination in life. Learning who Christ was helped me become more linguistic, kinesthetic and spatial. I can learn more of him through the scripture, to feel his power and presence and to witness his miracles. These learning styles do not only help me in my spiritual life but also in my scholastic
Mark McMinn purposely writes this twofold book to first, address the pragmatic assimilation of psychology, theology, and spirituality. Secondly, he explores the spirituality of a Christian counselor, and how this aspect of character affects the methods he or she may use to represent Jesus Christ when dealing with clients. Altogether, this book discusses the dual need for Biblical Counselors to multitask with clients while pursuing personal development in spirituality to advance a Christian worldview. The objective is to “help Christian counselors and researchers unite around certain key questions and perspectives so that our interventions become increasingly relevant and effective" (p. 6).
refugees, and the second generation who were born here in the states. Finally, I feel now that I have the vision to work on myself to know more about my attitude, my future therapeutic values in the field practices. At the same time, I am planning to work more with my personal therapist on the values, beliefs, and emotions and I will be happy to know about myself more.
...ake myself accountable to seeking wise counsel (Proverbs 1:5, 11:14, 15:22), recognizing 1Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good;” thus, earnestly applying pertinent scientific methods and submitting to peer review (Entwistle 2010). I will continue to seek education in the disciplines of psychology and theology. I will progress to build upon the biblical foundation established, through my bachelors’ degree (a double major in Education and Bible), by means of continued reading in the disciplines, scripture, and through observation of the world around me. Ultimately, may all I do reflect my love for God with all my heart, soul, and mind and may I love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:37-39).
Many religious followers today would classify themselves of “Christian” theology and adherence. If there was a phenomenon that diminished Christian teachings to inaccuracy and abolished its presence from civilization there would be several alternative religions to consider. Of the other four major religions that we have covered this semester it would be a close race to decide which belief system would be the best substitute to prior knowledge taught about Christianity. It would be difficult to forget years of information that Jesus is the Son of God and choosing another religion would have to have some representation of Christianity. The decision has to compare the pros and cons of each alternative between Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam. Doing so provides a template that proves there would be no definitive winner between the four. If another religion had to be chosen besides Christianity it would be a close decision but Islam would edge out the others slightly.
bless to be a counselor, but Dr. Crabb's biblical teaching in Christian counseling will lay out the foundational requirement to enable the ones
The differences between spiritual transformation and conversion can be made by giving the distinction between spirituality and religion that now dominates much of the scientific study of religion. Psychologists define conversion as a radical transformation of self and these definitions emphasize intrapersonal processes. Spiritual transformation is expressed in nonconventional religious language and often in opposition to religious institutions from the individual has converted. The concept of deconversion careers makes clear that from some converts, a variety of conversion experiences can be expected. This specially characterizes converters to a new religious movement, the majority of whom can be expected to leave within a few years. Deconversion
This is the great and first commandment.’” (Matt. 22.37-38) My older sister, who recently graduated from college and is currently working at a crisis pregnancy center, explains the practical application of this success: “Success as a Christian student is not success in the classical sense of the word. Although good grades are nice, that should not be our end goal. In fact, if you become too focused on grades and completing homework, you run the risk of it becoming your idol. As a Christian scholar, success means truly doing your best and trusting God with the rest.” As for applying the second greatest commandment, she said this: “I also think something that is often forgotten is that people are always more important than schoolwork. When deadlines are looming it is easy to focus on that and leave people behind. However, people are created in the image of God and they were (and are) always His priority, and so they ought to be ours… You have to go to coffee with other girls and let them cry on your shoulder, and you have to stay up until 3am encouraging a brother to finish his paper…and you have to always, ALWAYS put Jesus first.” Success is not an appearance. Success is not what others think of you. Success is not getting straight A’s. As a follower of Christ, success means that your heart desires to magnify the name of Jesus above all
What does it mean to be saved? To be saved is the conscious acceptance of Christ as the propitiation for your sins. Because Jesus, who was holy and without sin took the punishment of death for our sins, we can ask him to take away and forgive our sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins” (KJV, 1 John 1:9). Jesus died for everyone’s sins; however, not everyone chooses to accept His gift of “eternal life” (KJV, John 3:16). I have accepted this amazing and gracious gift.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss a service that I got to attend that was different from my own religious tradition. I decided to go with my chosen topic because to be honest I had never experienced or thought to experience a different type of church service other than the one I grew up in. I grew up in a Christian home and attended a non-denominational Christian church on a regular basis. I just never felt the need to experience something that was different. So I decided to attend a mass at a Catholic church. I had been to weddings in a Catholic church and even funerals with a Catholic involvement but not an actual mass.