Transformative Counselling: Cognitive Therapy Approaches

The College of Mental Health Counseling presents:
Transformative Counseling:
Cognitive Therapy Approaches
A Course in Empathy, Finding Wisdom: Verbalizing Your Inner
Dialogue, Creative Solution Development, Counseling Assessment
Self-Healing Life Story Questionnaire, Your Spirituality Score,
Counseling for Depression, Practicing the Presence of God:
Spiritual Mindfulness, Sixteen Principles for Anger, Thirty-Five
Positive Suggestions for Ego Strength, Meaning Therapy, Faith as a
Positive Cognitive Therapy Model
Daniel Keeran, MSW, President, College of

Mental Health Counselling
http://www.empathyforu.com
2
Copyright © 2014 by Daniel Keeran
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in

any manner whatsoever without specific written permission from the
author except for use in public schools and in the case of brief
quotations in reviews for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or
broadcast. Photocopies and electronic copies may not be sold.
Special permission requests and inquires can be directed to the author

at collegemhc@gmail.com
ISBN-13: 978-1503292567
ISBN-10: 1503292568
Printed in the United States.
3
4
Dedicated to
my loving wife and daughter
5
6
Table of Contents
A Course in Empathy: The New Revolution of the Heart 9
Finding Wisdom: Verbalizing Your Inner Dialogue 33
The Self-Awareness Questionnaire 41
Reaching Agreement: Steps To Peace Through

Creative Solution Development 48
Your Spirituality Score 52
Counseling for Depression 56
Practicing the Presence of God: Spiritual Mindfulness 61
Sixteen Guidelines for Anger 77
Thirty-Five Positive Suggestions for Ego Strength 79
Faith As A Positive Cognitive Therapy Model 86
About the Author 92
7
8
9
A Course in Empathy
The New Revolution of the Heart
How do you think society might be affected if empathy was taught
in the home, the workplace, and in schools? Imagine a world in
which everyone, children and adults, knew how to care about how
others feel and what they need, want, and think.
While each individual has a unique capacity for empathy, some
more than others, the author believes empathy may be assisted
and encouraged for those who possess some aptitude.
Empathic development requires an awareness of one's own
emotions, addressed in the first exercise on page 12, in order to
begin to recognize and feel connected with the emotions of others.
Now for the first time, we have a set of tools to actually learn
empathy so that it becomes part of one's way of relating to others.
On completion of assignments* for A Course in Empathy, with no
more than a two-page report for each chapter including your
responses to questions found at the end of each one, the
Certificate of Empathy Development is awarded by the College
of Mental Health Counseling.
In this concise volume, the author describes ten practical exercises
to enable the development of empathy and thereby aid the
transformation of the self and the community.
The way to peace with everyone is empathy for everyone, including
and especially your opponent in any matter. Empathy for self and
others is the key to inner peace and world peace.
For connecting with a social media group about empathy go to
https://www.facebook.com/groups/empathicskills/
*Assignments and inquiries should be directed to Daniel Keeran, MSW, at the
College of Mental Health Counseling collegemhc@gmail.com
10
11
Introduction: What Is Empathy?
Lesson Objectives:
1. To understand empathy.
2. To acquire an increased sense of empathy for the emotions and
circumstances of others.
Empathy Definition: To sincerely and accurately feel and reflect

the specific emotion(s) of another person. Empathy also means to
value others’ emotions.
Why teach and learn empathy? The important reason to teach

and learn empathy is that if individuals are able to learn empathy
skills, they will be most likely to apply the skills in their current
life with peers and future adult relationships.
The ability to have empathy is important as a foundation for

caring and compassion between and among people and
contributes to positive relationships in all areas of life.
Empathy builds a sense of community and reduces the tendency

to discriminate or exclude others. Someone who bullies or
excludes others can benefit from being aware of the emotions of
a potential victim and to value those emotions.
While some people may have difficulty feeling or communicating

sincere empathy more than others, everyone will derive some
benefit from the exercises in this lesson.
Select those exercises that correspond to the overall capacity of

the age group and modify exercise descriptions for the
comprehension level of the group.
Group Discussion:
1. What is empathy? How are empathy and sympathy different?

Empathy is not sympathy. Empathy means to feel the emotion of
another person. Sympathy means to agree with the thoughts of
another person.
12
2. Empathy means that you must set aside your own thoughts and
feelings and pay attention only to the other person’s thoughts and
feelings. Why does this ability require inner strength?
3. How is empathy communicated? Empathy is communicated in

the sincere accurate reflection of the emotions of another person,
conveyed in accurate facial expressions for the emotions,
accurate voice tones for the emotions, and accurate words for the
emotions.
4. How are thoughts different from emotions? Emotions are not

thoughts. Emotions are sensory experiences in the mind and body
such as relaxed, fear, caring, anger, guilt, happy, sadness,
confident, low self-worth, hopeful, despair. Thoughts are ideas
about another person, thing, or situation.
5. What is sincerity and why is it important? Sincerity means to be

genuine, to truly value the other person’s feelings as important,
and to take his or her feelings seriously. If sincerity is missing,
then empathy will not be communicated.
6. Are emotions OK? Yes. Emotions are neither good nor bad.
Having emotions is an important part of being human. Believing
this is necessary in order to have sincere empathy for another
person’s feelings. What you do with an emotion can be healthy or
unhealthy.
13
Exercises For Empathy Training
Exercise One: Building Your Emotion Vocabulary
Description: The leader introduces the exercise by saying that
having a vocabulary of words for different emotions, is helpful for
making sentences that communicate empathy. Many feeling or
emotion lists can be found on the internet.
Emotions can be separated into categories of pleasant and painful

feelings. For example, pleasant emotions are: happy, excited,
peaceful, relaxed, calm, hopeful.
Examples of painful emotions are: fear, anger, guilt, sad, empty,

low self-worth, and despair.
An acronym can be used to help remember a list of words. For

example, the acronym FAGSELD is a way to remember the painful
emotions listed above.
More information: Painful feelings can be divided into

hard and soft emotions. Examples of hard painful feelings
are anger, frustration, irritation, and annoyed, while
examples of soft painful feelings are fear, sadness, guilt,
emptiness, low self-worth, and despair.
Invite group members (in group or as an assignment) to make a

list of emotions or feelings they have about different experiences
during the day. Examples: waking up, getting dressed, smelling
breakfast, getting on the bus, hearing people arguing, hearing
people laughing, entering the room, sitting at the desk, listening
to the teacher, going to recess, taking a test, having lunch, doing
14
homework, seeing parents, playing with friends, sitting down to
dinner, going to bed.
Post-Exercise Discussion:
1. What do you realize about emotions and experiences?
2. Why is it important to be aware of your emotions as you feel

them in the moment?
3. How does being aware of your own emotions affect the way you
understand other people and things that happen in their lives?
Assignment: Make a list of your experiences between the end of

group today and the next group meeting and then write the
emotions related to each experience.
15
Exercise Two: Distinguishing Emotions and Thoughts
Description: In this exercise, group members are asked to make
three sentences beginning with “I feel” followed by a feeling
word such as happy, sad, frustrated, or other emotion.
Examples: “I feel happy when it’s time to play.”

“I feel excited when I get to do math.”
“I feel sad when my friends have to go home
after visiting.”
More information: Remember that a thought, instead of

an emotion, is expressed if “I feel” is followed by the
word “that” rather than a feeling word. The phrase “I
feel that....,” really means “I think” or “I believe.”
If you begin a sentence with “I think” followed by an idea
such as “I think this subject is interesting” or “I think this
group is fun,” you are communicating a thought instead of
an emotion.
What is the difference between a thought and a feeling? A
thought is an idea. A feeling is an emotion.
16
17
Exercise Three: Making Sentences for Empathy
Description: Practice making sentences that communicate
empathy using this form and words from the feeling list. Fill in the
blanks, followed by checking to see if you are accurate:
“You feel____________ because ___________. Is that accurate?”
Scenario examples: Here are examples of two scenarios followed

by examples of sentences that show empathy and checking for
accuracy.
1. Jill has a frown on her face and says her best friend just moved
away.
Empathic reflection: “Jill, you feel sad because you best friend
just moved away. Is that what you feel?”
2. Dad is very quiet when he comes home from work and says he
just lost his job.
Empathic reflection: “Dad, you feel worried because you lost your
job. Is that what you feel?”
Practice Scenarios: After each scenario below, write a sentence

that shows empathy followed by checking to see if you are
accurate.
1. Your brother comes home crying and then says he was called
hurtful names at school.
2. The boy at school that others just called hurtful names, is

sitting quietly and looking down.
3. Your friend says he does not want to go home because he

received low scores on his report card.
4. Your friend says she can’t invite you over because her Mom
doesn’t feel well.
18
5. A person at school is sitting alone at lunch time and not eating
his lunch.
1. What questions do you have about writing a sentence that
shows empathy?
2. Why is it important to check to see if you are accurate?
19
Exercise Four: Role Reversal
Description: In the Role Reversal exercise, empathy skills are
increased when individuals are asked to imagine he or she is
someone else who will be interviewed in pairs. The group is
divided into pairs, and each person takes turns telling the other
person basic personal information in answer to a brief set of
questions. Then each person imagines he or she is the other
person and speaks to the group in the first person as if he or she is
the other person. Mary interviews Rosie and then presents herself
as if she is Rosie by saying, “My name is Rosie. I am 12 years old,”
etc. Then Rosie does the same by saying, “My name is Mary. I am
12 years old,” etc.
Accuracy is important for building empathy skills in this exercise.
The following is a list of basic questions for collecting basic

personal information:
1. What is your name?

2. What is your age?
3. What is your favorite color?
4. How many brothers and sisters do you have?
5. Where did you go on vacation?
6. What do you like to do most?
Demonstrate to the group:
“Now I need a volunteer to show you what role reversal looks like.
Who would like to volunteer?” The leader asks the above
questions to the volunteer as you sit together in front of the
group. Then the leader presents herself as the student speaking in
the first person and relating the information collected in the
interview using the questions above.
Then the leader says, “What questions do you have about what
you will be doing?”
20
Instructions to the group:
“Now I want you to divide into pairs and interview each other
using these questions (written on the board or given as a printed
handout). Remember what the other person says, and then you
will present yourself as if you are the other person starting with
the name and so on. You will have to listen very carefully and
remember what the other person said. What questions do you
have about what I am asking you to do?”
Post-Exercise discussion:
1. What was it like hearing your partner speak as if he or she was
you? Was he or she accurate?
2. What was it like being your partner? What did you feel or think
when you were being someone different than yourself?
21
Exercise Five: Doubling
Description: In the Doubling exercise, similar to the Role Reversal
exercise, the individuals build empathy skills by becoming a
double or alter ego for another person. This is done by inviting
students to walk around the room in pairs (or to sit in chairs in
parallel position) while one speaks as the other doubles.
The speaker talks about a happy memory or expected future

event. As the speaker is talking, the Double also talks in the first
person as if he or she is also the speaker and reads between the
lines by inserting feeling words.
Example:
Speaker: “I am going to visit my grandparents next week.”
Double: “And I feel happy.”
Speaker: “My grandma makes the best cookies.”
Double: “I am excited to eat the cookies.”
The speaker can let the Double know if she or he is accurate or

not by saying what the accurate feeling is.
“Now I need a volunteer to show you what Doubling looks like.

Come here and sit with me (chairs in parallel position facing the
group). Talk about a happy memory or something you look
forward to in the future.”
As the volunteer talks, the leader speaks in the first person as if

she or he is the student and fills in feelings or emotions not
spoken by the volunteer.
22
After a brief while, the leader turns to the group and says, “What
questions do you have about what I am asking you to do?”
Instructions for the group exercise:
Divide the group into pairs, and as they are engaged in the
exercise, let them know when to switch roles with one as the
speaker and the other as the Double.
After each person has had an opportunity to experience both roles
(speaker and Double):
1. What was it like being the speaker and hearing the Double
speaking as yourself?
2. What was it like being the Double? What was the hardest part?
3. How did the exercise of Doubling help you understand the other
person?
23
Exercise Six: Listening with Empathy
Description: Practice listening to another person talk about
something that is personally important, and make sentences for
empathy that reflect his or her emotions. Remember that
empathy means to set aside your own thoughts and feelings and
to pay attention to what the other person thinks and feels.
“Now I need a volunteer so that I can show the group what a

sentence for empathy sounds like. Think of something you can say
about what is important to you or something that happened or
you hope will happen in the future. Who would like to volunteer?”
After a brief demonstration, thank the volunteer and ask the

group, “What questions do you have about what you will be
doing?”
Instructions for the group exercise:
“Now we will practice making sentences for empathy. I want you

divide into pairs. One of you will speak for a little while and the
other will listen. The speaker can talk about something that
happened last night or today or something in the future. The
listener will make a sentence for empathy and check to see if it is
accurate. Then I will tell you when to switch, with the speaker
becoming the listener, and the listener becoming the speaker.
Remember that empathy means to set aside your own thoughts
and feelings and to pay attention to what the other person thinks
and feels.”
After giving instructions, ask the group, “What questions do you

have about what you will be doing?”
24
1. What was it like being the speaker and hearing the listener
make sentences for empathy (reflections)?
2. What was it like being the listener? What was the hardest part
about it?
More information: In making an empathic reflection, an

overstatement of the other person’s thoughts and feelings
can give added support when the reflection is accurate and
sincere. This involves seeing implications of what the
speaker says and including these implications in the sincere
reflection while being careful to check for accuracy. If the
empathic reflection is an understatement and leaves out
accurate basic information given by the speaker, the
speaker will feel a lack of empathy and support.
Additional exercises can be created to assist group members
to recognize and reflect empathy for different specific
emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, sadness, celebration,
humiliation, and others. See an exercise for empathizing
with anger below.
25
Exercise Seven: Becoming Another Character
Description: In this exercise, members are asked to break into
groups of three to do the following:
1. Write the dialogue for and then enact a scenario for three
people: a victim, a bully, and an observer.
2. Each group enacts the scenario three times. Each time the
scenario is enacted, each person rotates to take on the role of a
different character.
3. After all scenarios are enacted with each person rotating to

each role, each person then discusses what it was like to take on
the role of each character, what emotions were felt, and what
thoughts came up in each role.
1. What emotions did you feel as the bully?
2. What emotions did you feel as the victim?
3. What emotions did you feel as the observer?
4. What decisions have you made after doing this exercise?
26
27
Exercise Eight: Understanding the Story
Description: This exercise is about understanding the story of
another person. “An enemy is someone whose story you have not
heard.”
1. Ask members of the group to think (and write) about someone

they are afraid of or someone with whom they do not want to be
friends and to give a reason.
2. Ask group members to imagine they found out reasons why the
person behaves in a negative way and to write the reasons down.
3. Ask group members to share how they feel about the person
after realizing there may be a story that explains the negative
behavior of the person.
Example: (corresponding to the three points above)
1. I do not want to be friends with Rosie because she never talks
to me.
2. I found out that Rosie is unhappy and lonely at home, and she
is afraid her Mom may not be able to pay the rent.
3. Now that I know this may be true, I want to be friends with
Rosie because her not talking is not about me but about her
feelings about what is happening at home.
1. How has this exercise changed the way you think about people
you are afraid of or with whom you do not want to be friends?
2. Imagine how understanding the story of the other person could
affect the way people feel and think about their perceived
enemies, nations in conflict, and groups of people that you or
perhaps others dislike.
28
29
Exercise Nine: Imagine the Emotions of a Historical Character
Description: This exercise is about understanding the emotions of
a historical character. The leader asks group members to make a
list of five people from history and circumstances. Then write
emotions that each person may have felt about what was
happening in history or in the life of the person when they were
experiencing the emotions.
Alternatively, the leader can make a list of historical people,

describe their circumstances, and then invite group members to
list emotions the person might have had.
Example: Abraham Lincoln sees slaves being sold in the town

square, and in that moment he feels sad that they have no
families of their own, angry that men would treat other men as
property, and hopeless that he could do nothing about it.
1. Who would like to share your list of historical people and
circumstances with the group?
2. What emotions did you come up with and what are the
emotions about?
30
31
Exercise Ten: Having Empathy for Anger
Description: This exercise assists the development of ways to
cope with the anger of another person by using empathic
reflection. Empathy for anger can sometimes have the effect of
reducing the anger of a person.
A scenario is demonstrated by the leader who makes a reflective

empathic statement when someone is very angry. After observing
this, group members are asked to form pairs and to practice
making a reflective empathic statement to the other person who
makes an angry statement.
Example: (demonstrated)
Angry Person: “You never do what you’re told, and so now I have
to do it for you.”
Empathic Listener: “You feel angry because I didn’t do my work,

and that makes more work for you. Is that what you are feeling?”
Following this demonstration, ask group members to enact the

same scenario in pairs with each person taking turns being the
angry person, then the empathic listener. Use the statements
provided in the above example and repeated them to help you
feel more of the emotion and what it is like to say and hear the
words.
1. What was it like making the angry statement?
2. What was it like making the empathic reflective statement?
3. What was it like as the angry person hearing the empathic

reflective statement of the listener?
4. Imagine how empathic reflection could be used between

nations to reduce hostility. How could it work?
32
33
Finding Wisdom
Verbalizing Your Inner Dialogue
New generation psychological technology can improve conditions in
persons with normal or average cognitive functioning. The cognitive
mental functions give humans a particular advantage in terms of
creative solution development.
Humans are constantly engaging in a process of internal dialogue
across a variety of subject areas. Mental distress may be at least
partly remedied by verbalizing, understanding, and perhaps
modifying the internal dialogue.
For persons suffering from chronic dependency as well as anxiety,
depression, and relationship issues, the following technique may be
useful:
1. Invite the client to talk about what they know will improve their
situation and what could worsen their situation.
2. Identify the parts of the self as the knowing confident self and the
unknowing negative self.
3. Ask the client to verbalize each part of the self in response to the
other (like Golum in Lord of the Rings).
4. Discuss ways to strengthen the knowing confident part of the
self. This is also the observer will part of the self that is able to
evaluate and modify the dialogue and draw a conclusion that works
best.
The above technique can be easily learned, recorded through
journaling, and repeated as a core process in therapy in order to
make the inner dialogue most conscious and useful to the client.
This psychological technology can improve conditions in persons
with normal or average cognitive functioning.
The therapeutic use of inner dialogue can focus on a specific issue
or area of mental distress and invite the client to have a
34
conversation between the knowing confident part and the negative
self-doubting or unhealthy part.
Here is an example of an exchange using this inner dialogue
approach:
Client: I feel so inadequate and lacking in self-confidence.
Counselor: So, part of you feels inadequate and lacking in self-
confidence. I wonder if there is another part of you, a knowing part,
even a small part, that feels adequate and confident about some
things.
Client: Yes, there is. I moved out here on my own. I have a job and
pay my rent (client smiles).
Counselor: You are very resourceful, capable, and independent.
You can strengthen the positive, capable part of yourself just by
talking more about it. Tell me more.
In this example the counselor further supports the knowing
supportive self by adding to the dialogue. The counselor can also
invite the client to verbalize the inner dialogue between the positive
knowing part and the negative doubting part.
Counselor: Now I want you to speak your negative thoughts and
also your positive thoughts.
An exchange with someone suffering from

depression
Counselor: If there’s a conversation inside you about the
depression, how does it go? Speak the conversation out loud.
Client: I am a failure. Nothing I do is good enough.
Counselor: So that is the negative part of you that feeds the
depression. There is another part of you, even if it is a small part,
that knows more and that can see the big picture. What does that
part say?
35
Client: I have been resourceful, independent, and self-reliant. I pay
my own rent, buy my own food, hold a job, moved far from home,
and have travelled to Europe on my own.
Counselor: Yes. Which part of you feels better than the other part
of you: the negative part or the other part?
Working with different personality disorders

The beginning of the process is to identify the central issue defining
the personality disorder.
Personality disorders are understood as a pattern of behaviour
beginning in childhood, causing subjective distress and affecting
social and occupational functioning.
The central issue of each disorder is actually the voice of the
negative unhealthy self that is larger or stronger than the positive
confident self. The goal of therapy is to strengthen the positive
confident self and thereby relieve mental distress. This occurs by
bringing the inner dialogue into conscious awareness and by
focusing attention on the positive healthy confident self by talking
about, elaborating, and affirming it.
The negative unhealthy self is significantly fed by negative uncaring
experiences during childhood, usually the parental relationship. A
way to strengthen the positive self is to say, “What would you say
or do if what happened to you happened to your own child?” and “If
you were the healthy caring adult or parent in the situation you
describe, what would you say or do for you, the child?”
This approach utilizes the person’s own cognitive ability and sense
of empathy to create and define healthy choices.
Another approach is to say, “If you had power to change any three
things about your childhood or family when you were growing up,
what would they be?” and, “I wonder if you can imagine how you
might be different today in some ways if things had been different
as you describe.”
This approach helps the person use memory to identify significant
unresolved issues from childhood that require healing as well as
36
visualization in order to identify and strengthen the positive healthy
self. A key to moving forward is to hold two opposite realities
simultaneously, the reality of loss of parental caring or other loss
and also one’s power to make healthy choices in thought and
action now: “Maybe you could not choose what happened in your
childhood, and you can choose what you do now.”
Paranoid Personality Disorder

Central issue: No one can be trusted because they want to harm
me in some way.
Common associated major negative life experience: Loss of
caring and closeness in the parental relationship during childhood.
Possibly physical or verbal abuse.
Therapeutic statements supporting the healthy self:
What happened in your childhood or your past that you think has
contributed most to your distrust of others?
I wonder if part of you knows what someone would be like if they
could be trusted.
How much is your fear and distrust based on what you think about
other people? If you could allow yourself to think differently about
others, how might your fear be affected?
How would you feel toward others if you could believe that people
are generally sincere and well-intentioned?
Schizoid Personality Disorder

Central issue: No one understands me because I am different. I
prefer to be alone.
Common associated major negative life experience: Childhood
abuse, loss of parental caring, bullying.
37
When in your life did you first start feeling alone or of being lonely?
What happened in your childhood or your past that you think has
contributed most to your desire to be alone?
I wonder how you might be different today if there had been
something different in your life when you were growing up.
What is your image of the person you want to be? Describe this
person for me.
Part of you prefers to be alone. Another part of you has a different

need or different idea about people. What does that part say?
Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Central issue: I have odd or delusional thoughts but I may not
recognize them as odd or delusional; no one can be trusted.
Possible abuse or abandonment experience in childhood.
Common associated major negative life experience: Loss of
parental caring; lack of social skill development in childhood.
Part of you thinks what you described (the odd thought) is true, and
maybe you need to have those thoughts for now.
Part of you believes no one can be trusted, and everyone wants to
harm you in some way.
There is another part of you that may have a different idea about
your thoughts and knows what you need and who you can be.
What does that part of you say?
Antisocial Personality Disorder

Central issue: I am willing to violate the rights of others to serve
my own profit and pleasure.
Common associated major negative life experience: Lack of
parental discipline during childhood; loss of parental caring.
38
Part of you is use to surviving on your own, believes sometimes
you must take advantage of other people to look after your own
interest, and that the end justifies the means. Is that accurate?
There is another part of you that feels a little guilty about taking
advantage of others to meet your own needs. What does that part
of you say?
Borderline Personality Disorder

Central issue: I don’t have control over my emotions. “I hate you,
don’t leave me.” I am afraid of abandonment.
Common associated major negative life experience: Abuse
and/or abandonment during childhood.
Part of you hates people, feels emotionally negative toward others,
and also fears being left alone by others. Who was the first
important person in your life who hurt or left you?
Another part of you, perhaps a small part, believes that you are
capable of being OK and surviving even if people leave you. What
else does that part know? Maybe that you can manage your
emotions, especially your anger?
Histrionic Personality Disorder

Central issue: I need the attention and approval of others in order
to be happy. My worth depends on my physical attractiveness.
Common associated major negative life experience: Childhood
abuse and learning to believe that value is associated with sexuality
or external appearance. Lack of training in healthy values and
beliefs during childhood.
Part of you believes your worth depends upon your sex appeal and
physical appearance.
39
There is another wiser part, even if it is a small part of you, that
knows more about you and your worth as a person. What does that
part say?
Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Central issue: My ideas and abilities are superior to those of
others.
Common associated major negative life experience: Parental
abandonment or rejection by the father.
Part of you thinks your ideas and abilities are superior, perhaps far
superior, to those of others.
Another part of you thinks you may be an imposter or feels very
inferior to others. What does that part say?
And part of you thinks others are capable of having important ideas
and abilities. What does that part say?
Avoidant Personality Disorder

Central issue: I am afraid that others will criticize me in social
situations.
Common associated major negative life experience: Critical
parenting during childhood or bullying by peers or siblings.
There is part of you that is afraid of criticism in social situations.
Another part of you is able to reassure you or encourage you. What
does that part say?
40
Dependent Personality Disorder
Central issue: I fear being alone and must subordinate my own
needs and feelings to those on whom I rely.
Common associated major negative life experience:
Dominating parenting that makes obedience and subservience a
condition of caring.
Part of you believes you must serve others in order to be accepted
by them, and you must be accepted by them in order to be happy.
Another, knowing part of you believes you are worthwhile even if
others do not accept you. This part wants you to be true to yourself
and to assert your own needs and feelings even if others are
displeased. What else does it say?
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Central issue: I must control my environment and finances,
because of my fear of chaos, disorder, or poverty. Things, working,
and financial security are more important than people.
Common associated major negative life experience: Poverty or
financial stress or financial loss during childhood.
Part of you thinks you must achieve and maintain financial security
even if you must sacrifice closeness and caring in your
relationships with others. If that seems accurate, elaborate on this a
little.
Another part of you believes people and the quality of your
relationships are more important than things or even than keeping
order.
41
The Self-Awareness Questionnaire
Instructions: Only say as much as you want to. Skip questions that are too
uncomfortable, but think about why they are. Simply completing this
questionnaire can be a healing experience in itself. To understand the deeper
meaning of the questions and your answers, consider this important resource
Effective Counseling Skills.
Introduce Yourself
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your age and gender?
3. What is your marital status? Single, married, separated, or
divorced? How long? Explain the reasons for separation(s)
or divorce(s). What happened?
4. What is your race, ethnic, or cultural background?
Caucasian, Chinese, East Indian, Aboriginal, Other?
5. What are your children's genders and ages? If they are
adults, give their occupations and marital situation.
6. Do you live alone or with someone? How long?
What Happened?
7. What problems and concerns do you have now?
8. What emotions have you been having and what is each one
about? Fear, anger, frustration, guilt, sadness, low self-
worth, despair, other feelings?
9. How long have you been feeling this way? (for each feeling
or problem)
10. What happened at the time you began feeling this way?
11. When have you felt like this in the past and what happened?
12. Any health problems? E.g. epilepsy, diabetes, etc.
13. Any counseling or hospitalized for emotional reasons? How
old were you? Please give the reasons.
42
The Family You Grew Up In and Your
Childhood
14. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Give each
person's gender, age, occupation, and marital situation.
15. Which one are you in the line of birth? First, last, second or
third, etc. How many years separate you from the others
nearest you?
16. Who were you closest to when growing up?
17. Are your parents still living? What was your age at their
death?
18. Have your experienced any other deaths of family members
or friends? What was your age?
19. Describe your father's (and step-father's) personality and
your relationship to him when you were growing up. Were
you close, not so close, distant, affectionate? Give an
example of something that happened that shows this and
how old you were.
20. Talk about how your relationship with your father (or father
figure) during childhood may have affected you in both
positive and negative ways.
21. How have the negative experiences with your father
figure(s), come up again in your relationships with other
people up to now?
22. Describe your mother's (and step-mother's) personality and
your relationship to her when you were growing up. Were
you close, not so close, distant, affectionate? Give an
example of something that happened that shows this and
how old you were.
23. Talk about how your relationship with your mother (or mother
figure) during childhood may have affected you in both
positive and negative ways.
24. How have the negative experiences with your mother
figure(s), come up again in your relationships with other
people up to now?
43
25. What were your spiritual or religious beliefs before age 10
and how have your beliefs changed since then?
26. What was your role in the family when you were growing up?
Think of a word, e.g. peacemaker, black sheep, victim,
outsider, assistant parent, invisible, baby, etc.? Give an
example of what happened.
27. Describe your parents' relationship. Were they affectionate?
How did they deal with conflict? Give an example of what
happened.
28. Was anyone in the family or extended family ever
hospitalized for emotional reasons or commit suicide? Any
mental retardation?
29. How did family members relate to each other when you were
growing up? Give an example.
30. How were feelings of anger, sadness, fear, and guilt
expressed? Give an example.
31. Describe a time when you were disciplined that was most
painful for you. How old were you? What happened?
32. What personality features do you have which your parents
also have?
33. Who was there for you when you were hurt as a child?
34. What messages about your worth and the worth of others,
was communicated by each parent both verbally and
nonverbally?
35. How old were you when you left home, and why did you
leave?
36. If you had power to change your family when you were
growing up and your childhood in any three ways, what
would you choose?
37. If your family experience had been different in the ways you
mentioned above, how do you imagine your life might be
different today?
38. Do you know if your mother had any problems with your
birth?
44
Your School Experience and Friends
39. What was the first day of school like?
40. How many moves and school changes occurred during
school years? How old were you, what grades did you move
and why?
41. Describe your relationships with teachers.
42. Describe your relationships with peers.
43. Do you believe you achieved your best in school? Why?
What grade or education level did you complete? What
happened?
44. Did you have a group of friends during the first six grades? If
not, why?
45. Did you have one or two very close friends as a teenager? If
not, why?
46. Did you tend to be a follower or a leader with friends as a
teenager?
47. How old were you when you first started go out with
someone (or dated)?
48. Do you have a satisfactory network of friends, family,
groups? Describe these briefly.
49. How would you describe the types of people you associate
with? (What is your role with friends and acquaintances?
Helper, victim, other?)
Your Work Experiences

50. How old were you when you first went to work?
51. What types of jobs have you had and how many? Why did
you leave each job?
52. What has been your role at work? Helper, invisible,
responsible, victim, other? And how have you gotten along
with bosses?
45
Your Social Life and Relationships
53. What was your first date like for you?
54. How old were you with your first sexual experience? And first
intercourse?
55. How many sexual partners have you had over time? And
what is your sexual preference or orientation? (heterosexual,
homosexual, bisexual)
56. Describe your partner’s personality and your relationship.
Aggressive, passive, abusive, caring, other? And describe
previous meaningful relationships, their personalities, and
why they ended.
Your Legalities, Use of Substances, Financial

Situation
57. Have you had any past arrests, warrants, charges, suits
against you? How old were you and what were they about?
58. What amount of debt do you have?
59. Any drug or alcohol use? Why do you use it? Has anyone
complained that you use too much or too often?
Your Mood
60. Have you ever had suicidal thoughts at any time in your life?
How old were you? What happened?
61. What is your mood right now on a scale of zero (0) to 10,
with zero meaning ‘life is not worth living’ and 10 meaning
you are very optimistic and life is wonderful? What number
do you give your mood?
62. Any thought of wanting to harm yourself or anyone else?
46
Your Final Thoughts and Understandings
63. What are your greatest strengths? And what skills or abilities
do you currently have the most confidence in?
64. Having looked at your life from early days until now, what do
you think may have contributed most to your present
difficulties?
65. Of all the questions above, what has been most difficult for
you to face?
66. If you were to continue on a path of change and growth what
would you hope to achieve or what would be your goals in
counselling?
67. What has it been like completing your Life Story
Questionnaire?
47
Reaching Agreement
Steps To Peace Through Creative Solution Development*
The process can involve a single individual, a couple, two or more

parties having issues, or a large group, and moves beyond control
to mutual agreement or majority decision. Explain that the process
depends upon acceptance of the following guidelines by all
participants:
1. Do not judge, criticize, or evaluate any ideas as you engage in
the solution development process.
2. Do not use attempts to exercise power or control of any kind:
such as anger, yelling, name-calling, put-downs, threats or
intimidation or manipulation.
Step One: Identifying Issues
1. The facilitator invites participants to say “what issues and

challenges need to be addressed.”
2. The facilitator writes these issues in a numbered list on a chalk
board or flip chart.
(As the issues are being stated, the facilitator uses reflective
listening as needed in order to clarify meaning. In the event a
strong emotion is expressed or a participant becomes too verbal,
the facilitator uses reflective statements, checks if the person feels
understood, then directs the participants back to the issue.)
3. The facilitator then asks members to say the number of one of
the listed issues that he thinks needs to be addressed first.
4. The facilitator makes a tick by the number of each listed issue
selected by participants, then circles the one with the most ticks;
this becomes the first issue for solution development.
48
Step Two: Creating Solutions
1. Writing the issue on the chalkboard or flipchart, the facilitator

makes a numbered list below it and says, “Now I would like us to
brainstorm as many solutions for this issue as you can think of, and
as you state them I will write them down on this list without
judgment, criticism or discussion.”
2. To increase the number of ideas and with writing material, large
groups can break into small groups or dyads and brainstorm using
the following statements presented by the facilitator:
a. Let’s write down what’s happening now, because that is
always a choice.
b. What’s the opposite of what’s happening now?
c. What is a fantasy of what you might like to see happen but
you don’t think is possible?
d. Think of an approach that seems silly or ridiculous.
e. Imagine what someone you respect (a relative or other wise
person) might say as a solution.
f. I can think of a possible solution that would work well and
that no one has mentioned. Can anyone quess what it is?
(the facilitator writes down ideas the participants’ guesses)
g. My idea is ...... (facilitator adds his or her solution to the
numbered list)
Step Three: Reaching A Creative Agreement
1. The facilitator says: “Now using your writing material, I would like
each of you to take a separate sheet of paper and privately write
down the number of up to three of the listed possible solutions or
approaches that you think would be most practical or workable to
address the challenge or issue.”
2. The facilitator says: “Now tell me the number of the listed
solutions you have chosen, and I will make a tick by each of the
solutions.”
49
3. The three solutions most selected by the participants become the
creative agreement or solution strategy for the issue addressed.
4. Depending on the issue, volunteers can be invited and a time
can be determined to implement the strategy or action plan.
5. Repeat Step Two and Step Three for the second, third, fourth,
etc. issue selected most often by the participants.
*If the conflict is related to differences in philosophy, religion,
personal taste, or if agreement cannot be reached, the following
approaches may provide a solution: agree to disagree, flip a coin,
take turns or agree to separate or alternating action plans,
implement trial time periods to try different plans, or return to the
above process.
Additional information is found in the practical manual How To Do
Professional Mental Health Counseling.
50
51
Your Spirituality Score
Spirituality provides values and beliefs for making healthy choices, a foundation of hope and meaning for
direction and optimism, and support and encouragement to face major life difficulties.
Strengthening your spiritual growth and awareness can set you on a path to find inner peace, physical
and mental healing, and personal fulfillment.
Your Spirituality Score is based on how many questions of the total for which you can provide a
confident answer, rather than saying, “I don’t know.” Responses can be written, verbal, or mental, but
written may be beneficial for most people.
1. What is your age, gender, and ethnic/race origin?
2. What were the spiritual/religious views of your father? Your

mother?
3. How has your spirituality changed from your childhood until now?
4. Is there anything more than the material universe? Do you

believe anything is true that you cannot personally and directly
perceive with your five senses? Explain.
5. Do you believe intelligence and creativity exist in the universe?

Explain.
6. Do you believe in the existence of a transcendent intelligence or

superior reasoning power? Explain why or why not.
7. Do you see evidence of creative intelligence in the design and

complexity of the universe or do you lean toward a material natural
explanation?
8. Do you believe all human beings have equal worth and value?
Explain why or why not? What are the implications?
9. Do you believe the human species has greater or superior value

or greater importance or more responsibility compared to other life
forms? Why or why not? What are the implications?
52
10. What is the meaning or purpose of human existence?
11. How do you know what is right and wrong?
12. What is the most important thing you can do with your life?
13. Is hope important? Explain.
14. What happens after you die? Does your individual identity or
consciousness continue to exist? What are the implications?
15. Is the idea of the meaning of human life essential to the idea of
hope? Explain.
16. Is the idea of right and wrong essential to the idea of meaning?
Explain.
17. What have been some of the most important influences on you
for what you value and believe?
18. What spiritual practices do you have? Prayer, centering prayer,

meditation, scripture reading, worship, singing, other.
19. Does moral accountability only happen within the legal systems
of nations? Is there ultimate accountability in a venue after death?
What are the implications?
20. If people are reborn into new lives, what if anything determines
the nature or quality of their existence? What are the implications?
21. Comment on this statement: “Many people think only tangible

things are real, yet the same people admit intangible things are
most important: love, compassion, empathy, justice, morality,
consciousness, wisdom, human value, meaning of life, and
eternity... for without these, life is void and vain, and aspirations
mere illusions.”
22. Have you ever experienced what you believe to be a sign or

communication from God or other spiritual being?
53
23. What is your view of this statement? “Humans are spiritual
beings existing in physical bodies.”
24. Do you believe you have convincing evidence of spiritual

reality?
25. What is your idea of an ideal society? World? Life?
26. When does an individual human life begin?
27. What is the essence of the self?
28. Do you believe angels and demons exist?
29. Do you believe everyone after death goes to heaven or to hell?
30. Do you believe the superior reasoning power has ever

communicated with humanity?
31. How open are you to exploring different aspects of spirituality?
32. If you saw someone raise the dead, what would you think or
do?
33. If you saw a person die and then you saw him alive again a few
days later, what would you think or do?
34. Comment on the statement: “Humans are a parasite infestation

of the earth.”
35. How can you prove to anyone else that you are aware of
yourself, your own consciousness?
36. Describe a healthy relationship.
37. How important is your spirituality to your life? And do you want
your spirituality to increase or decrease?
38. If we are made in the image of God, what qualities do we share

with God?
54
39. Read Isaiah, chapter 53, written in 700 BC. Who is being
described? See other amazing examples of future-telling here or
http://goo.gl/uM1e7p
40. Do you now belong to or have you thought of joining a spiritual

community to strengthen your values and beliefs for making healthy
choices, to acquire a foundation of hope and meaning for direction
and optimism, and to receive support and encouragement to face
major life difficulties?
41. How has this questionnaire affected your awareness of your

belief in non-material things?
Final instructions: Count the number of questions for which you

struggled to give a sincere answer, and then subtract the number
from the number 41. The answer is your Spirituality Score.
How to use this assessment: Whatever your score may be, give
further consideration to questions you are unsure about or for which
you have difficulty giving a response.
Calculating Your Spirituality Score

1. Make a mark indicating any question for which you feel
unable to give a satisfactory answer or that you find especially
challenging.
2. Add the number of marks in #1 and subtract this number
from 41.
3. The answer to #2 is your Spirituality Score.
NOTE: This score and your answers to questions are to
be used only by you and anyone to whom you grant
permission.
Total number of questions 41
Number of difficult questions
Your Spirituality Score
55
56
Counseling for Depression
By Daniel Keeran, MSW
www.empathyforu.com
Depression can be caused by chemical changes in the body,

physical illness, and different types of loss. Very often, depression
and anxiety are the result of self-defeating life patterns forming
unhealthy neural pathways that can be healed by incorporating
caring self-talk and by supporting self-worth and assertiveness. We
tend to do to ourselves and to others that which was done to us in
childhood. Now as adults we must give to ourselves all the healthy
things we needed from healthy parents. Here are some things to do
to change the inner-dialogue foundations of depression and
anxiety:
Step 1. Write down the negative things you think about

yourself, others, and your circumstances.
This activity will bring to your conscious awareness the negative

thinking and self-talk that is common to many kinds of depression
and anxiety. The negative and self-critical self-talk demoralizes the
ego and manifests as feeling down, blue, sad, anxious, fearful and
self-doubting. This low mood and anxiety then affect sleeping,
eating, and low energy. Common examples of negative self-talk
are: I am incapable, I can't do it, I am unlovable, I am a failure, I
failed again, I can't do it, No one wants to talk to me, No one cares
about me, etc.
Step 2. Write down statements that are self-caring, nurturing,

reassuring, supportive, and validating.
This exercise helps to identify the opposites of the negative self-

talk: I can do it, I have strengths and abilities, I am caring and kind,
I can get what I need and want, I deserve to be happy, I can
succeed, I am just as important and valuable as anyone else, My
pain is normal for what I have been through, etc.
57
Step 3. Write down negative things parents said or
communicated to you when you were growing up.
Here you can write down what you thought parents felt about you
by what they said or did such as: I wish you were never born, I do
not like you, I do not care about you, I care about alcohol more than
I care about you, I do not want to be around you, You are in the
way, You are a bother, You should be seen but not heard, You
can’t do that, You could have done better, You will never amount to
anything, Don’t cry, etc.
Step 4. Write down things you needed or wanted parents to

say to you as a child.
Here you can write the things you wanted or needed parents to say
or do such as: I love you no matter what happens, I am so glad you
are in my life, You can succeed, It's OK to cry when you're hurt,
Everything will be OK, I felt the same as you sometimes, Imagine
the possibilities. You are good at that, You are so helpful, You are
so kind and caring, etc.
Step 5. Write down what you would do or say if you saw

another child being treated the way you were treated in #3.
If you heard someone say mean things to a child or slap a child,

what would you say? Maybe you would say things like: You have
no right to say that, Be nice to the child, The child needs your love,
You need to support your child and be reassuring and caring and
loving and affectionate, You need to be encouraging, etc.
Step 6. If you had all the positive things as a child that you
needed from healthy parents, how do you imagine your life
might be different today?
If your parents had said encouraging, caring, and supportive things

to you as a child, how do you imagine your life might be different
today? This step helps you formulate and create a vision for how
your life can be different in a healthy way. Depression that comes
from negative self-talk is a form of self-abandonment and self-
abuse. The ultimate self-abuse and self-abandonment is self-harm
58
and suicidal thinking. Conversely, hope, optimism, self-worth, and
self-confidence form the basis of a stable mood and sense of
security, safety, confidence, well-being, inner peace, personal
power, and happiness.
Step 7. Now you must be for yourself all the things that you
needed your parents to be for you: encouraging, nurturing,
loving, caring, supportive, and reassuring.
This means you need to say to yourself and be for yourself all the
positive things you needed from healthy parents. If no one else can
give you the caring that you need, who does that leave? Ultimately,
you are the one who must care for you. So this means you must
choose healthy people to be in your life, and you must be
supportive of yourself and of that other healthy caring person you
have chosen to be in your life. In this way you will be caring of
yourself. Another important piece is to stand up for yourself and
support yourself when you are treated badly by others.
Step 8. You must be assertive.
Stand up for yourself by saying things like: I don't like your tone, I
deserve more respect than that, I deserve a raise in salary, I feel
annoyed when...., etc. Take care of that little boy or girl who was
abused and mistreated. That little boy or girl is still inside you and
needs your protection. Be for yourself now what you needed then
as a child. Will you stand up for him or her? When will you start?
59
The Angel View
from Daniel Keeran, MSW
www.empathyforu.com
When depressed some years ago because of a painful loss, I was

sinking and stuck in despair. Then I thought that the angels are
watching, looking down from above, and able to see my life from
beginning to end. They can see the valleys and mountains of my
life, and they are wondering how I will face the present challenge.
Will I be stopped and give up, defeated? Or will I move forward and
on to the next challenge?
On realizing this and seeing my life from beginning to end, I

understood that life is an adventure with obstacles and
opportunities, mountains and valleys. I concluded that my life will
change if I can persevere. I saw that the sense of loss and
depression were only temporary and that other challenges await.
When I saw the angel view, my depression lifted, and I felt free to
go forward in my life knowing that I am able to move through the
momentary difficulties and challenges of life.
60
Practicing thePresence of God
Spiritual Mindfulness
by Daniel Keeran, MSW, College of Mental Health Counselling
www.empathyforu.com
1 John 3:6
...and people who stay one in their hearts with him won’t keep on sinning.
If they do keep on sinning, they don’t know Christ, and they have never seen him
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Spiritual Mindfulness definition: Focusing one’s conscious awareness upon

the attributes and thoughts of God as fully present in the current moment.
“Where is God? I don’t see any God. Show me God, and I will
believe.”
How many times have you heard this? And maybe you are hearing
it more as time goes by. We all have friends or family members
who doubt that God exists, and sometimes you may have doubts
about God’s presence or sometimes you may feel very distant from
God or may simply not be aware of his presence.
Peter says our confidence is not about seeing Him but about loving
and believing in Him.
1 Peter 1:7-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him;
and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him
and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are
receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
The difference between a secular mindset and a sacred mindset is

that in the secular life, one engages in daily life disconnected and
without awareness of God. In the sacred life, one engages in daily
life with a strong awareness of God. In the sacred life, the child of
God sees everything and every moment in the context of the
61
spiritual and says, “The God of the universe who holds everything
together is fully and personally present right here, right now.”
When you read sacred scripture, you are struck in every verse by
the writers’ constant awareness of God. This is in stark contrast
with the secular life in which one merely seeks the good life in
harmony with one’s neighbour but without any awareness of God.
When a child is very young she is aware of God, then from pre-
school to university, the secular worldview is taught, and the
secular media and the secular workplace prohibit God, or place
faith in a negative light. So the faith community is an oasis where
we fill up on God. Then we leave the community, the secular chains
go back on, and God is left behind. Is that what happens?
To live spiritually and to break off the secular chains, believe God
is always present, always caring, always guiding and directing
and nurturing, always eager to hear from you, always
forgiving, always loving, always reaching out to you, always
watching and waiting for you to turn to him, and when you do
turn to God, he sings and rejoices over you. Do you believe
it?
If you believe it, you can know it, then you can see God at work
everywhere and hear God’s constant reassurance and
encouragement.
Psalm 139:7-10 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee
from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I
make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of
the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand
will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
God is present and near to you right here, right now. What
emotions do you feel? If you believe it you can see and feel God
with your heart right now.
62
God loves you and He is so proud of you.
Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to
save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his
love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Listen to God singing and rejoicing over you. What do you feel?
Maybe you feel so loved, so accepted, so cared for by the Creator
of the universe that you think for a moment it could last forever,
and that is exactly what God wants for you.
Psalm 147:11 “The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put
their hope in his unfailing love.”
Believe the Lord is proud of you. What do you feel? Yes, God is
proud of you. Maybe you feel peaceful and happy, a sense of deep
contentment. This picture of delight the Father feels about you is
described in the story of the prodigal son.
Luke 15:20-23 “So he got up and went to his father. But while he
was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with
compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around
him and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called
your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best
robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his
feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and
celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he
was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.”
If you believe God delights in you, loves you, and rejoices in song
over you, then you can see and hear God with the eyes and
ears of your heart. Can you begin to see and hear God and sense
his constant presence and love for you?
Suppose God told someone to write a note and give it to you

and the note said, “You can’t see me, but I am very close to
63
you right now and I want you to know that I love and care
about you and that I am working in your life to make good
things happen.” How would you feel if you received that note?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful? Wouldn’t you feel special and
confident and have such peace that would never fade away?
God has written such a note. It’s called the Bible...the holy
scriptures. It’s a bit longer than a note.
Psalm 119:64 “The earth is filled with your love, O LORD; teach
me your decrees.” If you believe, you can know, and then you can
see the evidence of God’s love everywhere. Look around the room.
See those in whom the Spirit lives. See all the gifts of God around
you.
2 Corinthians 5:16 “So from now on we regard no one from a

worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this
way, we do so no longer.”
God works directly in your life.

to make everything work for your good and for his purposes.
Psalm 138:8 “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love,
O LORD, endures forever....” God is making things happen in your
life to serve his purposes. You do believe God will fulfill his purpose
for you. You do feel his constant enduring love for you.
Psalm 145:20 “The LORD watches over all who love him...” You
do believe God watches over you. God is looking at you right
now, right here. Do you know it? What emotion comes up inside
you right now as you sense God’s attention focused on you? Does
it make you want to smile?
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called according to
his purpose.” You have the confidence that God is working in your
life and will make everything work out even through suffering and
64
tragedy. Look for ways God is working in your life and give thanks
in everything, knowing God is working in all things for your good.
Proverbs 16:9 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD
determines his steps.”
Ephesians 5:20 “always giving thanks to God the Father for

everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Remember the words of Job: “The Lord gives and the Lord takes
away. Blessed is the name of the Lord.” And “Even if the Lord slays
me, yet will I serve him.” You can have the faith of Job. You can
feel those chains of doubt and unbelief falling away.
God will always love you and nothing will ever change that. You
are surrounded by his love and that will never change.
God’s own love has been poured into our hearts.

Romans 5:5 “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the
Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
If you believe God’s love is in you, then you can love everyone
as God loves. Remember that God loves the world so much that
he gave Jesus to suffer and die and take away the sins of the
world. What a wonderful gift to have inside you! God’s own love.
Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of

Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we
face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else
in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that
is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
65
Faith is how we enter into eternal reality;
how we come to God.
Today I want you to be aware of God’s presence and nearness.
God is Spirit, so you cannot see Him with your physical eyes, but
you can see God with the eyes of your heart, the eyes of faith. You
can believe and know that God is near you and in you. Then
knowing this, you can look at God and see God looking back at
you. You can speak to God and hear God speaking to you. God is
always speaking and saying more than you can hear. Your
mind and heart cannot possibly contain or hear all that God is
saying. Can your mind contain all that is written? His word is living
and active. Your heart must be selective because if you heard all
that God is saying to you, you would be overwhelmed. The more
of God’s word you know, the more you will be able to hear
what God is saying to you personally.
2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but
on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is
unseen is eternal.”
Things that are seen are temporary but things unseen are
eternal. So through every word of God, that Jesus says we live by,
we know about God and about his relationship with us. So when we
read or hear God’s word, we believe it, and by this we know God,
see God, and hear God, not with physical eyes and ears but by
the eyes and ears of our hearts, the eyes and ears of faith.
Jesus made this direct reference when he said, “Having eyes they
see not and ears they hear not”....he’s talking about having the
eyes and ears of faith.
Being aware of God requires engaging in certain kinds of

activity that encourage faith. Our physical eyes see material
things, and so God is often not in our minds. The saying “out of
sight out of mind” is true. Because we do not see God with our
66
physical eyes, God is not in our mind. Yet God is always present,
and so we must encourage one another to be aware of God’s
presence by talking about spiritual things and listening to
spiritual teaching, singing praises and spiritual songs, and
reading God’s word.
We are made alive.

Since we walk around and breathe in these bodies, we naturally
think we are alive. The following words must be taken to mean we
are made alive (with Christ) in a spiritual way for the forgiven of
sins, and this is associated with the act of baptism (overwhelmed
with physical water) when it is done as a conscious act of faith:
Colossians 2:12-13 “….having been buried with him in baptism,

in which you were also raised with him through your faith in
the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were
dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God
made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins….”
Identical terms are used in Ephesians 2:4-6, but without a direct

mention of baptism:
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God
raised us up with Christ….”
Why doesn’t God just show himself, or work a miracle, or

shout with a booming voice from the sky?
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 “Jews demand miraculous signs and
Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a
stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those
whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of
God and the wisdom of God.”
67
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God,
because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and
that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
“The just shall live by faith” Romans 1:17, and by this faith we
know God, we know his presence, we know his love. If God’s word
says it, then we know it is real even if we do not see with our
physical eyes.
Faith says: James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near
to you.” Believe and know that God is near you right now. What
emotions are you feeling? Maybe a little anxious but also loved and
assured.
Faith says: Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near to God with a

sincere heart in full assurance of faith...”
Faith says: 1 John 4:12 “No one has ever seen God; but if we love
one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
Faith says: Acts 17:27-28 “...reach out for him and find him, though
he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move
and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are
his offspring.' “ Your life depends upon God. God gave us the spirit
of life in each of us, and he is near you right now. Know and feel
the presence of God right now.
Faith says: John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will
obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to
him and make our home with him.” You follow his teaching. You
are living in the center of his will and trusting his grace. Then you
know God is with you right now, and when you sleep, when you go
about your daily activities, in every moment God is present and
living with you and in you because “your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God”
1 Corinthians 6:19.
68
Faith says: 2 Cor.1:3-7 “Praise be to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all
comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can
comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have
received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into
our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”
Believe God cares about you so much that he is here right now
to comfort you, to reassure you, to let you know that he is
working everything out for your good. He is the God of all
comfort for every kind of trouble.
Faith says: Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your
rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Do you know Christ?

Paul says in Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power
of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being
conformed to Him in His death, so that I may somehow attain to the
resurrection from the dead.
In Hebrews 1:1-3 we find these wonderful words: After God spoke

long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors
through the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us in a
son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom
he created the world. The Son is the radiance of his glory and the
representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his
powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for
sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
69
The Spirit of God can live within.
In order to have the Spirit of God living within, one must live
according to or bear the fruits of the Spirit.
Romans 8:5-11 Those who live according to the flesh have their
minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in
accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the
Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the
mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed
by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor
can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please
God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the
realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to
Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject
to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of
righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from
the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will
also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in
you.
Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in
step with the Spirit.
Have you seen Jesus our Lord?

Matthew 25:39-41 ‘When did we see you sick or in prison and go to
visit you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for
one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
70
I like this fictional version of the one element of the good
Samaritan, also called the 4th wise man. The story is that there was
a 4th wise man but he became ill and could not go with the other
three to see the baby Jesus and to lay their gifts at his feet. So they
left without him. Then when he was feeling better the wise man
started out to take his precious jewel as a gift for the new Saviour
King of Israel. But on his way, he met a poor dying beggar, so he
sold the jewel to buy the beggar some food shelter and clothing,
then came a leper, then a man robbed and left for dead, and after
many years he had spent all he had on caring for those in need.
Many years later, he was in Jerusalem and heard that Jesus was
condemned to be crucified. The wise man hurried to see Jesus
carrying his cross. Jesus looked at the wise man and smiled.
When you see the homeless or anyone in trouble, draw near to

them, attend to them, and then you will draw near to Jesus. Don’t
walk by on the other side.
Who is this God?

John 1:3 “Through him all things were made; without him nothing
was made that has been made.” The universe from the smallest
atom or single-cell organism to the vastness of space and billions of
galaxies...He made it all.
Colossians 1:17 “He is before all things, and in him all things hold
together.”
When you think about God being present, think about who God
is. Then think about his promise to be near you and words of
faith that this God is really present in you and with you.
This almighty all-powerful creator God who holds everything

together is sitting right next to you right now. Look at him with
the eyes of your heart.
71
Then listen with the ears of faith. God is always speaking to you
more than you can possibly hear.
What is God saying?

I love you more than you can imagine. I care about you. I know you
better than you know yourself, and I will always give you what you
need. I love you so much that I suffered and died and took all your
sins and punishment upon myself. I forgive you. I forgave you when
you were immersed into Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins as
my servant Peter spoke in Acts 2:38.
Psalm 139:1-4 “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts
from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are
familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you
know it completely, O LORD.” God knows you personally and
intimately. He knows you far better than you know yourself.
Matthew 10:30 “And even the very hairs of your head are all
numbered.” Does anyone here know how many hairs are on your
head? That’s just a tiny example of how thoroughly God knows
you.
Matthew 6:8 “...for your Father knows what you need before you
ask him.” You don’t have to worry about what you need. God
already knows what you need and what is best for you.
God says, I will make good things happen from suffering. I will
comfort and guide you when you trust me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not
on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and
he will direct your paths.”
God says, ask me for anything and I will do it when you want
to serve my purpose. When we ask God for something, we need
72
to humbly say, “Lord I ask this only if it serves your purpose and
gives you glory, because otherwise I don’t want it.”
God says, when you ask for my forgiveness, you know that I will
forgive you and will not be angry with you.
God is eager to hear from you.

God is eagerly waiting for your conversation. Talk to him now and
often.
“I love you Lord, and I give my life to serve and worship you. Thank
you for always being here for me. Thank you for my life, and for my
health. I depend on you for everything. Help me to always
remember to talk to you and to serve you. Give me wisdom to do
great things for you my Lord. Open doors for me. Make things
happen and give me opportunities to share your love and
forgiveness with the lost and hurting around me.”
Psalm 42:8 “By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is
with me— a prayer to the God of my life.” Remember God’s love
directed toward you today.
1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and
his ears are attentive to their prayer...” Remember God is present,
watching and waiting for you to speak to him.
James 4:2 “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” He
is ready to answer your prayer.
1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching

God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that
we have what we asked of him.”
God says we can go to him with confidence that he will answer

when we ask anything to serve his purpose.
73
James 1:5-7” If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be
given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,
because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed
by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything
from the Lord.”
Are you confused about what to do? Ask the Lord for wisdom, and
know that you will receive it.
Psalm 16:7 “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at
night my heart instructs me.” When you lie awake at night, listen for
counsel from the Lord.
Spiritual Practice
Here is an example of what you can say to come near to God in
faith.
First, remind yourself:
“God made the universe and holds everything together. Jesus

promised to make his home with me. God is always near and
present because I live and move in God who is all around me. This
God is here now, near me and seeing me, and eager to hear from
me. Now in faith believing and knowing God is as close as my
breath, I can hear his voice loving and forgiving me. I know that I
can tell him what I feel and what I want to do, and he will do it if it
will serve his purpose and glorify him because that’s all I ever want
to do.”
Then think something like:
“Thank you, God. I know you are here right now. God, use me up.
Show me things that will encourage others and serve your purpose.
Thank you for always being with me to guide me and make good
things happen. I will always trust and never doubt you, Lord. But if I
74
do doubt, I know you will still be there patiently and eagerly waiting
for me. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.”
75
SIXTEEN GUIDELINES FOR ANGER!
from the College of Mental Health Counselling
by Daniel Keeran, MSW
https://www.empathyforu.com/
People abused by angry discipline as children, may tend to abuse

or overly punish other people or themselves for perceived wrongs
in their adult life. In some individuals, aggressive personality traits
may be genetically inherited.
Anger is a normal human emotion, and these guidelines can help
express anger in a healthy way:
1. no yelling
2. no name-calling
3. no humiliating or demeaning sarcasm
4. no threatening behaviour
5. no pointing your finger or standing over a person
6. no physical anger
7. no obscene language; no profanity
8. no long punishing lectures or emails
9. no dominating conversations
10. use only assertive forms of expression: "I feel angry when
you....(observed description of behaviour)"
11. no long punishing silences
12. no passively-aggressive anger, e.g. burning dinner
13. no humiliating sarcasm
14. no serial accusations or criticisms
15. no getting back or getting even or taking revenge
16. no angry discipline
76
Thirty-Five Positive Suggestions
for Ego Strength
by Daniel Keeran, MSW, President,
College of Mental Health Counselling, Victoria, Canada
YOU ARE OPEN TO INFORMATION IN YOUR SEARCH FOR MEANING
Different personalities may require different approaches. The self-absorbed

person may need “constructive feedback” while the one with low self-esteem
may benefit from positive suggestions. People tend to become more of a positive
quality and the sense of self-worth is strengthened when you commend their
positive quality. The encourager looks for positive qualities already existing in
the person, that can be nurtured and strengthened. The person being
encouraged must perceive your sincerity, and giving an example as proof of a
quality, increases the therapeutic effect. The person you commend feels a
desire to fulfill the expectation of the positive quality you acknowledge in
them.
The intentional use of positive statements for a predictable benefit, can
accurately be termed “Positive Suggestion Therapy,” and the reader can add
more examples to values listed here:
1. “You are a kind and considerate person, yet balanced, often

thinking of others while supporting yourself in the process.”
2. “You are very loyal and responsible. If you commit to a task,
you can be trusted to fulfill it.”
3. “You are honest and transparent. For you, personal integrity is
a greater treasure than immense material wealth.”
4. “You think of the needs of others, and you look for ways to
help people thrive.”
5. “You speak up for yourself and for people who cannot speak
for themselves.”
6. “You possess a high level of self-awareness, and you can be very
positive, supportive, and encouraging of other people as well.”
77
7. “Your knowledge and intelligence are assets that you use for
the good of others and yourself.”
8. “Your creative ability is obvious from your thinking patterns
requiring many aspects to be organized.”
9. “Your compassion is apparent from the way you care for
others.”
10. “Your insight and self-awareness help you understand your
patterns in life and how they work for you and against you,
and how you can heal and find solutions, and how to create
your own positive suggestions.”
11. “You are making important contributions to the improvement
of your own life and of the well-being of others.”
12. “What are some examples of strengths or positive things about
you that people sometimes, or perhaps often, overlook?”
13. “Your interest in spiritual things gives depth, inner peace,
meaning, hope, and health to your life and the people whose
lives you touch.”
14. “What qualities do you see in yourself and others that you
think are important or helpful?”
15. “You are a kind and generous person.”
16. “You are sensitive to others needs and feelings.”
17. “You are very respectful of others, and people know you value
them.”
18. “You are gentle even with those who oppose you.”
19. “You possess empathic ability and connect well with others
emotions.”
20. “You listen well to others.”
21. “You are very patient.”
22. “You are slow to become angry or irritated and you never
intentionally hurt others.”
23. “If you have a need or emotion, you are able to let people
know in a respectful way.”
24. “You are interested in getting to the truth and telling others
about it.”
25. “Your honesty is what helps people trust you.”
26. “You can keep a secret when asked to do so.”
78
27. “You won’t let yourself be walked on or taken advantage of.”
28. “You like to have order but not by demanding, controlling or
intimidating others.”
29. “You encourage others by acknowledging their positive
qualities.”
30. “You are emotionally available when people near you need
your support.”
31. “You place people above things as a basic value or belief.”
32. “You have effective practical approaches to problems.”
33. “You are not defensive in the face of criticism but rather accept
as much responsibility as you can for what others accuse you.”
34. “You express gratitude and appreciation for what others do for
you.”
35. “You give hope by creating choices and keeping an optimistic
outlook when challenges arise.”
79
80
81
Copyright © 2016 by Daniel Keeran
MEANING THERAPY by Daniel Keeran
No rights reserved solely by the author. The author guarantees

all contents are borrowed and do not infringe upon the legal
rights of any other person or work. Any part of this book may
be reproduced in any form without the permission of the
author.
ISBN-13: 978-1537117669
ISBN-10: 1537117661
Printed in the United States of America.
Contact
collegemhc@gmail.com
1
2
Dedicated To
Him
3
4
5
Table of Contents
Introduction 9
Jesus of Nazareth: Who Do You Say I Am? 11
WANTED: Jesus Christ (poster) 13
Evidences of Jesus the Messiah 15
What Will You Do? 23
The Way of the Cross 25
Love 29
The Love of God: A Meditation 31
Nonviolence in Early Christian Thought 35
Decisions for the Poor 43
Jesus and the Early Church on Wealth 53
Are the Teachings of Jesus Relevant Today? 59
Meanings of the Cross 67
Practicing the Presence of God 71
6
Introduction
If the contents of this book are true, there can be no doubt
about the meaning of life.
Understanding the meaning of life is the human quest and
forms a foundation for psychological well-being.
The purpose of religious and philosophical systems is to
provide or explore a comprehensive meaning of life including
values and beliefs often taken for granted by socialized
individuals.
A clearer understanding of these values and beliefs and
assisting individuals to engage in this process of clarification,
can help to form a foundation for mental health and can be
accurately described as Meaning Therapy.
The presentation given here is intended to introduce the values
and beliefs given by Jesus of Nazareth, and his earliest
followers, who is arguably the most influential Meaning
Therapist in human history.
Simply reading this content in its entirety (and related links), will
define your positive identity and positive feelings about yourself
and others if you choose.
The results include hope for the future, values for healthy living,
and support to face challenges and losses common to
humanity.
7
Jesus of Nazareth
“Who do you say I am?”
Legend, Liar, Lunatic, or Lord?
Corroborating witnesses report that Jesus of Nazareth was born of a virgin,
changed water to wine, made the blind see, healed the lame, raised the dead,
walked on water, calmed the storm, fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two
fishes, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. According to witnesses
and contemporary biographers, this Jesus also made the following claims:
I have always existed. John 8:58; 17:5

I am the First and the Last. Revelation 1:17
I hold the keys to death. Revelation 1:18
I have never sinned. John 8:46
I have all authority on heaven and earth. Matthew 28:18
I and the Father are one. John 10:30
I must be placed above your family. Matthew 10:37
I have authority to forgive sins. Mark 2: 5-12
I am the light of the world. John 8:12
I am prophesied about in the Scriptures. Luke 24:25-27
I am from heaven. John 8:23
I will be resurrected. Mark 8:31
I am the bread of life. John 6:35
I will send the Spirit of God Almighty. John 16:7
I am coming again to the earth. Revelation 22:20
I am a king but not of this world. John 18:37
I came to give life. John 5:24; John 10:10
I am the one through whom you must pray. John 16:23-24
I raise the dead and heal diseases. John 11:38-44; Luke 13:32
I will judge the world on Judgment Day. John 5:22-30
The words I have spoken will condemn at the last day. John 12:47-48
I am the Son of God. Matthew 16:16-17
I will raise the dead at the end of time. John 5:28-29
I am the only way to God. John 14:6
My words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35
If you reject me, you reject God himself. Luke 10:16
-adapted by permission from Douglas A. Jacoby,

Compelling Evidence for God and the Bible*
How To Become A Christian
www.box.com/lovegod
8
9
10
11
Evidences of Jesus the
Messiah
"As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that
would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to
know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was
indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to
follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves,
but you, in these things which now have been announced to you
through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent
from heaven - things into which angels long to look." - 1 Peter 1:10-
12
The following details from eyewitnesses and their

assistants, selected below out of hundreds contained in
ancient Hebrew writings that pre-date Jesus, confirm his
identity as the Messiah, the promised one who would save
Israel as well as the Gentiles who turn to God.
1. He would be born in the town of Bethlehem.
- Micah 5:2 (700 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 2:1-6.
Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are
small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for
me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are
from of old, from ancient times.
Matthew 2:1-5 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in
Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east
came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has
been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose
and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard
this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he
12
had called together all the people’s chief priests and
teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was
to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this
is what the prophet has written…”
2. He would be born of a virgin.
- Isaiah 7:14 (700 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-25.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call
him Immanuel.
Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah
came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married
to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found
to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
3. He would perform miracles.
– Isaiah 35:5-6 (700 BC) fulfilled in all the gospel accounts.
Isaiah 35:5-6 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and
the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap
like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
4. He would calm the storm.
- Psalm 107:29 (1000 BC) fulfilled in Mark 4:39.
Psalm 107:29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves
of the sea were hushed.
Mark 4:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the
waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it
was completely calm.
13
5. He would speak in parables.
– Psalm 78:2 (1000 BC) fulfilled in Mark 4:34.
Psalm 78:2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter
hidden things, things from of old.
Mark 4:34 He did not say anything to them without using a
parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he
explained everything.
6. He would enter Jerusalem as a lowly king on a donkey.
– Zechariah 9:9 (500 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 21:6-9.
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout,
Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on
a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Matthew 21:6-8 The disciples went and did as Jesus had
instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt
and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very
large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others
cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
7. The price of his betrayal would be thirty pieces of
silver. – Zechariah 11:12-13 (500 BC) fulfilled in Matthew
26:14-15 and Matthew 27:3-10.
Zechariah 11:12-13 I told them, “If you think it best, give
me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty
pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the
potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So
I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the
potter at the house of the Lord.
14
Matthew 26:14-15 Then one of the Twelve—the one called
Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What
are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So
they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
Matthew 27:3-10 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw
that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse
and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests
and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have
betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your
responsibility.”
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then
he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked
up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into
the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to
use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place
for foreigners.
8. His death would be as a sacrificial lamb.
– Isaiah 53:5-8,10-11 (700 BC) fulfilled in John 1:29.
Isaiah 53:5-8 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he
was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that
brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are
healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has
turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the
iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he
did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the
slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he
did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he
was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For
15
he was cut off from the land of the living; for the
transgression of my people he was punished.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him
and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin
of the world!
9. Lots would be cast for his garment.
– Psalm 22:18 (1000 BC) fulfilled in John 19:23-24.
Psalm 22:18 They divide my clothes among them and cast
lots for my garment.
John 19:23-24 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took
his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of
them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was
seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s
not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot
who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be
fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers
did.
10. Death by crucifixion: hands and feet pierced.
– Psalm 22:16 (1000 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 27:38.
Psalm 22:16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles
me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
John 20:25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen
the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks
in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and
put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
16
11. The words spoken by those mocking him at his death.
– Psalm 22:7,8 (1000 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 27:42-43.
Psalm 22:7,8 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults,
shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let
the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights
in him.”
Matthew 27:42-43 “He saved others,” they said, “but he
can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come
down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He
trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for
he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
12. He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb.
– Isaiah 53:9 (700 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 27:57-60.
Isaiah 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and
with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Matthew 27:57-60 As evening approached, there came a
rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself
become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for
Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of
the rock.
13. He would return to life.
– Psalm 16:10 (1000 BC); Isaiah 53:10-11 (700 BC) fulfilled
in Matthew 28:5-6.
Psalm 16:10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
17
Isaiah 53:10-11 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and
cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an
offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his
days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After
he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be
satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify
many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Matthew 28:5-6 The angel said to the women, “Do not be
afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was
crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come
and see the place where he lay.”
14. He would be Light to the Gentiles.
– Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 49:6 (700 BC) fulfilled in Luke 2:29-32.
Isaiah 42:1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen
one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he
will bring justice to the nations.”
Isaiah 49:6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my
servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back
those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for
the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of
the earth.”
Luke 2:29-32 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you
may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have
seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight
of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and
the glory of your people Israel.”
15. He would bring a new testament or covenant.
– Jeremiah 31:31 (600 BC) fulfilled in Luke 22:20.
18
Jeremiah 31:31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant with the people of
Israel and with the people of Judah.”
Luke 22:20 In the same way, after the supper he took the
cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
which is poured out for you.”
For more about the Christian community, see
www.sichurchofchrist.com
MAYBE YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A CHRISTIAN
19
What Will You Do?
Suppose you saw a homeless man reach out his hand and
raise a dead person to life and speak to a violent storm
and command it to be calm, and you saw it happen.
What would you think?
You heard the same man teach people to love their

enemies and to care for the poor. You saw him feed 5,000
hungry people starting with just five loaves and two fishes
with 12 baskets of food left over after the meal. After that,
you saw the man beaten and killed by his enemies, and
then you saw him alive again a few days later.
What would you think?
His first followers said he is the creator of the universe,

that his death was an act of divine love to take away the
sins of all who come to him, and that he promised never-
ending life to all who follow. The last time they saw him, he
was taken up into the sky, and they reported that angels
appeared who said he would return the same way he left.
What do you think?

What will you do?
Contact collegemhc@gmail.com
20
21
The Way of the Cross
On Pain and Suffering
It is an honour to suffer because we know it is a small bit of

what Christ suffered, and it is a way of sharing His suffering.
Only Christianity provides this approach to suffering because
only Jesus Christ suffered and died for humanity.
I was able to endure excruciating pain by visualizing the

suffering of Jesus on the cross and realizing my suffering was
much less than His suffering. My suffering was painful, and it
was like His suffering in some way, yet my suffering was so
much less than His suffering. Strange as it sounds, I welcomed
the painful spasms as an opportunity to go to the cross and in a
way to join the suffering of Christ. I did not try to make the
spasms happen, but when they came, I could endure them as
an honour to share even a small part of what His suffering
must have been like.
Addiction can be overcome by accepting the suffering required

to resist temptation as Jesus faced temptation in the desert.
One can face death in the same way, looking to Him who
suffered and died for us.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him
deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” -
Luke 9:23
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers
twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head.
They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again
22
and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped
him in the face. - John 19:1-3
There they nailed him to the cross. - John 19:18
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My
mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the
roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. - Psalm
22:14-15
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human

being and his form marred beyond human likeness.
- Isaiah 52:14
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.
He was oppressed and afflicted….
- Isaiah 53:6-7
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and
prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from
me. Yet not as I will….” - Matthew 26:39
And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat

became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
- Luke 22:44
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able

to help those who are being tempted. - Hebrews 2:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing

with the glory that will be revealed in us.
- Romans 8:28
23
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and
the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His
death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the
dead. - Philippians 3:10
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in
all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who
are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves
are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's
sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort
too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and
if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you
experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that
we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as
you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that

the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we
who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus'
sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our
mortal flesh. - 2 Corinthians 4:10-11
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you

face trials of many kinds… - James 1:2
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when
he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which
God has promised to those who love him.
- James 1:12
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
24
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
our Lord. - Romans 8:39
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,
who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself
restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
- 1 Peter 5:10
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is

destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan,
longing to put on our heavenly dwelling…
- 2 Corinthians 5:1-2
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in

my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for
the sake of his body, which is the church.
- Colossians 1:24
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that

suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope…
- Romans 5:3-4
25
Love
The kind of love in the following passages is undeserved or
unconditional favour. This is the love God had for the world
in giving Jesus to be a sacrifice for sin. This love prefers to
die rather than to kill because it is sacrificial in imitation of
the love of Jesus in taking on the sins of the world in his
suffering and death. It is the love we must have for everyone,
and it is the foundation of healthy relationships with self and
others. Protecting the innocent against the unjust assailant,
and if all nonviolent means fail, may require the death of the
follower of Jesus who died for his enemies.
Matthew 5:44, 46 – love your enemies….there is no value in

loving those who love you.
Matthew 19:19; 22:39 – love your neighbor as yourself.
Luke 6:27-32 – love, bless, do good, pray for enemies.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life.
John 13:34 – love one another.
John 14:23 - Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my
teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them
and make our home with them.”
John 15:12, 17 – love one another.
John 15:13 – greater love has no man than to lay down his life
for his friend.
Romans 5:5 - hope does not put us to shame, because God's
love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit.
Romans 5:8 - God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
26
Romans 12:9 – let love be genuine.
Romans 13:8 – owe no one anything but to love.
Romans 13:10 - love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore
love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – love is patient and kind, is not irritable
or resentful… bears all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 16:14 – let all things be done in love.
Galatians 5:13 – by love serve one another.
Galatians 5:22 – love is fruit of the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:2 – bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 5:2 – Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and
gave himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to
God.
Colossians 3:12-14 - Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy
and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and
forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against
someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these
virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect
unity.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 - May the Lord make your love increase
and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours
does for you.
1 Peter 2:17 – love the brotherhood.
1 John 2:15 – love not things in the world.
1 John 3:16,17 – love is to give to the needs of others and to
lay down one’s life.
1 John 4:9-11 – By this the love of God was manifested in us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that
we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved
God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice
for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love
one another.
27
The Love of God: A Meditation
The Heart and Message of the Cross
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. – 1 John 4:16
Christians possess the most powerful weapon against

terrorism and violence. That weapon is love! Yet we do not
know how to use this love. We use love by dying for our
enemies just as our Leader died for us when we were his
enemies when he could have destroyed us.
And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and
said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. - Mark
8:24
God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
- Romans 5:5
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we

were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8
Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood,

how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!
- Romans 5:9
For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to

him through the death of his Son, how much more, having
been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! - Romans
5:10
28
The Heart of the Cross
When judged, we may tend to judge in return. How can we

transform our judgment and condemnation of others into
caring and compassion for them? What does the cross teach
us?
At the heart of our faith is the cross, and at the heart of the
cross is the love of God who suffered for our offenses. The
cross teaches us to love and care for those who offend us.
This kind of love is so against our emotional and cultural
custom that sometimes we can’t see it. We can’t grasp it. The
next time you are offended, remember these words:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son...
Romans 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because

God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:8-10 But God demonstrates his own love for us

in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since
we have now been justified by his blood, how much more
shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if,
while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him
through the death of his Son
2 Thessalonians 3:5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts

into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
29
Ephesians 5:1-2 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly
loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ
loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God.
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ
laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives
for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he
loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our
sins.
1 John 4:19-21 We love because he first loved us.... Anyone

who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
The prophet Isaiah (chapter 53) said of Christ, “By

oppression and judgment he was taken away.” Yet when
Jesus was suffering mockery and condemnation on the cross,
he said, “Father forgive them.....” And Peter observed of
Christ that “When they hurled their insults at him, he did
not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.”
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice!

Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one
mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be
with you.
30
31
Nonviolence in Early Christian Thought
prepared by Daniel Keeran, MSW, Victoria, Canada
collegemhc@gmail.com
If nonviolence is the teaching of Jesus in the New

Testament, we would expect to find it in the earliest
writings of Christians including and after the apostles
and prophets of the Lord. What do we find?
First Century
Love your enemies – Luke 6:27-28 do good to those who
hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you.
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. – Matthew
5:38-39 If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to
them the other cheek also.
Stephen stoned – Acts 7:54-60 when stoned to death,
Stephen says “forgive them”.
Christians dragged to prison and death - Acts 8:1-3, Acts
22:3-5, Acts 26:9-11, Galatians 1:13
James killed – Acts 12:1-3 was killed with the sword.
Paul threatened and arrested – Acts 28:19 had no charge
to bring against those who conspired to kill him.
Christians treated violently – Romans 12:17- 21 overcome
evil with good.
Christian slaves beaten for doing what is right – 1 Peter
2:18-25 suffer patiently as Christ did.
32
Do not fear suffering violent attack – 1 Peter 3:14-15,
Rev.2:10 be faithful unto death.
Christians facing opposition were called to have their own
blood shed – Heb.12:3-4.
Do not war as the world does but use your spiritual
weapons – 2 Cor. 10:3-6, Eph.6:12-18.
The death of Jesus for His enemies (when He could have
destroyed them) defines a new kind of love. – “This is
love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent
his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10
Second to Fourth Century

Ignatius of Antioch (80-140 AD) in Epistle to the Ephesians:
“And let us imitate the Lord, who, when He was reviled,
reviled not again ; when He was crucified, He answered
not; when He suffered, He threatened not ; but prayed for
His enemies, Father, forgive them; they know not what
they do. If any one, the more he is injured, displays the
more patience, blessed is he.”
Justin Martyr (110-165 AD) in Dialogue with Trypho: “…we
who were filled with war, and mutual slaughter, and every
wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed
our warlike weapons,— our swords into ploughshares, and
our spears into implements of tillage, —and we cultivate
piety, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope…”
Irenaeus (120-202 AD) in Against Heresies: “But if the law
of liberty, that is, the word of God, preached by the
33
apostles (who went forth from Jerusalem) throughout all
the earth, caused such a change in the state of things, that
these [nations] did form the swords and war-lances into
ploughshares, and changed them into pruning-hooks for
reaping the grain, [that is], into instruments used for
peaceful purposes, and that they are now unaccustomed
to fighting, but when smitten, offer also the other cheek…”
Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) in Justin Martyr
(100-165 AD), First Apology, Ante-Nicene Fathers: “The
Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius, to the People of Rome,
and to the sacred Senate… I was surrounded by the enemy;
and the enemy being at hand... there was close on us a
mass of a mixed multitude of 977,000 men, which indeed
we saw… Having then examined my own position, and my
host, with respect to… the enemy, I quickly betook myself
to prayer to the gods of my country. But being disregarded
by them, I summoned those who among us go by the
name of Christians. And having made inquiry, I discovered
a great number and vast host of them, and raged against
them, which was by no means becoming; for afterwards I
learned their power. Wherefore they began the battle, not
by preparing weapons, nor arms, nor bugles; for such
preparation is hateful to them, on account of the God
they bear about in their conscience.” (Note: While the
authenticity of the letter is disputed, scholars accept that
even if it is a forgery, it was written in the latter part of the
second century and therefore reflects the values and
beliefs of Christians at that time.)
34
Athenagoras (about 170 AD) in A Plea for the Christians:
“…for we have learned, not only not to return blow for
blow, nor to go to law with those who plunder and rob us,
but to those who smite us on one side of the face to offer
the other side also, and to those who take away our coat
to give likewise our cloak.”
Clement of Alexandria (150-215 AD) in Paedogogus: “In
peace, not in war, we are trained.”
Clement of Alexandria in Protrepticus: “If you enroll as one
of God’s people, heaven is your country and God your
lawgiver. And what are His laws? You shall not kill, You
shall love your neighbor as yourself. To him that strikes
you on the one cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Tertullian (145-220 AD) in On Idolatry: “But how will a
Christian man war, nay, how will he serve even in peace,
without a sword, which the Lord has taken away? For
albeit soldiers had come unto John and had received the
formula of their rule; albeit, likewise, a centurion had
believed; still the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter,
unbelted every soldier.”
Hippolytus (170-235 AD) in Apostolic Tradition: "Persons
who possess authority to kill, or soldiers, should not kill at
all, even when it is commanded of them. Everyone who
receives a distinctive leading position, or a magisterial
power, and does not clothe himself in the weaponlessness
of which is becoming to the Gospel, should be separated
from the flock."
35
Hippolytus in Canons: “No Christian should go and
become a soldier unless a commander who has a sword
compels him; let him not draw any guilt of blood shed
upon himself.”
Origen (185-254 AD) in Against Celsus: “To those who
inquire of us from where we come, or who is our founder,
we reply that we have come agreeably to the counsels of
Jesus. We have cut down our hostile, insolent, and
wearisome swords into plowshares. We have converted
into pruning hooks the spears that were formerly used in
war. For we no longer take up sword against nation, nor
do we learn war any more. That is because we have
become children of peace for the sake of Jesus, who is our
leader.”
“We do not indeed fight under him, although he requires
it; but we fight on his behalf, forming a special army -- an
army of piety -- by offering our prayers to God.”
Arnobius (died 326 AD) in Against the Heathen: “A
numerous band of men as we are, we have learned from
his teaching and his laws that evil should not be repaid
with evil. Rather, it is better to suffer wrong than to inflict
it. We would rather shed our own blood than stain our
hands and our conscience with that of another.”
Lactantius (220-330 AD, tutor for the emperor
Constantine’s children) in The Divine Institutes:
“For how can a man be just who injures, who hates, who
despoils, who puts to death? And they who strive to be
serviceable to their country do all these things…”
36
“For when God forbids us to kill, He not only prohibits us
from open violence, which is not even allowed by the
public laws, but He warns us against the commission of
those things which are esteemed lawful among men. Thus
it will be neither lawful for a just man to engage in
warfare, since his warfare is justice itself, nor to accuse
any one of a capital charge, because it makes no difference
whether you put a man to death by word, or rather by the
sword, since it is the act of putting to death itself which is
prohibited. Therefore, with regard to this precept of God,
there ought to be no exception at all; but that it is always
unlawful to put to death a man, whom God willed to be a
sacred animal.”
Martin of Tours (316-397 AD) in The Paedagogus - “I am a
soldier of Christ. To fight is not permissible for me.”
Change in the 4th Century

Lactantius (see above) in On the Death of the Persecutors:
“Constantine was directed in a dream to cause the
heavenly sign to be delineated on the shields of his
soldiers, and so to proceed to battle.”
Eusebius (260-339 AD) in The Life of the Blessed Emperor
Constantine: “Then, in his sleep, the Christ of God
appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in
the heavens and commanded him to make a likeness of
that sign which he had seen in the heavens and to use it as
a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies.”
Ambrose (340-397 AD, teacher of Augustine) in Duties of
Ministers: "For the fortitude which in war defends the
37
fatherland from barbarians or defends the weak at home,
or companions from thieves is full of justice."
Augustine (354-430 AD) in Epistle 189, To Boniface, A
Soldier: "Do not think that no one can please God who is a
soldier in military arms. Holy David was among these, to
whom the Lord gave such great witness [see 1 Kings 14.7,
where God says David, "followed me with all his heart,
doing only what was right in my eyes:] and many just men
of that time among them. Among these was Cornelius
[Acts 10] to whom the angel was sent.... Among these were
those who came to John for baptism.... Surely he did not
forbid them to serve in arms, to whom he ordered to be
content with their pay. ....Some therefore fight for you by
praying against invisible enemies; you work for them by
fighting against visible barbarians.... So think first of this,
when you arm yourself for battle, that even your bodily
strength is a gift of God...."
Related
http://www.amazon.com/Concordance-Testament-
Christian-Pacifism-Nonviolence/dp/1499186436
http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Christianity-Peace-
Justice-Testament/dp/0973454652
38
39
Decisions for the Poor
In recent decades, a number of benevolent organizations
and non-religious efforts, have made extensive appeals for
contributions from the public. Undoubtedly, we will see more
presentations of this kind as world population increases and as
the gap widens between rich and poor nations. Every Christian
must now ask this question, “What does God expect of me in
view of the millions who are starving right now?”
Good News for the Poor
To answer this question, we will begin with a Messianic

passage found in Isaiah 11, verse 4: “With righteousness he will
judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor
of the earth.” One of the primary ministries of the Messiah was
to bless the poor. The place of rich and poor in relation to the
Messianic kingdom is introduced by Mary’s magnification of
God and by the first preaching of John the Baptist and of the
Christ himself.
Mary affirms that God has “scattered those who are proud
in their inmost thoughts” and that he has brought down the
powerful and “sent the rich away empty.” Moreover, she
declares, God has “lifted up the humble” and has “filled the
hungry with good things” (Luke 1:51-54).
When John the Baptist appears, he refers to Isaiah 40:3-5 as

his program of ministry. John understands that his purpose is
to prepare the way of the Lord by a type of landscaping that
brings down mountains and hills while the valleys are exalted
or filled in. This is reminiscent of Mary’s statement, for when
the multitude inquire about the proper fruit of repentance,
mountains and hills are lowered and valleys are exalted as John
instructs the people to distribute their abundance to the poor.
40
Even specific groups among the crowd are divested of their
lucrative incomes as John exhorts soldiers and tax collectors to
cease extortion, to collect only the tax due, and to be content
with meager wages (Luke 3:4-14). The powerful and rich are
brought down and sent empty away while the poor and
humble are filled with good things and lifted, even as Mary
had declared concerning the justice of God.
When Jesus appears, he refers to Isaiah 61:1,2 as his

program of ministry. Jesus understands that he is “anointed to
bring good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18ff). Since the term
“Messiah” means “anointed one,” Jesus is announcing that
good news for the poor is at the very heart of his teaching and
preaching ministry. Jesus corroborates the statement of Isaiah
11:4 that he will make “decisions for the poor of the earth.” In
fact, the proof for the imprisoned John that Jesus was indeed
the expected Messiah was that Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy
of Isaiah 61: 1,2, for he was blessing the afflicted and preaching
the Gospel to the poor (Luke 7:21, 22).
The Gospel message of Jesus to the poor themselves is this:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of
God” (Luke 6:20). These are not the spiritually poor but the
literally poor, for in the same address Jesus pronounces a woe
upon the literally rich (v. 24). That the poor filled the kingdom
is verified by James 2:5: “Listen, my dear brothers: has not God
chosen those who are poor in the eyes to world to be rich in
faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love
him?” It is not surprising that James again echoes Jesus in
pronouncing the strongest condemnation on the rich: “Come
now, you rich, weep and wail because of the misery that is
coming upon you” (James 5:1).
A Costly Response Demanded
The message of the New Testament to the rich demands a

costly response, for the rich enter the kingdom and benefit
41
from the Gospel only as servants of the poor. This is clear from
the very beginning of the preaching of the Gospel of the
kingdom, for those who have must distribute to those who
have not, to receive John’s baptism (Luke 3:10-11).
To all his disciples Jesus says, “Lay not up treasure on

earth…but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven” (Matt.
6:19f). To the little flock Jesus explains how treasure is laid up
in heaven: “Sell what you have and give to the poor” (Luke
12:33). The rich young ruler was given the same instruction:
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven” (Matt. 19:21). To the Pharisees, Jesus
declared, “Give what you have to the poor, and all will be clean
for you” (Luke 11:41). The mandate of Jesus’ earthly ministry is
clear: to be assured of eternal life, heavenly treasure, spiritual
cleanness, the rich must distribute their abundance to the poor.
Zaccheus, the rich tax collector, received salvation -

treasure in heaven - by responding to this new ethic of the
Messianic kingdom. He made a commitment to distribute his
wealth to the poor and to those whom he had oppressed.
Surely, by the time he had kept his promise to restore four-fold
to those he had wronged, Zaccheus would find himself among
those to whom the kingdom belongs (Luke 19:8,9). Because of
the radical response of Zaccheus, we can infer that he had
heard Jesus preaching a radical commitment in terms of
distributing one’s wealth to the poor.
Indeed, those who store up treasure for themselves on

earth rather than distributing to the poor are like the rich fool
of whom Jesus speaks. To sacrifice one’s affluence for the poor
is to be “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21; Matt. 25:40). The rich
do not give abundantly and acceptably until they give as the
widow who gave all she had (Mark 12:41f). This teaching from
the account of the widow’s mite should be regarded as
providing the definition of liberality and “sowing abundantly,”
as Paul later enjoins (II Cor.9:6). The widow, however, was not
resigned to death by starvation, for her support came from the
42
temple treasury, but her degree of giving reinforces what Jesus
has said about the obligation of the rich to give out of their
need level, which means all their abundance and then some.
In the parable of the unjust steward Jesus teaches
powerfully that to withhold God’s trust of worldly wealth from
those in need is embezzlement, and the consequence is to be
denied true riches. “I tell you,” he said, “use worldly wealth to
gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be
welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:8-12).
Jesus then immediately gives warning to the wise in the

illustration of the rich man and Lazarus. The fate of the rich
man who failed to come to terms with worldly wealth
illustrated Jesus’ pronouncement of woe upon the rich, for they
have already received their comfort in this life (Luke 16:19-25;
6:24). The rich man died and was refused entrance into eternal
dwellings. His worldly wealth was gone, and he had not been
trustworthy.
It is in the context of what is said in the parable of the

unjust steward, illustrated again by the rich man and Lazarus,
that we must understand Jesus’ teaching about serving two
masters. Serving God is using “worldly wealth to gain friends,”
thus being “trustworthy with someone else’s [God’s] property”
(Luke 16:9,12). Serving mammon or wealth is withholding
God’s trust from the poor, preferring rather to live in luxury
and comfort in a world of suffering and want (Luke 16: 19-25).
The injunction to distribute one’s abundance makes it

impossible to keep God’s property for self and maintain trust in
God. This is the meaning of Jesus’ statement that “you cannot
serve God and wealth” (Luke 16:13). He who chooses to keep
God’s possessions, has despised God and his will for the
affluent: “What is highly valued among men is detestable in
God’s sight” (Luke 16:15). Giving, not out of one’s wealth, but
out of one’s need, is the teaching of the Kingdom from the
words of John the Baptist to the widow who gave a fraction of a
penny.
43
A universal principle of discipleship is stated in Luke 14:33:
“Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be
my disciple.” Jesus is calling upon prospective followers to
forsake, relinquish, or renounce the possession of earthly
goods. He is not here speaking of family relationships as in
verse 26, because the Greek phrase for “everything he has”
refers to literal material possessions or earthly goods. “The
expression always (fourteen times) denotes earthly goods in the
New Testament” (G. Kittel, ed., Theological Dictionary of the New
Testament, Vol. 8, p. 33). The same principle is stated in other
words when Jesus commends laying up heavenly treasure
instead of, not in addition to, earthly treasure (Matt. 6:19).
Generosity of Early Christians
Not only does this emphasis pervade the Gospel accounts,

but it is also found throughout the New Testament. The
immediate response of the first Christians was to determine
that all things would be held as common property. This meant
that they sold their possessions and gave to the poor. The result
was that no one among them was in need (Acts 2:44, 45; 4:32,
34, 35). Ananias and Sapphira felt compelled to do what was
being done by others: selling and giving. Laying the money at
the apostles’ feet was not compulsory but was simply one
method of distribution. Yet there was perhaps a degree of
status attached to the act, at least in the minds of this couple,
who were prompted to go so far as to lie about having given all
(Acts 4:32- 5:11).
Eventually during a long famine, the saints in Jerusalem

had spent their resources. Paul then tried to encourage the
same kind of giving from the Corinthians as had occurred
earlier in Jerusalem, suggesting that the sincerity of one’s love
in giving is to be measured or defined by the example of the
Macedonians, who gave out of “their extreme poverty” (II Cor.
8:2), and by the example of Christ himself, who “though he was
rich, yet for your sakes he became poor…” (v.9).
44
Paul does not want to command or compel the Corinthians
to give in this way, because he wants them to be willing and
cheerful in their giving (II Cor. 8:12; 9:7). Yet the expectation is
clear in terms of the degree of giving Paul wants from them, for
he continues by urging, “At the present time your plenty will
supply what they need… as it is written, he that gathered much
did not have too much, and he that gathered little did not have
too little” (II Cor. 8:14,15). Further, Paul emphasizes the
importance of sowing generously, defined by the preceding
examples of Macedonia and of Christ, which reflect Jesus’
definition of abundant giving in the example of the poor
widow who gave more than the rich because she gave what she
needed to live on.
The Source and Purpose of Wealth
Paul identifies God as the source of one’s abundance, and

the purpose of God’s gift is two-fold: (1) to provide for the
needs of the one who receives from God, and (2) to allow the
one who receives to provide for the needs of others (Acts 20:34-
35; Eph. 4:28). The rich have received from God, not to increase
their enjoyment of luxury and comfort, but to increase their
distribution unto “every good work” and so they “can be
generous on every occasion.” It is through the generosity of the
rich that God “has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor” (II
Cor. 9:8-11). When the rich neglect to do this, they have
embezzled God’s gifts and fail in their servant role.
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul suggests that generosity

and good deeds enable one to lay up treasure in heaven –
reminiscent of Jesus’ instruction to the little flock, the rich
young ruler, and all disciples (Matt. 6:19ff). Notice that rather
than being rich in the possession of wealth, the affluent are to
be rich in the giving of those possessions (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
Certainly, Paul could not have meant less than Jesus meant in
his definition of generosity.
45
John makes a similar point. Those who live in luxury and
abundance despite the suffering of the poor do not have God’s
love within them (I John 3:16,17). While John emphasizes this
responsibility to the poor brother, the New Testament extends
the demonstration of love to all men (Gal. 6:10; II Cor. 9:13; I
Thess. 3:12). The love and grace of Christ find reality in the
believer’s life in sacrificing possessions as Christ did (I John
3:16; II Cor. 8:9).
Giving as the Macedonians, Christ, and the poor widow

gave, will reduce us to a simple life style, with necessities and
minimal possessions (I Tim. 6:8). Luxury and self-indulgence
are among the sins of the rich (James 5:5). Christians are
specifically forbidden to wear expensive clothes and jewelry (I
Pet. 3:3; I Tim. 2:9-10). According to Jesus, those who have
already received their comfort in this life will find no comfort
in the next life (Luke 6:24; 16:19-25). But those who are caring
and generous can know the blessedness of giving (Acts 20:35)
and the assurance of the Lord’s promise never to abandon us
(Heb. 13:5).
In the book of Revelation, the church of Laodicea claims to

be rich and in need of nothing because of her accumulated
wealth. But Jesus assesses her situation differently: “You do not
realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I
counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can
become rich” (Rev. 3:17-18). One can convert earthly riches into
“gold refined in the fire” by distributing one’s wealth to the
poor.
The Abominations of Babylon
The abominations of Babylon the Great are a final reminder

of the thesis of this study. The rich and powerful are intimately
associated with the sinful city. “The kings of the earth
committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth
46
grew rich from her excessive luxuries” (Rev. 18:3). God’s
people must not share in her sins (v. 4). She will receive “as
much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave
herself” (v. 7). In her day of judgment, Babylon the Great will
mourn with all those who became rich through her wealth (v.
7,9,19). Here we see fulfilled the truth of Jesus’ words: “Woe to
you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort”
(Luke 6:24).
Moreover, Mary’s words at the beginning of the New

Testament are strangely fulfilled in this closing vision of
Babylon, for the rich and powerful are brought down and sent
empty away. In Babylon is seen the fate of all who live in
luxury at the expense or neglect of the world’s poor. On the
other hand, God’s faithful poor and those who distribute their
wealth according to God’s purpose can look forward to the
comfort and luxury of the New Jerusalem, the heavenly
treasure for those who have invested wisely.
Attitudes of the Early Church
Isaiah promised Messianic decisions for the poor, and we

have seen their fulfillment in the words of Mary, John the
Baptist, the Messiah himself, Paul, James, the apostle John, and
in the deeds of the Jerusalem and Macedonian churches.
The early church writers from the close of the New

Testament through the time of Constantine soundly support
the biblical teaching concerning the place of rich and poor in
the kingdom of God. Clement of Rome (96 A.D.) observed that
many Christians had sold themselves into slavery to buy food
for others. Aristides (120 A.D.) pointed out that early Christians
fasted to send their food to the poor (see Apology 15). The
Shepherd of Hermas (136 A.D.) affirmed that God gave
abundance to the rich so that they could spend their wealth and
“all their possessions” to relieve others (see Similitudes, I:8f). In
the Epistle to Diognetus, 10:4,5 (140 A.D.) the affluent are
47
instructed to distribute the things received from God, to help
those in need. In the Preaching of Peter (180 A.D.) it is said that
the abundance of the rich belongs to the poor. Clement of
Alexandria (190 A.D.) said it is not right for one to live in
luxury while others are in want (see Instructor II.xiii.20:6).
In Against Heresies, IV.xiv.3, Irenaeus (180 A.D.) expressed

the following: “And instead of the tithes which the Law
commanded, the Lord said to divide everything we have with
the poor.” (See the chapter entitled, “Early Christian Acts of
Mercy,” in Everett Ferguson’s Early Christians Speak, Austin:
Sweet, 1971).
Conclusion
The values of the kingdom regarding wealth have

remained obscure amid the “pursuit of happiness.” Perhaps
this is partly because those whose salaries are paid by the
wealthy, have sought to please and accommodate the rich. If
so, the advice given to the church of Laodicea is appropriate for
us. We must obtain gold from our Lord that we may become
truly rich. We must flee from the destruction of Babylon and
partake in her sins no longer. May God help us as we seek
always to have less of this world that we may possess more of
the kingdom of God. We will realize more of his Kingdom
when we have lived by his “decisions for the poor of the earth.”
48
49
Jesus and the Early Church on Wealth:
HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN
WWW.BOX.COM/LOVEGOD
Mark 12:43-44 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus

said, I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put
more into the treasury than all the others. They all
gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty,
put in everything--all she had to live on.
Luke 1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.
Luke 3:11 John answered, Anyone who has two

shirts should share with the one who has none, and
anyone who has food should do the same.
Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because

he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the
poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the
oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s
favour. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the
attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the
synagogue were fastened on him. He began by
saying to them, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your
hearing.
Luke 6:20 Looking at his disciples, he said, Blessed

are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of
50
God.
Luke 6:24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have
already received your comfort.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good

measure, pressed down, shaken together and running
over, will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 7:22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back

and report to John what you have seen and heard:
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who
have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead
are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the
poor.”
Matt. 6:19 Lay not up treasure on earth…but lay up

for yourselves treasure in heaven.
Matt. 19:21 Sell your possessions and give to the

poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Matt. 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to

go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:22 You still lack one thing. Sell everything

you have and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.
51
Luke 11:41 Give what you have to the poor, and all
will be clean for you.
Luke 12:19-21 And I’ll say to myself: ‘Take life easy;

eat, drink and be merry.' But God said to him, 'You
fool! This very night your life will be demanded from
you. Then who will get what you have prepared for
yourself?' This is how it will be with whoever stores up
things for themselves but is not rich toward God."
Luke 14:12-14 When you give a luncheon or dinner,

do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or
your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you
back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a
banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the
blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot
repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the
righteous.
Luke 14:33 Any of you who does not give up

everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Luke 16:8-12 I tell you, he said, use worldly wealth

to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is
gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Luke 16:19,25 There was a certain rich man, who was

clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day….But Abraham replied, Son,
remember that in your lifetime you received your good
things, while Lazarus (the beggar) received bad
52
things, but now he is comforted here and you are in
agony.
Acts 2:44-45 All the believers were together and had

everything in common. They sold property and
possessions to give to anyone who had need.
2 Cor. 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, so that you through his poverty might
become rich.
2 Cor. 9:8-9 And God is able to bless you abundantly,

so that in all things at all times, having all that you
need, you will abound in every good work. As it is
written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the
poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
1 Timothy 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, we

will be content with that.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in

this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their
hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their
hope in God, who richly provides us with everything
for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be
rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing
to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for
themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age,
so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
53
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of
money and be content with what you have, because
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I
forsake you.”
James 1:9,10 The brother in humble circumstances

ought to take pride in his high position. But the one
who is rich should take pride in his low position,
because he will pass away like a wild flower.
James 2:5 “Listen, my dear brothers: has not God

chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world
to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he
promised to those who love him?”
James 5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and

wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.
Early Church Sources

Clement of Rome (96 A.D.) said he knew of many
who had sold themselves into slavery to use the
money to feed the hungry, and some had sold
themselves into bondage to purchase freedom for
others (Clement, Epistle to the Corinthians, 55:2).
Shepherd of Hermas (135 A.D.) “Therefore, instead

of fields, purchase afflicted souls, as each is able. And
visit widows and orphans and do not neglect them.
Spend your wealth and all your possessions on such
‘fields and houses’ which you receive from God. For
the master made you rich for this purpose that you
might perform these ministries for him” (Similitudes,
54
I:8f).
Preaching of Peter (140 A.D.) “Understand then you

rich, that you are in duty bound to do service,
having received more than you yourselves need.
Learn that to others is lacking that wherein you
superabound. Be ashamed of holding fast what
belongs to others. Imitate God’s equity and none shall
be poor.”
Against Heresies, IV.xiv.3, Irenaeus (180 A.D.) “And

instead of the tithes which the Law commanded, the
Lord said to divide everything we have with the
poor.”
Clement of Alexandria (190 A.D.) “And it is not right

for one to live in luxury while others live in want.
How much more glorious is it to do good to many than
to live sumptuously! How much wiser to spend money
on human beings than on jewels and gold!” (Instructor
II, xiii, 20.3 and 6).

WWW.BOX.COM/LOVEGOD
55
Are the Teachings of Jesus Relevant Today?
The following is material presented by the author at a
meeting of the Humanist Association in Victoria,
British Columbia, Canada, November 6, 2011.
(Scripture quotes are from the New International Version)
Introduction: A young man in prison said he was an

atheist when sentenced; he saw that people who lived
by Jesus’ teaching were stable and happy; he now
thinks there may be a superior intelligence who gave
the teaching.
Jesus did not come to bring an economic or political

system but to transform the individual. He said: “My
kingdom is not of this world,” and “The kingdom of
God is within you.”
The teachings of Jesus provide the fundamental

principles for the well-being of individuals and
communities. Setting a high bar of behavioural
expectation, these teachings are at the moral and
social foundation of Western civilization. Beside the
word Relevance, the applications of Jesus’ teaching
are given below the scripture passages organized in
categories of social teachings, peace and
nonviolence, and psychological well-being.
LUKE 6:20-42 (Sermon on the Plain)
Social Teachings
20,24,25 Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is
the kingdom of God....But woe to you who are rich,
56
for you have already received your comfort. Woe to
you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
Relevance: See the entire book of Luke for social

teaching and care for the poor. Citizens of the
kingdom must provide for those who cannot otherwise
benefit from opportunities to sustain life.
37-38 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will
be given to you.
Relevance: Jesus provides principles to reduce

conflict and live in harmony with others.
Peace and Nonviolence

27-29,35-36 “Love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for
those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on
one cheek, turn to them the other also.... But love your
enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without
expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will
be great, and you will be children of the Most High,
because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be
merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Relevance: This teaching was the core of the civil

rights movement begun by Martin Luther King.
Mahatma Gandhi, drawing the idea of nonviolent
resistance from this teaching, said: “If Christians
would really live according to the teachings of Christ,
as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian
today.”
57
MATTHEW: chapters 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount)
ch5- Psychological Well-Being

3-12 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for
they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown
mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see
God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
called children of God. Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people
insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds
of evil against you because of me.
Relevance: The values and qualities of Jesus’

followers contribute to harmonious and
compassionate relationships.
ch5- Social Teachings

13 let your light shine before others, that they may see
your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven....
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness

surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of
the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of
heaven.
Relevance: Humanitarian acts should be done to

glorify God rather than self.
58
ch5- Peace and Nonviolence
21-25 “You have heard that it was said to the people
long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who
murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that
anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be
subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a
brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court.
And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of
the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift
at the altar and there remember that your brother or
sister has something against you, leave your gift there
in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them;
then come and offer your gift. “Settle matters quickly
with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do
it while you are still together on the way, or your
adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the
judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may
be thrown into prison.
Relevance: Avoiding anger and name-calling, is

central to conflict resolution; seek peace in
relationships and settle matters out of court to avoid
maximum consequences.

27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not
commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks
at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his heart.
Relevance: This is an important key sexual

management principle to prevent sex addiction,
prevalent today e.g. through internet pornography.
59
31-32 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife
must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you
that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual
immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and
anyone who marries a divorced woman commits
adultery.
Relevance: This principle supports family security and

integrity especially important for healthy child
development.
ch5- Social Teaching

33-37 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all...All
you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’....
Relevance: Personal honesty is fundamental to basic

trust essential to personal, professional, and business
relationships in society.

38-41 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If
anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them
the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you
and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If
anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two
miles.
43-45 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your

neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you, that you may be children of your Father in
heaven.
Relevance: The teaching of nonviolence and

nonretaliation in personal relationships is key to a
60
harmonious family and community and central to
resolving conflict.

1-4 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in
front of others to be seen by them... But when you
give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be
in secret.
Relevance: This concept promotes a selfless sincere

motive in generosity, and in prayer vs.5-8, and in
fasting vs.16-18.
9-13 This, then, is how you should pray: “...And

forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors....”
Relevance: This basic principle is the foundation of

personal lending: forgive the debts of those who
cannot pay you back.

14-15 For if you forgive other people when they sin
against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your
Father will not forgive your sins.
Relevance: Forgiving others is highly valued.

19-24 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
earth...But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven... No one can serve two masters. Either you
will hate the one and love the other, or you will be
61
devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot
serve both God and money.
Relevance: Value service to God by caring for the

poor; build wealth for serving others rather than self.

25-34 ...do not worry about your life.... Therefore do
not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Relevance: A key remedy for anxiety is to live each

day at a time; live in the present. Plan for tomorrow
but don’t worry about it.

1-5 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the
same way you judge others, you will be judged, and
with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
(John 8:7 He who is without sin among you, let him be
the first to throw a stone at her [adulterous woman]).
Relevance: Judgment of others will result in judgment

in return; be nonjudgmental and reduce conflict.
ch7- Social Teachings

7-12 So in everything, do to others what you would
have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and
the Prophets. (See also Luke 10:27 – Love your
neighbour as yourself; Matthew 25:31-46 For I was
hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you
gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed
me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and
you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me...
62
as you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me.)
Relevance: Reaching out to those in trouble is service

to God.
ch7- Final Admonition

24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man
who built his house on the rock.
Relevance: Practicing what Jesus taught provides a

solid foundation for wise living.
63
Meanings of the Cross
The suffering and death of Jesus of Nazareth on a Roman
cross near Jerusalem, is the centre of Christian faith, and at the
centre of the cross is the love of God. The meanings and
implications of the cross are found throughout the earliest
Christian writings:
The Power of God

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
– 1 Corinthians 1:18
Peace with God
….the punishment that brought us peace was on him.- Isaiah
53:5
“He Himself bore our sins” in His body on the tree, so that we
might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you
are healed.” For you were like sheep going astray, but now you
have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
– 1 Peter 2:24,25
Righteousness in Reach
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in
him we might become the righteousness of God.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
Forgiveness Given
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they are doing." - Luke 23:34
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. - Colossians 3:13
New Life Made Possible
How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Or aren’t you
aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into His death? We therefore were buried with Him
through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was
64
raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too
may walk in newness of life. – Romans 6:2-4
Freedom from Sin
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the
body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no
longer be slaves to sin, for anyone who has died has been
freed from sin. – Romans 6:6-7
Love Made Known
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.- Romans 5:8
And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He
loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
- 1 John 4:10-11
Nonviolence Exemplified
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all
who draw the sword will die by the sword. Are you not aware
that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at my
disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”- Matthew 26:52-
53
Giving Defined
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his
life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers
and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a
brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the
love of God be in that person? - 1 John 3:16-17
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you
through his poverty might become rich. - 2 Corinthians 8:9
Endurance in Facing Suffering (even when you have done
nothing wrong)
"Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away
from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." - Luke
22:42
65
….fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Hebrews 12:2
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for
you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His
footsteps: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in
His mouth.” When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not
retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted
Himself to Him who judges justly. - 1 Peter 2:21-23
66
67
68
69
by Daniel Keeran, MSW
1 John 3:6
...and people who stay one in their hearts with him won’t keep on sinning.
If they do keep on sinning, they don’t know Christ, and they have never seen him
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
“Where is God? I don’t see any God. Show me God, and I will
believe.”
How many times have you heard this? And maybe you are
hearing it more as time goes by. We all have friends or family
members who doubt that God exists, and sometimes you may
have doubts about God’s presence or sometimes you may feel
very distant from God or may simply not be aware of his
presence.
Peter says our confidence is not about seeing Him but about
loving and believing in Him.
1 Peter 1:7-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him;
and even though you do not see him now, you believe in
him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for
you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your
souls.”
The difference between a secular mindset and a sacred

mindset is that in the secular life, one engages in daily life
disconnected and without awareness of God. In the sacred life,
one engages in daily life with a strong awareness of God. In
the sacred life, the child of God sees everything and every
moment in the context of the spiritual and says, “The God of the
70
universe who holds everything together is fully and personally
present right here, right now.”
When you read sacred scripture, you are struck in every verse
by the writers’ constant awareness of God. This is in stark
contrast with the secular life in which one merely seeks the
good life in harmony with one’s neighbour but without any
awareness of God. When a child is very young she is aware of
God, then from pre-school to university, the secular worldview
is taught, and the secular media and the secular workplace
prohibit God, or place faith in a negative light. So the faith
community is an oasis where we fill up on God. Then we leave
the community, the secular chains go back on, and God is left
behind. Is that what happens?
To live spiritually and to break off the secular chains, believe

God is always present, always caring, always guiding and
directing and nurturing, always eager to hear from you,
always forgiving, always loving, always reaching out to
you, always watching and waiting for you to turn to him,
and when you do turn to God, he sings and rejoices over
you. Do you believe it?
If you believe it, you can know it, then you can see God at
work everywhere and hear God’s constant reassurance and
encouragement.
Psalm 139:7-10 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I

flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are
there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on
the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even
there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me
fast.”
God is present and near to you right here, right now. What
emotions do you feel? If you believe it, you can see and feel
God with your heart right now.
71
God loves you and He is so proud of you
Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty
to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you
with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Listen to God singing and rejoicing over you. What do you feel?
Maybe you feel so loved, so accepted, so cared for by the
Creator of the universe that you think for a moment it could
last forever, and that is exactly what God wants for you.
Psalm 147:11 “The LORD delights in those who fear him, who
put their hope in his unfailing love.”
Believe the Lord is proud of you. What do you feel? Yes, God
is proud of you. Maybe you feel peaceful and happy, a sense of
deep contentment. This picture of delight the Father feels about
you is described in the story of the prodigal son.
Luke 15:20-23 “So he got up and went to his father. But while
he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled
with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms
around him and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I
have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his
servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a
ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened
calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of
mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So
they began to celebrate.”
If you believe God delights in you, loves you, and rejoices in

song over you, then you can see and hear God with the eyes
and ears of your heart. Can you begin to see and hear God
and sense his constant presence and love for you?
72
Suppose God told someone to write a note and give it to
you and the note said, “You can’t see me, but I am very
close to you right now and I want you to know that I love
and care about you and that I am working in your life to
make good things happen.” How would you feel if you
received that note? Wouldn’t it be wonderful? Wouldn’t
you feel special and confident and have such peace that
would never fade away? God has written such a note. It’s
called the Bible...the holy scriptures. It’s a bit longer than a
note.
Psalm 119:64 “The earth is filled with your love, O LORD;

teach me your decrees.” If you believe, you can know, and
then you can see the evidence of God’s love everywhere. Look
around the room. See those in whom the Spirit lives. See all the
gifts of God around you.
2 Corinthians 5:16 “So from now on we regard no one from a

worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this
way, we do so no longer.”
God works directly in your life

to make everything work for your good and for his purposes.
Psalm 138:8 “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your
love, O LORD, endures forever....” God is making things
happen in your life to serve his purposes. You do believe God
will fulfill his purpose for you. You do feel his constant enduring
love for you.
Psalm 145:20 “The LORD watches over all who love him...”
You do believe God watches over you. God is looking at you
right now, right here. Do you know it? What emotion comes
up inside you right now as you sense God’s attention focused
on you? Does it make you want to smile?
73
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.” You have the confidence that God
is working in your life and will make everything work out even
through suffering and tragedy. Look for ways God is working in
your life and give thanks in everything, knowing God is working
in all things for your good.
Proverbs 16:9 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the
LORD determines his steps.”
Ephesians 5:20 “always giving thanks to God the Father for

everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Remember the words of Job: “The Lord gives, and the Lord
takes away. Blessed is the name of the Lord.” And “Even if the
Lord slays me, yet will I serve him.” You can have the faith of
Job. You can feel those chains of doubt and unbelief falling
away.
God will always love you and nothing will ever change that.
You are surrounded by his love and that will never change.
God’s own love has been poured into our

hearts.
Romans 5:5 “God has poured out his love into our hearts by
the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
If you believe God’s love is in you, then you can love

everyone as God loves. Remember that God loves the world
so much that he gave Jesus to suffer and die and take away
the sins of the world. What a wonderful gift to have inside you!
God’s own love.
Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of

Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake
74
we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Faith is how we enter into eternal

reality; how we come to God
Today I want you to be aware of God’s presence and nearness.
God is Spirit, so you cannot see Him with your physical eyes,
but you can see God with the eyes of your heart, the eyes of
faith. You can believe and know that God is near you and in
you. Then knowing this, you can look at God and see God
looking back at you. You can speak to God and hear God
speaking to you. God is always speaking and saying more
than you can hear. Your mind and heart cannot possibly
contain or hear all that God is saying. Can your mind contain all
that is written? His word is living and active. Your heart must
be selective because if you heard all that God is saying to you,
you would be overwhelmed. The more of God’s word you
know, the more you will be able to hear what God is saying
to you personally.
2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but
what is unseen is eternal.”
Things that are seen are temporary but things unseen are
eternal. So through every word of God, that Jesus says we live
by, we know about God and about his relationship with us.
When we read or hear God’s word, we believe it, and by this
we know God, see God, and hear God, not with physical
75
eyes and ears but by the eyes and ears of our hearts, the
eyes and ears of faith.
Jesus made this direct reference when he said, “Having eyes

they see not and ears they hear not”....he’s talking about
having the eyes and ears of faith.
Being aware of God requires engaging in certain kinds of

activity that encourage faith. Our physical eyes see material
things, and so God is often not in our minds. The saying “out of
sight out of mind” is true. Because we do not see God with our
physical eyes, God is not in our mind. Yet God is always
present, and so we must encourage one another to be
aware of God’s presence by talking about spiritual things
and listening to spiritual teaching, singing praises and
spiritual songs, and reading God’s word.
We are made alive

Since we walk around and breathe in these bodies, we
naturally think we are alive. The following words must be taken
to mean we are made alive (with Christ) in a spiritual way and
forgiven of sins, and this is associated with the act of baptism
(overwhelmed with physical water) when it is done as a
conscious act of faith:
Colossians 2:12-13 “….having been buried with him in baptism,

in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the
working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were
dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God
made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins….”
Identical terms are used in Ephesians 2:4-6, but without a direct

mention of baptism:
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
76
transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God
raised us up with Christ….”
Why doesn’t God just show himself, or work a

miracle, or shout with a booming voice from the
sky?
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 “Jews demand miraculous signs and
Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a
stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to
those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please

God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he
exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
“The just shall live by faith” Romans 1:17, and by this faith we
know God, we know his presence, we know his love. If God’s
word says it, then we know it is real even if we do not see with
our physical eyes.
Faith says: James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come
near to you.” Believe and know that God is near you right now.
What emotions are you feeling? Maybe a little anxious but also
loved and assured.
Faith says: Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near to God with a

sincere heart in full assurance of faith...”
Faith says: 1 John 4:12 “No one has ever seen God; but if we
love one another, God lives in us and his love is made
complete in us.”
Faith says: Acts 17:27-28 “...reach out for him and find him,
though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live
and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets
have said, 'We are his offspring.’ “ Your life depends upon God.
77
God gave us the spirit of life in each of us, and he is near you
right now. Know and feel the presence of God right now.
Faith says: John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he
will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will
come to him and make our home with him.” You follow his
teaching. You are living in the center of his will and trusting his
grace. Then you know God is with you right now, and when you
sleep, when you go about your daily activities, in every moment
God is present and living with you and in you because “your
body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom
you have received from God” 1 Corinthians 6:19.
Faith says: 2 Cor.1:3-7 “Praise be to the God and Father of our

Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of
all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we
can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves
have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ
flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort
overflows.”
Believe God cares about you so much that he is here right

now to comfort you, to reassure you, to let you know that
he is working everything out for your good. He is the God of
all comfort for every kind of trouble.
Faith says: Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Do you know Christ?

Paul says in Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the
power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to Him in His death, so that I may somehow
attain to the resurrection from the dead.
78
In Hebrews 1:1-3 we find these wonderful words: After God
spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our
ancestors through the prophets, in these last days he has
spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all
things, and through whom he created the world. The Son is
the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence,
and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when
he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the
right hand of the Majesty on high.
The Spirit of God can live within

In order to have the Spirit of God living within, one must live
according to or bear the fruits of the Spirit.
Romans 8:5-11 Those who live according to the flesh have

their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in
accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what
the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death,
but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind
governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to
God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the
flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of
the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of
God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then
even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the
Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of
him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he
who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal
bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,

peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no
law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the
79
flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the
Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Have you seen Jesus our Lord?

Matthew 25:39-41 ‘When did we see you sick or in prison and
go to visit you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you
did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did
for me.'
I like this fictional version of the 4th wise man. The story is that
there was a 4th wise man but he became ill and could not go
with the other three to see the baby Jesus and to lay their gifts
at his feet. So they left without him. Then when he was feeling
better the wise man started out to take his precious jewel as a
gift for the new Saviour King of Israel. But on his way, he met a
poor dying beggar, so he sold the jewel to buy the beggar some
food shelter and clothing, then came a leper, then a man
robbed and left for dead, and after many years he had spent all
he had on caring for those in need. Many years later, he was in
Jerusalem and heard that Jesus was condemned to be
crucified. The wise man hurried to see Jesus carrying his cross.
Jesus looked at the wise man and smiled.
When you see the homeless or anyone in trouble, draw near to

them, attend to them, and then you will draw near to Jesus.
Don’t walk by on the other side.
Who is this God?

John 1:3 “Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that has been made.” The universe from the
smallest atom or single-cell organism to the vastness of space
and billions of galaxies...He made it all.
Colossians 1:17 “He is before all things, and in him all things
hold together.”
80
When you think about God being present, think about who
God is. Then think about his promise to be near you and
words of faith that this God is present in you and with you.
This almighty all-powerful creator God who holds

everything together is sitting right next to you right now.
Look at him with the eyes of your heart.
Then listen with the ears of faith. God is always speaking to you
more than you can possibly hear.
What is God saying?

I love you more than you can imagine. I care about you. I know
you better than you know yourself, and I will always give you
what you need. I love you so much that I suffered and died and
took all your sins and punishment upon myself. I forgive you. I
forgave you when you were immersed into Jesus for the
forgiveness of your sins as my servant Peter spoke in Acts
2:38.
Psalm 139:1-4 “O LORD, you have searched me, and you

know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive
my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my
lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word
is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.” God
knows you personally and intimately. He knows you far better
than you know yourself.
Matthew 10:30 “And even the very hairs of your head are all
numbered.” Does anyone here know how many hairs are on
your head? That’s just a tiny example of how thoroughly God
knows you.
Matthew 6:8 “...for your Father knows what you need before
you ask him.” You don’t have to worry about what you need.
God already knows what you need and what is best for you.
81
God says, I will make good things happen from suffering. I
will comfort and guide you when you trust me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean
not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
him, and he will direct your paths.”
God says, ask me for anything and I will do it when you

want to serve my purpose. When we ask God for something,
we need to humbly say, “Lord I ask this only if it serves your
purpose and gives you glory, because otherwise I don’t want it.”
God says, when you ask for my forgiveness, you know that I
will forgive you and will not be angry with you.
God is eager to hear from you.

God is eagerly waiting for your conversation. Talk to him now
and often.
“I love you Lord, and I give my life to serve and worship you.
Thank you for always being here for me. Thank you for my life,
and for my health. I depend on you for everything. Help me to
always remember to talk to you and to serve you. Give me
wisdom to do great things for you my Lord. Open doors for me.
Make things happen and give me opportunities to share your
love and forgiveness with the lost and hurting around me.”
Psalm 42:8 “By day the LORD directs his love, at night his
song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.” Remember
God’s love directed toward you today.
1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer...” Remember God is
present, watching and waiting for you to speak to him.
James 4:2 “You do not have, because you do not ask God.”
He is ready to answer your prayer.
82
1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching
God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears
us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we
know that we have what we asked of him.”
God says we can go to him with confidence that he will

answer when we ask anything to serve his purpose.
James 1:5-7” If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,

who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be
given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,
because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and
tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive
anything from the Lord.”
Are you confused about what to do? Ask the Lord for wisdom
and know that you will receive it.
Psalm 16:7 “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at
night my heart instructs me.” When you lie awake at night,
listen for counsel from the Lord.
Spiritual Practice
Here is an example of what you can say to come near to God in
faith.
First, remind yourself:
“God made the universe and holds everything together. Jesus

promised to make his home with me. God is always near and
present because I live and move in God who is all around me.
This God is here now, near me and seeing me, and eager to
hear from me. Now in faith believing and knowing God is as
close as my breath, I can hear his voice loving and forgiving
me. I know that I can tell him what I feel and what I want to do,
and he will do it if it will serve his purpose and glorify him
because that’s all I ever want to do.”
83
Then think something like:
“Thank you, God. I know you are here right now. God, use me
up. Show me things that will encourage others and serve your
purpose. Thank you for always being with me to guide me and
make good things happen. I will always trust and never doubt
you, Lord. But if I do doubt, I know you will still be there
patiently and eagerly waiting for me. In Jesus’ precious name.
Amen.”
84
85
Faith as a Positive Cognitive Therapy Model
prepared by Daniel Keeran, MSW
www.empathyforu.com
(scripture references are from the New International
Version, Zondervan)
Faith can be approached as a positive cognitive therapy model in
which positive things are believed as well as many positive virtues
such as love, generosity, compassion, and nonviolence and an
atoning Saviour Messiah, promises of forgiveness and eternal life,
and a message of hope of a returning Messiah and resurrection to
support coping with suffering and death. If you are someone
struggling in faith, just think of Christian faith as good mental
health. If you don’t like any versions of faith you see, read the
Bible and make up your own version with the goal of believing
and doing all God requires.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy — think on these things. – Philippians 4:7-8
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from
me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
86
rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is
light. – Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He
who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And
whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you
believe this?” – John 11:25-26
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God;
believe in Me as well. In My Father’s house are many
rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am
going there to prepare a place for you? – John 14:1
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have
peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I
have overcome the world.– John 16:33
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being
united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any
common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and
compassion, then make my joy complete by being
likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of
one mind. – Philippians 2:1-2
Let your gentleness be obvious to everyone. The Lord is
near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:5-7 I
87
consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
– Romans 8:18
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble
or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face
death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced
that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ
Jesus our Lord. – Roman 8:35-39
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though
you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice
with an inexpressible and glorious joy, now that you are
receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
- 1 Peter 1:8-9
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the
power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
– John 10:10
88
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self
control. Against such things there is no law.
– Galatians 5:22-23
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who
curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. - Luke 6:27-28
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He
who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And
everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do
you believe this?”– John 11:25-26
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive
for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right
hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden
with Christ in God.- Colossians 3:1-3
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience.- Colossians 3:12
And yet I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in
the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am
only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the
gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all
knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to
the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may
boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient,
love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not
89
proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it
is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love
does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always
protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will
cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where
there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part
and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes,
what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like
a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I
became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For
now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall
see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known. And now these three remain:
faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
- 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all
times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you
.– 2 Thessalonians 3:16
90
91
About the Author
Daniel Keeran, MSW, has been a counselor and therapist
for over 30 years in hospital and private practice settings.
He is the author of Effective Counseling Skills: the practical
wording of therapeutic statements and processes, and the
founder and President of the College of Mental Health
Counseling providing practical online skill training in
counseling, for personal and professional development.
92

Transformative Counselling: Cognitive Therapy Approaches

Transféré par

Informations du document

Copyright

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Transformative Counselling: Cognitive Therapy Approaches

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

The College of Mental Health Counseling presents:

Daniel Keeran, MSW, President, College of

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in

Special permission requests and inquires can be directed to the author

Printed in the United States.

my loving wife and daughter

Finding Wisdom: Verbalizing Your Inner Dialogue 33

The Self-Awareness Questionnaire 41

Reaching Agreement: Steps To Peace Through

Your Spirituality Score 52

Counseling for Depression 56

Practicing the Presence of God: Spiritual Mindfulness 61

Sixteen Guidelines for Anger 77

Thirty-Five Positive Suggestions for Ego Strength 79

Faith As A Positive Cognitive Therapy Model 86

About the Author 92

Empathy Definition: To sincerely and accurately feel and reflect

Why teach and learn empathy? The important reason to teach

The ability to have empathy is important as a foundation for

Empathy builds a sense of community and reduces the tendency

While some people may have difficulty feeling or communicating

Select those exercises that correspond to the overall capacity of

1. What is empathy? How are empathy and sympathy different?

3. How is empathy communicated? Empathy is communicated in

4. How are thoughts different from emotions? Emotions are not

5. What is sincerity and why is it important? Sincerity means to be

Emotions can be separated into categories of pleasant and painful

Examples of painful emotions are: fear, anger, guilt, sad, empty,

An acronym can be used to help remember a list of words. For

More information: Painful feelings can be divided into

Invite group members (in group or as an assignment) to make a

2. Why is it important to be aware of your emotions as you feel

Assignment: Make a list of your experiences between the end of

Examples: “I feel happy when it’s time to play.”

More information: Remember that a thought, instead of

“You feel____________ because ___________. Is that accurate?”

Scenario examples: Here are examples of two scenarios followed

Practice Scenarios: After each scenario below, write a sentence

2. The boy at school that others just called hurtful names, is

3. Your friend says he does not want to go home because he

2. Why is it important to check to see if you are accurate?

Accuracy is important for building empathy skills in this exercise.

The following is a list of basic questions for collecting basic

1. What is your name?

Demonstrate to the group:

The speaker talks about a happy memory or expected future

Speaker: “I am going to visit my grandparents next week.”

Double: “And I feel happy.”

Speaker: “My grandma makes the best cookies.”

Double: “I am excited to eat the cookies.”

The speaker can let the Double know if she or he is accurate or

Demonstrate to the group:

“Now I need a volunteer to show you what Doubling looks like.

As the volunteer talks, the leader speaks in the first person as if

Instructions for the group exercise:

“Now I need a volunteer so that I can show the group what a

After a brief demonstration, thank the volunteer and ask the

Instructions for the group exercise:

“Now we will practice making sentences for empathy. I want you

After giving instructions, ask the group, “What questions do you

More information: In making an empathic reflection, an

3. After all scenarios are enacted with each person rotating to

1. Ask members of the group to think (and write) about someone

Alternatively, the leader can make a list of historical people,

Example: Abraham Lincoln sees slaves being sold in the town

A scenario is demonstrated by the leader who makes a reflective

Empathic Listener: “You feel angry because I didn’t do my work,

“You feel__ because _. Is that accurate?”