Speak The Truth

“Post-traumatic stress disorder, a profoundly intense response to profoundly dangerous experiences, manifests itself in fear, terrifying vulnerability, and lack of a sense of control. While these responses are often involuntary, Jeremy Lelek reminds us that they are still responses . . . and, thus, different responses are possible. Here he relates the narrative of creation, fall, and redemption to the experiences of PTSD, reminding us that the gospel speaks to our experiences with danger as part of its redemptive message. He points to the wisdom of God in our suffering and reminds us of the saving grace offered by Jesus, guiding readers to the peace and contentment found in seeking God’s glory.Episode Resources: PTSD: Recovering Hope BookletSolomon Soulcare Services

Episode Notes:When feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or self-condemnation set in, some people seek painful release in their own flesh and blood.  While cutting can bring temporary relief, it falls far short of the genuine change that is essential to true healing of the heart.Through the direct and honest example of one young woman's story, Jeremy Lelek points those in such pain to the sufferings of Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross as their means of hope, security, and healing.  He helps them to turn from trusting their own body and blood to trusting in the body and blood of Jesus, which alone has the power to bring true freedom.View Ponts Adopting a biblical view of the body. Acknowledge attempts to replace the gospel with systems of redemption. Accept what Jesus has given in his own blood and body. Embrace the righteousness received in Christ Jesus Episode Resources: Cutting BookletEmail us at topics@speakthetruth.org 

In this episode, hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy are joined by author and biblical counselor, Margaret Ashmore to discuss depression. The periods of depression that we all share can range from having a bad day to grieving the loss of a loved one. Our fallen world harbors a broad spectrum of suffering that, while never the same for each individual, has always been part of the human condition. Yet Margaret Ashmore reminds us that however difficult our circumstances, they cannot determine whether our lives are ruled by joy or by depression . . . the choices we make in light of those circumstances do. She lays before us a set of godly choices we can make in our own “dark night of the soul” to seek God’s freedom from our dominating depression.

In this episode, hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy are joined by our special guest - Brad Hambrick. To discuss his booklet, God's Attributes. They discuss how a proper understanding of God is vital. However, many times what we observe from our own experiences (especially when they are difficult and painful) can affect the shape of that understanding. How do we know whether we have a true, balanced view of God? This study looks at sixteen attributes of God, grouped under the headings of his love, essence, wisdom, and power, to help challenge your understanding. It goes on to challenge how well you rest in each attribute (have faith and comfort in it) and emulate it in the struggles and experiences of your own life. So learn, through your struggles, about the One who gives those struggles meaning.

In this episode, the hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy discuss with special guest, Pastor of Counseling, Brad Hambrick of The Summit Church in Durham, NC how to identify passive or aggressive self-centered spouses, what types of passive and aggressive, their stages, and strategies for interaction.

In this episode, hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy discuss with special guest, Pastor of Counseling, Brad Hambrick of The Summit Church in Durham, NC the reality of "Burnout" - resting in God's fairness. Brad argues burnout is actually a consequence of our life management, and he shows us how to create a time budget to avoid living beyond our means with the time God has provided.

In this episode, the hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy are back in the studio to discuss the "Gospel For Real Life" series that will be launching over the next 6 weeks that will be super helpful and practical in the counseling room. This series includes burnout, self-centered spouses, God's attributes, depression, PTSD, and cutting - they then discuss the 2021 ABC National Conference.

In this episode, hosts, Mike & Shauna, are joined with John & Shelly Bergeron of Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, TX to discuss their involvement with the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Community and their ministry impact with the third most unreached people group in the world. There are less than 400 people in full-time ministry serving the deaf community.

In this episode, hosts, Mike, Shauna, Jeremy, and author of "Anxiety: Anatomy & Care", Bob Kellemen discuss the anatomy of anxiety from a deeply theological lens. In this biblical applicational study, Bob lays out a proper Christian view of anxiety from creation to Fall to Redemption to consummation. Along the way, he helps us apply the gospel to our daily lives and reclaim anxiety for what it should be-vigilance to motivate us to do God's work.

In this episode, hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy talk with our special guest, Bob Kellemen to discuss his two new book series on marriage and family counseling; Gospel-Centered Marriage Counseling and Gospel-Centered Family Counseling: Equipping Guides for Pastors and Counselors. And just as the titles suggest, these books are a "must-have" for helping equip the local church and biblical counseling organizations' counselors. They discuss how to use these resources as user manuals - helping equip the counselor to equip the couple and the family to be their own best biblical counselors. Bob shares the four compass points, sustaining, healing, reconciling, and guiding to help the counselors think through the theology of marriage and family counseling as well as a methodology for equipping couples and families.

In this episode, hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy continue their discussion on OCD and the biblical conceptualization of OCD. That obsession is conceptualized by living in a fallen world, fear, deception, and the subjective nature of self-focus.

In this episode, the hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy continue the discussion of unpacking diagnoses for OCD; does the Scriptures speak to the symptomatology that the DSM puts forth for obsessive compulsive disorder. In part 1 the hosts look at the DSM criteria for OCD. Join us next episode for part 2; formulating a biblical conceptualization of OCD. A. Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both: Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2) Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress. The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action (i.e., by performing a compulsion). Compulsions are defined by (1) and (2) A. Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both: Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2) Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced, at so

In this episode, the hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy start the mini-series on unpacking diagnoses regarding psychiatric labels derived from the DSM-IV(V)-TR, like bipolar disorder, major depressive episode, ADHD, and others by providing an important disclaimer for entering into conversations with highly psychologized people. They discuss the nature and scope of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders with full disclosure on the DSM lens and a biblical lens. This was a podcast we did earlier this year to begin the conversation regarding the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder with an important disclaimer. In order to re-engage the conversation of counseling people who have been highly psychologized, we wanted to review this episode to set up our episode next week regarding (OCD | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Here are the notes from earlier this year on this episode. Stay tuned next week as we continue in our "unpacking diagnoses" mini-series: unpacking OCD.

In this episode, host, Mike Van Dyke sits down with Pastor and Biblical Counselor, Lee Lewis to discuss establishing mutual soul care in the local church - bringing soul care into the life and culture of the local church. They discuss the process of evaluating the culture in a church - it's care culture and discipleship culture. And asking questions that may reveal being a Sunday heavy church. Is it time to change the model of our churches? Is the current model producing disciples that are equipped to love as Christ called us to in order to show the world that we are His disciples? Episode Resources: www.soulcareconsulting.com Material: Level 1 - Transforming Mutual Care. Level 2 - Transforming Small Group Leadership

In this episode, from the 2020 ABC National Conference, hosts, Mike & Shauna, discuss trauma-induced anxiety with experienced counselors, Beth Broom & Lee Lewis, identifying gospel gaps in the anxious heart. Episode Notes: *Trauma-Induced Anxiety *The effects of sin *Identifying gospel gaps in the anxious heart *Concern and trouble are sinful, it's when it goes beyond that to worry and anxiety *What we do with worry either leads to trust or anxiety. And depending on where that trust is, depends on when something turns into full blown anxiety. *Conditioned Anxiety - when one blows right past care and concern into anxiety. *Then anxious heart always puts God on trial and questions His character.

In this episode from the 2020 National ABC Conference, hosts, Mike & Shauna are joined with special guest, John Henderson to discuss a new ABC resource, "Counseling Through The Psalms". John, who contributed to the ABC resource, discusses what the Psalms are; naturally modeling for us a "Godwardness" to our prayers, thinking, suffering, and pain. That what life is about the bible is about, and what the bible is about is what life most needs to be about. And practically, this resource shares what the Psalms are, how they can be used in a counseling session, and after the session as homework for counselees. Resources: www.christiancounseling.com/collections/books

In this episode, the hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy are joined with Author, Elyse Fitzpatrick to discuss her Home: How Heaven and the New Earth Satisfy Our Deepest Longings. And then they discuss her newest book, Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women. Episode Resources: Book - Worthy: Celebrating The Value of Women Book - Home: How Heaven and the New Earth Satisfy Our Deepest Longings Elyse's Podcast - Worthy

In this episode, hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy discuss the new pathway for ABC Certification allowing local churches to cultivate a biblical counseling paradigm empowering pastoral staff to better shepherd and create a culture of soul care within the local church context. Episode Notes: - ABC's aim through the certification pathway to help equip the local church - a pastor in helping shepherd the local church - but also the professional to help better apply the bible in their practice. - Our pathway provides a foundational process in which to grow while allowing one to practically apply the truth as one learns; so our methodology creates the ability to cultivate a biblical counseling paradigm in the local church. - The certification parameter creates a culture of accountability and provides a pathway to becoming equipped in how to apply the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyday life. - Level 1 Certification Objectives - Develop a biblical philosophy of the Christian life that includes active involvement

In this episode, the hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy discuss the implications of both spiritual and physical exercise - how it can reveal and expose what an individual is worshiping. They discuss a biblical perspective towards exercise; all exercise is to glorify God, it reveals what a person values and treasures, and draws attention to deceitful desires and what they can produce. Lastly, they discuss the physical and emotional benefits of exercising. - Exercise - excerpt from the monthly (August) EquipU piece: - Exercise has wonderful potential to positively impact one’s mental state in various ways. It is also important to note that while not emphasized in Western culture, exercise at root, is a spiritual activity. It is a spiritual activity because one’s motives for doing anything, including exercise, are ultimately anchored in what an individual is worshipping. - 1 Cor. 10:31 - "Whatever you do" "do all" "to the glory of God" - Creating a purpose statement - placing God at the center of why you do a

In this episode, the hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy discuss how this ABC EquipU Resource can be used as homework in helping our counselee's see their story's hardships, sufferings, and subsequent trauma through the larger Redemptive Narrative of God. The application from the exercise with the counselee would be; Individual lives are like a sentence in a much bigger story. If people interpret reality based on their own subjective story, then they will miss the glorious story of God and His gracious, continual, and progressive work in the lives of His children. If people want to understand their suffering, their struggles, their sin, the process of change, the means to change, and the purpose for change, they must embed, and then interpret their individual stories within the context of God’s divine and redemptive narrative. Only then, does any of it have meaning, significance, and purpose. Previous EquipU Episodes: - Ep. 64 - Heart of the Matter Part2 "Put On" - Ep. 56 - Heart of the Matter Part1 "Put Off"