Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
went to the two below workshops/seminar this 1st & 2nd May!
1st May's session was from 8.30am (started with P&W session thankfully!) up till 10pm!! the longest class i've ever had!! and what a marathon! amazingly and thankfully, my dear sheep also went, together with many other CG and Unit sisters (& a few) brothers. Quite encouraged to see many of them!
I think the workshop was really good and practical. It touched into the area or our inner being, the understanding of it that many of us seldom look into. Uptill when things happen and we feel so distressed, worked out etc. etc. and don't know why.
Worst, you hear stories of how people have been in bondage of a particular past hurt for 30 years until it was uncovered and healed, and finally freed!! after something happened that they ended up in places where people helped them to see themselves and overcome..
The councellors, people helper. (And of course with spiritual intervention where God came into the picture.) Only Christ and restore and heal our brokeness, give us hope and a new life, forgiveness of sin. Nothing else.
Help in Distressed Times Symposium
Date & Time: 1 May (Mon) 8:30am – 6:00pm
Venue: The Nexus Auditorium
Instructors: Doctoral students, School of Psychology & Counseling, Regent University
This symposium provides insight into the sources, symptoms and management of emotional distresses and different types of stress. It also consists of workshops covering topics such as anger management, emotional dependency, mood disorders, crisis management, work stress and grief. Biblical principles and practical exercises will be engaged. You would learn the techniques of caring for yourself and others.
Exploring God Workshop
Date & Time: 1 & 2 May (Mon & Tues) 7:30pm – 10:00pm
Venue: The Nexus Auditorium
Speaker: Dr. Glen Moriarty, Professor of Psychology, Regent University
In the Exploring God workshop, Dr. Moriarty helps participants identify and then find ways to change their emotional experience of God so that it more closely matches their theological beliefs about God. Many Christians report that they believe in God's love and forgiveness, but many struggles to experience God's love and forgiveness. They have head knowledge, but not heart knowledge. They understand God accepts them, but sometimes they sense that they have to be perfect to win His love. This workshop helps participants use practical tools to identify their emotional experience of God and then illustrates easy-to-follow steps to change this experience so it is in line with their Christian faith.
source: http://www.hopesingapore.org.sg/hopeseminary.htm
I was greatly blessed, inspired and learnt lots about myself and the emotions, pyschological principles from Dr. Glendon Moriarty
who lead the team of doctoral students.
I was blessed to have met a talked to a few more.. as they came to teach in the first lesson of AT107 'Inner Healing & Forgiveness' Hope Seminary course on Saturday.
1. Heather Brooke
2. Joanna ___
3. John
4. Shannan
5. Michelle King
Joanna is a missionary kid whos parents are fulfilling the call of God to minister to abandoned Children in Kenya. Their home has 49 children now..
at 17, she left to US for education and now is in the fourth and last year of her Clinical Psychology doctoral studies at Reagent University (same for the rest), the Uni where dear Charmaine Chee (Hope) studied.
Really blessed by their sharings.
And i understood more about emotions, my emotions, and how i can be secure and even acknowledge them. When i feel angry etc. etc.
In the past, i surpress or simply ignore or brush away emotions that are not pleasant
and simply forget about it. in the past, one year ago, i didn't understand that it's ok to feel hurt.. and acknowlegde so.. instead of thinking there's something wrong with me. in year 2005 up till current, i've been put into many circumstances where many emotions like hurt, anger, jealousy surfaced.. and i'm learning to acknowledge them and handle them in healthy and Christ-honoring ways..
I'm still in the process of discovering truths in this area and uncovering the past, buried or unresolved hurts and wounds to be healed by God.
Bit by bit. Well..towards emotional wellness and maturity!!
(They taught also that, people need to be equipped with the tools to cope with their past hurts or issues, before uncovering them, and as counsellors they need to do that)
This is out pouring of God's love in healing us and making us whole again in Him.
I believe this is crucial and also God's work in me to serve as His shepherd in the future.
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some learnings in brief:
1. Your Thinking affects how you feel, in terms affect how you behave.To change it, change your thinking (by replacing with God's truth)or thinking positive, you change how you feel and hence the outcome.
Applied in Cognitive Behavior Therapy
2. About God image
How you see (view or experience God) is more likely linked to how you view or relate to your parents in childhood.
We did a few surveys and actually discovered how i feel towards God has similarities to how i feel towards my dad sometimes. PLease note that this is the 'feel' or experience God emotionally part. (no time to elaborate my personal examples). can talk to me in person if you want examples.
btw, in my survey-- my negative God image shows God is a:
Divine Disappointment, Robber God,... etc..(forgot)..don't have my notes with me now..
this explains the doubts i had earlier about God's goodness and faithfulness in delivering His promises, not with-holding good things from me.
(And it ties in with how I feel towards my parents in the past, which shaped how i respond to life now. I'm quite a stingy and keep my posessions well kind of person because i felt that i wasn't well provided for, and whatever goodness i have, i guard it tightly, because i feel that if i don't, i have nothing for myself)
Now i'm still learning how to be more generous and give freely to bless others.
Difficult to comprehend and find a balance between being a 'good steward' or 'planning' with giving generously).
And of course in our mind, we know God is perfect, loving, merciful, gracious..etc. etc..
and at this seminar, the professor taught how we can connect our emotional/haert experience of God with our head knowledge of God.
For change to occur, we need both head knowledge and heart knowledge..
how true.
3. Interesting finding:
People are attracted to future spouse who are similar to how thier relationship with their parents are. For example, if a kid girl grew up with a alcoholic and abusive father,this person may grow up attracted to the same kind of guy.
This is because the consistency of the abusive environment which they are so used to, feel safe in this kind of treatment, compared to a change or something different.
Same for a boy with a controlling and domineering mum will probably get attracted to a wife who's doomineering and bosy.
wahh..am i attraced to short-tempered, or perhaps (mildly) violent kind of people?
actually bit true. And it's also sub-consious.
Nevertheless, this doesn't determine our fate or destiny. God does, especially when He changes lives and transforms us from within.
Praise the Lord, amen.
4. Other learnings and Applications:
2 minute rule. Just-Do It! if you have a small task and you think you can finish within 2 minutes. Else you'll end up with fifty 2 Minutes task at hand, and that's overwhelming..
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At the end of the 2 day session, at the back of my mind, i have 3 things to settle, reflect upon or deal with with God.
1. The healing of a past wound or memory that God brought up in my mind during the workshop. It was really locked up or buried, but unresolved internally. and I realise how it affecting how I have been relating to my father all the while.
2. To work through my current Emotional distress.
which is in the process, and something dramatic actually happen. (The death and funeral). not sure if it works or die a good death, or will it resurrect.
3. i forgot.. oops.
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