Psychological Matters

My next blog will be posted on April 9th when I start a series on how to find a good therapist and what to expect during the initial counseling sessions. This week I am going to shift gears and introduce you to Shirley Vogel, an inspirational author and speaker. I met her at a recent writer's conference where she encouraged me in my writing endeavors. Shirley's book, wHispers: when He is so precious even rocks sing , was awarded second place in the Spiritual Division of New England Book Festival 2009. She graciously agreed to an interview about her work and this book. If you would like to purchase an autographed copy of wHispers or to engage Shirley for a speaking event, please contact her at her website . You also can order her book directly from Amazon . ..... Kerry: What led you to write about your experiences with God? Shirley: During my troubled marriage, and the counseling and divorce that followed, I began journaling. I didn’t consider writing a book until after God bro

Thought: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14: 1-3 The final ontological question is "where do I go when I die?" This question seems to get our attention when we have experienced a close loss (such as a death of a family member) or are facing serious health issues. Otherwise, we ignore this question since we generally feel uncomfortable thinking about our mortality. Facing the unknown is scary and we feel tension or anxiety considering this question. Yet, our answer can either fill us with hope, or fear and discouragement. Years ago I heard Dr. Dobson on his daily Focus on the Family radio show interview a mother. She shared a story of how one of her children died in a terrible accident. Wh

Thought: This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24 The fourth ontological question is "What is man's basic nature?" I remember my professor introducing this question and wondering how it could give us problems. What does it matter what we believe about our basic makeup? Yet, I have noticed that we, as a country, spend enormous amounts of money addressing this issue. I see our school systems using educational models trying to fix this problem. The way in which we answer this question affects how we make sense of mankind and its struggle. Our belief shapes the solutions we propose to fix social issues. This is a very important ontological question. Here are some assessment questions to help each of us determine what we believe about man's basic natu

Thought: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. . . your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:28a, 33b The third ontological question is "Who is in control of life?" Most of us at one time or another have wondered about this mystery. Is there a Master Creator who set in motion and continues to sustain the cosmos, or is life simply a random event? If there is a God, does He think about us and care about the mundane details of our lives, or are we completely on our own? This ontological question is rooted in how we explain and make sense of life's purposefulness. I have met some individuals who say that they haven't given this question much thought, as if the question doesn't impact their daily lives. I don't believe this is true. The way we answer this question