Beginning of Essay
My personal theology of pastoral counseling is formed by my belief in the power of the written word of God. The writer of Hebrews states, For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit ....

Middle of Essay
.... one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" Luke 13: 6-9 (NIV). People find themselves at many points in their lives where there is no fruit being borne. These are our down times. Down times come for many reasons such as we're not trying, we're trying too hard, we're doing the wrong things, or we're doing the right things at the wrong time or in the wrong way. Either way, every Christian experiences them at some point in their lives.They come to pastors as problems with the family, marriage, child rearing, sexual dysfunction.They come as other relational problems with peers ....