Pastor, passionate about soul care and Glorifying God through shepherding His people, applying the Word to suffering, and training others to counsel biblically
Arizona, USA
- Tweets 13,476
- Following 899
- Followers 1,536
- Likes 44,011
Pinned Tweet
Interesting watching the "trauma-informed" retreat from their previous dogmatic positions. The move from "The Body Keeps The Score" to "The Body Keeps the Score sort of"
While I commend the retreat from lies, the inconsistency requires further reformation. Take for example the attached article.
This article wants to say two things at once:
1. VDK was directionally helpful with his framework.
2. But VDK's framework was materially false at key points.
In point 1:
Claes says VDK helped people see that trauma affects the body. (Sadly, we know that is not what VDK was claiming to do, nor what people believe now about trauma).
In point 2: She rightly points out the Frontiers article that the body does not store trauma. But then moves to include "body work" as a help to counseling trauma.
These blaring errors in addition to the continued category mistakes show that much work is still to be done in undoing VDK's errors.
1
2
8
1,092
I am a Biblical Sufficientist.
Are you?
If so I want to follow you!
#acbc2024
159
4
344
34,319
Is there a greater collection of prayers than The Valley of Vision by @banneroftruth ?
51
8
199
12,290
As a veteran with a long family history of service, I am discouraging my 3 boys from service.
6
7
137
16,782
All the hostility towards @megbasham book has made me interested, my mom read it and had me read the conclusion which I thought was very good, I certainly will make time to read it.
7
15
93
6,555
Resolved:
To be so immersed in Scripture and pray that I won't be taken captive by empty philosophy
2
4
86
2,148
I wish to honor her to the extent that Jesus did, which was not to elevate her to an idolatrous position. She is our sister in Christ! Which is an amazing reality!
4
81
2,410
John Owen the Biblicist:
"All of Owen's theological thought is underpinned by his vision of inerrant and absolutely all-sufficient Scripture, and in this area lies his greatest contribution to Reformed theology. Strangely enough, there has been a growing tendency over the years to make use of his massive scholarship on specific issues, dipping into the almost inexhaustible supply to be found within the covers of his 16 volumes of "Collected Writings," while ignoring (if not being unsympathetic to) Owen's overall and unshakable Biblicalism."
4
9
66
15,653
So many will travel across the country for revival when their Bibles lay untouched across the room!
5
10
68
3,310
It just struck me, 20 years ago I was on the ground in the battle for Fallujah I was 19!
12
56
2,171
All our frustrations could be easily avoided if we would turn away from things and look to Christ for happiness.
William Gurnal
4
8
58
4,049
In 2006 my vehicle ate an IED, destroying the front end, I remember eating dinner that night and thinking, this is the best food has ever tasted!
1
64
1,120
I was honored to write this article for @acbc!
biblicalcounseling.com/resou…
11
6
49
At least he had eye protection, should have worn a PT Belt, that would have made it safer!
1
48
13,705
Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that Scripture has all we need for life and godliness!
2
45
1,444
14-year anniversary with my bride!
Brazilian Steakhouse!
The other two kids are hiding!
10
1
45
1,026
Appoint secular priests called therapists to excuse sin and bind and sear consciences, therefore justifying all the above issues.
2
1
43
1,158
I'm still thinking about this line from @jockowillink and his 500th podcast.
“And I looked at him, and I said, OK, so, let me ask you this. Are you having some bad dreams?
He's like, yeah.
You having some nightmares? He said, yeah.
Are you having some considerations about what you woulda, shoulda, and coulda done?
He said, yup, yup, absolutely.
I said, do you have some guilt? Knowing that there's an innocent person that's dead, and you're still here?
And he said, yeah. That's what's going on, man.
And I said, hey buddy, that's all normal.
You're gonna be okay. And when I told him that, when I told him it was normal, his face changed in front of my eyes. I said, yeah, that's normal.”
From Jocko Podcast: 500: We Choose To Live., Jul 23, 2025
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
4
3
51
41,566
Studying the Bible for 30 minutes to an hour!
“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:15–16, ESV)
1
48
1,144
“That is above my pay grade!”
The pastor who sat across from me was seeking my advice on how to help some veterans in his church. My advice to him involved siting down and counseling him from the Bible.
The pastor expressed that he did not have the knowledge to counsel them. He said, “I have never been through war so I can’t help him, that is above my pay grade.”
How have we gotten here? What have pastors been taught concerning their role in the life of their congregation?
Is 2 Tim -17 true? Or do we ignore that in favor of Chapter 4?
What hope do we have if God’s Word is not sufficient?
Many Christians are taught that if it comes with a label Pastors should refer out, because they are not “informed” enough to deal with “trauma” and the like.
As I talked with that Pastor I asked him if the Psalms had ever been an encouragement to him in times of trial and of course he said yes and could even list out areas where a suffering Christian can find hope. He made the connection then, God has something to say to the suffering Christian and it is a powerful hope and comfort even to the most intense suffering.
Christian do not be intimated, listen to their story and disciple the suffering Christian with God’s Word.
#Biblicalcounseling
7
1
47
4,091
Trauma has dethroned sin as the religious dogma of the day. Trauma not sin is apparently the root problem we face.
7
6
43
7,908
Fear is a powerful weapon, sadly they would only need to make a few examples, plus Islam preys on children.
1
1
35
1,750
Got my first “disappointed the pastor’s wife wore shorts for church” secret message in the offering box.
21
1
43
15,282
I was just informed by one of the kids at church that I am a good pastor and that he would cry if I died. I feel honored.
7
41
Isaiah 1:23 (LSB): 23 Your rulers are rebels
And companions of thieves;
Everyone loves a bribe
And pursues rewards.
They do not execute justice for the orphan,
Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.
1
38
3,925
I want to do a giveaway of this book since I bought an extra!
To be entered you must be in the US and:
1) Follow me
2) Retweet
3) Tag a friend!
I'll end this in 48 hours and announce the winner!
#biblicalcounseling
#biblecn
33
37
38
5,906
I'm heartbroken, we had to put my dog of 15 years down today. It is always hard to bury a friend.
12
40
1,280
Pretty much all my positions for the last 8 years has been this. Scripture is sufficient for counseling.
4
4
33
3,432
I don't think pastors should wear yoga pants in public either. Let's just say no to yoga pants!
2
40
5,882
Biblical counselors,
Don’t let manipulative name calling discourage you. Don’t be intimidated by all the quotes of famous theologians marshaled as weapons to attack.
Rather speak of your position like Paul does, we hold these truths in jars of clay (2 Cor 4:7, Matt 26:41) Don’t let names like dualist or neo-gnostic or Platonist steer you, rather apply yourself to a deeper study of the Word solidify yourself in the truths of Scripture.
Remember many who speak against your position held the same position until ten minutes ago. Yes the body is important, no we can’t truly bifurcate body and spirit, yet by the Spirit we apply the Word to the soul.
#biblicalcounseling
5
3
33
2,268
People act like “mental health therapists” actually deal with some physical aspect of the body. In truth they try to deal with what the Bible calls the heart. Only Scripture is sufficient for dealing with the heart.
1
6
31
All assignments turned in for my first class on this crazy journey! My research was on Biblical Anthropology and Trauma.
3
31
900
The Bible does not ignore trauma. It interprets it. It does not promise quick fixes. It offers lasting hope. The sufficiency of Scripture for counseling trauma is not a theory—it’s a promise that God’s Word is living, active, and able to pierce to the depths of the soul (Heb. 4:12).
#biblicalcounseling
#Trauma
4
7
30
1,886
Biblical counselors who try to compete with secular counselors by adopting their terms will lose. People aren’t looking for a Harbor Freight version of secular therapy. They need the living Word of God applied to their life.
2
30
454
Pastoring is truly a great privilege, yet also a difficult burden! Yet again a joy! Joy and sorrow mixed together.
1
28
When biological suffering complicates life, brain injury, chronic illness, even disorientation, the Bible gives us a wise and compassionate category: weakness.
Weakness isn’t the same as sin.
But it has a way of exposing the heart.
Sometimes it reveals sin.
Other times, it’s where God does His best work.
Here are 3 passages that show how Scripture treats ἀσθένεια (weakness) 👇
3
1
28
1,454
What if the difference we made is the impact we had on the folks around us? I hope I influenced just two-three guys to be better at their job and hopefully they influenced 2-3 what an exponential impact that would be!
24
1,146
“Preaching keeps your counseling biblical, counseling keeps your preaching practical.” John Street
1
3
23
1,044
Happiness does not depend on outward circumstances—but on the state of the heart.- JC Ryle
2
6
26
2,011
A minister is not only for public preaching, but to be a known counselor for their souls.
Richard Baxter
1
2
22
873
The biblical solutions to anxiety and depression are more hope inducing than any method of man!
1
4
23
There has always been a sinful tendency among God’s people to abandon God and His Word for something else.
—Jay Adams
2
5
24
866
I see three “common grace” interventions being promoted by purported Biblical Counselors: ice cubes, breathing techniques, and EMDR. While they may seem compassionate to some, they are actually cruel; they withhold what we really need.
An EFP thrown by a kid took my friend's life, I spent days picking up body parts after a VBIED. And you want to give me an ice cube and teach me how to breathe? You want me to move my eyeballs back and forth? Get out of here with that trash! Give me the Holy Spirit and His means of grace! Stop wasting my time! Help me with God’s Word!
4
1
24
1,750
Almost 1,000 views! I don’t know of anything I have done that generated that much traffic. I'm humbled and grateful for people taking the time to read it!
4
3
25
839
The pushback on this has been eye opening.
People: “Men control yourselves” me: “ok I’ll put systems in place for everyone’s comfort.”
People: “No, not like that!”
People: "if you get accused we will believe them"
1
1
17
1,306
You should be listening to these! Short, reflective and Christ centered!
Today, we reflect with John Bunyan on what it means to leave behind the old self and walk in the newness of life in Christ. Listen: apple.co/4fPTYvM
1
3
24
4,913
Please be in prayer for @seanperron !
unspokenblog.com/2025/05/09/…
1
9
25
2,265
Judges 3 for family worship, my kids favorite chapter…Ehud and Eglon. If you know, you know…
5
26
738
Alright friends! I’m going to go dark for awhile (4ish years), I have some major projects coming up and I’m going to need all my concentration going to my family, church and projects.
If you need me you can find me in the @_BCSociety or at Sierravista.church.
1
23
691
This is so cool! My blog post with @acbc is picked up across the pond in the UK!
1
22
835
20 years ago today my dad died.
He served his Lord faithfully in Italy for 10 years and then in Senegal till He went to see His King!
I learned many lessons from him. The foremost to be faithful to the Word no matter what else.
4
1
19
604
First night of advent with the family!
We found this log in Marble Canyon when we were swimming in the Colorado River this summer!
Read the first day in @tomascol devotional.
2
18
3,156
You don't need “common grace interventions” for dealing with panic attacks or flashbacks. To be honest those things have negligible help anyway. When I'm panicked telling me to breathe or hold an ice cube doesn't compute. You know what I really need?
-Crying out the the Lord in Prayer (Psalm 62:5-8)
-Learning to practice trust in Christ, disciplining my mind beforehand.
-Putting my hope in Christ days, weeks and hours before the panic attack.
-learning to sing songs of lament and trust. Like Psalm 42.
The downstream effect of these leads to lasting change. Trying to teach me breathing techniques or ice cubes or grounding and meditation keeps me from growing dependence on God.
Do you want to help traumatized people? Help them to trust in God, you do not have to triage and offer “physical interventions” just remember that trust is a slow process that is better than any temporary relief.
3
4
24
1,941
“Everyone can acquire natural habits through repetitive acts. Such natural habits, however, cannot produce true holiness. Holiness can only come about through Spirit-infused habitual grace.”
3
2
22
870
Here is the hood of my humvee when we hit an IED in Iraq, I’ve had friend die there, a trial would be too kind.
1
22
1,189
This may have been the highlight of the decade!
This was my Sergeant Major, he came over from the Ranger Bat, I had mad respect for him, I would never have imagined he would be saved!
5
1
23
675
“There are two books God will go by, the book of Conscience, and the book of Scripture: the one shall be the witness, and the other the judge.” -Thomas Watson
6
19
1,383
People with that sign in their yard just want attention. Real veterans who struggle with fireworks hide in their closets with noise-canceling headphones or sedate themselves. They don't want the attention.
1
23
657