Workin' Girl!

Hey all! I got a job! Cool story:

I decided that I needed to find a job since my hours weren't going to be too crazy in school next semester. I started looking and was having a terrible time trying to find one that a) I wanted to do and b)was part time c) I was qualified for. So I started praying and simply said, "God I really wish I could find something to do with counseling,"

And the very next ad I saw was for a part time position as receptionist at a local counseling clinic. I couldn't believe it. So the next day I wrote and turned in my resume and got called for an interview...one thing lead to another and today I had my second interview and I got the job! And even better, I start tomorrow! Crazy huh?

I am so totally excited because this job is right in line with my career plans and I'm going to learn so much about the insurance/paperwork side of professional counseling. This is such a God thing.

My sister has helped me so much too, because she's gone shopping with me twice to find some decent clothes for my new job. You have to remember my last job was at a pottery. There was no dress code. It is way super fun to have an excuse to get some nice looking clothes! Yay!

I know there will be days when the excitement has worn off and I will really wish I didn't have to go to work that day, but I know this has all happened because of God, and I know that I can handle it and school with His help.

It makes me feel like I am on the right path. One more affirmation towards this whole marriage and family therapy thing. Thanks, Jesus!

...5678 Integrate!

I am not so much learning new things as I am realizing the things I've already learned. I think that's what I love so much about psychology in the first place is that it puts words to the experiences we have. Reminds me of how beautiful we are. At first I didn't really understand how this class would work: Integration of Psychology and Christian Theology. I thought it would be, okay so you want to be a psychologist, and you are a Christian. So how are you a Christian psychologist?

But that's not it at all. What I mean is, that's not the question being asked or answered. In fact, not many questions are being answered at all. But that's just it isn't it? The whole big amazing thing: Questions are good. Answers don't always matter. It's the journey your questions take you on that matter.

I highly recommend looking at a couple of theories on faith development.

First, read Kohlberg's stages of moral development. I can't believe I'm linking you to wikipedia, but it's simple.

Next, check out William Perry's scheme of intellectual development.

And lastly, James Fowler and his stages of faith development.

I know, I know, I'm in a whole class to learn about this stuff, but it's really interesting.

Now, what stages do you see yourself at? What stages do you see the church (as a collective whole) at? This challenged me in so many ways. Where could I be at? Where should the church be?

Anyway, I don't even know if anyone still reads this blog, and I know this one is not all wrapped up neat and pretty with a bow around it, so I guess this is a thinker post. Hopefully it will spark something in you as it did me. I'm not going to spell it out. We do too much of that.

So psychology and theology. What do they have in common? are they really that different from each other? After all psyche means soul, and psychology is literally the study of the soul. Should we as Christians pay more attention to psychology? Why? Why not?