ABOUT JAMES and LESSONS FOR LIFE
Are you seeking hope, wisdom, and practical solutions to life’s challenges? Dr. James Long, Jr., pastor, counselor, and professor with over 30 years of experience, helps people discover God’s solutions to emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges. Each episode of Lessons for Life points you to the peace and freedom found in Jesus Christ.
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Episode Transcript
Hey everyone, it's James Long Jr.
and welcome to Lessons for Life.
I'm so glad you're here with ustoday.
We are beginning a series that'san important series, and it's
going to be talking aboutrelational wisdom, how we can
grow in wisdom so that we canhave healthier relationships.
Now, if you know me, I've beenworking in the field of
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counseling and Christiancoaching for decades.
And one of the key things thatbring people into counseling
oftentimes is relationalconflict.
It's a relationship maybe fromyour past, or maybe it's
current, or maybe it's somethingthat you're worried about in the
future.
But all of us struggle withrelationships in one way or
another.
Now, over the years, I've used anumber of different people and
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resources in my counseling andcoaching.
And one of the people that I'veused is a man named Ken Sandy.
Now, if you're not familiar withKen Sandy, Ken Sandy is the
author of The Peacemaker.
He is also the author of a bookcalled Resolving Everyday
Conflict.
But both books focus primarilyon conflict and what are the
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biblical ways to handle conflictin your life.
So if you're struggling withconflict, I would encourage you
to grab one of those books, readthem, and study them: The
Peacemaker and ResolvingEveryday Conflict.
His wife Corlett also created aseries for children in dealing
with conflict as well.
And all those resources arephenomenal and great.
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Now, a number of years ago, Kenfound himself focusing so much
on all of these conflicts thathe was dealing with.
And he was saying, everybody'scalling me in to deal with
conflict.
What would it be like, as hecalled it, to get upstream of
conflict?
How could he help people todevelop healthier relationships
with each other, healthierrelationships with God, and even
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a healthier relationship withthemselves so that they may
avoid or minimize the conflictsthat will brew in their lives?
And so he developed a programcalled Relational Wisdom 360.
And now what he does is itfocuses on teaching people how
to get upstream of conflict bybuilding strong relationships
with family, churches, and aworkplace.
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Now, a number of years ago, Ifound myself getting connected
with Ken regarding this topic ofrelational wisdom.
And I became one of hisinstructors, and now I'm one of
his advanced instructors.
I love him, I love his family, Ilove the ministry that they
have.
And what I want to do over thisseries is to talk to you about
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relational wisdom and how we canapply it.
Now, this series is important.
It matters now more than ever.
We're living in a world where itfeels more fractured day by day.
Political divides, familytension, cultural outrage,
relational breakdown, everywherewe look, there is conflict.
And yet, behind all of thisshouting and all the
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withdrawing, many people arequietly longing for something
more.
They're longing for peace,connection, understanding, and
wisdom.
And if you're one of thosepeople, this new series is for
you.
We were created forrelationships, but relationships
are not always easy.
Misunderstandings happen,emotions run high, sin gets in
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the way.
And the truth is, many of usnever have been taught how to
navigate relationships well,especially when things are hard.
That's why I'm launching this12-week series called Relational
Wisdom, Building Emotionally andSpiritually Healthy Connections.
Now, every week we'll explorehow the Bible equips us to
engage our emotions, relate toothers, and reflect the heart of
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God in our interactions.
Because here's the reality: relational wisdom is not (04:09):
undefined
optional.
It is essential.
If we want to thrivespiritually, emotionally, and
relationally, we need more thangood intentions.
We need God's perspective.
We need practical tools and weneed a path forward that leads
to peace.
What to expect from this series?
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Now, over the next severalweeks, we'll walk through
timeless truths and practicalskills rooted in scripture and
relational insights.
Together, we'll explorequestions like: Am I self-aware
or just self-absorbed?
What is God doing in myemotions?
How can I respond to conflict ina Christ-honory way?
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What does it mean to love wiselyand to set healthy boundaries?
How do I serve others withoutlosing myself?
Now we'll look at tools like theSOG plan, the R E A D principle,
and the TAUS principle.
But we'll talk aboutforgiveness, confrontation,
defensiveness, and emotionalmaturity.
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And more than anything, we'll becoming back time after time to
the gospel because that is wheretrue transformation happens.
Each post will be short enoughto read quickly or to listen to
quickly, but deep enough toreflect throughout the whole
week.
You can follow along right hereon the blog, or we'll also be
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doing our podcast, and we'llalso include each article in our
Friday newsletter for easyaccess.
So if you're not part of ournewsletter at this point, go to
jamelongjr.org.
Just go there, sign up.
You can get connected to ournewsletter just in the contact
section, just put that you wouldlike to be a Torah newsletter.
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Now, who is relational wisdomfor?
Now, this series is for anyonewho wants to grow.
If you've been hurt and arestruggling to forgive, if you
want to communicate more clearlyin your marriage and parenting,
if you find yourself avoidingconflicts or exploding in anger,
if you lead others and want tomodel emotional and relational
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integrity, if you just want tobecome more like Christ in how
He related to others and how yourelate to others, then you're
not alone and you're not withouthelp.
Now here's the invitation.
This is more than a blog series.
It's an invitation to a new wayof living and loving.
If you want to go deeper, Ipersonally invite you to join
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our Lessons for Life community.
Inside the community, you'llfind weekly teachings and tools
through coaching andopportunities, a supportive
environment for personal growth,courses to help you handle
conflicts, emotions, andrelationships biblically, and a
place to be encouraged,equipped, and connected.
Start your journey today atcommunity.jeslongjr.org.
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Or if you want to just learnmore about us, go to our
website, jamelongjr.org.
The journey begins now.
I hope you'll walk with us.
Blessings, everyone.
Take care.
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