155: Interview with Dr. Howard Eyrich

What You'll Discover in this Episode:

155: Interview with Dr. Howard Eyrich

In this episode, we have the privilege to speak with Dr. Howard Eyrich to talk about the upcoming IABC 2022 Conference, “Counseling Life’s Most Difficult Issues”. Dr. Eyrich shared an overview of one of his teaching topics in the conference, “How to Provoke Your Children, Not”. 

“This conference is important for IABC as an organization because we have been spending the last two years restructuring, reorganizing, and relaunching the organization with the same theme we've always had, but in a refined and much better-organized fashion. We want our people to be there. We want them to get well acquainted with everybody that's in leadership. We want them to get excited about what we're doing. We want them to be trained further. And we want them to develop a continuity of fellowship among all the various members and counselors.” - Dr. Howard Eyrich

Register early to the IABC 2022 Conference https://member.iabc.net/2022-conference-registration-page-Early

Dr. Eyrich is a retired Pastor of Counseling at Briarwood. He has been a church planter, college dean of men, seminary president, author, and more than thirty thousand hours of biblical counseling. He has MA Counseling, Post Doctorate Graduate Certificate in Gerontology, serves on the board of The Owen Center and is author of eight books and co-author of two books.

*Note: Content excerpts from the HowardEyrich.com blog

Like a River, Life Flows

Think for a moment of all those wives whose husbands came back from Afghanistan minus limbs, eyesight, or suffering from post traumatic stress. They can never step back into yesterday's river. Their life kept on flowing when those men left for military service. They had only one choice. Go with the flow. 

A quote from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, ‘You cannot step in the same river twice.” It means that things are always in a state of flux.

Think of Abram. He was a wealthy, contented businessman of his day. Then, one day, God called upon him. God challenged him to leave his country, trust Him and wander toward the Promised Land. He could not return Ur to the Chaldees and resume his pagan life.

Life, like the River, Can Be Channeled

By sending Mississippi river waters on a new course, engineers hope to build new land—and test ways to save a retreating coast is the gist of a recent news story. What an incredible idea. Channel the mighty Mississippi! It will be a challenge, but she will be channeled.

A little research will yield numerous instances where rivers have been channeled to alter their flow and repurpose the energy of the river.

In like manner, we can ask God to redirect our lives for the glory of God, the benefit of our family, and the benefit of our own lives.

Jesus’ disciples were invited to use their skills to turn from fishing for fish to fishing for men. Jesus, who invaded their lives with his invitation to follow him with his promise to make them fishers of men. Their lives (and the lives of millions) have been challenged and repurposed as a result—the rivers of life kept flowing.

Life, like a River, Has Tributaries.

Whether they want more water or not, rivers have an influx of tributaries. Some tributaries carry trash and mud, while others feed it with fresh water that keeps its levels high enough to serve downstream purposes.

The river of life has many tributaries. Some are trash, like an auto crash. Some are debris of various kinds resulting from poor decisions or disobedience to God. Others will be opportunities that will enhance growth and development “downstream.”  

Life, like a River, Has a Destination.

Rivers flow to the ocean in which they are absorbed. Every life that flows into eternity is absorbed into either heaven or hell. Jesus offers to repurpose your life by accepting His call to repentance and a new life of faith and service. This acceptance brings a cleansing of sin, dredging of debris, and a new purpose of glorifying Him, leading to a new home that He is preparing for believers in His Father’s house.

For the poor soul who refuses to respond to His call, the gift of salvation and repurposing of life for the glory of God arrives at the ocean called hell and often a hellish life on the journey downstream with a life cluttered with the debris of alcohol, drug abuse, marital failure and all sorts other painful experiences.

Implementation or Channel by life by Praying–

As a person who is not yet a Christ-follower:

"Father, forgive me for I have sinned. Save me, for I am undone. Direct me, for I am lost. Grant me this day purpose for the present and all eternity. Amen!"

This prayer is for you for the believer whose river has become clogged with the sinful debris of life.

"Father, forgive me, cleanse me afresh as I confess my sin today. Cleanse me according to your promise, through John, that if I confess my sin, you will cleanse me from all unrighteousness while you remain both faithful and just. Amen!"

As the person who has debris cluttering the river of relationships, here is a prayer for you.

"Lord, I have sinned against my wife (or whoever) by (name it and own it—no excuses), please forgive me and help me to humble myself, own my sin, and ask my wife (or whomever) to grant me forgives so we can restore our relationship and glorify You. Amen!"