"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they
cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous" (Luke 14:13-14)
At Tall Oak Counseling Center our primary focus is to commune with the poor in spirit-those who come to us with
crippled hearts and bodies racked with emotional pain. Our call, as ministers of reconciliation, is to rescue the
perishing and save those drowning in lies and distortions about the truth of God. Here we offer Biblical truth, which
informs people of God's view of them, thus enabling them to risk authenticity and intimacy with God and others.
Let me share a situation that illustrates why we, Christian counselors, minister the truth of reconciliation to the poor
in spirit.
Imagine the fun of family and friends gathered over a three-day period to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of a woman
who has touched many lives. Friends from all over the country came to enjoy and appreciate this dear woman. One
event held in her honor took place at one of those charming farms where all the guests could take pleasure in
old-fashoined hayrides and bonfires. Hot summer days were just made for times of swimming, fishing and floating in
paddle boats across the farm's lake. Connections and celebration dotted every inch of those days.
Fifteen feet from the water's edge, I spotted my twenty-five year old son deeply engaged in catching up with a cousin
from California. Walking toward them, I waved, but it was as if they could not see me; they were delighting so in catching
up after ten years of being apart.
Nearby, girlish giggles and laughter bubbled over. Caught up in mirth, my four-year-old granddaughter and her
three-year-old friend each wearing their requisite lifejackets, as neither could swim the distance of the pond, strolled
toward the pond. Scoutie, the two-year-old little sister stood near the water's edge without a life jacket.
I chatted with the girls as they passed me, then I turned back to the adults in conversation. (click here to enlarge)
Scoutie, unaware of how near she was to danger, continued walking backwards, suddenly plunging down the four foot drop into the pond's depth.
Her older sister screamed, "Scoutie, come back! Don't get in the water! You can't swim!" I turned to see Scoutie's little head bobbing barely above the
water. She was in serious trouble.
Her sister and my granddaughter screamed at anyone within earshot, "Help her! She can't swim!"
Scoutie's sister's cry pierced the hot summer air, "Daddy! Scoutie! Daddy! Scoutie!"
Fifteen feet from the shoreline, my son frantically emptied his pockets. In that instant, I saw that Scoutie was completely under the cloudy water and I was
much closer to the pond than my son.
In that moment, nothing else mattered but to save a little girl who was definitely drowning.
With no time to empty my pockets or take off my shoes, I dashed into the water to help Scoutie. At only five feet tall and immersed in chest-high water, I
tried to grab her and pull her out. "Lord, help me!"
Instantly, Scoutie appeared from the water. Grabbing her flailing little arms, I lifted her head above the water. No cough or any other sound came from
her. Holding her in the Heimlich position, I struggled to head for shore. Fully clothed and holding a near lifeless little girl, the water was not my friend. It
held us back from Scoutie reuniting with her life source of oxygen.
Finally, we arrived at shore, a bedraggled lady and an extremely frightened two-year-old, still not able to breathe. To Scoutie, I, was both a stranger and a
life-giving friend.
Instinctively, I implemented the Heimlich maneuver, and she regained her life source.
Her daddy hearing the frantic screams came running, not knowing what was happening.
What rejoicing there was when Scoutie was reunited with the most meaningful ingredients of her life ... her daddy, her life source of air, and, now, her
saved life.
Scoutie's grandmother, writing to me, summed up what had happened in a thank you note one week later: "You will forever be a heroine, 'the life saver'
for your attentiveness and selfless action. Scout will forever be 'the saved' for she was doomed without you."
Following the example of Jesus, we here at Tall Oak come attentively, unreservedly, and selflessly for those going under. To bring them back up to the air
of hope, which God offers, begins the restoration of life to those who were almost lifeless.
Tall Oak Counseling Center ministers to families almost drowning from the relational, spiritual, and sexual brokenness so prevalent in our darkened
culture. This includes those shattered by addiction and pornography issues, unresolved past sexual trauma issues such as rape or abortion, sexual
dysfunction, same-sex attraction, or spiritual-sexual trauma from cults and ritual abuse. Such issues impact individuals as well as those in relationship with
them. Through a well-defined program of restoring healthy sexuality, we offer hope for healing as clients connect with their true spiritual identity.
The variety of approaches to counseling offered include: counseling the individual, the couple, and the family using a composite of models. Clients
develop deepened spiritual identities as they become connected with God, others, and their true selves, tossing aside the drowning lies of unholy
alliances formed by distorted identities, mostly rooted in unresolved life trauma.
Through our nonprofit umbrella, we purpose to offer specialized counseling options to the emotionally, spiritually, sexually and relationally broken. In
addition, we offer training and education to minister within the broken family systems. In the future, bolstered by possible grant monies, our ministry of
hope will grow. What goodness will come as the ones drowning in unresolved trauma once more emerge from the cloudy waters, reunited with their
heavenly Father, the source of all life for those in need of His life giving resurrection.
cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous" (Luke 14:13-14)
At Tall Oak Counseling Center our primary focus is to commune with the poor in spirit-those who come to us with
crippled hearts and bodies racked with emotional pain. Our call, as ministers of reconciliation, is to rescue the
perishing and save those drowning in lies and distortions about the truth of God. Here we offer Biblical truth, which
informs people of God's view of them, thus enabling them to risk authenticity and intimacy with God and others.
Let me share a situation that illustrates why we, Christian counselors, minister the truth of reconciliation to the poor
in spirit.
Imagine the fun of family and friends gathered over a three-day period to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of a woman
who has touched many lives. Friends from all over the country came to enjoy and appreciate this dear woman. One
event held in her honor took place at one of those charming farms where all the guests could take pleasure in
old-fashoined hayrides and bonfires. Hot summer days were just made for times of swimming, fishing and floating in
paddle boats across the farm's lake. Connections and celebration dotted every inch of those days.
Fifteen feet from the water's edge, I spotted my twenty-five year old son deeply engaged in catching up with a cousin
from California. Walking toward them, I waved, but it was as if they could not see me; they were delighting so in catching
up after ten years of being apart.
Nearby, girlish giggles and laughter bubbled over. Caught up in mirth, my four-year-old granddaughter and her
three-year-old friend each wearing their requisite lifejackets, as neither could swim the distance of the pond, strolled
toward the pond. Scoutie, the two-year-old little sister stood near the water's edge without a life jacket.
I chatted with the girls as they passed me, then I turned back to the adults in conversation. (click here to enlarge)
Scoutie, unaware of how near she was to danger, continued walking backwards, suddenly plunging down the four foot drop into the pond's depth.
Her older sister screamed, "Scoutie, come back! Don't get in the water! You can't swim!" I turned to see Scoutie's little head bobbing barely above the
water. She was in serious trouble.
Her sister and my granddaughter screamed at anyone within earshot, "Help her! She can't swim!"
Scoutie's sister's cry pierced the hot summer air, "Daddy! Scoutie! Daddy! Scoutie!"
Fifteen feet from the shoreline, my son frantically emptied his pockets. In that instant, I saw that Scoutie was completely under the cloudy water and I was
much closer to the pond than my son.
In that moment, nothing else mattered but to save a little girl who was definitely drowning.
With no time to empty my pockets or take off my shoes, I dashed into the water to help Scoutie. At only five feet tall and immersed in chest-high water, I
tried to grab her and pull her out. "Lord, help me!"
Instantly, Scoutie appeared from the water. Grabbing her flailing little arms, I lifted her head above the water. No cough or any other sound came from
her. Holding her in the Heimlich position, I struggled to head for shore. Fully clothed and holding a near lifeless little girl, the water was not my friend. It
held us back from Scoutie reuniting with her life source of oxygen.
Finally, we arrived at shore, a bedraggled lady and an extremely frightened two-year-old, still not able to breathe. To Scoutie, I, was both a stranger and a
life-giving friend.
Instinctively, I implemented the Heimlich maneuver, and she regained her life source.
Her daddy hearing the frantic screams came running, not knowing what was happening.
What rejoicing there was when Scoutie was reunited with the most meaningful ingredients of her life ... her daddy, her life source of air, and, now, her
saved life.
Scoutie's grandmother, writing to me, summed up what had happened in a thank you note one week later: "You will forever be a heroine, 'the life saver'
for your attentiveness and selfless action. Scout will forever be 'the saved' for she was doomed without you."
Following the example of Jesus, we here at Tall Oak come attentively, unreservedly, and selflessly for those going under. To bring them back up to the air
of hope, which God offers, begins the restoration of life to those who were almost lifeless.
Tall Oak Counseling Center ministers to families almost drowning from the relational, spiritual, and sexual brokenness so prevalent in our darkened
culture. This includes those shattered by addiction and pornography issues, unresolved past sexual trauma issues such as rape or abortion, sexual
dysfunction, same-sex attraction, or spiritual-sexual trauma from cults and ritual abuse. Such issues impact individuals as well as those in relationship with
them. Through a well-defined program of restoring healthy sexuality, we offer hope for healing as clients connect with their true spiritual identity.
The variety of approaches to counseling offered include: counseling the individual, the couple, and the family using a composite of models. Clients
develop deepened spiritual identities as they become connected with God, others, and their true selves, tossing aside the drowning lies of unholy
alliances formed by distorted identities, mostly rooted in unresolved life trauma.
Through our nonprofit umbrella, we purpose to offer specialized counseling options to the emotionally, spiritually, sexually and relationally broken. In
addition, we offer training and education to minister within the broken family systems. In the future, bolstered by possible grant monies, our ministry of
hope will grow. What goodness will come as the ones drowning in unresolved trauma once more emerge from the cloudy waters, reunited with their
heavenly Father, the source of all life for those in need of His life giving resurrection.
More About Us
Tall Oak
Counseling Center
Counseling Center
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