Popular opinion in these early years of the twenty-first century has assailed our minds with “politically correct” sentiment. In keeping with this viewpoint a garbage man ought to be dubbed a “sanitation engineer” and a short person is not short he is “vertically challenged.” Even the term thief might offend so we should adopt the more tolerant “ethically disoriented.” This paradigm bares its true farcical colors when traffic signs are marked in Braille so the blind aren’t offended!

This paradigm might even slip into evangelical Christian thought if biblical truths like “judge not lest ye be judged” are misunderstood. That is, many feel as though to “love” means that we should never be intolerant. Certainly no believer should want to needlessly offend, but when we tolerate what God judges we have capitulated to the society we should engage.

Many evangelical Christians would never tolerate impure moral behavior in the church (at least ideologically). Under the flag of “grace,” however, I’m convinced we allow a host of doctrinal impurities to corrupt the church. “Contend earnestly for the faith,” insisted the apostle Jude, but because we’ve bought into the tolerance of our age I fear many would rather comfort than contend. In harmony with Jude, but discordant with the creedal tolerance of today, however, Paul also contended for the faith:

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:17-18).

Regarding the term mark them in the preceding passage esteemed expositor James Strong notes that the phrase means “to take aim at.” Is it possible that Paul, the gentle apostle of grace, wanted believers to “take aim at” leaders within the Christian faith? When considered through the lens of modern “tolerance” notions such an idea does indeed seem offensive. Paul, however, demonstrated the lost Christian virtue of intolerance when he cautioned Timothy regarding Hymenaeus and Philetus whose doctrines “will spread like gangrene.”

Will spread like gangrene? If a Christian today said such a thing he’d be labeled unloving, ungracious or “intolerant!” It’s easy to think that Paul must have only used such language with fringe fanatics, but Paul was publicly intolerant of even the most popular leader in the early church:

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs (Gal 2:14).

In Galatians 2:14 Paul critiqued Peter because when trusted preachers proclaim errors others are mislead. Being intolerant toward doctrinal deviations isn’t sympathetic with modern live and let live ideology, but it is biblical. Even the Christians at the church of Pergamum in Rev. 2:15 did not need to guess about whose teaching to avoid. “You have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam,” warned the Lord, “who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality.”

In Christianity today gracious tolerance in exchange for doctrinal purity is often considered a virtue. In scripture, however, Jesus demands that His church examine her teachers by practicing the virtue of intolerance toward straying teachers and their straying teachings. When the church of Thyatira tolerated aberrant teachers or their mistaken doctrines they merited a reproof that echoed through the ages:

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols (Rev 2:20).

Just as the wayward doctrines of Jezebel (and even Peter) led the early Christians astray, teachers within the Christian church today go unchallenged though they too teach doctrines which cause the people of God to stumble. Contrary to the milquetoast tolerance dogmas so popular today the lost virtue of Christian intolerance is needed like never before because popular leaders with worldwide platforms stumble the servants of Christ and go unchallenged.

In his magnum opus, The Grace Awakening, Charles R. (Chuck) Swindoll presents himself as taking up “the torch of freedom” as brandished by protestant Reformers such as Martin Luther. In this he leads his readers to believe that by following him and his teaching in The Grace Awakening that they are being true to historical Reformation teaching on the doctrines of grace and faith alone. Consider:

Human works must accompany faith before you can be sure of your salvation. We continue to hear that “different gospel”…It is heresy. It is antithetical to the true message that lit the spark to the Reformation: Sola Fide – faith alone (The Grace Awakening, p.86).

When sixteenth-century European Reformers raised the torch of freedom and withstood the religious legalists of their era, grace was the battle cry: salvation by grace alone a walk of faith without fear of eternal damnation (The Grace Awakening, p. xiv).

True, the “spark that lit the reformation,” as Swindoll states, was Sola Fide or faith alone. However, the Reformers did not understand their theological terms as Chuck Swindoll does. Swindoll’s understanding of grace maintains, “regardless of how you choose to live, you can’t live so bad that God says to you, ‘you’re no longer mine’” (Shedding Light On Our Dark Side, tape sld 1A). Swindoll’s confidence in the inevitable salvation of even the most corrupt necessitates his elimination of the biblical and Reformation joining of works to genuine faith.

Chuck Swindoll aligns himself with the Reformers and leaves the naive reader with the false notion that his views on grace and faith are the identical to those of the Reformers. Contrary to Swindoll, however, Luther insisted that works or “human achievement,” as Swindoll says, go arm in arm with authentic, saving faith. On saving faith Luther said:

“Faith must of course be sincere. It must be a faith that performs good works through love. If faith lacks love it is not true faith. Thus the Apostle bars the way of hypocrites to the kingdom of Christ on all sides…Idle faith is not justifying faith. In this terse manner Paul presents the whole life of a Christian. Inwardly it consists in faith towards God, outwardly in love towards our fellow-men” (Luther, Commentary On Galatians).

In his bookFaith Alone Dr. R.C. Sproul wrote: “The Reformers saw saving faith as necessarily, inevitably, and immediately yielding the fruit of works. Martin Luther insisted that the faith that justifies is a fides viva, a vital and living faith that yields the fruit of works.” In opposition to this Dr. Swindoll insists it is heresy and a different gospel to believe that works must accompany saving faith. And this he does as if he were representing the Reformation!

Plainly, Chuck Swindoll leads the uninformed reader to view The Grace Awakening as book recovering the lost truths of the Reformation from the devious hands of present-day legalists who have corrupted them. When the truth is that Luther himself aggressively argued against the conception of grace and faith extolled in Swindoll’s book.

Like those who rewrite history to bolster their agendas, Chuck Swindoll has changed the history of the Reformation to coincide with his views. Does Swindoll teach that “justifying faith is a vital faith that necessarily yields the fruit of works” as did Luther? Does Swindoll insist that “whoever doesn’t do good works is without faith,” as did the Reformers? No he doesn’t, rather, Chuck Swindoll teaches the opposite: that there is no external proof of salvation or spirituality and that it is heresy to maintain that works must accompany faith. And he does this in the name of Reformation teaching! Is this not dishonest? How can this be anything short of historical revisionism?

After years of using brainwave entrainment, I’ve been profoundly affected by the wonderfuls results it has given the people who use it and the many ways this Brain Boosting technology can be applied. While at a general level, Brainwave Entrainment uses pulsed or patterned sounds to synchronize your brainwaves to optimized levels, there are a variety of entrainment methods and systems, some of them are incredible. Listed below are 7 killer ways you can apply brainwave entrainment to live a healthier, more productive and happier life, often in only minutes a day.

- Get a Dose of Relaxation. Just put on your audio and listen for awhile. Soon you’ll find yourself more relaxed, calm and often feeling peaceful. If stress or even depression has been a problem. Daily sessions of Brainwave Entrainment may help. Obviously, being relaxed and stress free can also help limit high blood pressure in some people.

- Improve focus and concentration. Listening to a good brainwave entrainment program once or twice a day will help keep you clear headed, eliminate a lot of the “noise, ” and allow you to really concentrate on what you want to get accomplished. You may find your productivity going through the roof. If you find yourday gettin hectic, you can always stop and take an entrainment break and get back in your groove.

- Become a Master Learner. Eliminate stress (a leading cause of declining memory) and turn your mind in to a memory machine by listening to your entrainment programs. I suggest listening to them before and after you study and before you go to bed. Soon you’ll find you retain information much longer and learn faster.

- Easily Get a Full Night of Sleep. Just before you go to bed, listen to a relaxing entrainment audio. You’ll find any lingering problems just melting away, you’ll relax and before you know it you’ll be on your way to a deep, restful sleep.

- Solve Problems and Become More Creative. If you have some intense problem solving to do or the need to develop creative ideas, use brainwave entrainment between your focus sessions. You’ll find yourself able to think more clearly and, if you are like me, may find that ideas just begin to pop out of your head during or after your entrainment sessions.

- Program Your Mind. You can either repeat your goals and affirmations while listening to an entrainment program. i suggest you just let your mind go clear the first for 5 minuts, then repeat your goals and affirmations for 5-10 minutes and then again let your mind go clear. You can also purchase entrainment audios that already have affirmations directed at various topics already recorded on them. If you are really ambitious, you can record your goals and affirmations over a brainwave entrainment program and listen to that. When I worked as a hypnotherapist, I sometimes used entrainment programs while working with clients. If you practice self-hypnosis and guided visualization, entrainment can be an excellent background.

- Promote a Healthy Body. Whether you are just in to casual exercise or an athlete, entrainment programs are a great way to recover after a hard workout (and you can also use them to mentally rehearse your performance). You’ll find yourself refreshed and able to get on with your other activities with minimal fatigue. As noted earlier, using entrainment for relaxation and elimination of stress can have may health benefits. You can also use entrainment and visualization to promote healing and to prevent illness.

Give entrainment a shot and see how it works for you. If you want to learn more, there are numerous entrainment programs. Make sure you pick a good one. An excellent entrainment source is mentioned at the website below my name.

How to Choose a Christian Counselor

There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors the Bible says. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22. People who have tunnel vision, those who are locked into one way of thinking, are likely to miss the right road because they have closed their minds to any new options. We need the help of those who can enlarge our vision and broaden our perspective. Seek the advice of a professional and those who have a wealth of experience.

Using Christian Career Counseling

Make use of the Christian career counseling that may be available at your church. Church Christian career counselors can be an exceptional source of wisdom. They not only base their guidance on the Bible but are often less expensive than a counselor found in the phone book.

Choosing Christian Premarital Counseling

If you are a Christian couple pondering marriage it is also wise to start a Christian premarital counseling series with a certified Christian counselor. Through these series of meetings you will discover how well matched you may or may not be. It is far better to learn more about each other before you head to the altar rather than after you have been married for several years. God gave us marriage as a gift. Man and woman were created perfect for each other. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. Find out if you are ready for this level of commitment before promising, in a public ceremony, yourselves to each other.

Seeking Christian Marriage Counselors

Seeking for Christian marriage counselors is the wisest thing to do at the first sign of problems. Living in the world today couples are bombarded from every side with temptations and distractions. It is no surprise that so many Christian marriages fail. Christian marriage counselors can be found at your church or your fellowship may be able to recommend a professional Christian marriage counselor if they do not have one on staff. Do not end a marriage without first seeking help and advice.

Do your homework before visiting any type of Christian counseling center or individual counselor. There are many counselors listed in the yellow pages and online. Call your pastor, who, by the way, may himself be a trained and certified Christian counselor. If he is not, ask for his advice on where to seek counseling. Listen to personal testimonies from friends, family members or colleagues who may have recently received some Christian counseling.Remember Proverbs 15:22: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

Christian marriage counselors can be costly. Many professional counselors may actually be covered by your health insurance or by the company you work for. Employers realize that if there employee is healthy emotionally and mentally they are a more productive worker. Do not hesitate to ask your boss or check with your insurance provider. Christian counseling services will also work with you on the fee schedule.

Brainwave Entrainment uses pulsed or patterned sounds to synchronize your brainwaves to optimized levels. There are a variety of entrainment methods and systems, some of them are incredible. After years of using brainwave entrainment, I’ve found there are many ways to use this technology. Below I’ve listed 7 killer ways you can apply brainwave entrainment to live a happier, healthier and more productive life, often in only minutes a day.

- Get a Dose of Relaxation. Just put on your audio and listen for awhile. Soon you’ll find yourself more relaxed, calm and often feeling peaceful. If stress or even depression has been a problem. Daily sessions of Brainwave Entrainment may help. Obviously, being relaxed and stress free can also help limit high blood pressure in some people.

- Easily Concentrate and Focus. Stop and take an entrainment break and get back in your groove whenever you find your day getting hectic. With just one or two entrainment sessions a day you can remove that mind noise and concentrate on exactly what you want to get accomplished. You may find your productivity going through the roof.

- Memorize, Comprehend and Learn Like a Genious. Listen to entrainment programs before and after studying and you’ll be amazed how much easier it is remember, retain and most important understand what you studied. The relaxation from entrainment will also help you learn since it eliminates one of the biggest enemies of memory – stress.

- Easily Get a Full Night of Sleep. Just before you go to bed, listen to a relaxing entrainment audio. You’ll find any lingering problems just melting away, you’ll relax and before you know it you’ll be on your way to a deep, restful sleep.

- Solve Problems and Become More Creative. If you have some intense problem solving to do or the need to develop creative ideas, use brainwave entrainment between your focus sessions. You’ll find yourself able to think more clearly and, if you are like me, may find that ideas just begin to pop out of your head during or after your entrainment sessions.

- Reprogram for Goals or to Change Unwanted Behaviors. Identify what you want to work on with a focus on positive outcomes (on what you want, not what you don’t want). consider creatin affirmations, goals, and supporting visualizations. Listen to your entrainment audios two to three times a day and repeat your affirmations, goals also using visualization. Do this every day for 21 days (or longer if necessary) and you may see some incredible results.

- Promote a Healthy Body. Whether you are just in to casual exercise or an athlete, entrainment programs are a great way to recover after a hard workout (and you can also use them to mentally rehearse your performance). You’ll find yourself refreshed and able to get on with your other activities with minimal fatigue. As noted earlier, using entrainment for relaxation and elimination of stress can have may health benefits. You can also use entrainment and visualization to promote healing and to prevent illness.

What are your next steps? How about trying an entrainment program to see what it can do for you. Check out the web link under my name below for a great entrainment program.

Hypnotherapy has come a long way since the old Svelgali-like days and it is proving to be a very effective tool in dealing with a variety of psychological and psychosomatic (mentally created problems represented by physical issues) issues.

Hypnotherapy is a powerful technique of human interaction that, when skillfully applied, enables people to shift and overcome long standing negative beliefs, behaviour patterns, and emotions, replacing them with life enhancing alternatives.

However, in spite of advancements many misconceptions about hypnosis still remain, which means that due to a level of apprehension some people may needlessly avoid hypnosis as a potential treatment.

Here is a few of the reservations people have : -

1.”What if I get stuck in hypnosis?”

This is a very common fear up until today. The good news is that there have been no recorded cases of patients getting “stuck” in the state of hypnosis.

To go into a very deep trance often requires a lot of practice and it is rare for a patient to go in such a deep trance that they cannot understand and follow the instructions of the hypnotherapist to open their eyes. Moreover, the patient always remains in control and can open his or her eyes at any time they like.

2.”I do not wish to be controlled by my hypnotherapist!!”

This is a misconception with its roots in the not so liked Svengali character who would use his evil to control people. Some blame has to be passed to the media at this point which represents stage hypnosis in a certain perception that one can control people.

Patients are always in control during their session and all the suggestions made by the therapist can be accepted or rejected by the patient. The therapist cannot force a suggestion on to a patient.

3.”What if I can’t be hypnotized?”

Different people have different natural abilities to go in to a hypnotic state similar to the varying abilities people have in sports, music etc. The important thing to remember however, is that with practice, anyone can improve their ability to go in to hypnosis.

A skilled hypnotherapist will work with each client individually to make sure that they have the adequate tools and understandings to get results with hypnotherapy.

4.”Will I lose consciousness?”

During the state of hypnosis, a patient is totally aware of everything around them. Many patients have reported that they actually feel more aware during hypnosis because they are more relaxed and still. They can clearly hear and feel whatever is around them.

5.”Will my therapist know all my secrets?”

Again, this is impossible because as mentioned earlier, patients are always in control throughout the session. The only thing that has been reported by patients is that they feel more accepting and open to the positive suggestions made by their therapist.

It is very easy to lie in a hypnotic state and is one of the reasons that courts do not accept materials recovered in a hypnotic state as evidence.

Once people understand hypnosis better, they are more able to use it effectively as a patient and get better results.

Hypnosis has been developed throughout decades and people are finding it to be more effective then conventional routes in many cases.

Christian Counseling

Christian counseling has to be a calling. If you feel you are called into this field or this type of ministry it is recommended you enroll in some Christian counseling courses. Especially if you feel your gift may be in Christian debt counseling. If you are on the other end of the spectrum and you are considering seeking counsel it is equally advisable to research the background of the various Christian counseling that is available to you whether you locate it online, in your neighborhood or through your church.

Be Called to Christian Counseling

Many pastors and others in the clergy believe that counseling is a gift from God. I am sure most Christians would agree with that statement. Even though that may be true, it is still advisable to receive some education in this area. Having a license, degree or other type of certification lends credibility to your chosen career. It would also provide insights into various situational problems and human behavior.

Earning the Degree

The Bible has many examples of great men anointed to counsel and lead others. It also demonstrates the results of those who seek counsel from the ungodly. In Leviticus Moses anoints Aaron and his sons.

“The Lord said to Moses , ‘Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast, and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.’ Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.” (NKJ)

As in Leviticus, when earning a Christian counseling degree you will receive your certificate or degree from qualified men who have also been ordained. Upon graduation, you will be “anointed” so to speak) certified by your professors that they believe, and will acknowledge this before other students, faculty members and family, that you are qualified and led by God into the counseling profession.

Christian Counseling Debt

Finding the perfect Christian counseling debt center may be as easy as asking your pastor. Someone who has been well educated in the financial field is best. You may be interested in going into the field of Christian counseling and if you are have worked in the financial world this may be a great direction for you.

Any type of counseling service can be costly. You want to be sure that the Christian counseling center you choose comes highly recommended. There may be free Christian counseling debt services offered at your church.

Choose A Reliable Service

It is a blessing to have individuals that are obeying the Lord’s calling by helping their fellow Christians in whatever area they may need counsel. It is also vitally important to get your education from a reliable, accredited Christian college. If you are seeking advice from a professional Christian counselor please verify that your counselor has received their certification through a qualified and accredited Christian counseling course and how experienced they are in the Christian counseling field.

Hypnotherapy has come a long way since the old Svelgali-like days and it is proving to be a very effective tool in dealing with a variety of psychological and psychosomatic (mentally created problems represented by physical issues) issues.

People suffering from negative emotions, bad behaviours and other psychological issues can use the help of a skilfull hypnotherapist to change their patterns and replace them with more positive ones.

However, in spite of advancements many misconceptions about hypnosis still remain, which means that due to a level of apprehension some people may needlessly avoid hypnosis as a potential treatment.

Following is a list of common misconceptions: -

1.”What if I get stuck in hypnosis?”

This is a very common fear up until today. The good news is that there have been no recorded cases of patients getting “stuck” in the state of hypnosis.

To go into a very deep trance often requires a lot of practice and it is rare for a patient to go in such a deep trance that they cannot understand and follow the instructions of the hypnotherapist to open their eyes. Moreover, the patient always remains in control and can open his or her eyes at any time they like.

2.”Could my therapist mind control me?”

Many people associate the evil Svengali character who would use his powers to control people, with hypnosis. This is not true whatsoever and the media and stage hypnosis is also partly to blame for this common fear that people have.

Patients are always in control during their session and all the suggestions made by the therapist can be accepted or rejected by the patient. The therapist cannot force a suggestion on to a patient.

3.”What if I can’t be hypnotized?”

The ability to go into a state of hypnosis is a skill that can be developed over time. Some people are naturally more talented at hypnosis, just as they may be more talented at music or arts, but everybody can improve their hypnotic abilities with practice.

A skilled hypnotherapist will work with each client individually to ensure they have the correct tools and understandings to get results with hypnosis.

4.”Will I lose consciousness?”

In hypnosis you remain fully aware at all times. Indeed, some hypnotherapists believe that awareness is actually enhanced in hypnosis as the mind becomes more relaxed and stilled. A hypnotized person will hear noises, be aware of sensations, and so on.

5.”I do not want to unwillingly disclose secrets”

This is impossible, and is based on the belief that hypnosis involves a loss of control. People feel in control in hypnosis, even though they may experience a willingness to follow the hypnotherapist’s positive programming suggestions.

This is one of the reasons that materials discovered in a hypnotic state are not admitted in court. A person can lie very easily in hypnosis if they wish to do so.

Once people understand hypnosis better, they are more able to use it effectively as a patient and get better results.

Hypnosis has been developed throughout decades and people are finding it to be more effective then conventional routes in many cases.

The basics of setting a goal is an open secret known by top-caliber athletes, successful businessmen and women and all types of achievers in all the different fields. The basics of setting goals provide you short-term and long-term inspiration and focus. They assist you in focusing on the achievement of the necessary knowledge and help you to plan and organize your resources and your time so that you can get the best out of your life.

Setting clearly defined short term and long term goals will enable you to assess your growth and gain self satisfaction once you have successfully achieved your goals. Charting your growth will also enable you to visually see the stages of completion leading to the actual realization of your goals. This eliminates the feeling of a long and pointless grind towards reaching your goal. Your sense of self-worth and level of competence will also progress as you will be more conscious of your capabilities as you finish or attain your goals.

The basics of goal settings will include choosing what you really want to do with the rest of your life and what short term and long term goals you need to achieve it. Then you have to break down goals into the smaller and more manageable targets that you must finish in your way to achieving your lifetime targets. Once you have your target list waste no time in taking on your goals.

A good way to have a manageable goal sheet is to have a daily and weekly set of goals. By doing this you will be always in the position of going towards your long-term goals. Everyday will give you the opportunity to fulfill a predetermined goal awarding you the sense of accomplishment.

Here are some pointers that should be taken into consideration in setting goals and achieving them.

Attitude plays a very big role in making and achieving your goals. You must ask yourself if any part of you or your mind is holding you back towards completing your simplest goals. If there are any aspects of your behavior that is being a hindrance or puts your plans into state of disorder? If you do have problems in these areas then the first thing to do is to tackle this problem. Solutions may include a trip to a physician or psychiatrist to control your feelings.

Careers are made by positive time management practice. Failing in a career is often associated with bad time management. Careers require a lot from an individual which often makes the career the life of the individual. Plan how far you want to advance into your career.

Education is key in achieving your goals. If your goals require you to have a specific kind of degree or require a certain specialization or demand a special skill to be developed, make plans towards obtaining the appropriate education.

Your family should never be left out of your plans. If you are just beginning then you have to decide if you want to be a parent or when you want to be a parent. You also have to figure out if you really would be a good parent and how well would you relate to extended family members

Personal finance issues also play a key role in achieving your goals. Have a logical goal on how much you really want to earn. You also must be able to create plans or stages by which you will be able to reach your earning potential.

Physically talented individuals should be able to achieve athletic related goals such as being in the National Basketball association or National Football League. Determining your physical capabilities should be one of your priorities. Physical could however dissipate with the right planning.

As a wise man once said -’All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’, or something to that effect, is by all means correct down to the last the letter. Allotting time to give yourself a little pleasure: should be worked into your plans.

To start obtaining your long-term goals, set a quarter of a century plan, then break it down to 5 year plans then break it down again to 12-month plans, then 6-month plans then 30 day plans, then 7 day, then daily.

Then create a goal sheet for the day.

Always review your plans and ready yourself for contingencies.

The basics of goal settings should not be so frustrating once you get to be familiar with them.

Is goal setting a valid strategy to reduce debt? Personal financial debt can seem overwhelming at times. It can cause much frustration and tension in our lives. As a matter of fact, financial problems are one of the leading causes of divorce in this country. Debt can also lead to poor health.

There is a way out of debt. It takes three steps. First, you must admit that you have too much debt. Next, you must commit to adopting the required actions to bring down your debt. Finally, you must use goal setting to establish a step-by-step plan to get out of debt.

The first step in goal setting for debt reduction is to analyze how much debt you have. Most people are not mindful of the total debt they face. This adds to your stress because ignoring a problem does not make it go away. Most experts propose making a chart or spreadsheet that lists all of your creditors and the total you owe. Also list the interest rate of each debt. Then prioritize which creditors you need to pay off first.

The next step in debt reduction goal setting is to determine the minimum payment each creditor will accept. List that on the chart or spreadsheet. Keep in mind that if you only make the minimum payment each month, your finance charges will eat up most, if not all, of your payment. There are a number of free debt reduction calculators accessible on the web. This will help you determine how much additional you need to pay. It will also help you with your goal setting endeavors.

At this point, a lot of people feel completely overcome by the amount of debt they may be facing. If you find yourself in this position, you might want to think about a credit counseling or debt consolidation service. There are a number of good ones available. Check with you local Better Business Bureau and online to decide which is right for you.

In your goal setting and analysis, you may decide that you are not able to afford to make any increase in your current debt reduction payments. This isn’t necessarily true. Review your present household budget and search for areas where small modifications can be made. Remember, it only takes a few dollars added to your monthly debt payments to make a difference.

Other goal setting suggestions for debt reduction are to reduce your expenses. Examine your utility expenses. This is an area we have a little control. Also take a look at reducing your grocery spending. Buy solely those items you truly need by avoiding impulse items. Shopping at wholesale warehouse club stores will usually save you money. Throw away your credit cards. Drastic but it works. Carry only one major credit card and use it only for emergencies.

Goal setting will help you stay motivated to reduce your debt. Place your chart or spreadsheet so that it is visible. Divide your goals into small chunks. This will create some easy wins. Record those wins on your chart. It is also valuable that you give yourself rewards for accomplishing those goals. This will help you stay motivated. Goal setting to reduce your debt can be fun if it’s approached with the right intent. Last, statistics show that most people who apply goal setting to reduce their debt are debt free in three to four years. In the scheme of things, that’s a very short time.