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Dr. James Long, Jr.

Who Am I?

Hello, my name is James Long, Jr. I am a Pastor, Professor, Board Certified Professional Counselor, and Certified Biblical Counselor. I am passionate about the gospel of God’s amazing grace to us in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

My Testimony

I was born in New Jersey. I grew up in a religious but not Christian home. My home life was chaotic, and it lacked a sense of security or assurance. My parents divorced when I was 13 years old. 

 

My mother, wanting to get us a good Christian education, sent my brother and me to Brookdale Christian School, a ministry of Brookdale Baptist Church in Bloomfield, NJ. I began attending the junior high youth group of the church. At Pinebrook Bible Conference, on a youth winter retreat, the retreat speaker confronted me with the gospel message. He asked if we were sure we would go to heaven if we were to die that night. I was not sure.

 

I knew about Christ. I had even won Bible memory competitions at school, but I had never personally placed my trust in Him. I prayed and asked Him to forgive my sins. I acknowledged that He was the only Savior. I asked Jesus to come into my life. I was converted to Christ.

Since my conversion, I have been continually blessed by God. He graciously saved my mother, brother, sister, and maternal grandparents. He also gave me a family in the church that provided a role model and several significant father figures. However, more importantly, my conversion has allowed me to develop an authentic relationship with my faithful Heavenly Father.

 

I cannot tell you what it means to call the Creator God, Sustaining God, and Saving God, my Father. I am His child. He is always present, all-powerful, and all-wise God. He wants the best for me and is faithful. In Him, I am completely secure and thoroughly assured. He has graced me with new life, and He continues to grace me by making me a new creation.

 

My Education

I attended Northeastern Bible College (now part of The Kings College of New York.) I received several degrees while at the college. I went on to New York University for my graduate degree. I received my Doctor of Theology degree with an emphasis in Biblical Counseling from Master’s College. I am a certified Biblical counselor, Board Certified Professional Counselor, and certified Relational Wisdom instructor. 

 

My Ministry

Throughout my life, I have served in several churches as a pastor or elder. I began my counseling ministry in 1992. I have taught on the undergraduate and graduate level at several Christian colleges and universities. I am a frequent speaker conference and retreat speaker.

 

I live in New Jersey with my wife, Amy, and our three children, Abby, Hannah, and Isaiah.

 

S.D.G.

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Gratitude journal

When was the last time someone said thank you to you? When was the last time you said thank you to someone else? So many people today struggle with a lack of thankfulness and ingratitude. This leads to struggles with complaining, criticizing, and comparing. Gratitude and thankfulness provide a powerful remedy for these problems. This gratitude journal helps us to identify what we should be grateful for and what we do as a result of seeing life as a gift.

God's grace prayer journal

Do you struggle with applying the truth that you learn during your study of God’s word? This God’s grace prayer journal will allow you to focus on gratitude and live in contentment in life. The journal pages encourage you to observe what you are learning from the Bible text, evaluate how you have failed to live according to the truths stated, seek forgiveness, and develop godly plans for change.

Giving hope

Do you struggle with the lack of hope? Do you find yourself struggling with doubt and insecurity during times of great challenge? During those times, you need to find your rest and assurance in pondering, personalizing, praying, and practicing what God’s Word says. In the short devotional, spend time meditating and studying each of these passages. Write down whatever comes to mind in the spaces below. And let God speak to you.

Discovering Godly patterns

One of the keys to growing in Christlikeness in our lives is to unearth and discover, and biblically evaluate our thinking patterns, speaking, and acting. This worksheet will help you be honest and specific about areas in your life that are not meeting biblical standards in thinking, speaking, and acting.

Counseling review journal

The God who began a good work in you will continue it through your lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face-to-face. God works for us, and God works in us. He enables us to become more like Christ every single day. This work is progressive and continual in this life. This worksheet helps us review and evaluate gains made during counseling and discipleship, show gratitude to God for what he has done, and develop plans for future growth and change.

Conflict review worksheet

There probably is not a day that goes by that we do not have some level of conflict with others. This worksheet helps us focus on the problem and not the person. It helps us evaluate how we have handled a dispute and how we should deal with it moving forward.

Bible study notes sheet

Do you ever struggle with doing a Bible study or journaling the key ideas from your reading? This Bible Study Note Sheet will encourage you to ponder and meditate on Scripture. Also, God’s Word is meant for you, so this worksheet will help you personalize what you are learning. It will also guide you in learning to pray God’s Word, and finally, it will encourage you to put into practice the principles and promises you find in reading the Word of God.

Anger journal

Anger is a significant issue for so many people. People often stuff or spew their anger, but very few learn to study their anger. This journal assignment will help you to do just that. It will help you understand, evaluate, and respond to your anger in better ways.

4 Steps to rethinking a problem

Do you ever find yourself getting overwhelmed with problems? Do you find yourself struggling with thinking clearly during a challenging situation? This four-step approach to rethinking a problem will help.

4P problem-solving approach worksheet

Problems can seem overwhelming. When we are in the midst of a significant crisis, many of us struggle with defining the problem and implementing helpful solutions. This worksheet helps us to identify three unbiblical and unproductive ways of handling problems. It also encourages us to destroy problems, not people, as we deal with issues in a biblical and God-honoring way.