"Soul Training" Exercise: Lectio Divina
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Always trusts
Always perseveres
Love always perseveres. Love always perseveres. Love always perseveres. Love always perseveres.
God brought a few things to my mind as I prayed and thought over these words. The first one is that God's love for us always perseveres. There is nothing as Paul said that can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus. The fact that "always" is the word used makes it kind of hard to wrap my head around. Always is 100 percent. It's not 90 percent, or like the claims of anti-bacterial soaps 99.9 percent, it is 100 percent all the time, never taking a break, never quitting, never almost making it, it is guaranteed 100 percent, always.
God's love always perseveres; it is both humbling to know that God loves me and His love for me will always be there even when I screw up, and at the same time completely freeing and open knowing that God's love for me isn't dependent upon what I do. I don't have to earn it.
The next thing that came into my head concerning this phrase is that of married love. That when Audrey and I took our vows on November 26th, 2005 that phrase love always perseveres took it's roots in our marriage. The ups and downs of life together, the hardships that come our way, the things that love has already persevered through and the things that it will have to persevere through. It brings joy to know that because of God's always persevering love for Audrey and I, that our love for each other can always persevere through anything thrown our way in life.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
September 26, 2011 #2
One of the interesting things that I found in Invitation To A Journey was how integral our personality types are to our spiritual growth and transformation. That we need to be aware of what our preferred method of worship/devotions/disciplines are in order that we can nurture the other side to be whole. So I found this personality test online. It appears that I am a ISTJ. I am going to have to do some more thinking and praying about how to apply all of this to my own life. But it is a good starting point to jump off from.
Your Type is
ISTJ
Qualitative analysis of your type formula
You are:
Your Type is
ISTJ
| Introverted | Sensing | Thinking | Judging |
| Strength of the preferences % | |||
| 44 | 62 | 50 | 56 |
You are:
- moderately expressed introvert
- distinctively expressed sensing personality
- moderately expressed thinking personality
- moderately expressed judging personality
September 26, 2011
This post struck me this morning as I read it. I've just finished writing my response paper to Mulholland's book, "Invitation To A Journey", and in his book he writes, "We live in an instant-gratification culture... If we do not receive the desired results almost instantly, we become impatient and frustrated." This post from Pete Wilson speaks directly to this idea that spiritual transformation is a life long process, much like physical growth. One of the best lines from this post is, "You can't microwave spiritual formation."
I have really been enjoying how God has been weaving similar acts and truths about spiritual transformation from many different areas in my life. I feel like so many things that I read, or situations that I find myself in, or conversations that I'm having center around spiritual transformation and/or leadership. It has been very encouraging to me to be able to see God working through my Masters course work and my everyday life. They are becoming more and more one and less and less school and life.
Re-posted blog from Pete Wilson
Impatience Is An Enemy To Spiritual Growth
I think all too often in Christian
circles we view spiritual transformation as something that should
always be charted up and to the right. While I wish this was true, the
reality is it isn’t, is it?
I love to study the life of the apostle Peter. I’ve got way too much in common with that dude.
You walked away from a certain temptation.
You loved someone you thought was unlovable.
You forgave someone you thought was unforgivable.
You had a moment of incredible generosity.
But just a few verses later we read…
Peter is a great reminder to me that this journey of having Christ formed in me is not an overnight deal. You can’t microwave spiritual formation.
And yet “impatience” which might be the most accepted sin in our culture today drives us to constantly want to speed up the process.
Can I encourage you today to slow down. Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve met recent spiritual failure or you just feel stuck. There are seasons to this spiritual growth process.
Today’s a new day full of new opportunities to connect to God’s grace in new ways.
Have you ever felt like Peter, up and down in your spiritual growth?
I love to study the life of the apostle Peter. I’ve got way too much in common with that dude.
Matt 16: 15“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome itWhat a huge spiritual victory for Peter. You’ve been there.
You walked away from a certain temptation.
You loved someone you thought was unlovable.
You forgave someone you thought was unforgivable.
You had a moment of incredible generosity.
But just a few verses later we read…
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.Listen, I don’t care where you are on your spiritual journey, when Jesus calls you “Satan” it’s a major set back. No matter how you look at it that’s a bad day.
22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Peter is a great reminder to me that this journey of having Christ formed in me is not an overnight deal. You can’t microwave spiritual formation.
And yet “impatience” which might be the most accepted sin in our culture today drives us to constantly want to speed up the process.
Can I encourage you today to slow down. Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve met recent spiritual failure or you just feel stuck. There are seasons to this spiritual growth process.
Today’s a new day full of new opportunities to connect to God’s grace in new ways.
Have you ever felt like Peter, up and down in your spiritual growth?
Friday, September 23, 2011
September 23, 2011
Re-posted from Donald Miller
Leaders Lead People Through the Fear
And yet, whenever I exchange stories with my friend he’s got more to talk about on the inside journey than he does about his athletic accomplishments. He talks about very hard emotional stuff as though it’s a challenge equal to the physical. Whether it’s addressing a father wound, or addressing his desire to love people more deeply, they’re all challenges, they’re all mountains to climb and he does it with both fear and enthusiasm.
Still, there’s times when it’s hard to be that kind of guy. I think one of the reasons it’s hard is because facing challenges head on is a lonely business. I truly believe most people in the world avoid conflict. We either numb ourselves by getting validation somewhere or numb ourselves by drinking or eating or so many other coping mechanisms.
I reminded my friend in an e-mail this morning that sometimes leading just means being out front, going to the places very few people are willing to go. But the cool thing about leaders is they show the rest of us that the path is scary but ultimately safe.
As I e-mailed him, I thought about the few times I’ve gone through haunted houses with friends. For whatever reason, I sometimes feel like I need to be the guy out front. You know, the guy turning the corners first, feeling the walls, trying to find my way through the maze in the dark. But I assure you, I’m not feeling all that brave up there. I’m feeling terrified, to tell you the truth.
Leading is like that sometimes. You’ve got a gaggle of screaming, giggling friends behind you, afraid of their demons, afraid of addressing their wounds, afraid of getting real about their coping mechanisms, and they’re looking for a shirt to cling to, somebody to bump into when the line suddenly stops because a guy just jumped out of a closet with a chain saw. They’re looking for somebody to scream with and to grab them and keep them from falling down. They’re looking for somebody to move them quickly through the room they’re in into the next room, the one that holds yet another challenge.
To those of you who lead, I’ll tell you what I’m telling myself these days, and it’s the same thing I told my friend.
The trick to leading a group through a haunted house is knowing the scary stuff can’t actually kill you. The management won’t let them.
It’s the same with all the scary stuff we have to deal with, all the fear of abandonment and loneliness and wounds we have to address. They aren’t allowed to kill us. Sure we might feel some fear, and a lot of it. But in the end (even if it kills our earthly bodies) we don’t die. We just come through the other side with a knowledge we faced our fears, and we got out of that haunted house alive, our screaming and giggling friends in tow.
If you’re a leader, just know you’re supposed to be a little afraid. And you’re supposed to be taking some people with you. And nobody can actually kill you in this thing. All they can do is yell boo. Be brave.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
September 21, 2011
The "Soul Training" exercise from this past week in, Good & Beautiful God was to recite Psalm 23 before getting out of bed in the mornings and before laying in bed at night, and anytime in between when you thought of it.
I didn't accomplish this every morning or every evening, but I did find myself thinking about the Psalm at different points during the day quite often. We have a whiteboard in our kitchen for grocery lists and other things that need remembering, so I wrote the Psalm on there for a reminder. This helped me as every time I walked into the kitchen it was right there.
There were also a few times this week where life seemed to dump on Audrey and I, and it was in those times of stress that we turned to the Psalm to help lead us in prayers to God. Jim says that you will begin to pray this Psalm at odd times during the day. I found that kind of funny when I read it, and it has stuck with me. I don't think I have yet to pray it at an odd time, but it has become a starting point for prayers for me this week.
We have a community worship service that 3 or 4 different churches participate in that we hold once a month, and it was my turn to share the message this past Sunday. At the end I challenged them with this challenge, of praying Psalm 23 throughout the day.
I will be interested in hearing what their experiences are with this as well.
I [a]shall (B)not want.
2 He makes me lie down in (C)green pastures;
He (D)leads me beside [b](E)quiet waters.
3 He (F)restores my soul;
He (G)guides me in the [c](H)paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I (I)walk through the [d]valley of the shadow of death,
I (J)fear no [e]evil, for (K)You are with me;
Your (L)rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You (M)prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You [f]have (N)anointed my head with oil;
My (O)cup overflows.
6 [g]Surely (P)goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will [h](Q)dwell in the house of the LORD [i]forever.
I didn't accomplish this every morning or every evening, but I did find myself thinking about the Psalm at different points during the day quite often. We have a whiteboard in our kitchen for grocery lists and other things that need remembering, so I wrote the Psalm on there for a reminder. This helped me as every time I walked into the kitchen it was right there.
There were also a few times this week where life seemed to dump on Audrey and I, and it was in those times of stress that we turned to the Psalm to help lead us in prayers to God. Jim says that you will begin to pray this Psalm at odd times during the day. I found that kind of funny when I read it, and it has stuck with me. I don't think I have yet to pray it at an odd time, but it has become a starting point for prayers for me this week.
We have a community worship service that 3 or 4 different churches participate in that we hold once a month, and it was my turn to share the message this past Sunday. At the end I challenged them with this challenge, of praying Psalm 23 throughout the day.
I will be interested in hearing what their experiences are with this as well.
Psalm 23
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Psalm 23
The LORD, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David. 1 The LORD is my (A)shepherd,I [a]shall (B)not want.
2 He makes me lie down in (C)green pastures;
He (D)leads me beside [b](E)quiet waters.
3 He (F)restores my soul;
He (G)guides me in the [c](H)paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I (I)walk through the [d]valley of the shadow of death,
I (J)fear no [e]evil, for (K)You are with me;
Your (L)rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You (M)prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You [f]have (N)anointed my head with oil;
My (O)cup overflows.
6 [g]Surely (P)goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will [h](Q)dwell in the house of the LORD [i]forever.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
September 17, 2011
As I have been spending quite a bit of time reading and studying and writing as part of my Masters journey, there has been some music that I have been listening to that has inspired, shaped, helped me along. I will periodically put up the songs on here that have struck a chord with me for one reason or another. The first one is Mumford & Sons song, "Sigh No More".
Here are the lyrics:
The truth behind the last "section" of lyrics is so penetrating. Often times humanity refers to sin as the complete freedom, but in truth it binds you, hauls you down, and ruins you. To quote N.T. Wright from his commentary on the 5th chapter of Ephesians, "In that world, as in ours, many people saw no need for restraint. If it seemed fun at the time, why not go ahead? Avoid all cheap imitations – Casual sex is a parody of the real thing – like drinking from a muddy stream instead of fresh, clear water, or like listening to a symphony on a damaged record or tape player when a world-class orchestra is playing in the theatre around the corner. It promises the earth and ends up killing you – if not physically, then certainly emotionally and spiritually.
Christ's love for us will never betray us, dismay us, or enslave us. How freeing and liberating to step into that way of life.
Here are the lyrics:
Serve God, love me and mend
This is not the end
Lived unbruised, we are friends
And I'm sorry
I'm sorry
Sigh no more, no more
One foot in sea and one on shore
My heart was never pure
And you know me
You know me
But man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Love it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be
There is a design, an alignment, a cry
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be
This is not the end
Lived unbruised, we are friends
And I'm sorry
I'm sorry
Sigh no more, no more
One foot in sea and one on shore
My heart was never pure
And you know me
You know me
But man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Love it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be
There is a design, an alignment, a cry
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be
The truth behind the last "section" of lyrics is so penetrating. Often times humanity refers to sin as the complete freedom, but in truth it binds you, hauls you down, and ruins you. To quote N.T. Wright from his commentary on the 5th chapter of Ephesians, "In that world, as in ours, many people saw no need for restraint. If it seemed fun at the time, why not go ahead? Avoid all cheap imitations – Casual sex is a parody of the real thing – like drinking from a muddy stream instead of fresh, clear water, or like listening to a symphony on a damaged record or tape player when a world-class orchestra is playing in the theatre around the corner. It promises the earth and ends up killing you – if not physically, then certainly emotionally and spiritually.
Christ's love for us will never betray us, dismay us, or enslave us. How freeing and liberating to step into that way of life.
Friday, September 16, 2011
September 16, 2011
One of my "assignments" this week was to spend 2-3 hours in a retreat type setting, thinking about how God has shaped me over my life. Specifically the times, places, events, people that helped in my spiritual transformation.
I decided to go for a nice long run in the high desert outside of Kemmerer for my reflection time. I love running in the desert because after just a few miles you can no longer see any sort of real civilization. It is so open and remote here that I can feel like I'm completely off by myself in a short period of time. In fact I only saw one other person the entire time I was out, and it was a hunter on a 4 wheeler.
This was a really good time for me in more ways than one. The last few weeks have been incredibly busy and I hadn't really had a chance to just "get away". Before I left I actually felt a little bit of guilt try and creep its way in saying, "You have so much other stuff to do, how can you just leave for 3 hours?"
But I knew that I needed to get out and do this and spend some extended time in creation and with my Creator.
I won't share all of my details on here since I am writing a paper on all of my thoughts. But I will share that this part of my week has been the best so far. I had a blast running and thinking about my life with God so far. I ended up running a total of 12.5 miles, but the best part was recalling all of the ways that God has shaped me into who I am today.
I decided to go for a nice long run in the high desert outside of Kemmerer for my reflection time. I love running in the desert because after just a few miles you can no longer see any sort of real civilization. It is so open and remote here that I can feel like I'm completely off by myself in a short period of time. In fact I only saw one other person the entire time I was out, and it was a hunter on a 4 wheeler.
This was a really good time for me in more ways than one. The last few weeks have been incredibly busy and I hadn't really had a chance to just "get away". Before I left I actually felt a little bit of guilt try and creep its way in saying, "You have so much other stuff to do, how can you just leave for 3 hours?"
But I knew that I needed to get out and do this and spend some extended time in creation and with my Creator.
I won't share all of my details on here since I am writing a paper on all of my thoughts. But I will share that this part of my week has been the best so far. I had a blast running and thinking about my life with God so far. I ended up running a total of 12.5 miles, but the best part was recalling all of the ways that God has shaped me into who I am today.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
September 13, 2011
Re-posted Blog From Donald Miller
What to do with Pain
The older I get, the more I appreciate pain. I’m not a masochist by
any stretch because I don’t like pain any more than the average person.
And yet I’ve come to appreciate it.
In
years past, when I’d go through a hard time, I’d run from it. I’d try
not to feel it or deal with it. But these days, I’ve learned the only
way life can actually get better is if I face reality, face my mistakes
and liabilities and somehow correct or at least acknowledge them.
In stories, characters only change in crisis. Characters never, ever change when the story is going well. And of course the same is true with life. Pain is always an invitation to grow.
Sadly, pain also has the opposite affect. If we cover over our pain with coping mechanisms, it’s as though we are going through a workout without gaining muscle. Some people do this for years and never grow. Ever met a 50-year old who is still making the mistakes of a 19-year old? It’s likely because he never accepted pain and allowed it to change his character.
Here are some ways we can grow through when we are in the midst of pain:
1. Accept it: We need to sit with the pain and not run from it. This means we can’t drink it away or make ourselves busy or “start the next chapter” before we’ve wrapped up the previous one.
2. Gain perspective: If we lose a loved one, it likely has nothing to do with us. And yet, we can still ask ourselves what really matters in the face of our pain. We can ask ourselves how we want to live differently because of the pain.
3. Take inventory: There are other kinds of pain, though, that bring us into self reflection. We’d be wise, then, to do some self reflecting. If the pain is relational, I’d encourage going through Henry Cloud and John Townsend’s book “Safe People” and making an inventory of how you are unsafe. This inventory may help you reorganize your life so you don’t find yourself in the same situation again.
In stories and in life, pain is our friend. It’s an unwelcome friend, but a friend nonetheless. The good news is if we make friends with our pain, it won’t stay long and it will leave us with a gift. But if we avoid pain, it will chase us down until we finally accept the gift it has to offer.
In
years past, when I’d go through a hard time, I’d run from it. I’d try
not to feel it or deal with it. But these days, I’ve learned the only
way life can actually get better is if I face reality, face my mistakes
and liabilities and somehow correct or at least acknowledge them.In stories, characters only change in crisis. Characters never, ever change when the story is going well. And of course the same is true with life. Pain is always an invitation to grow.
Sadly, pain also has the opposite affect. If we cover over our pain with coping mechanisms, it’s as though we are going through a workout without gaining muscle. Some people do this for years and never grow. Ever met a 50-year old who is still making the mistakes of a 19-year old? It’s likely because he never accepted pain and allowed it to change his character.
Here are some ways we can grow through when we are in the midst of pain:
1. Accept it: We need to sit with the pain and not run from it. This means we can’t drink it away or make ourselves busy or “start the next chapter” before we’ve wrapped up the previous one.
2. Gain perspective: If we lose a loved one, it likely has nothing to do with us. And yet, we can still ask ourselves what really matters in the face of our pain. We can ask ourselves how we want to live differently because of the pain.
3. Take inventory: There are other kinds of pain, though, that bring us into self reflection. We’d be wise, then, to do some self reflecting. If the pain is relational, I’d encourage going through Henry Cloud and John Townsend’s book “Safe People” and making an inventory of how you are unsafe. This inventory may help you reorganize your life so you don’t find yourself in the same situation again.
In stories and in life, pain is our friend. It’s an unwelcome friend, but a friend nonetheless. The good news is if we make friends with our pain, it won’t stay long and it will leave us with a gift. But if we avoid pain, it will chase us down until we finally accept the gift it has to offer.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
September 11, 2011
21. Bacon
22. Sleeping In
23. Guacamole
24. Supportive Parents
25. Recovery Tights
26. Coffee Shops
27. Living In Wyoming
28. Pizza After A Long Run
29. Sunglasses
30. Racing
31. The Wind River Mountain Range and Specifically Big Sandy Trail Head
32. Freedom
33. Brothers And Sisters (my family & my Christian family)
22. Sleeping In
23. Guacamole
24. Supportive Parents
25. Recovery Tights
26. Coffee Shops
27. Living In Wyoming
28. Pizza After A Long Run
29. Sunglasses
30. Racing
31. The Wind River Mountain Range and Specifically Big Sandy Trail Head
32. Freedom
33. Brothers And Sisters (my family & my Christian family)
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
September 7, 2011
Continuation of Thankful List:
11. Redemption
12. My Family's Legacy
13. Sunshine
14. The Smell Of Evergreen Trees
15. A Good Pair Of Running Shoes
16. Good Health
17. Fresh Fruit
18. The Ability To Stay Connected With People Halfway Across The United States
19. God's Provision
20. Stickers
11. Redemption
12. My Family's Legacy
13. Sunshine
14. The Smell Of Evergreen Trees
15. A Good Pair Of Running Shoes
16. Good Health
17. Fresh Fruit
18. The Ability To Stay Connected With People Halfway Across The United States
19. God's Provision
20. Stickers
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
September 6, 2011
"Soul Training" Exercise: Start off with at least 10 things and by the end of the week try to reach 100.
Thankful List - Things that I am thankful to God for. (In no particular order!)
Thankful List - Things that I am thankful to God for. (In no particular order!)
- Audrey
- Forgiveness
- Running
- Coffee
- Mountains
- My dogs (Maya & Mountie)
- My own bed
- Laughter
- Small Towns
- Close Friends
Sunday, September 4, 2011
September 4, 2011
The "Soul Training" exercise for this past week in "The Good and Beautiful God" was a little bit harder for me to do on a daily basis. Compared to the first one of sleep, which if I don't do I can tell very easily, the act of sitting in silence focusing on who God is and listening to His voice is more difficult. I don't have to try to sleep, I do have to make a conscious effort to stop whatever it is that I am doing in my day and take the time to be in silence with God.
Also, with this exercise it is not relatively apparent when it doesn't happen like sleep. But I believe that it is subversively apparent. Let me explain. This past weekend has been a blur. Audrey and I left for Colorado on Thursday to officiate a wedding for the daughter of some great friends of ours. On the way down, we took a wrong turn and ended up 150 miles from our destination through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. You can't make up 150 miles very easily in the middle of the Rockies. Friday was another rushed day trying to drive through Rocky Mountain National Park and make it to the rehearsal on time. And then the wedding on Saturday.
Needless to say my alone time with God during these past few days has been non-existent. I have shared moments with God; thanking Him for keeping us safe with all the driving we did; marveling at the gorgeous mountains; seeking His blessing for the marriage ceremony. But the alone listening time just hasn't been there.
Here comes the subversively apparent aspect. I still went about my days, got things accomplished, and did what I needed to do, but there was this anxious feeling present. I wasn't tuned into the Holy Spirit as much as I could have been. My frustration with the fact that we got lost, had a massive detour, had to spend money for an extra night in a motel kind of spilled over into other areas.
I think that in the busiest times of life it is the most important to stop, be quiet, and listen to God. Looking back I believe this would have helped me just to feel more sane about the whole situation.
This morning laying in bed I was able to just "be" with God. It felt great. I wasn't rushing off to go do something, and I could just reflect with God on the past few days and see how my situation could have been better.
Also, with this exercise it is not relatively apparent when it doesn't happen like sleep. But I believe that it is subversively apparent. Let me explain. This past weekend has been a blur. Audrey and I left for Colorado on Thursday to officiate a wedding for the daughter of some great friends of ours. On the way down, we took a wrong turn and ended up 150 miles from our destination through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. You can't make up 150 miles very easily in the middle of the Rockies. Friday was another rushed day trying to drive through Rocky Mountain National Park and make it to the rehearsal on time. And then the wedding on Saturday.
Needless to say my alone time with God during these past few days has been non-existent. I have shared moments with God; thanking Him for keeping us safe with all the driving we did; marveling at the gorgeous mountains; seeking His blessing for the marriage ceremony. But the alone listening time just hasn't been there.
Here comes the subversively apparent aspect. I still went about my days, got things accomplished, and did what I needed to do, but there was this anxious feeling present. I wasn't tuned into the Holy Spirit as much as I could have been. My frustration with the fact that we got lost, had a massive detour, had to spend money for an extra night in a motel kind of spilled over into other areas.
I think that in the busiest times of life it is the most important to stop, be quiet, and listen to God. Looking back I believe this would have helped me just to feel more sane about the whole situation.
This morning laying in bed I was able to just "be" with God. It felt great. I wasn't rushing off to go do something, and I could just reflect with God on the past few days and see how my situation could have been better.
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