The Truth of the Matter...
The fuel for spiritual growth
For the last few years I have had the privilege to help coach a few baseball teams. It has been an amazing experience of learning the game and learning how to help young men develop into the best baseball player that they can be. When a player is coachable, it is amazing to see how they grow and change over the course of the season. When a player is self-motivated, the growth is exponential.
Spiritual Practice Part 2
In this week’s episode I discuss the role of grace in spiritual practice.
The Thing About Time...
The key to spiritual growth
I am the oldest of three sons and I check just about every box on the “oldest child” list. Chief among them is that if I don’t think I can do something perfect right away I usually won’t even make the attempt. Do you know what’s odd about that? I love to learn. There’s something magical in learning something new. What I am coming to realize though is that when I say learn what I mean is gaining new information.
These two things are not equivalent.
The Circle
A foundational tool for spiritual growth.
What if I told you that the most significant thing that I have learned about consistently growing in my faith is something as simple as a circle?
Spiritual Practice Part 1
Introduction to Spiritual Practice
C.S. Lewis wrote, “Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is.” Dan dives in and asks how do we prepare ourselves for being taken off guard? How do we become like Jesus and not just act like Jesus?
Grace, Grace
The Foundation of Spiritual Practice
When we start talking about spiritual practice, spiritual growth, and the like some folks begin to sweat. They think that this necessarily means that there is something we are “adding” to our salvation. Some folks have a deep and abiding worry that somehow talk about spiritual practice necessarily leads to a works based Christianity.
The reality is that the opposite is true.
Practice? We're Talking About Practice?
An Introduction to Spiritual Practice
“Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is.” - C.S. Lewis
Do you find that quote to be relatively true? I do.
Actually, I not only find it to be true, it cuts me deep. As I think about that line it has me wondering, “How can I become the kind of person that does well when he’s taken of guard?”
Romans Part 8: Glory Now!
Dan wraps up his discussion on Romans in Romans 8:18-30. He talks about the reality that we can experience glory now by becoming more like Jesus. When we #LoveWell, it’s a little taste of heaven.
Grace, She Takes The Blame
Four Gs: God is Gracious
Grace, she takes the blame She covers the shame Removes the stain It could be her name
Romans Part 7: No Condemnation
Dan spends some time unpacking Romans 8:1-17 and its connection to a Romans 12:3-8.
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Yeah...I NEED
The Four Gs: God is Good
What do you need to be satisfied? What do you need to be content?
Seriously.
What is it?
Do you need a new car? Those clothes? That house? This gadget? That person?
What do you need to be satisfied?
I'm Not Scurred
The Four Gs: God is Glorious
When I was in middle school I was not what you would call, “popular.” I was a home body, I played a non-school sport, and didn’t have many friends. Shockingly, middle school was really hard for me. It’s not a period of time that I look on with any kind of fondness.
I Got This!
The Four Gs: God is Great
It was cold. The mist hung thick in the air. It was late in a game that was out of hand underneath those Friday night lights. My son, the quarterback, dropped back to pass and after he released the ball a defender crushed him. It was by all means a late hit, one of many that game.
I lost my mind.
Silence
To take seasons of quiet and silence are important.
Simply, observe the world around you. Try to set aside your ego and be present.
This is hard.
Really hard.
Over the last week or so, I have been trying to do this. What’s been beautiful about it is that I am seeing more of my tribe and what it is that is broke. I am seeing other tribes and their beauty. I am noticing my neighbor and the love I have for them.
In this too, I’m seeing my own selfishness, greed, and unloving actions.
I am also becoming aware of an inner rage that needs to be dealt with.
The ugly isn’t everything though, I’m seeing in myself some growth toward empathy, compassion, and the ability to let things go.
In the silence, I’m coming to grips with the absolute fact that Growth = Grace + Truth + Time.
The “Time” piece is the hardest. I want growth completed yesterday. I don’t want to wait or be patient. I am reminded that time needs to be given to all, including myself.
Fear Not
Fear is powerful. It generates strong emotions for fight or flight. Fear brings about not just emotional responses but physical as well. For the most part we work very hard at mitigating the fear that we feel and experience on a regular basis.
The time within which we live is filled with people telling us everything that we are afraid of or should be afraid of. Fear and promotion of fear is everywhere. It seems to be the currency by which those in power trade.
Dignity of the Person
The story of the Scriptures opens by grounding people in their fundamental identity: human, the divine image bearer.
Thomas Browne in Religio Medici writes, “Let there be no doubt at the end of your life that you have been human. You are entitled to a Divine particle and to union with the invisible.”
Beauty In One Another
“Beauty is the soul’s birthright.” - Bernard of Clairvaux
There is something that Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)”
Have you ever thought about it?
To Love Well Is To DO Something
When was the last time that you changed something about yourself? Perhaps it was a diet or workout regimen. Maybe you limited the amount of screen time you were consuming to read more.
What was it?
Welcome! I Wish You’d Leave
Have you ever been to a place where you expected hospitality and received none? How did it make you feel?
- Frustrated?
- Angry?
- Annoyed?
- Disappointed?
- Unwelcome?