February 17th is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. Around this time last year I wrote a reflection on fasting as it is portrayed in Isaiah, wondering at the nature of a true fast. I think it’s sort of funny that I end up writing about this stuff, because fasting (like most spiritual disciplines) has never, until very recently, been a big part of my life, and I am not very good at it. I’ve not grown up in churches that observed the church year, nor do I attend one now, so my reflections on the ancient practices such as Lent are usually entirely my own, for better or for worse, written as a newcomer. I say this as a sort of caveat since, in the coming weeks, I will be posting four or five personal and observed reasons why Lent’s extended period of fasting and willing deprivation is good for you, Oh Evangelical Protestant (and of course by you, I mean me and hopefully you).
Tuesday, February 9
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Monday, February 8, 2010 at 11:27 pm
On Lent and Hard Times: Part 1
Posted by Cate MacDonald | Comments (0) |
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Monday, February 8, 2010 at 6:22 am
Evangelicalism and Spiritual Formation
Posted by Kyle Strobel | Comments (2) |
I have become convinced (and you can push me on this) that inherent to what we now consider "evangelicalism" in America today has either genetic or ideological links with the revivals arising from the first and second great awakenings in early America/New England. "Religion" took a decisive shift in this era, and, in many ways, the American identity itself was forged in the revivals - where "we the people" became the battle cry over "they the clergy." It is also out of the revivals that evangelicalism developed "sure fire methods" for conversion, which paved the way for the modern seeker movement and the megachurches which institutionalized revivals.
It is interesting therefore that this group has grown interested in spiritual formation. As an evangelical myself, I realize that there are some immediate dangers here. First, just as the revivals under Edwards started as an organic and relational movement of the Spirit within the body of Christ, but quickly moved to more para-church (and even anti-clergy) movements that sought to develop clear cut steps and means for conversion, so the various groups speaking of spiritual formation has been tempted (with some succumbing to the temptation) to develop sure fire tactics for growth. The church, all too often in my opinion, has be willing to hand out programs, methods and promises, but has been much less willing to wrestle with the messiness of spirituality with its people.
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Monday, February 8, 2010 at 11:44 pm
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I have become convinced (and you can push me on this) that inherent to what we now consider "evangelicalism" in America today has either genetic or ideological links with the revivals arising from the first and second great awakenings in early America/New England. "Religion" took a decisive shift in this era, and, in many ways, the American identity itself was forged in the revivals - where "we the people" became the battle cry over "they the clergy." It is also out of the revivals that evangelicalism developed "sure fire methods" for conversion, which paved the way for the modern seeker movement and the megachurches which institutionalized revivals.
It is interesting therefore that this group has grown interested in spiritual formation. As an evangelical myself, I realize that there are some immediate dangers here. First, just as the revivals under Edwards started as an organic and relational movement of the Spirit within the body of Christ, but quickly moved to more para-church (and even anti-clergy) movements that sought to develop clear cut steps and means for conversion, so the various groups speaking of spiritual formation has been tempted (with some succumbing to the temptation) to develop sure fire tactics for growth. The church, all too often in my opinion, has be willing to hand out programs, methods and promises, but has been much less willing to wrestle with the messiness of spirituality with its people.
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Monday, February 8, 2010 at 11:44 pm
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Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 7:05 am
Guidelines for good spiritual direction
Posted by jennyjack | Comments (1) |
I've been going back through some old notes over the last few weeks, and I ran across this list I at one time put together (I think it was from various sources, but may have come out of a particular lecture...sorry not to have better footnotes). It was meant to be guidelines for spiritual directors, but I wonder if some of these transfer over into our daily interactions with each other. What would it mean to listen to each other in this way, with God's heart continually before us? What do you think? Over the top? Impossible? Freeing? It is a good reminder that we are all works in progress, and that God will continue to uncover our own weakness and growth edges for the rest of our lives.
I am so glad that we are surrounded by his grace and mercy.
The director should approach a one-to-one session prepared in specific ways:
Through prayer, anticipate receiving the person as one for whom Christ died.
Become aware of any personal bias or partiality that might operate in this particular situation, such as gender, ethnicity, or appearance, Be aware of how the directee's issues or situation might parallel your own, triggering your own unresolved tensions. Be attentive to anything that might lead you to favour a particular outcome over what God might want to do or say.
Be in touch with your own temptations, foibles, and sins of the past, so that nothing shared is likely to surprise, offend, tempt, shock or undo you.
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Friday, February 5, 2010 at 8:21 pm
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I've been going back through some old notes over the last few weeks, and I ran across this list I at one time put together (I think it was from various sources, but may have come out of a particular lecture...sorry not to have better footnotes). It was meant to be guidelines for spiritual directors, but I wonder if some of these transfer over into our daily interactions with each other. What would it mean to listen to each other in this way, with God's heart continually before us? What do you think? Over the top? Impossible? Freeing? It is a good reminder that we are all works in progress, and that God will continue to uncover our own weakness and growth edges for the rest of our lives. I am so glad that we are surrounded by his grace and mercy.
The director should approach a one-to-one session prepared in specific ways:
Through prayer, anticipate receiving the person as one for whom Christ died.
Become aware of any personal bias or partiality that might operate in this particular situation, such as gender, ethnicity, or appearance, Be aware of how the directee's issues or situation might parallel your own, triggering your own unresolved tensions. Be attentive to anything that might lead you to favour a particular outcome over what God might want to do or say.
Be in touch with your own temptations, foibles, and sins of the past, so that nothing shared is likely to surprise, offend, tempt, shock or undo you.
Complete article
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Friday, February 5, 2010 at 8:21 pm
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 8:17 pm
From the Courtroom to the Bedroom: A review of "Apprenticeship with Jesus" by Gary Moon
Posted by Brian Owen | Comments (4) |
A number of spiritual formation writers, under the influence of Dallas Willard, have sought to move us away from a solely forensic understanding of salvation. Gary Moon is one of them. His recent book, "Apprenticeship with Jesus" is a rich read, full of laugh-out-loud humor, moving stories, and wisdom on living as an apprentice of Jesus. He invites us to see the gospel as more than a forgiven past and a future in heaven. While not dismissing these facets of the gospel that address our guilty past and our future in heaven, he paints a compelling picture of the good news of the present opportunity offered to each of us to live as an apprentice of Jesus. (Note: Click here to read my previous post on the challenges of using the term "apprentice" for "disciple").
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Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 10:33 pm
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A number of spiritual formation writers, under the influence of Dallas Willard, have sought to move us away from a solely forensic understanding of salvation. Gary Moon is one of them. His recent book, "Apprenticeship with Jesus" is a rich read, full of laugh-out-loud humor, moving stories, and wisdom on living as an apprentice of Jesus. He invites us to see the gospel as more than a forgiven past and a future in heaven. While not dismissing these facets of the gospel that address our guilty past and our future in heaven, he paints a compelling picture of the good news of the present opportunity offered to each of us to live as an apprentice of Jesus. (Note: Click here to read my previous post on the challenges of using the term "apprentice" for "disciple").
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Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 10:33 pm
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Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 7:19 am
Being Merciful with Ourselves
Posted by Abbie Smith | Comments (0) |
We need silence in our lives. We even desire it. But when we enter into silence we encounter a lot of inner noises, often so disturbing that a busy and distracting life seems preferable to a time of silence. Two disturbing "noises" present themselves quickly in our silence: the noise of lust and the noise of anger. Lust reveals our many unsatisfied needs, anger or many unresolved relationships. But lust and anger are very hard to face. What are we to do? Jesus says, "Go and learn the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13). Sacrifice here means "offering up," "cutting out," "burning away," or "killing." We shouldn't do that with our lust and anger. It simply won't work. But we can be merciful toward our own noisy selves and turn these enemies into friends. -Henri Nouwen
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We need silence in our lives. We even desire it. But when we enter into silence we encounter a lot of inner noises, often so disturbing that a busy and distracting life seems preferable to a time of silence. Two disturbing "noises" present themselves quickly in our silence: the noise of lust and the noise of anger. Lust reveals our many unsatisfied needs, anger or many unresolved relationships. But lust and anger are very hard to face. What are we to do? Jesus says, "Go and learn the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13). Sacrifice here means "offering up," "cutting out," "burning away," or "killing." We shouldn't do that with our lust and anger. It simply won't work. But we can be merciful toward our own noisy selves and turn these enemies into friends. -Henri Nouwen
Complete article
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 12:11 am
Temptations in Preaching: To Be Masterful
Posted by Jamin Goggin | Comments (0) |
Perhaps you find the title of this series a bit odd, but as mentioned in my initial post, I have discovered that there are great temptations in pastoral ministry when it comes to preaching. Last week, we explored the first temptation, to be original. This week we will explore the second temptation, to be masterful.
As with originality, it must be noted up front that mastery in ones vocation can be couched in a very positive and in fact admirable sense. I have no doubt that there is great virtue in truly honing one’s skills and learning to be as effective and accurate as possible when preaching. That being said, with each virtue I suppose there may be a potential vice. So, I would like to explore the ways in which mastery can be a dangerous temptation leading the preacher away from dependence upon God. In essence, to be masterful in our preaching is born out of an unhealthy desire to be in control. We will investigate this temptation by exploring how it plays out in three areas of preaching.
Complete article
Perhaps you find the title of this series a bit odd, but as mentioned in my initial post, I have discovered that there are great temptations in pastoral ministry when it comes to preaching. Last week, we explored the first temptation, to be original. This week we will explore the second temptation, to be masterful.
As with originality, it must be noted up front that mastery in ones vocation can be couched in a very positive and in fact admirable sense. I have no doubt that there is great virtue in truly honing one’s skills and learning to be as effective and accurate as possible when preaching. That being said, with each virtue I suppose there may be a potential vice. So, I would like to explore the ways in which mastery can be a dangerous temptation leading the preacher away from dependence upon God. In essence, to be masterful in our preaching is born out of an unhealthy desire to be in control. We will investigate this temptation by exploring how it plays out in three areas of preaching.
Complete article
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 10:58 am
Divine Hours
Posted by jennyjack | Comments (0) |
I recently ran across this website for a church who has been given permission to post the daily office prayers from Phyllis Tickle's collection. Just thought I'd share it for anyone interested in giving it a go. You can set it to update for your time zone as well. Enjoy!
Complete article
I recently ran across this website for a church who has been given permission to post the daily office prayers from Phyllis Tickle's collection. Just thought I'd share it for anyone interested in giving it a go. You can set it to update for your time zone as well. Enjoy!
Complete article
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:26 am
Augustine on the Frenetic
Posted by Kyle Strobel | Comments (0) |
"Accordingly, dearest friends, it falls to us in our neediness and poverty to grieve over those who think they are prosperous. Their delight, you see, is like that of people who are frenetic. Well, just as a mad person frequently gives vent to joy in his frenzy, while the same person cries for him, so we too, dearest friends, if we have received the remedy that comes from heaven (for we too used to be delirious), as those who have been saved because we no longer love the things we used to love, so we too groan to God for those who are still frentic. He is powerful enough, after all, to save them as well. And what they need is to take a good look at themselves and to dislike what they see. What they want, though, is to be seen, and they do not know how to see what is going on in themselves. For if they were to turn their eyes on themselves - just a little bit - they would see how mixed up they are. Until that happens may our interests be different from theirs, may that which holds the attention of our souls be different. Our sorrow is more worthwhile than their delight."
- Augustine, Homily on John 1:34-51
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"Accordingly, dearest friends, it falls to us in our neediness and poverty to grieve over those who think they are prosperous. Their delight, you see, is like that of people who are frenetic. Well, just as a mad person frequently gives vent to joy in his frenzy, while the same person cries for him, so we too, dearest friends, if we have received the remedy that comes from heaven (for we too used to be delirious), as those who have been saved because we no longer love the things we used to love, so we too groan to God for those who are still frentic. He is powerful enough, after all, to save them as well. And what they need is to take a good look at themselves and to dislike what they see. What they want, though, is to be seen, and they do not know how to see what is going on in themselves. For if they were to turn their eyes on themselves - just a little bit - they would see how mixed up they are. Until that happens may our interests be different from theirs, may that which holds the attention of our souls be different. Our sorrow is more worthwhile than their delight."
- Augustine, Homily on John 1:34-51