Spiritual Formation – Apprentice 2 Jesus

Arranging my life

While we lost a giant of the faith in Tim Keller just a few weeks ago, the giant I’ve missed is Dallas Willard. Another quote from him that settles my heart:

The heartbreaking temptation to prove ourselves

THIS ARTICLE from Russell Moore is a must read. We don’t want to just know we’re “right”… we want to WIN and then shove it in the faces of people who think we’re wrong. Much of what passes for “political action” or even just “cultural engagement” is really about a sense of injury—more specifically aContinue reading “The heartbreaking temptation to prove ourselves”

Apathy and our current spiritual malaise

So, I ran across this book on overcoming apathy and thought it might be a good read, but I just didn’t care enough to buy it. Actually, I came across an article about a book on apathy, suppressed a yawn, and began reading. Before long I was introduced to an old term I had studiedContinue reading “Apathy and our current spiritual malaise”

What we don’t do

I am reading Richard Foster’s book on humility at the same time I am reading my way through Revelation as part of my daily office. Revelation 2-3, along with Foster’s book, remind me of two things we deeply lack in the American Church, which is reflecting too much of our current cultural problems.

Why we care so little for humility

Richard Foster titled his new book: Learning Humility: A Year of Searching for a Vanishing Virtue. It makes more sense as I think back over the past few years in our culture and in the world.

Learning Humility

I remember a saying I probably first heard in high school: “Humility is the virtue of which I am most proud.” Another thought is: “Just when you think you’ve attained humility… you lost it.”

The way of the Father

The Kingdom of God is about flourishing. It is the abundant goodness of the Father flowing to humanity. We are to live like the Father.

Accumulating knowledge or using knowledge?

Renovare Ministries was started by a group led by Richard Foster several decades ago. The focus was to turn the Church back to the joy of spiritual formation and help the Church walk in transformation. This week’s email letter was thought-provoking as I wrote a post about trying to tackle Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics. MyContinue reading “Accumulating knowledge or using knowledge?”

To be a saint

We carry too much false humility in our lives. Or, if we truly wish to “achieve” we aim high at material goals or career ideals. But in our spiritual lives? We shroud ourselves in false humility or we don’t understand the true human potential and think we just want to survive this life and hopeContinue reading “To be a saint”

Spiritual growth and chaos

A few days ago I reflected on the death of Rich Mullins 25 years ago and shared thoughts from Tish Harrison Warren when she wrote about the impact of Rich Mullins. There was a lot of interaction from that post from friends who remembered how Rich Mullins’ music impacted them as well. One comment wasContinue reading “Spiritual growth and chaos”