tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25627850382823325522024-03-14T07:10:11.681-07:00sanctus.crossin pursuit of faithful serviceAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-71656931636704274362008-05-09T10:03:00.001-07:002008-05-09T10:03:42.068-07:00Morning practices, pt. II<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jason.re.campbell/SCSD6CBB4VI/AAAAAAAAAms/P8y35OccPS8/s1600-h/image7.png"><img height="342" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jason.re.campbell/SCSD7CBB4WI/AAAAAAAAAm0/-k7_AeJMUMg/image_thumb5.png?imgmax=800" width="238" align="left" /></a> Allow me to <a href="http://sanctuscross.blogspot.com/2008/05/morning-practices-for-good-day.html">return to the subject</a> of my quest for good morning practices.  By these, I mean morning practices which foster spiritual formation, faithfulness, and peace; in other words, a way to start my day holy, healthy, and happy (so far as it depends on me).</p> <p>When last I wrote on this subject, I was in the midst of a transition in morning practices, having come through a period of heavy stress combined with a major shift in the habits of our very young children.  This, in the midst of more than a week away in California, forced a big transition in my morning habits.  To reiterate, here were my hopes and dreams for a particular morning:</p> <ul> <li>Breakfast </li> <li>Coffee </li> <li>Prayer </li> <li>Engagement with the Scriptures </li> <li>A GTD daily review </li> <li>Exercise </li> <li>Writing </li> </ul> <p>Not all of these are created equal:  Breakfast and coffee are not disciplines at all--I simply don't miss them, ever.  It's easy to make and eat breakfast (cereal) and coffee is almost as quick.  On a rushed morning, the whole process takes less than 15 minutes, less if I'm grabbing coffee on my way somewhere.  I include them here more for the sake of completeness.  </p> <p>The practice of prayer and engagement with the Scriptures are disciplines for me.  How I feel on a particular morning influences how difficult it is to actually begin these processes.  It is a rare morning when I <em>forget</em>, but often I remember and <em>avoid.</em>  Excuses make themselves available and I find myself sidestepping these practices, promising myself I'll get to them "after I'm done with such-and-such."  Rarely happens.  That's why they call these disciplines; when I am tired, drained, stressed out, locked in struggle with sin (or struggling to ignore sin), or exerting myself emotionally in any other way, spiritual practices become difficult.  The discipline part of these spiritual practices take over in a trusted rhythm, leading me to begin these practices in spite of stiff resistance.  Even better, these rhythms also carry me through the practice, very often leaving me refreshed, restored, and filled in the process.  In fact, I cannot remember an occasion when I have defied the forces which push against these spiritual practices and then felt worse after going through with them.  What else should I expect from an encounter with the Author of Life?  But I always seem to forget that part at the beginning of the struggle.</p> <p>The GTD daily review goes in a slightly different category than the spiritual practices.  Doing a daily review is not emotionally draining for me; in fact, once I begin the process, it threatens to run away with me.  The daily review sparks something that inspires me to gain perspective on my day, resulting in a sense of purpose and action which, properly harnessed, catapults me into my work day.  This has a lot to do with the fact that I love my "job", and as long as I don't feel too overwhelmed, I can't wait to get started on the tasks for the day.  My problem with the GTD daily review is to keep it sharply honed so it doesn't eat my morning, bleeding seamlessly into a task-attack, email-fest, or blog-reading sinkhole.  There is also a danger in the review becoming a source of idolatry, granting me a false sense of control or self-importance about my place in the world that day.</p> <p>And lastly, exercise and writing fall into a fourth separate category, since they require a much larger time investment and are therefore more difficult for me to cram into a particular morning.  My goal is a 15-20 minute period of exercise and 1000-1500 words per writing period.  Less than these amounts for either goal bring about little in terms of results for which the goals are intended, so they stand as bare minimums.  You might be forgiven for wondering what exercise and writing have to do with spiritual formation, faithfulness, and peace.  Exercise properly undertaken invigorates the body in the short term.  Over longer periods, exercise increases energy overall levels and adds to emotional health.  In short, it allows me to undertake those things to which I am called with vigor and energy.  As far as writing goes, it is something which I deeply enjoy.  I find restoration and a renewal of my creative spirit in such an activity.  It is also something which I consider a gift from God, and in that gift, I find a calling.  Living into my calling enlivens my passion, fulfills part of the purpose for which I was made, and brings me joy in the act of co-creation with God for the benefit of others.</p> <p>These are the elements that I hope to use to begin my day in spiritual formation, faithfulness, and peace.  (I'll write soon on the specific forms each of these will take, and then exactly how it's going...)</p> Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-62330311057334232002008-05-09T09:40:00.001-07:002008-05-09T09:41:11.097-07:00Morning practices for a good day<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jason.re.campbell/SCR-biBB4RI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/nBPcZRwS3uk/s1600-h/image%5B1%5D.png"><img height="176" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/jason.re.campbell/SCR-cSBB4SI/AAAAAAAAAmU/4V849AZaDU4/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="236" align="left" /></a> Our routines shape so much of who we are, both for the good and the not-so-good.  I'm one of those people who loves his morning routine, and I love even more to fiddle with it, chasing the perfect beginning to that elusive "good day."  With years of experience in such fiddling, I have discovered that how you begin the day has a lot to do with your perceptions of that day at its end.</p> <p>Here are the things with which (ideally) I'd begin my day:</p> <ul> <li>Breakfast </li> <li>Coffee </li> <li>Prayer </li> <li>Engagement with the Scriptures </li> <li>A GTD daily review </li> <li>Exercise </li> <li>Writing </li> </ul> <p>When leaving my morning routine and beginning whatever that day holds, I'd like to feel unhurried, fully submitted to God's purposes for my life in general and for that particular day.  I'd like to have the echo of God's voice following me as I heard it in His Scriptures.  I'd like to feel confident about what needed doing that day, as well as feeling confident I was moving toward my larger goals for the week, month, year, and lifetime.</p> <p>For the sake of contrast, here's how I've been starting my day:</p> <ul> <li>Breakfast </li> <li>Coffee </li> <li>Google Reader, catching up on various blogs/sites while shoveling cereal in my face </li> <li>Rushing off to start my day, often (but not always) getting in one or more of the following: <ul> <li>Prayer (sometimes including some time in the Scriptures) -- usually happens 4-5 days per week.  Less often on non-work, non-week days. </li> <li>GTD daily review -- usually happens 3-4 days a week.  Never on non-work, non-week days. </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>I have rarely been getting at all to exercise or to writing.</p> <p>My big pitfalls lately have been:</p> <ul> <li>Tiredness.  This kills exercise first.  When I'm blasted at the end of the day and have a few spare minutes, I hardly feel like climbing on the treadmill or busting out pushups.  Also drains the goodness from otherwise good mornings; prayers seem dry, Scripture reading hard when I'm tired. </li> <li>Creatively spent.  Preaching every week as well as constant attention to envisioning the future tends to drain your batteries on creativity.  I face a blank page now and then, and decide to just surf blogs instead of writing.  Input instead of output. </li> <li>No home office.  I love my youngest daughter dearly.  But she stole my office.  In order to have a semblance of a contiguous morning, I often have to leave the house for a coffee shop or something similar.  This adds transit times and distractions, not to mention paying "rent" by buying coffee. </li> <li>Feeling overwhelmed with to-do's.  This has the effect of pressing on my morning time, and I find myself wading into the email or task storm earlier than I should, rather than spending adequate time gaining prayerful, godly perspective or giving time to things which energize and sustain me. </li> </ul> <p>I've got a few ideas of things to do to take my morning routine to the next step.  But before I share, any of you have any creative ideas that you use to get your day started off right?</p> Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-82810168376732709932008-03-12T08:29:00.001-07:002008-03-12T08:29:47.485-07:00Asking the question, "what is the gospel?"<p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/jason.re.campbell/R9f25XkIr-I/AAAAAAAAASw/UsxCMCE1fMc/image12%5B4%5D"><img height="155" alt="image12" src="http://lh6.google.com/jason.re.campbell/R9f25nkIr_I/AAAAAAAAAS4/geiGd1r8i2E/image12_thumb%5B2%5D" width="240" align="left" /></a> The church is struggling with the gospel. In these last few years of emerging revolution in the church, I have encountered church leaders struggling to re-understand the gospel. I use the word struggle in an intentional way, both in the sense of aggressive engagement and in the sense of frustrated grappling.</p> <p>Serious engagement with the meaning and power of the gospel is nothing new to our century. One can hardly point to an era in church history when faithful men and women have not been simultaneously enraptured by the gospel's beauty and held fast by its convicting truth. And while many have come near to claiming they have at last divined the gospel's true meaning, the struggle continues unabated, often by those who once felt they had momentarily gained the better of its truth.</p> <p>In our day, both seasoned saints and emerging radicals are struggling to comprehend and articulate the gospel even while they live within and out of its transformative power. <em>This is a very good thing. </em>Over time, I've found that my ears perk up when someone asks aloud the question "what is the gospel?" The answer one gives to such a question says as much about one's faith as it does about God and His redemptive work in the world. How one answers the question tends to have an enormous impact on the way one's faith is lived. To struggle with the gospel is ultimately to ask hard questions about whether or not we are living the fullness of the gospel as given us in Scripture.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/jason.re.campbell/R9f26HkIsAI/AAAAAAAAATA/-LORI0bjOmg/getlargescreenshot%5B2%5D%5B4%5D"><img height="156" alt="getlargescreenshot[2]" src="http://lh5.google.com/jason.re.campbell/R9f26XkIsBI/AAAAAAAAATI/Wik87LB7z8Y/getlargescreenshot%5B2%5D_thumb%5B2%5D" width="240" align="right" /></a> The best part of the question, "what is the gospel?" is that it is a deceptively difficult question to answer. It is even more difficult to do so succinctly. Those of us trained to quote Scripture to such answers have an especially tough time doing so, since anything much shorter than the book of Mark leaves a lot of the gospel out of the answer. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:1-11&version=31">1 Corinthians 15:1-11</a>, as a <a href="http://wilsonparrish.blogspot.com/">friend of mine</a> is fond of saying, comes close to a concise statement of the gospel. So does <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus%203:3-7&version=31">Titus 3:3-7</a>. Hard pressed, one might also point to <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%203:10-20&version=31">John 3:16-20</a>. But a close look at these texts reveals a frustrating fact about our Scriptures: very often, the writers <em>assume</em> we know what the gospel is, and use the term more loosely than we would like. Sort of like the same writers do with the Kingdom of God. Even Jesus won't let himself be pinned down about such powerful ideas, preferring to illuminate them with a broad brush through parable and story. The question "what is the gospel?" is a tough one to answer.</p> <p>That's why I have found myself collecting short versions of answers to this question as I have struggled with it myself. Here is one version I came across recently:</p> <blockquote> <p>The gospel is the story of the work of the triune God (Father, Son, and Spirit) to completely restore broken image-bearers (Gen. 1:26–27) in the context of the community of faith (Israel, Kingdom, and Church) through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Pentecostal Spirit, to union with God and communion with others for the good of the world.</p> </blockquote> <p>Dr. McKnight errs on the side of completeness over simplicity or comprehensibility. If you read <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/13.36.html?start=1">the rest of his article</a> (which is very good and every bit worth your time), you'll see that each phrase fragment stands in for a large and important theological concept that McKnight believes is central to the overarching story of the gospel.</p> <p>In forthcoming posts, I'll share more gospel paraphrases that I've come across. For now, perhaps we can content ourselves with a little imaginative exercise: if you found yourself across the coffee table from someone sincerely asking the question, "what is the gospel?", what would you tell them given three minutes or less?</p> <p><em><span style="font-size: 85%">Cross-posted to </span><a href="http://sanctuscross.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 85%">sanctus.cross</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%">.</span></em></p> Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-76057960136216177332007-11-28T10:06:00.000-08:002007-11-28T10:07:23.050-08:00Church planting a growing practice nationwide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40AdEQXWKXNAiaIMTrAstB0mycjf0Ob8cBxNeo4Io9K8onR-ihwweyv77EDsE3yWhBl5GL9b17KSRTyGmI_ba-Jkx5xN9iKUsBa25E3vrm6OUZUDz-YFO4DOBf50TLrTnp92x1Rh5NuRW/s1600-h/churchplanting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40AdEQXWKXNAiaIMTrAstB0mycjf0Ob8cBxNeo4Io9K8onR-ihwweyv77EDsE3yWhBl5GL9b17KSRTyGmI_ba-Jkx5xN9iKUsBa25E3vrm6OUZUDz-YFO4DOBf50TLrTnp92x1Rh5NuRW/s200/churchplanting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137953826700831042" border="0" /></a><blockquote>"Church planting has grown in its scope, diversity and impact," says Ed Stetzer, director of research for Lifeway Research and leader of the study. "North American churches, networks and denominations are making church planting a growing priority. "Such emphases push the church closer toward a movement--where churches plant churches that plant churches across North America and the world."</blockquote>Leadership Network <a href="http://www.pursuantgroup.com/leadnet/advance/nov07s2a.htm">has a new study</a> on the practice of church planting; very encouraging to us in the field!<span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://sanctuscross.blogspot.com/"></a></span>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-21052016710663833452007-10-31T13:21:00.000-07:002007-10-31T15:00:46.658-07:00GTD for Church Planters: Part 1: The ordinary chaos of church planting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRAb0_VrmBQUA06jWb5zdtvoW_9OI0qbbA8PuYGJlxqXSVPSWfGfCKcuLa1wRN4Wjp-qqlgrz6YcLpDwIYXPR8okhsHVGROwVNtSUfAL03cLSS4eRJ6SVndqX9egDJd99xgLTBV5JV1tg/s1600-h/madcat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRAb0_VrmBQUA06jWb5zdtvoW_9OI0qbbA8PuYGJlxqXSVPSWfGfCKcuLa1wRN4Wjp-qqlgrz6YcLpDwIYXPR8okhsHVGROwVNtSUfAL03cLSS4eRJ6SVndqX9egDJd99xgLTBV5JV1tg/s400/madcat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127610037791095154" border="0" /></a>Church planters are among the busiest people I know. They are spiritual guides, entrepreneurs, ministers, recruiters, fundraisers, shepherds, evangelists, marketing managers, preachers, and financial administrators. And that's before lunch on Monday. Add to this the responsibilities of family life and just enough sleep to keep us alive, church planters quickly realize they must approach their time like a bowhunter stalking an angry bear.<br /><br />My own experience in church planting has been a continual re-appraisal of time management strategies. I had learned much about structuring my day and ordering priorities in my previous life as a product manager for WebTrends. At that time, the company actually paid to send me to a two-day seminar on time management, a very helpful thing for a 24-year old product manager in way over his head.<br /><br />When I began church planting, things moved slowly at the beginning. I had to work hard at making good use of my time, since there wasn't much happening around me that I wasn't personally initiating: 501c3 applications, meeting and talking with potential team members, reading, communicating with supporters, meeting people in the community, refining our ministry plan. But as things got rolling and more and more people got involved, I began to see more and more demands on my time. Delegation seemed like the natural thing, but I quickly learned that while delegation is critical to building a team and sharing vision, it actually takes <span style="font-style: italic;">more</span> time away from you than actually doing the work yourself. And with each passing week, more and more ministry systems came online that required at least my cursory attention.<br /><br />Then Melissa and I had our first baby. Then we launched public services. Then we began hosting large events for the community. People called the church and visited the website. Prayer meetings and Bible studies spontaneously appeared. Community leaders wanted my time. Worship leaders needed guidance. Crises erupted in people's lives. Equipment needed to be purchased. Bills needed to be paid. Newsletters needed writing. On and on; and while I learned to trust the others around me and to delegate more and more, my schedule continued to be more and more pressed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxxziNlzRsd6lGBSPgv73JLYS1XyENqDmz9SCDCTUjwxZcrj6QgQuCq_hELu3wvg3e9aSHa7mt9j214mPXHepWy3qfnBoANwGH0QzpPneNSmajO6bKYTnBPn7TK8MZhOvyMmuJYS5_NCp/s1600-h/Clock01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxxziNlzRsd6lGBSPgv73JLYS1XyENqDmz9SCDCTUjwxZcrj6QgQuCq_hELu3wvg3e9aSHa7mt9j214mPXHepWy3qfnBoANwGH0QzpPneNSmajO6bKYTnBPn7TK8MZhOvyMmuJYS5_NCp/s200/Clock01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127623042952067458" border="0" /></a>This is simply normal for church planting. It is a material reality that there is more to do than the available time and energy will allow. Theologically, we know that time is a gift from God, marked out in clear rhythms in the fabric of creation itself. Genesis 1 with its cadences of clearly marked days, punctuated by a holy time of rest, reveals time as a gift intended for our good. Time is the holy stage upon which we act out our purposes in God: just enough for us to complete the tasks given us, to enjoy the gifts of creation, and to rest, knowing God is with us. If we are lax with our time or frivolous with our setting of priorities, we profane time by taking it for ourselves. And if we overtax ourselves, acting as if we are the only ones God can use to accomplish His purposes, we profane time by taking it for ourselves.<br /><br />This is a clear and continuous call to humility and faithfulness in our living <span style="font-style: italic;">in time</span>. We are to be faithful in our calling, striving with all that we are to accomplish those things without overreaching, thinking that our strength or wisdom is sufficient for any good thing of God. This is a large part prioritization: knowing who we are and what we are called to do, and then working toward that goal, doing what we can and trusting the rest to God. This sort of Christ-like focus is clearly evident in Luke 4:42-43: <span style="font-style: italic;">"At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." </span><span>There will always be more tasks, more people to help, more ministry to be done. <span style="font-style: italic;">But what am I called to do?</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fantfictblog-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0142000280&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=A70716&bc1=000000&bg1=E3CC84&f=ifr" style="width: 120px; height: 240px; margin-left: 8px; float: right;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>In my search for faithfulness in my own calling as a church planter, I have often sought out ways of growing in the area of time management, focus, and productivity. I am not by nature a structured person and church planting has had a way of challenging me to grow in that area. I frequently find myself falling to either extreme: being too lax with my time or frantically running myself into the ground with tasks. My greatest find so far in faithfully using my time has been the practice of GTD, which stands for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142000280?ie=UTF8&tag=fantfictblog-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0142000280">"Getting Things Done"</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fantfictblog-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0142000280" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />, a productivity system based on a book written by David Allen. It is sort of the iPhone of productivity systems, having a large cult following and a thousand enthusiasts posting information about it on their blogs. GTD helps you think clearly about all of the incoming demands for your time and do the things that need doing. The rest will be waiting for you when (and if) you have the time. In a series of posts, we'll explore some of the ways GTD can be applied to a church planter's approach to time and task.<br /><br />But for now, let it suffice to say church planters are called to faithfulness in their stewardship of time and energy. A frazzled world is looking to us as witnesses to God's restoring work in Christ. If we are lazy and disorganized with our time, or if we are frazzled and overworked, we miss the chance to demonstrate God's redeeming power in time itself. Let us lead those entrusted to us toward faithfulness in God's gift of time.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-88947501886787028322007-10-18T10:37:00.000-07:002007-10-18T11:20:22.960-07:00Making decisions with discernment: A simple, practical approach for all Christians<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicym_TPNcY7fLkk2EFgWhq-xDp7in_MheeYzcfnHOv_wf3LwUzT-nTSWFXbfdXgoqBt_-V-SjOkkes6fX9KJIufA5NpuN7fw7F7-6UkpkXn9Qkot2TuwhXd3yhruUycOuDO2G5xEgVy6GZ/s1600-h/choosing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicym_TPNcY7fLkk2EFgWhq-xDp7in_MheeYzcfnHOv_wf3LwUzT-nTSWFXbfdXgoqBt_-V-SjOkkes6fX9KJIufA5NpuN7fw7F7-6UkpkXn9Qkot2TuwhXd3yhruUycOuDO2G5xEgVy6GZ/s320/choosing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122742702233577522" border="0" /></a>A few weeks ago, we came together as a church to approach the future together, wondering where God may be taking us as a people. It is an act of worship to approach the future expectantly, staying in step with the Spirit of God and prayerfully considering the choices which might lead us toward God's preferred future.<br /><br />It proved helpful to remind ourselves of the nature of decision making in the context of the Christian life. This is the core of the sermon supporting this future-orientation. It centers on the idea of making decisions in partnership with God, looking forward with the expectation that His presence is active in guiding His people, whether individually or collectively.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The X-Factor: the Holy Spirit<br /><br /></span>Rather than ending with a disclaimer about the Holy Spirit and God's prerogative in interrupting or drastically changing our direction, perhaps we should begin with the "X-factor" of the Holy Spirit. It is true that the Spirit will sometimes intervene in dramatic ways, and we should be open and prepared for that to happen in our midst as we seek God's hand in the decision making process. But it is also helpful to remind ourselves the Holy Spirit works vigorously and continually within the seemingly mundane processes of planning, wise thinking, and prayerful discussion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Converse with God in prayer</span><br /><br />Having begun with the understanding of God's presence through and in our decision making, we approach the future as a conversation with God. By conversation, we imply a 2-way interaction rather than the list of concerns often associated with the practice of prayer. We ask ourselves the question, if I were talking with Jesus about this decision right now, what would he say to me? In this conversation, we cultivate a posture of humility, yielded to God and ready to hear the counsel of His Scriptures, the Words of His Son, the moving of His Spirit, regardless of where that counsel may take us.<br /><br />And we remain quiet enough (and long enough) to listen. Very often we are too busy to stop long enough to listen. We find ourselves unwilling to be let go of control of the situation which rightly belongs to God. But we remain hopeful, humble, and expectant: God has promised to lead us, to speak to us in various ways. In our conversation with God, we expect to benefit and find guidance from God.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Align with the Scriptures</span><br /><br />As we converse with God, we involve Scripture as a conversation partner, trusting its authority and wisdom. Overall, we seek to align our decisions with the narrative of Scripture. This does not mean looking for identical parallels and simply following the outcomes; as the outcomes of many passages of Scripture describe, this can be a shaky prospect. Rather, we seek to align with the character of God we see in Scripture as He shapes a people for His purposes.<br /><br />Specifically, as we consult the Scriptures in our decisions, we ask ourselves, which is the wise choice? What aspects of down-to-earth wisdom seen in the Scriptures applies to this choice?<br /><br />But more than this, we approach Scripture as Christians. We must ask ourselves, which choice aligns with gospel? For whom is this choice good news? How does this affect the people around me for their good? Which choice demonstrates and announces God's intention for the world in Jesus, even in subtle ways? How does this choice find alignment in God's purposes for restoring wholeness in the small part of the world we find ourselves?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Seek wise counsel</span><br /><br />As we converse with God in prayer and seek alignment in the Scriptures, we listen also to the voices of those who are also listening to God. We open ourselves the counsel of other godly people who have experience in the practice of spiritual decision making. We submit ourselves to the wisdom of people who can ask good (hard) questions and remind us of both the big picture and point the way which experience has illuminated. We are often afraid of going to people who will ask hard questions; we have been burned by people telling us what to do, or we simply are afraid they will confirm where we sense God is leading us because of the sacrifice involved. But these fears can be given to God, whom we trust with our lives (and therefore decisions). God's most profound activity is very often displayed in community; seeking godly counsel is a pathway to this wisdom.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Watch for opportunities<br /><br /></span>Once we have attuned ourselves to the vision of God, we begin to expectantly watch for the play of circumstances around us. This is a learned discipline. We form habits of responding to God's direction in the midst of circumstances out of a character increasingly conformed to Christ. We begin to see doors opening or closing around us. We humbly trust that God is at work in the circumstances around us, and we learn to read the landscape. It is difficult to remain clear-eyed about the landscape, either because we don’t take the time to look around or because we desperately wish the situation was different. There is nothing wrong with wanting different circumstances and praying that they will change; but we must not pretend that reality isn’t reality. As we watch for opportunities around us, we train ourselves to trust in God's firm control of the events around us, and there is nothing we cannot face with His strength; there are people here to stand with us. We trust that if we stop to look, God will open our eyes to the opportunities within immediate reach that will lead us closer to Him, that will lead to blessings for us and others we serve.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Move forward boldly</span><br /><br />Lastly, as we move organically through these steps, we begin to gain a confidence born of God's guidance. We hold the decision loosely, heeding Pauls wisdom to say “if it is the Lord’s will”, but we move forward boldly. Again we find ourselves resting in the character of God, knowing that He rewards fearful boldness. As we approach our decisions with a bold spirit, we find ourselves becoming people of radical faith, sold out to God's purposes in the world. We begin to see that each choice we make can be a part of God's unfolding story of redemption.<br /><br />That is a future worth joining.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-5956092300348958102007-10-10T16:43:00.001-07:002007-10-18T08:08:10.419-07:00Discerning the landscape of our journey: Activating our "spiritual GPS"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsRfx3NFBLQPh26wk1p84P7DQnSc0OBTu0sqZVBarn0faY8oJyTqg-Ns7uWdIXYY7F1idu0AjmsxsqksoE3u2jvHRMbsodzcrKZ7IIRVl0DFHSO7q6mhm_2964bb8GGxdlu8_sw4UPXoM/s1600-h/velo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsRfx3NFBLQPh26wk1p84P7DQnSc0OBTu0sqZVBarn0faY8oJyTqg-Ns7uWdIXYY7F1idu0AjmsxsqksoE3u2jvHRMbsodzcrKZ7IIRVl0DFHSO7q6mhm_2964bb8GGxdlu8_sw4UPXoM/s400/velo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119858092563347074" border="0" /></a>In a conversation with some friends at Cascade Hills, I was trying to explain the core of each of <a href="http://sanctuscross.blogspot.com/2007/10/ongoing-process-for-spiritual-formation.html">the three movements in spiritual formation</a>.<br /><br />When we were discussing the first movement and asking the question "where am I now?", one person said, "it's like breaking out our spiritual GPS." I thought, what a great analogy for this stage in the process! GPS tools keep track of trustworthy external reference points high above the terrain we're facing, giving us a better knowledge of exactly where we stand. What's more, the tool provides the ability to input an end goal, helping us to keep track of our progress toward that goal. Knowing where you are in relation to your destination is an invaluable part of navigating difficult terrain. Anyone who has tried to follow a map while driving in fog knows this truth all too well.<br /><br />In the process of spiritual formation, it is wise for us to pause frequently and give some attention to the spiritual landscape in which we find ourselves. Of course, we immediately run into trouble with the word "spiritual". The term conjures up moods, temperaments, attitudes, mystery, and ambiguity. When I am using the term here, I mean it to refer to those aspects of our lives in which God is involved.<br /><br />And of course, by that I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">just about everything.</span> We are used to calling our prayer times and church gatherings "spiritual", but it is essential to God's restoring purposes in creation that we recover a sense of God's involvement in everything: our interactions with our spouse, cleaning out the garage, paying the guy behind the counter for our french fries, sleeping soundly after a day of frantic activity, and every other corner of our busy lives.<br /><br />The first step to activating our spiritual GPS is to recognize that God is active in and around us. As we acknowledge and invite His presence into more areas of our life, we find new strength to approach struggles, new directions open that were previously invisible or closed to us, we discover a shift in attitude toward self-giving in our relationships, and we experience new passion and joy in the activities for which God made us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Looking at our Spiritual Landscape</span><br /><br />With this new sense of God's presence in all we are and do, giving attention to the spiritual landscape around us in our lives is a larger task than it sometimes first appears. Let's explore some ways we can begin this task.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind..."</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(Luke 10:27a)</span><br /><br />We might begin by looking at the center: our relationship with God and our history with Him. Are we exploring a relationship with God for the first time, asking questions and wondering? Have we decided to enter into covenant with God, becoming a part of His people and participating in His mission in the world? Do we have a long history with Him or are we new to the life of following Christ? Is there a breach in the relationship, something we've done or something we feel God has done that has made the relationship difficult? Is our experience of God in our lives characterized by obligation or impulse, dryness or passion, mystery or clarity?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"...and love your neighbor as yourself."</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(Luke 10:27b)</span><br /><br />Next we might explore our significant relationships that shape our lives. Are we married? Are we raising children or being raised under parental authority? Who are our friends and family, and what relationship do we have with them? Who are our neighbors, co-workers, or classmates, brothers and sisters in our faith community? What responsibilities and connections do we have that involve them?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might</span>." <span style="font-size:78%;">(Ecclesiastes 9:10)</span><br /><br />We might also explore our vocation, the daily activities and sphere of influence, those things to which we feel responsible or even a sense of calling. Do we find ourselves with an occupation that requires the use of our skills and energy? Do we find ourselves with the task of caring for and raising children? Are we gaining an education that will serve one or more of these purposes? Have we reached the point of retirement or a second career?<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">We have different gifts, according to the grace given us."</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(Romans 12:6) </span><br /><br />What are the passions and ambitions which drive us? Do we long for creative expression, for a sense of accomplishment in a specific pursuit? Do we experience a sense of giftedness accompanied by a desire to use that gift in a way that impacts the people or neighborhoods around us? What other intangible factors regularly exert their influence on us?<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(Psalm 68:19)</span><br /><br />There are many more: what is our health situation? Our financial situation? Are there major struggles that otherwise make a significant impact in our daily lives? Actions of our own or of others for which we are suffering consequences? Other major events in our lives or in the lives of people around us that make themselves known in our hearts and minds?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8r0qAopq9lwtnKFwJvFbTPmkBad5g0wzEZ8ivCqTytutr1P-0i8PiiH1ohxUlRrr8gUodF_NviUQHly0XyVbbEnbWUCvpYu0AuCqHcBTPtMGOpCqpBtwBLfHPWzMhyywhpU58Bd3FeMTY/s1600-h/landscape.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8r0qAopq9lwtnKFwJvFbTPmkBad5g0wzEZ8ivCqTytutr1P-0i8PiiH1ohxUlRrr8gUodF_NviUQHly0XyVbbEnbWUCvpYu0AuCqHcBTPtMGOpCqpBtwBLfHPWzMhyywhpU58Bd3FeMTY/s320/landscape.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120159371634259602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gaining the Perspective of Altitude<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span>No list we make can pretend to be exhaustive. Let the previous list serve the function of reminding us or bringing to the forefront of our thinking the major features of our spiritual landscape.<br /><br />Now is the time to start sketching out a map. Can you list two or three major features of your spiritual landscape from each category (relationship with God, human relationships, vocation, gifts and passions, human factors) that help you map out the landscape of your daily life? The list might be four or five items long, or much longer, depending on how long you want to spend on this process of discernment and what level of detail you want to achieve. Give it the time which seems appropriate to you now and don't feel you have to capture such a shifting, changing thing in one perfect list; you will return to this movement in the process again and again.<br /><br />For right now, let your list grow for a time and then let it sit. Return to it after a few minutes and see if you can identify a handful of items that seem to consume a large share of your resources. Can you identify a few major concerns that you find occupying your thoughts? What would Jesus say if you asked him to help you discern the major dimensions of your life? Jot them down in a list and then engage in a time of prayer over them. Consider the following components to this time of prayer:<br /><ul><li>An acknowledgment of God's presence with us and in the midst of each of these concerns</li><li>A prayer for clarity as we look at our spiritual landscape; have we missed something which Jesus would remind us of if he were kneeling with us in prayer?</li><li>An offering of willingness to listen for God's guidance and wisdom as we approach each of these areas of our lives</li></ul>At this point, we might prayerfully return to the list of categories again to see if any new ones pop out at us or if God has rearranged any of our priorities. This would be an excellent time to involve faithful friends in this process, asking them to help us see what's happening in our life and the major features of our spiritual landscape.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Outcome of Discerning Our Spiritual Landscape<br /><br /></span>The best outcome of this movement in the process of spiritual formation is a sense of clarity in what most concerns us, how our responsibilities line up and compete with each other in our lives, and the need we have to walk with God as we navigate these features of our spiritual landscape. Having a written, tangible list of these things (1) can help us as we listen carefully for God's calling in our lives (2) and as we seek to put into practice the things which God is calling us to do (3).<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>May God lead us graciously in the discernment of our lives, giving us confidence that no matter what we discover, He loves us, is with us, and will never forsake us. May God grant us passion to pursue his helping hand, an willingness to attend to His leading, and an eagerness to act on what we know!<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-84580886794191251182007-10-10T15:46:00.000-07:002007-10-22T18:00:01.318-07:00An ongoing process for spiritual formation: Where am I? To where is God calling me? What is my part in this process?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaqJauvntUxtv9nNqs_HB1-qxBWGs2C9Nj52ufY77syu987XEtbfSmHqOxp5l5Mz1wFEdVxpmgOr4stQ2jOkqPNBD5AGfGceH2P4VI7Ror1VhPYRrvmxAn0Pq82VBekjeskJA1mol7hEj/s1600-h/spiritual+formation+process.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaqJauvntUxtv9nNqs_HB1-qxBWGs2C9Nj52ufY77syu987XEtbfSmHqOxp5l5Mz1wFEdVxpmgOr4stQ2jOkqPNBD5AGfGceH2P4VI7Ror1VhPYRrvmxAn0Pq82VBekjeskJA1mol7hEj/s320/spiritual+formation+process.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119856365986494066" border="0" /></a>As we think and dream about following Christ together in a faith community, we begin to discern a series of recurring movements in our spiritual formation.<br /><br />We begin <span style="font-style: italic;">somewhere</span> in the process (not necessarily one place or the other). Perhaps we face a crisis or opportunity in our lives and enter into a time of prayer, asking for God's guidance and help through this time. Or perhaps in the daily practice of Bible reading or in the midst of conversation with a trusted friend, we hear the call of God toward some new place in our faith. Or perhaps we've decided to try something new in our faith walk: a new way of serving our co-workers, a new practice of prayer, or a new way of interacting with and blessing our spouse.<br /><br />No matter where we begin, we find these three related and interconnected movements:<br /><ul><li>Asking <span style="font-style: italic;">"where am I now?"</span>, looking around ourselves to discern our "spiritual landscape", being observant about our orientation to God and His purposes, the relationships shape us, the things which demand our time and energy, our gifts and talents, and the struggles which we face.<br /></li><li>Asking <span style="font-style: italic;">"to where is God calling me?"</span>, hearing the call of God into new territory and trusting Him to lead us into a future of His purposes for our blessing.<br /></li><li>Asking <span style="font-style: italic;">"what's my part in this process?"</span>, looking for concrete ways we can participate with God right where we find ourselves in the midst of our daily lives.<br /></li></ul>Surrounding and filling each of these movements is the activity of God, calling us into conversation with Him, revealing Himself to us, empowering and guiding us. The Spirit is at work in our discerning process, opening our eyes to the reality of where we stand now. The Spirit is at work in calling us to a renewed vision of the future, what God intends for our own wholeness and restoration in every aspect of our lives. And the Spirit is at work in us as we put into practice those things we learn from Jesus.<br /><br />And as we move through these phases, we find that the whole process is itself dynamic, not caught in an endless loop but rather moving in the direction of Christ. As we attend to each movement in the process, we find that our general movement is toward Christ. We may certainly fall, be caught for a time in foolishness or even outright sin. But is not our hope that though we struggle, Christ bears our burdens and delivers us? Do we not look forward to a foretaste of new life now, though our fullness awaits Christ's return?Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-19724194535309359932007-10-10T13:07:00.000-07:002007-10-18T09:00:48.500-07:00Christian Spiritual Formation: Beginning a journey together toward the image of Christ<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkmy9871LiKHEbhVilawk9D2-2xv8l2gXQSgevOa4o7dxhh26V_gn2lc40J7cTKgJmqNm23Kh2ASPqEAXymQAtVWVXpl93V5yaeukn2yFcl7J08F_7eVib2Qen8cP-oP_6E3QGiwyCSbS/s1600-h/BU010833_crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkmy9871LiKHEbhVilawk9D2-2xv8l2gXQSgevOa4o7dxhh26V_gn2lc40J7cTKgJmqNm23Kh2ASPqEAXymQAtVWVXpl93V5yaeukn2yFcl7J08F_7eVib2Qen8cP-oP_6E3QGiwyCSbS/s400/BU010833_crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119808232288007698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. </span><span style="font-style: italic;" id="en-NIV-28233" class="sup"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." </span><span style="font-size:78%;">(Romans 12:1-2)</span><br /><br />At Cascade Hills, we are preparing to enter into a nine-month cycle of spiritual formation together in the context of small groups (which we call Home Communities). This will be the first year that we'll use Home Communities for the purpose of intentional spiritual formation.<br /><br />In the past, we've focused on creating loving community and on teaching, both of which bore fruit. We now find ourselves in a position to put the things we know into practice in the context of loving community. This will be a journey of discovery for all of us.<br /><br />Let us begin with an attempt at clarity.<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Christian spiritual formation</span> is the ongoing process of being conformed to the image of Christ.</li><li>The <span style="font-weight: bold;">goal </span>of spiritual formation is <span style="font-weight: bold;">restored wholeness</span>: a healed fellowship between God, humanity, and creation.</li><li>Spiritual formation is primarily <span style="font-weight: bold;">the work of the Holy Spirit</span>, but involves the <span style="font-weight: bold;">participation of the individual person.</span><br /></li><li>Spiritual formation is nurtured and supported<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>in the context of <span style="font-weight: bold;">covenant community</span>.</li></ul>Spiritual formation is an ongoing process, one that is undertaken over a lifetime of following Jesus. It passes through different stages as we mature, though we will often revisit similar terrain. Eugene Peterson once called this process "a long obedience in the same direction," a thoroughly countercultural prospect in the age of fast food and faster information. We ought to expect results, but not perhaps in the timing or the form which we would like.<br /><br />The goal of spiritual formation is to be conformed to the image of Christ. Christ is the image of God and at the same time the picture of human wholeness: what we would look like restored, reconciled, renewed, <span style="font-style: italic;">whole.</span> As we are conformed into the image of Jesus, we find ourself being healed. Part of this healing includes a return to a radical other-centered way of life, one in which we pour ourselves out for the sake of others. To be conformed to Christ is to cease to be the center of our world, allowing God to send us as bearers of love and grace to all within reach. As we attain to maturity in Christ, we increasingly experience restored fellowship with God, one another, and with creation itself. We become part of God's restorative presence in the world (just as is Christ), a sent people that point beyond ourselves to God.<br /><br />We are not the primary actors in spiritual formation. This process occurs as the mysterious and powerful work of the Holy Spirit. The image of Christ is not something that can be attained by rigorous self-control, a multi-step program, or frenzied activity. We are conformed by the breath of God which dwells within us, the gracious life-giving gift received upon the occasion of our baptism and reception into the covenant community of God's people. And yet this transformation does not occur without our knowledge or permission, but rather as a divine-human cooperation: a yielding of human will to the subtle direction and power of the Spirit.<br /><br />And lastly, spiritual formation is nurtured and supported by the presence of others on a similar journey. As we undertake this lifelong process of being conformed to the image of Christ, we find that others we encounter along the way become part of the shaping process. We learn to love, to forgive, to share, to work, to give. We find that the more that we resemble Christ, the more we seek out community and the more community forms around us as fruit of the Holy Spirit. Together we learn the truth about ourselves and celebrate the joy of fellowship with God, others, and creation.<br /><br />Next, we'll look at the nature of Cascade Hills Home Communities and look for ways of participating together with others and with God in the process of spiritual formation.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-4482067361792678292007-10-10T12:09:00.000-07:002007-10-10T12:25:00.848-07:00Tools for brainstorming: FreeMind mind-mapping software (free!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RWW50RPO4vu2Y6CoUFQUUfAdlAzoMdOXwa56DXK38rYgAUlFsyfg3NKhXn5RMz4PHGgNHY6cqv5ZkXRGPSvaxdErZDCT_uFDnv1BwVgUzzl8LD0nWUPDEScTgM8rEgBI0E9d6d5gveCl/s1600-h/freemind.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RWW50RPO4vu2Y6CoUFQUUfAdlAzoMdOXwa56DXK38rYgAUlFsyfg3NKhXn5RMz4PHGgNHY6cqv5ZkXRGPSvaxdErZDCT_uFDnv1BwVgUzzl8LD0nWUPDEScTgM8rEgBI0E9d6d5gveCl/s320/freemind.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119789471870858754" border="0" /></a>Brainstorming has become a key activity for me as a church planter. I find myself constantly facing large projects about which I have some goal or idea, but that require a lot of fleshing out before I can begin actually working on them in tangible ways. Examples include filling out the details of an upcoming sermon series, discerning the best goals and topics for a leader's retreat, design for a Home Community evening based on a set of criteria, and many more. If you click on the image in this article, you can see one of my brainstorms for upcoming sermon series.<br /><br />Being a technically-inclined person who prefers the portability and searchability of digital information, I find myself doing more and more of this kind of work on the computer. For many, this means using Word or something similar to create a list of bullets that are at varying levels of indent. I found myself wanting something more faithful to the trusty balloons-and-lines model on a piece of paper, allowing ideas to come at you from any angle and making connections as needed. I did a little looking around and there is an excellent freeware (and I mean completely free) program out there that I've been using extensively for more than a month now.<br /><br />The program is called FreeMind, and is specifically designed for "<a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMind_map&ei=DSYNR-v1EZW8gQPgjLwx&usg=AFQjCNFSW0jJOnbxH-BtQAjlf_GHgRS3aw&sig2=n0G7aM3OK59LFpQvUTYnmQ">mind mapping</a>", a process very similar to the traditional pen-and-paper (or whiteboard) brainstorming process. It makes balloons, you keep adding peer or child balloons as you think through things; it manages all the arranging, deleting, editing, moving around as needed. It may look complicated at first, but navigating, adding, deleting, moving things around, and editing information is really, really fast and easy to pick up. Within 10 minutes of using it, I was brainstorming full-speed and not even thinking about the tool itself.<br /><br />If this program is interesting to you, <a href="http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page">you can read more about it here</a>. If you are still interested, then you can <a href="http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/freemind/FreeMind-Windows-Installer-0_8_0-max.exe?download">download it (free) here</a>. Before you can install it, however, make sure you install <a href="http://java.com/en/download/windows_xpi.jsp?locale=en&host=java.com:80">this (also free) framework</a> which will allow you to run it first. Don't ask why unless you want a treatise on Java, .NET, and various other options out there to make programmers' lives easier.<br /><br />Happy brainstorming!Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-25720739578789901142007-08-28T11:42:00.001-07:002007-09-01T08:03:51.075-07:00Synthesis in the age of specialization: McKnight's expert tour of scholarship's trends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMqfxStX0B0g4xW2MSDoXNL_HVfpgf3rIrZ8tseAZ6Dw8rTXq7b7XhiI0dLig3Ylr-ANXDgSrZ0euiEnec7T_htQTJntd1fiUm4ahiEZj7nD2nSV_CLlr5_dJJNTex3MOjt8D-tzNbWVJ/s1600-h/synthesis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMqfxStX0B0g4xW2MSDoXNL_HVfpgf3rIrZ8tseAZ6Dw8rTXq7b7XhiI0dLig3Ylr-ANXDgSrZ0euiEnec7T_htQTJntd1fiUm4ahiEZj7nD2nSV_CLlr5_dJJNTex3MOjt8D-tzNbWVJ/s320/synthesis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103825321976031554" border="0" /></a>It is a well known trend in all branches of scholarship that with deeper study comes a necessary narrowing in focus. This trend, after centuries of progression, has led to massive specialization in virtually every field. A brief scan of a seminary's course schedule will reveal this. A freshman in biblical studies will take "New Testament survey", an MDiv student will take a course on the Hellenistic influences on Pauline Christianity, and a PhD candidate will write a multi-year thesis titled "Purity and Impurity in the Gospel of Mark", referencing literally thousands of books and magazine articles in pursuit of a comprehensive treatment of the subject.<br /><br />In an academic atmosphere like this, one of the most difficult of all achievements is the broad synthesis. A concise, readable work like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Writings-New-Testament-Interpretation/dp/080063439X/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-1437380-3478859?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188328394&sr=8-2">The Writings of the New Testament</a> by Luke Timothy Johnson is a monumental undertaking, one which purports to survey the state of understanding of all strands of New Testament scholarship and to provide a brief jumping-off point to pursue further study. Each 8-10 page chapter ends with a multi-page bibliography of 1000-page works for the student seeking deeper understanding.<br /><br />Scholars like Luke Timothy Johnson are rare and immensely valuable to the life of the church, since people who can devote the majority of their time to teaching and preaching cannot possibly hope to know what these smart men and women are discovering and communicating. Another such man is the prolific Dr. Scot McKnight, <a href="http://www.jesuscreed.org/">whose blog</a> I read often. Dr. McKnight is Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northpark.edu%2F&ei=dnfURtWHCozYgQPNlpSkCA&usg=AFQjCNEEfSCF8ofZFFEdfrIyfW6bchkThQ&sig2=pFp_vYYhljnjLw0fQDGwfA">North Park University</a> in Chicago. He also may be a robot, given his ability to travel Europe, write books, speak intelligently to interested audiences on dozens of topics, and post to his blog multiple times, all in the same day.<br /><br />Dr. McKnight has a tremendously valuable series of posts on his blog which aim to synthesize what's going on in the <a href="http://www.sbl-site.org/default.aspx">Society of Biblical Literature</a> these days, and correspondingly, what scholars are studying and writing. Here is the current list of articles in the "thread":<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=2739">Knowing the currents 1</a></li><li><a href="http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=2740">Knowing the currents 2</a></li><li><a href="http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=2741">Knowing the currents 3</a></li><li><a href="http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=2742">Knowing the currents 4</a><br /></li></ul>Thanks to Dr. McKnight who can provide a vantage point tremendously valuable to those of us without his background and credentials.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-52339101427161075022007-08-17T08:01:00.001-07:002007-08-28T13:33:04.201-07:00Preparing for church planting in year 2: Imagining the perfect training event<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUr7dHcSwQUZz9GDPg__p7KQzJ1Aow1fXQrgigr2uMGNcPMTESU3gMgyHroCui7yQXRPwoZvjcWNncMPdRsZxLBCiH5pQ_qF2M24h12Vy1u6z8n9exNdXJ-X6kzCqRamzs3tjVaP_425a/s1600-h/Efung_Leading.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUr7dHcSwQUZz9GDPg__p7KQzJ1Aow1fXQrgigr2uMGNcPMTESU3gMgyHroCui7yQXRPwoZvjcWNncMPdRsZxLBCiH5pQ_qF2M24h12Vy1u6z8n9exNdXJ-X6kzCqRamzs3tjVaP_425a/s320/Efung_Leading.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099685613452814450" border="0" /></a>In conversations with other church planters and with our assisting organization <a href="http://www.kairoschurchplanting.org/">Kairos</a>, it is becoming increasingly apparent that what the church planter does in the second year is very different from his tasks in pre-launch or his first year.<br /><br />I recently attended a <a href="http://stadia.cc/home.asp">Stadia</a> conference entitled "Church Planting at the Next Level" which aimed its content at addressing the the concerns of the church planter in years 2-10. It was a comprehensive lecture-style event, two and half days long. Stadia brought in a world-class group of speakers to talk about the various concerns: developing leadership, handling conflict, beginning a building or capital campaign, clearly communicating the vision, and others. Breakfast and lunch were provided on-site; in the evenings, we went to a baseball game or to a local church for a BBQ dinner. I came away with a lot of information about tackling the challenges I am facing at Cascade Hills, thankful for the insights I gained from seasoned men and women who have faced and overcome similar challenges.<br /><br />Along the way, I got to thinking, if Kairos ever hosted an event like this, what would we want to do with the same allotment of time? What ideas would we take from the Stadia event? What content areas would we expand? What other objectives would we set for the event besides delivery of information and what methods would we want to use to accomplish those objectives?<br /><br />First, we'd need to think through what overall model for the event would best accomplish the task of preparing church planters for their second year and beyond. Would the model be a conference? Workshop? Retreat? Each of these imply certain methods and concerns. Conference implies information delivery; workshop implies something to be accomplished while the attendees are present, allowing their specific concerns to inform the agenda; and retreat implies aspects of healing, worship, restoration, and reflection. While all of these models are important, my preference would be for a workshop approach, while allowing generous time for content delivery, worship, and reflection.<br /><br />In terms of content areas to be addressed, here is a short list derived both from my own concerns as a church planter in my second year as well as from the content I found most helpful from the Stadia conference:<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Leadership</span>: building teams; creating a shared ownership of vision and mission; developing leaders and coaching skills; leading in a determined pursuit of the vision; handling leadership backlash and overcoming resistance; the changing nature of leadership in a church plant in its second year; preparing for a future team of elders; the continuous process of revisiting, refining, and re-communicating vision and mission; managing drift between stated vision/mission and actual behavior; discerning, surfacing, and shaping valuesbrought by new people into the church</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discipleship and spiritual formation</span>: creating and maintaining community in a growing church; creating a culture of obedience to the Lordship of Christ; creating places for people to learn, fail, and try again in their steps of discipleship; assimilating people into communal processes of discipleship and service; mobilizing disciple-makers<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Financial concerns</span>: strategies for increasing offerings; transitions from outside support to congregational support; capital campaigns; the changing nature of managing the finances of a growing congregation, staff, and leadership team<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Evangelism, marketing, and reach</span>: creating a culture in which evangelism is the norm; training a leadership team for outward focus; strategies for creating and sustaining visibility in a local neighborhood or region<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pastoral ministry and conflict resolution</span>: normalizing conflict and a grace-filled, cross-centered response to it; mobilizing teams for pastoral ministry; methods for handling the most common pastoral concerns; tools for handling large-scale conflict</li></ul>For the workshop format to be most effective, it would need to be organized in such a way so as to provide enough time for the church planters and any team members with them to interact with and understand the content, think through the specifics of their own context, and then prepare an action plan with which to return to their church and implement the new concepts and behaviors. Here is a possible schedule:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday/travel day</span>: critical to provide enough time for all attendees to arrive.</li><li>Travel all day, settle into accomodations</li><li>Evening: meet and greet session, some worship and spiritual preparation for workshop</li></ul><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday/first workshop day</span></li><li>7:30-8:00 breakfast</li><li>8:00-8:30 morning devotions</li><li>9:00-12:00 Leadership workshop session</li><li>12:00-1:00 lunch</li><li>1:00-2:00 reflection, "sabbath", and prayer time</li><li>2:00-5:00 Discipleship/spiritual formation workshop session<br /></li><li>5:00-6:30 dinner</li><li>6:30-9:00 fellowship time, optional fun event planned</li><li>9:00-10:00 evening worship (focused on healing, restoration, and peace)</li></ul><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday/second workshop day</span></li><li>7:30-8:00 breakfast</li><li>8:00-8:30 morning devotions</li><li>9:00-12:00 Financial workshop session</li><li>12:00-1:00 lunch</li><li>1:00-2:00 reflection and prayer time</li><li>2:00-5:00 Evangelism/reach workshop session </li><li>5:00-6:30 dinner</li><li>6:30-9:00 fellowship time, optional fun event planned</li><li>9:00-10:00 evening worship (focused on inspiring, encouraging, and sending)</li></ul><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday/half day and travel</span></li><li>7:30-8:00 breakfast</li><li>8:00-8:30 morning devotions</li><li>9:00-12:00 Pastoral ministry/conflict resolution workshop session</li><li>12:00-1:00 lunch and sending devotional/ceremony<br /></li><li>1:00 release for travel<br /></li></ul><br />And lastly, the individual 3-hour workshop sessions might be structured thus:<br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">First hour</span>: 45 minutes lecture-style content delivery, media rich with all detailed content already prepared in written form for reference, followed by 15 minute Q&A and a short break<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second hour</span>: retire to small group tables each with a trained coach who knows the content well; the format is each person sharing with the group thoughts of how these concepts fit each person's individual context; the goal is to explore possibilities and share stories; short break</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Third hour</span>: development of specific goals and objectives along with a written action plan with the help of the table coach</li></ul>Having come from an excellent conference dealing with these issues, I know how valuable such a sustained time of reflection can be for a busy church planter. These thoughts represent my initial brainstorm on the sort of event Kairos might host in the future for church planters in their second year. I'd love to hear your thoughts on other ways such an event might be structured, leave them in the comments!<br /><ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></ul> <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-32544148648088691132007-08-14T07:54:00.000-07:002007-08-14T07:57:49.571-07:00Churches of Christ and church plantingDr. Stan Granberg has some great insights on the state of church planting in our country over at the <a href="http://kairoschurchplanting.blogspot.com/">Kairos</a> blog:<br /><blockquote>There is a new receptivity developing in at least parts of the US. The west coast, for example, is an amazing area of new church planting activity. We are finding people open for spiritual conversations. It does take them time to develop faith. The concept of believing in God is not familiar to them. They often ease into the idea that they are believers.</blockquote>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-44941637637501645962007-08-01T16:34:00.000-07:002007-08-01T17:02:23.738-07:00All that stands before the gates of Hades<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvlhcRAP9ruTUSgLIMQbUehjN4tkwtDvLwW31OV2OR3jkRzBYnUe4KIdO92Fp7iwKjL9AiVDd7iDxvSQtlTnHVj7SKKDr4EcPlprZj2CJ7yQ_dQgkIJiRTHnZUjviCtityNqbk3u2K1L2/s1600-h/CastleGate.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvlhcRAP9ruTUSgLIMQbUehjN4tkwtDvLwW31OV2OR3jkRzBYnUe4KIdO92Fp7iwKjL9AiVDd7iDxvSQtlTnHVj7SKKDr4EcPlprZj2CJ7yQ_dQgkIJiRTHnZUjviCtityNqbk3u2K1L2/s320/CastleGate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093884179212072290" border="0" /></a>Overheard in a devotional recently: "You church planters need to understand that you are all that stand between your community and the gates of Hades."<br /><br />His intention was to remind a group of tired men and women of the importance of their task and of the wonderful and terrible responsibility laid upon us by God.<br /><br />Sometimes I do feel as though I carry a heavy burden, wondering if indeed there would be anyone else to take my place if I were KIA, victim to the schemes of the one who would isolate and devour every person in our community of South Salem. Even understanding that God is a sovereign King, more than able to accomplish all those things which He determines to do, there remains a certain responsibility which He has given to me and expects of me. A heavy burden indeed.<br /><br />But I think again of the words of the devotion: we are "all that stand between the community and the gates of Hades" and I realize how easy it is to misunderstand Jesus' phrasing in that text of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:13-20;&version=31;">Matthew</a>. The picture is not one of demonic forces spilling over Hades' gate and assaulting the scattered forces of Light wherever they can be found huddling pitifully together on the plain. Rather, Jesus has in mind the forces of Light storming the gates, a called out people who take the arms of Heaven and batter down the last refuge of our enemy's strength. The image is thus: the gates will not stand against those called by God. The captives will be freed, the poor fed and clothed, the essence and joy and peace of life restored to those who are beloved of God.<br /><br />And in my more honest moments, I realize that <span style="font-style: italic;">I am all that stands between my community and the gates of Hades</span>. If I do not obey the call of God in my life, if I ignore his outstretched hand beckoning me to partner with Him in restoring a corrupt community, then I am at best a stalling force, standing between south Salem and the battle for which they are called.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">God will not go without me</span>,<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>or so I should think if He has so entrusted the gospel to the frail, limping church. What can the Incarnation mean but that each of us, in our weaknesses, is somehow essential to the task for which God called us, gifted according to His plan for a divine purpose in announcing freedom?<br /><br />So He waits for me. Perhaps others may be called to a similar task, perhaps not. Far be it from me to stand between God and those He loves, may I not be a hindrance to His plans but rather a willing instrument in His hand.<br /><br />South Salem's people await the call to storm the gates of Hades. Many of them currently languish in gloomy dungeons of spiritual death, waiting to be called, chosen by God. <span style="font-style: italic;">And they wait on me</span> to announce (even if in uncertain tones) the call to freedom! And together with God, we will take the battle to the enemy, plunder his treasured captives, and triumphantly set them free into the glorious wonder of God's New Creation. Far be it from me to stand between my community and the gates of Hades.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-83924123753311665852007-07-05T16:14:00.000-07:002007-07-09T16:24:21.625-07:00Steeping Leadership Development in Prayer and the Scriptures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCeJVI3G8T7DoCQPHJWW9Pf3eHhLnv_x9idf_3RhgtNOsjCka-vMRUlAkSuzj2aoZwgJ5TCYGrilNKKpgdWcXlJZ_74JykXe1f4BTbPLeAIPrsH1tE6ad_GwLLV9aftUDepKY16mAV75v/s1600-h/bible.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCeJVI3G8T7DoCQPHJWW9Pf3eHhLnv_x9idf_3RhgtNOsjCka-vMRUlAkSuzj2aoZwgJ5TCYGrilNKKpgdWcXlJZ_74JykXe1f4BTbPLeAIPrsH1tE6ad_GwLLV9aftUDepKY16mAV75v/s320/bible.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085337558934085634" border="0" /></a>Leadership development in the church is one of the most important and challenging tasks that faces its current leadership. If at any given moment, a church is not actively working in partnership with the Lord to shape people for leading the church of the present and the future, then that is the moment when that church begins to die.<br /><br />As a church planter, I find myself at the beginning of an important transition time as a group of strong leaders are winding down their involvement with Cascade Hills, preparing to move on to plant another new church to reach the lost in our city.<br /><br />Not all of the leaders will be leaving, but now is a great and visible time to redouble my efforts in the area of developing future leaders at Cascade Hills. I have begun tapping a few folks on the shoulder, asking them to commit to pray seriously about the possibility of becoming more directly involved with the leadership of our faith community. Along with that time of prayer, I am inviting them to sit before the Scriptures, approaching them with a fresh set of eyes.<br /><br />The commitment to prayer has the purpose of building trust in these new leaders (and in me), that God indeed is still capable of leading the growth of His church as willing people submit to Him in listening prayer. A strong sense of calling is critical to any leadership venture, and listening, searching prayer is a vital part of discerning that sense of calling.The commitment to Scripture takes the form of a one-on-one or small group Bible study with each of these potential leaders. In these Bible studies, we employ a missional hermeneutic: an approach to hearing the Scriptures that acknowledges and is ever responsive to God's missional purpose in the church. The two key components of this missional hermeneutic are thus:<ul><li>An understanding that the church is a <span style="font-style: italic;">sent people, </span>called by God into active engagement with a fallen world and a part of God's gracious work to restore Creation. In Jesus, God decisively broke the power of sin and opened the way to new creation; through the Holy Spirit, God empowered God's people to represent His in-breaking reign by being its sign and foretaste (indicating by its own communal life the sort of community God is working to re-create in all of humanity) as well as God's agent and instrument in bringing about this reign (both actively and passively serving God's re-creative purposes through its words and actions).</li><li>An understanding that the purpose of leadership in the church is to partner with God in the formation of a <span style="font-style: italic;">missional people </span>that knows and lives out this missional calling.</li></ul>In this early stage of leadership formation, my hope and prayer is all of us engaged in this study can be profoundly re-shaped by this missional reading of the Scriptures. We will need to fight at every turn an individualistic, personal, private reading of the Scriptures. Rather than asking, what does this Scripture mean for my (private, personal) life, asking instead how this Scripture shapes a people ready to accomplish His re-creative purposes? Rather than asking how ought my individual behaviors reflect the teaching of these Scriptures, we must instead ask, how ought our faith community live out these Scriptures as a witness to God's re-creative purposes coming to fruition in our midst?<br /><br />My ultimate hope and prayer for these beginning steps of leadership formation is twofold:<ul><li>First, that we as leaders will begin to understand together the demands these Scriptures make on our communal discipleship, helping us to remain faithful and diligent in the activities that form the diverse people of Cascade Hills into a thoroughly missional community;</li><li>And second, that this approach to Scripture will itself "trickle down" to the opportunities we have to go before the Scriptures with others at Cascade Hills, helping to turn the tide of individualistic and privatized spirituality in our culture.</li></ul>We've a long road ahead of us, may the Father of Lights illumine our Way.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-41436972074211958882007-06-26T07:17:00.000-07:002007-06-26T08:45:06.957-07:00Cultivating self-control, pt. II: Preparing to begin a 21-day discipline<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKxSaXJ3N-2y-oi9lEiNhtyClaLvjOtavq47u3CDPOTGDOOcAYMwJyG3BblZD_XFsOKErttR7UgKxrcPTj37tRyhqnecfj8n0cPpBSJUoXFqWrW-04POUGHBeFSRwr_9KbbUmHQonY0-y/s1600-h/startingBlock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKxSaXJ3N-2y-oi9lEiNhtyClaLvjOtavq47u3CDPOTGDOOcAYMwJyG3BblZD_XFsOKErttR7UgKxrcPTj37tRyhqnecfj8n0cPpBSJUoXFqWrW-04POUGHBeFSRwr_9KbbUmHQonY0-y/s200/startingBlock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080398950469201842" border="0" /></a><a href="http://sanctuscross.blogspot.com/2007/06/cultivating-self-control-practical.html">In the previous article</a>, we discussed the role intention and will play in the cultivation of self-control. I suggested that if you repeat a specific behavior in its appropriate daily context for 21 days, then it has the potential of becoming an ingrained habit. This new habit is then an ally rather than an obstacle in the establishment and maintenance of self-control.<br /><br />Let us look at the preparations that are helpful before setting out on a new 21-day discipline.<br /><br />First, we wait on God. To begin is not to choose at random some habit which we covet or fancy; rather, it is to come before God humbly, allowing the perspectives and wisdom of Scripture to inform our self-understanding. Then, immersed in prayer, we wait for guidance. The mere act of stopping and waiting (a rare enough event in our crowded world) can often reveal a misplaced priority or an important insight in plain view. The intent of this initial silence before beginning is intended to keep us from bandaging a scratch while a more serious wound goes untended. How long is long enough? A little practice ought to reveal what is appropriate for each person. Three days, perhaps, is the least we ought to devote to waiting on God for such an important endeavor, but neither should we wait too long; longer than five days and we are stalling.<br /><br />Second, we must clearly and accurately define the behavior we shall address. We must be specific. Do we wish to become more generous with our money, trusting God to provide? Then make it specific: is this discipline about spending less or giving more? Is it directed toward stopping a behavior in progress, such as impulse spending? Or is it directed toward creating a new behavior, such as setting aside money with which to be generous? In this part of the process, we must take care not to try to do too much. Especially at first, it is better to embark on a 21-day journey with a simple goal and to emerge victorious than to attempt a much more difficult one and fail. One other note at this stage: the structure of the 21-day discipline is directed toward behaviors which occur or should occur at least daily. Otherwise, we would not have opportunity to practice the behavior in a way that causes it to become ingrained.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMQdd7sMjKXaWtWY6ZesNIgammq_rOjTIh_v9P1fDUKdGoZm4UDytLTwzK49iQPBrQ5f10sWBqa73zLY6sSvPRL2GSIs932VVsRUwIf4GTksnhtXmf1SqOnz8BFzwLjTlY7r-VQPrABGi/s1600-h/Jesus+Prayer-09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMQdd7sMjKXaWtWY6ZesNIgammq_rOjTIh_v9P1fDUKdGoZm4UDytLTwzK49iQPBrQ5f10sWBqa73zLY6sSvPRL2GSIs932VVsRUwIf4GTksnhtXmf1SqOnz8BFzwLjTlY7r-VQPrABGi/s200/Jesus+Prayer-09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080399165217566658" border="0" /></a>Third, we must arm ourselves. The 21-day discipline properly undertaken is more than just an application of the will. There is frequent witness in the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=%22sinful%20nature%22&version1=31&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no">writings of Paul</a> (and elsewhere) that there are forces at work within us which oppose positive growth in the fruits of the Spirit. What's more, Paul warns us in Colossians that mere application of will and harsh discipline of the body will fail because of its powerlessness in opposing these forces. It is the Spirit of God which alone has the facility to overcome the elemental forces which oppose our growth. Part of our work during this 21-day discipline then is to "feed the Spirit", to remain in intimate fellowship with God through prayer and time in the Scriptures. The best practice is to "bracket" the day with a short time of prayer specifically devoted to the discipline. We thus begin the day with a prayer asking for empowerment, approaching our task in expectation of the difficulties we will face. Similarly, we end the day with a reflective posture, prayerful relinquishment, and thanksgiving. In addition, for particularly difficult struggles, we might choose a scripture passage to memorize to have at the ready for when the path turns difficult.<br /><br />Fourth, we ought to enlist the prayerful support of our brothers and sisters. The Christian life cannot be properly lived alone, and the critical task of introspection and active discipleship must always have a public dimension. Before we begin our 21-day discipline, we should lay our plan before a wise friend who can advise us, pray for us, and to whom we will make ourselves accountable. We might also consider entering into a 21-day discipline with another person or group with whom we can share the journey.<br /><br />Fifth, and lastly, we should choose an appropriate time to begin. The pursuit of a change in behavior can be a tiring task, so we must be sensitive to the other needs in our lives. It would be wise to anticipate times in which new behaviors will be needed, and to put them in place before that time. We ought not to attempt more than one 21-day discipline at the same time; one brings enough difficulty on its own.<br /><br />In forthcoming articles, we'll discuss:<br /><ul><li>Beginning, sustaining, and finishing the 21-day discipline</li><li>Nourishing the behavior over the long term</li></ul>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2562785038282332552.post-81813096435756147972007-06-20T11:05:00.001-07:002007-06-20T14:58:47.555-07:00Cultivating self-control, pt. I : A practical guide to the 21-day discipline<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7KGsYulqI-3Kp2uFgulAEAwKoOoJWbOX1HDZyEIo-NGXhyKXOIAMBEzwqgzo3kxiKVLY1mAAASHSXOH0ckyJmYtQQ3Ss6RU35-Vva4DI8npUiFOldsZQzHU2jwo3gdUIbs3E4jSjkp5d/s1600-h/image.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7KGsYulqI-3Kp2uFgulAEAwKoOoJWbOX1HDZyEIo-NGXhyKXOIAMBEzwqgzo3kxiKVLY1mAAASHSXOH0ckyJmYtQQ3Ss6RU35-Vva4DI8npUiFOldsZQzHU2jwo3gdUIbs3E4jSjkp5d/s320/image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078212112035868546" border="0" /></a>Self-control is rare fruit in our culture these days. It cannot be called a celebrated virtue in a society whose economy is structured around the principle of instant gratification. That is not to say that the desire for it is lacking: witness the flood of interest in diets and the ubiquity and irony of visually impressive magazines with "simple" in the title.<br /><br />And yet self-control is not often sought with success.<br /><br />Christ-followers are frequently exhorted to self-control in the Scriptures:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=24&chapter=25&verse=27&end_verse=28&version=31&context=context">Proverbs 25:28</a>: Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks <b>self-control</b>.</li><li><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=55&chapter=5&verse=22&end_verse=24&version=31&context=context">Galatians 5:23</a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=55&chapter=5&verse=22&end_verse=24&version=31&context=context">:</a> But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and <span style="font-weight: bold;">self-control.</span></li><li><strong></strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=59&chapter=5&verse=5&end_verse=7&version=31&context=context">1 Thessalonians 5:6:</a> So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and <b>self-controlled</b>.</li><li>And quite a few others: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=self-control&version1=31&searchtype=all&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;limit=none&wholewordsonly=no">search Bible Gateway...</a></li></ul><p>We know from his comments in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians%202&version=31">Colossians</a> that these are not intended to be heard as a call to the ascetic practices of monks, but rather a reminder that strict behavioral rules (no matter how harshly enforced) won't get us anywhere because they do not address the root problem: the need for total transformation of the person. Elsewhere (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=phil%202;&version=31;">Philippians 2</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202:3-6;&version=31;">1 John 2:3-6</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal%205:16-26;&version=31;">Galatians 5:16-26</a>), we learn that this sort of transformation is not only possible but that followers of Jesus ought to expect such transformation to be an ongoing part of their discipleship.</p><p>The Holy Spirit has charge of the more difficult part of the process: making new our minds and hearts, reorienting them toward their original purposes in God's gracious ordering of His Creation. What part then do we play in this process?</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCxD9KlMxCWI0E0YVS8wGXefRoMkZPnIBlp7Ue6urvnKf0fH926jhc_RiXc2ZkinXgRI6G6FmSyvoQ3fEwdVS0TFfemPsa9yNA5Nd8pE9GfnvMtC77C_Ra84r74KGTKgVi5w86MG_apWk/s1600-h/concentrate.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCxD9KlMxCWI0E0YVS8wGXefRoMkZPnIBlp7Ue6urvnKf0fH926jhc_RiXc2ZkinXgRI6G6FmSyvoQ3fEwdVS0TFfemPsa9yNA5Nd8pE9GfnvMtC77C_Ra84r74KGTKgVi5w86MG_apWk/s200/concentrate.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078265738997526418" border="0" /></a>Our part is the <span style="font-style: italic;">intentional application of our will </span>toward forming <span style="font-style: italic;">new patterns of behavior</span> that correspond to our <span style="font-style: italic;">new identity in Christ</span>. Put another way, we must decide to change our current behavior and habits of mind with behavior and habits of mind appropriate to a disciple of Jesus.</p><p>Of course this is much harder to put into practice than it is to describe. For any behavior worth addressing, it is nearly impossible simply to decide to change. "From now on, I'll stop thinking those thoughts forever." Hardly. But that is not to say that the will is helpless in the face of such behaviors and habits of mind. What is needed is to use the will in conjunction with the rational mind, applying what we know of the human creature and his nature to create new habits that honor Christ.</p><p>It has long been known that repetition of a specific behavior over a span of several weeks can result in the establishment of that behavior in the subconscious. Recent studies have shown that this period reaches its highest potential at 21 days. This means that <span style="font-style: italic;">if you repeat a specific behavior</span> in its appropriate daily context for 21 days, then it has the potential of becoming an <span style="font-style: italic;">ingrained habit</span>.</p><p>In forthcoming articles, we'll look at the 21-day discipline in more detail:</p><ul><li>Choosing a behavior to address and preparing to begin the 21 days<br /></li><li>Beginning, sustaining, and finishing the 21-day discipline</li><li>Nourishing the behavior over the long term</li></ul>Have any experience with intentionally forming habits you'd like to share? Describe them in the comments!Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14865607115402870492noreply@blogger.com3