Category Archives: Spiritual Formation

Physically Engaging Spiritual Formation

Posted on August 30, 2011 | Leave a comment

Some thoughts in the middle of a bike ride this morning on a spirituality that is active, physical, and engaging.

brought to you from: www.plantmedina.org

 

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Posted in Plant Medina, Spiritual Formation, Spirituality

Hunting With Eyes Wide

Posted on July 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

I have a prayer stand where I am learning to hunt. It’s elevated and beyond the senses of those who may stroll by on bike, car, or foot. I visit this location regularly as a farmer visits the soil. There is a pattern to my labors though. I just don’t close my eyes and draw an imaginary line from my concept of God to my concept of needs, and then  shoot out words rapidly like an automated assembly line in hope they will correctly assemble for me the desires of my imagination.

No. I cannot hunt with my eyes wide shut, but nor can I see with my eyes wide open. There is an emptying and a filling that must occur. An apophatic prayer, the emptying of that which entangles and inhibits me as an intercessor, but also a kataphatic prayer, seeing through the lens of the Great Victory of God.

So, I close one eye and focus the other. Steadying my breathing. Concentrating on my environment. Waiting patiently to see that which is imagined become manifest in objective reality. Growing in courage to pull the trigger when I see it break through… BAM!

Veni Creator Spiritus, Come, Creator Spirit for with eyes wide open I am blinded by the glory of God and with eyes wide shut I miss the cries of the needy.

But don’t be mistaken. My prayer stand isn’t so much about hunting as it is about daily orienting myself to the hunt. A daily abiding in holy attentiveness to Him who prays for His Father’s will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

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Posted in Holy Spirit, Imagination, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Spiritual Formation, Spirituality

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Have You Ever Been To A Small Group Like This?

Posted on May 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

The following is certainly NOT what you can expect from our grace-filled communities at Plant Medina  (http://plantmedina.org/)…

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Posted in Spiritual Formation

Prayer: The Mission of Formation

Posted on March 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

“Dear God, I want to plant every virtue in my heart, as if you were planting roses and lilies of every color in a field.  And I want you to water those flowers with your Holy Spirit.  If any thorns or thistles of vice sprout amongst the flowers, I want you to root out those weeds.  And I want you to prune and cut back those flowers, regardless of the pain I will suffer, that they may grow more strongly.  Finally, I want seeds from those flowers to blow into other souls, that they too may share the beauty which you alone can give.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-Hildegard of Bingen. She lived in what is now Germany from 1098-1179.  She was a nun from the age of 18 and rose to the level of abess. (This is what my professor (http://realmealministries.org/) prayed for us in Exegesis of Exodus this week)

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Posted in Prayer, Spiritual Formation, Spirituality

Eating Words

Posted on February 7, 2011 | 3 Comments

I just finished up my 2010 Bible Reading Plan. It took me 13 months, but I finished reading the entire Bible front to back. Over the past five years, I have read a new translation of the Bible (ESV, NRSV, NIV, NASB, NLT) and usually switch formatting as well (for instance I read the Archeological Bible, NIV study Bible, cross-reference Bibles, Mosaic Bible, and in 2011 the John Wesley Study Bible). All this is an attempt to eat the scroll …

Reading the Bible daily, weekly, monthly, annually is a spiritual discipline that takes the Word made text and puts it back into flesh. I have lived by the promises of Psalm 119:9&11, “How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your Word… I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.”  Ezekiel was told to eat the scroll, “Feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” In Revelation we are told again to take the scroll from the angel and eat it, “It will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.”

So how do we do it? Here are some pointers that I can offer to those of you wanting to “Eat the scroll.”

  • Commit to a Bible Reading Plan.
    - I have used a yearly Bible Reading Plan from the Navigators. I attached a copy here.
    - A friend of mine (Chad Brooks – outsideisbetter) uses the website, www.youversion.com and uses their 90 day study.
  • Set aside a time of the day or week where/when you will read the Bible.
    - You may also want to do it in community with your family, friends, or staff.
  • Pray and give yourself grace when you fall behind.
    - The purpose of a Bible Reading Plan isn’t to check the boxes and feed some genre of false spiritual identity. The purpose is to eat the scroll, to feast on the Word, to abide in its truth, to be transformed and shaped by it.
  • A fun practice that I also do on an annual basis is switch up my translation and format of the Bible (I mentioned this above). I know some people (Dr. Bob Tuttle) who then give away their previously read Bibles to other people.

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Posted in Bible, Ezekiel, Psalms, Revelation, Spiritual Formation