By Chaplain Mike Two of Henri Nouwen’s students, Michael Christensen and Rebecca Laird, have taken their late teacher’s course in spiritual direction and supplemented it with his unpublished writings to create a “new” work presenting Nouwen’s thoughts on the Christian life. The result? A series of books filled with the characteristic simplicity and wisdom ofContinue reading “IM Book Review: Spiritual Direction”
Category Archives: Spiritual Formation
Mourning and Grieving in Community
By Chaplain Mike Note: The following is a transcript of a talk I gave to our hospice team a few years ago. As I promised earlier this week, we will be having several posts on the subject of grief and caring for the bereaved in the next short while. This particular piece shows one ofContinue reading “Mourning and Grieving in Community”
Guest Post: John Armstrong asks, “How Otherworldly Should I Be?”
Note from Chaplain Mike: Recently, we had a series of posts on the subject of Spiritual Formation. One point I made in those articles is that “the Christian life” (so-called) is not some life that is lived on a different plane, but it is this life, this ordinary, human life that every person born intoContinue reading “Guest Post: John Armstrong asks, “How Otherworldly Should I Be?””
The Life God Is In
By Chaplain Mike “…he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17.27, NLT) As I have talked with friends throughout this year, I’ve noted that we’ve been using a phrase regularly: “This is the life God is in.” OK, it could be better grammatically, but it’s punchy and makes a clear point.Continue reading “The Life God Is In”
Drought
By Chaplain Mike We haven’t had a good day of rain where I live for over two months. Our lawns are past turning brown. Now they are brittle, straw-like. Weeds provide the only green at ground level. They proliferate. Hardy, demonically so, they thrive where all that is desirable dies from thirst. Farmers are cleaningContinue reading “Drought”
Spiritual Formation: The Plain, Hard Truth
By Chaplain Mike And now for the bad news . . . In the final analysis, there is only one thing that enables us to grow in Christ. Few are willing to put it that starkly. In fact, I think there is so much false advertising out there about what actually enables people to change,Continue reading “Spiritual Formation: The Plain, Hard Truth”
iMonk Classic: Confession
Classic iMonk Post by Michael Spencer Originally posted Oct 13, 2008 MOD Note: One spiritual practice commanded in Scripture and little emphasized today in evangelical practice is the confession of sins. 1John 1, on the other hand, assumes that this is one of the marks of genuine Christian faith: “If we claim we have noContinue reading “iMonk Classic: Confession”
Spiritual Formation: A Bit of Counsel
By Chaplain Mike Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest! Put on my yoke and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. •Continue reading “Spiritual Formation: A Bit of Counsel”
Spiritual Formation: Clarifications
By Chaplain Mike For many Protestants, discussion of the “spiritual disciplines” raises a number of questions. In particular, we have questions about the relationship between God’s grace and human actions in the process of spiritual formation. Today, I’d like to make a few things clear. 1. When we talk about growing through practicing spiritual disciplines,Continue reading “Spiritual Formation: Clarifications”
Spiritual Formation: How It Happens
By Chaplain Mike We intend what is right, but we avoid the life that would make it reality. • Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, p. 6 Let’s say I’m in a room with three adults, all seated at pianos. I want to find out their ability to play the instrument. I ask themContinue reading “Spiritual Formation: How It Happens”
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