What is time unfolding in you? Part II

Recently, one of my directees so astutely overheard herself: "[My inability to cultivate space for God] both causes something in me and is also a symptom of something in me."

In other words, she saw something unfolding within her that felt akin to a downward spiral. The symptom driving the shame, causing a gentle, but nontheless berating of herself for not doing enough for God, to trying again, to failing, to being exhausted in the trying, to ignoring what is too painful. This led to a seemingly nagging (but actually a "disguised" but beautiful longing) "Isn't there more?"

What unfolds in us over time comes forth from what is cultivated... in the same way a gardener attends to the specific needs of planting seeds in the correct depths and widths, into proper soil nutrients, with appropriate amounts of water and sunshine so that it can flourish and blossom,  we need to cultivate environments so that time (and God) may unfold the blossoms we are designed to reveal with beauty to the world.


A haphazard environment is more likely to produce a reactionary, "survival" or "vague, but shallow wishful thinking" about life and living. Merely hoping for change will lead to a life lived in regrettable responses to the stresses and strains that come along with their taunting, devouring and cynical ways.

As you think about approaching Advent - a season of waiting, listening, stillness, expectation, hope, joy and receiving of God's gift of life -  even amidst the crazy, busy, party, overindulgent distractions of the season - what is God inviting you to cultivate?

Consider:

• What is unfolding in your heart and life? Are you unfolding into a person that you'd like to be?
• If you were to describe your "spiral" of growth, what would it look like?
• Are you moving toward the things you long for (relationally, spiritually, physically, emotionally, vocationally)? 
• Are you cultivating ways to care of your body in ways that bring nurture, health and respect for God's temple? What would that look like?
• Are you cultivating moments to "ponder" and "treasure" life and God's good gifts?
• Are you helping to shape a life (physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, intellectually) that you'd like - or are you putting it off for "someday" or just excusing it with thinking you're just in a season you have to gut out?

 Do you like what time is unfolding in you? Can you be patient to intentionally cooperate with the One who is for you and knows how to unfold you in His time? What is God gently inviting you toward in cultivating the unfolding of your life?

UnhurryUp!™

www.mysoulrefresh.com

What is time unfolding in you? Part I

“Time does not change us, it unfolds us.”   Max Frisch

Pause and be aware of your own connection to these words:

• How does this quote strike you? Is it inviting you to lean in closer? 
• Does it sound pithy and ridiculous?  Or unrealistic?
• How do you think change happens?
• Which word most draws you to pay attention to it? 
• What is unfolding in your heart/life now...how do you feel about what is unfolding?

UnhurryUp!™

www.mysoulrefresh.com

She would have accomplished so much...

Last Tuesday I had the wonderful opportunity and blessing to go out to The DreamGiver's Inn to have some reFresh space for me...no one else signed up for the scheduled retreat, so I received the day to get some uninterrupted space to work on some sorely neglected projects. Within the first 10 minutes of settling into the window seat in the "courage" room, I felt sleepy. My inner task master was angry - I had so much to do - yet all I could do was fight to keep my eyelids open. In the midst of the battle between "doing" and "being" (yes, even I suffer this plight!), a deep malaise came over me. Was it a creative block that I just needed to push through? Or was it best to surrender to my body's need?

Deciding to take the advice I so generously grant others, I lowered down, puffed and strategically rearranged a few pillows and covered myself with the afghan. But I couldn't sleep. Taunted by the creative to-do list of music, writings and curriculum development, my brain was like the energizer bunny after drinking a redbull - way too scattered to contribute well to any one thing. I was so frustrated.

Shortly thereafter my friend Kate arrived - she was going to help me stay to task and get after the writing. She listened...a lot...to my complaints and questions and musings about why I feel blocked and frustrated. She listened well and gently invited me to lie down for 20 minutes. I didn't sleep, but it felt good to close my eyes (evidently giving permission to myself is not as helpful as hearing it from a loving friend). About ten minutes into stilling myself, I looked over to her and facetiously declared (about myself),

"She would have accomplished so much if she weren't so in love."

And there it was.

Love
in Love
so in Love...

My inability to focus - to "produce" and be creative was not so much from a block or a battle between "doing" and "being", but because I had spent much of the last month in love. In an instant I understood, "That's it...that's why I'm so tired."

Yes love rejuvenates and in the midst of encountering love either in giving or receiving, there is satiation and energizing that is beyond description. But, as in those early moments of falling in love where you you cannot get enough hours together with your beloved, there is an exhaustion that follows the encounters. Or when you're loving well by caring for a sick one, like I did for my dying Eddie cat a few weeks ago, you give up "normal" things and responsibilities to be present to the one you love. Between loving Eddie and responding to God's invitation to linger longer than "normal" in His presence, my everyday work and responsibilities have seemingly fallen by the wayside.  And as I pressure myself to catch up, I realize that perhaps catching up is not required. Being present to both the delights and depletion I feel from having encountered love is what is important.

I am in love and have lived well this past month ...and it has been astounding...and costly. There has been shed tears, neglected housework, canceled meetings, and the inability to create what is in my heart to share with the world. But I'd rather choose love - even when that means life looks less productive or organized or polished. Love changes the measuring...in love what is "normal" rarely has anything to do with how much I produce or get done in a day. Love measures how much of myself have I given to the present moment...whether that be in loving God, myself, or others.

Perhaps one day on my tombstone (if I have one - I'd rather have my ashes scattered in a lovely place) it will read,

"She would have accomplished so much if she wasn't so in love."

The world needs more lovers...how do you sense God inviting you to cultivate a life of love?

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Advent - one week away and counting...

Advent is coming...and in so many ways it is the unhurryup™ trademark holiday! Advent is about slowing, and stilling, waiting, and preparing room in your heart for the long expected One.

Every year I swear I'm going to do the holidays differently. I am not going to get swept up into the rush and swirl of the festivities and miss the point...and like most New Year's resolutions, I find that my good intentions do not have that much sway in my life. To swim against the tide, I must make some different choices...and carve out a little space to remember...

For any of you who are wishing to do the same - any wishing to truly engage body, soul, mind and heart by intentionally carving out unhurried space to cultivate a heart of worship during this year's Christmas season, please join me here for occasional reflections and moments of pondering...

May God bless you - and may you have a very unhurried holiday season!

Joy to the world...

www.mysoulrefresh.com

A nice breathing prayer for Saturday...

This is from Christine Sine's Godspace blog -

"Breathe out empty yourself: of hate, of fear, of anxiety
Breathe in fill yourself with love, with life, with mercy
Breathe out empty yourself of busyness, of selfishness of greed
Breathe in fill yourself with peace, with joy, with hope
Breathe out empty yourself of idolatry, of self worship, of false gods
Breathe in fill yourself with God, with Christ, with the Holy Spirit"

Unhurryup™

The greatest enemies of the inner journey

"[Those who followed God in the desert] believed that the greatest enemies of the inner journey were hurry, crowds, and noise" -Laura Swan OSB in The Forgotten Desert Mothers, 15

Ironically, it seems much of our event planning in the ongoing parade of Christian faith is rushed, crowded and noisy - often just as busy and noisy as the rest of life. It makes me ask the question - are we sabotaging, through hurry, crowded and noisy extravaganzas - especially all the hoopla of the upcoming Christmas season - that which we are deeply longing for in our inner journey?


Anticipating Advent (only 1 week from Sunday away!) - which is a time of stillness, anticipation and expectant waiting (not in-coincidental to the busiest, most boisterous time of the year) consider:

• In what ways are hurry, crowds and noise enemies to you deepening your inner journey? 
• In this upcoming season of Advent, in what ways do you desire to cultivate your inner journey?
• How might some intentional unhurriedness, solitude and/or stillness be welcomed into your daily life?

Listen in for the still, small whispers of God's invitation toward His love. Respect the sacred spaces in your day and in your own soul.

 Unhurryup!™

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Habits of Health - reorienting God's gift of life toward health

As I've journeyed over these past 4.5 months with a eye to be attentive to my physical health and to reorient my life toward healthy living, I have had the tremendous support of an amazing health coach (and she's free!) As I approach having only 11 pounds left to reach my goal, I was gladly reminded in an email from her this morning that reaching the goal is just the beginning of a new way of living healthfully. We've only just begun baby!


Here's what Kathryn sent:

 85% regain their weight within 2 years. . .

That is if they are on a diet.  Are you on a diet? 

If you are living with an internal dialogue in which you hear the plaintive "I can't". . .

If you are looking forward to your target weight like a runner looks for the finish line. . .

If with every pound lost you are both more relieved and also. . .  uh well honestly. . . less motivated. . .(don't worry, that's normal!)Then you are most likely still living in that short run system AKA the punitive diet mode.

(Beware - here comes a long sentence that might be worth reading twice): 

TSFL (Take Shape For Life) offers a whole new way of thinking and living that comes from the heart. . . from our own personal drives and desires that propel us ever forward with the same power of an arrow shot from a taut bow string -- force and direction.  Now that's not a diet, but velocity for life! 

How's the velocity of your life in the area of your physical body?

What I've enjoyed most is that I have been generous to both body and soul by intentionally seeking ways to care for myself physically. I admit, as I transition into a new stage, I'm nervous. But thankfully I have the community I need to continue to live with a velocity for life!

Here are a couple of resources that I have been/will continue to work through as I reorient my life toward health in every facet. Feel free to contact Kathryn if you have any questions or want to explore the desire to care for your soul by caring for your body.


Dr. A's Habits of Health along with the companion work book bring a comprehensive insight and strategy toward reorienting your life toward health - in losing weight, gaining strength and flexibility, increasing energy to live life in a fully attentive and present manner!

What is the goal of our spiritual lives?

My friend and former co-worker Tom Ashbrook has written an amazing book, Mansions of the Heart, where he offers a beautiful vision of the "so much more" that God offers on a journey toward His heart of Love.

Tom writes,

"The goal [of Christianity] we choose as the primary one becomes the lens through which we see and interpret the person of God and our spiritual experience" (p. 20).

What do you think is the "goal" of the Christian journey?

If it is to just "stop sinning" - how would that lens color how you see God and what activities you involve yourself in? If it is to merely gain "fire insurance" - how will God be relevant to you in your daily ordinary relationships and activities? If the goals is to be "missional" - who is God to you? What if the goal is to be united with Christ in Love?

• How does your perceived/stated goal of the Christian journey impact how you order your daily life? 
• According to your goal, what role does God play? In this goal is God more a judge? A power source for doing more effective ministry?

What if the goal of the Christian journey is a transforming love relationship with God...how would that effect/order your daily life? What would God's primary role be?

If in your journey things are not working quite like you expected - and/or if you are experiencing a bit of frustration and feel out of sorts, give Tom's book a read. You'll be delighted to read of the "so much more" that God has in store for His beloved ones.

You can also check out more about the ministry Tom is involved in at www.imagochristi.org - and if you're in the Portland area, check into joining us on a Discovery conference Jan 25-27th, 2011.

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Soul space - a fancy way of saying your invisible self needs some elbow room...

This is a repost of a beautiful blog by Emily of www.chattingatthesky.com - I think she is an unhurryup™ kindred:

six things about soul space

July 22, 2010

This week, I have had more time to myself than usual. In fact, I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy more solitude than perhaps ever in my life. I’ve been breathing in the space while, at the same time, grasping for ways to fill it. Isn’t that what we do? My tagline here is ‘a place for your soul to breathe.’ I’ve been thinking about what that means and what it looks like. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

Soul space is a fancy way of saying: your invisible self needs some elbow room. That could mean prayer, reflection, Scripture reading, or silence. Or it could also happen in the kitchen or at an easel, in the car or the grocery store. The Bible says we live and move and have our being in him. If he exists in me, then where I go, he goes. Worship isn’t confined to a specific posture or location.

Soul space doesn’t just happen. It is possible to be quiet on the outside but still have a cluttered soul. It is also possible to be outwardly active with a soul that exists in a spacious and enlarged place. We have to choose which path our mind, will, and emotions are going to follow.

Resist the urge to try to force soul space to look a certain way. Things may come up that will disturb, and it may be tempting to think this space is impossible. When interruptions and unexpected things show up , purpose to receive them as part of the process, as a reminder of your humanness, and as an opportunity to set your mind on truth.

In the midst of creating space for your soul to breathe, embrace the unveiling of anxiety. Allow those things that hum under the surface of your everyday activity to rise up from within and offer them to the Holy, Heavenly keeper of all your anxieties. In him is the only safe place.

It takes time to receive space for your soul to breathe. We are so used to moving, reacting, responding and producing. To expect that busy freight train to come to a quick halt is to experience frustration. At the same time, God is not limited by our current life stage. Ask him to miraculously multiply the time you do have in ways that only he can.

Our bodies have to breathe to stay alive, and so does our soul. When I move through my days on auto-pilot, I may be able to survive, but that isn’t the same as living. Surviving says just make it through; living says let’s make it count. Allowing space for your soul to breathe is an invitation to commune with God and one another."

Enjoy creating some intentional and unhurried soul space for yourself today. Thanks Emily - great thoughts!

Unhurryup!™

www.mysoulrefresh.com

The guidance of souls is the art of arts!

Gregory of Nyssa (330-95 A.D.), a Cappadocian bishop and theologian, speaks of the importance of those doing "soul work" (i.e. physicians of the heart) being as qualified, if not more so, than medical physicians.

“No one ever attempts to teach any art unless he has learned it himself after much thought. With what stupidity, then, would the pastoral office be undertaken by the unqualified, seeing that the guidance of souls is the art of arts! Who does not recognize that the wounds of the mind are more concealed than the internal lesions of the body? Those who have no knowledge of the curing powers of drugs shrink from pretending to be physicians of the body. Nevertheless, persons who are totally ignorant of spiritual matters are often not afraid to present themselves as physicians of the heart."

in Jerome M. Neufelder and Mary C. Coelho, editors. Writings on Spiritual Direction. New York: The Seabury Press, 1982, p. 28.)

As a Soul Artisan™, or one who facilitates and instructs others in the art of living from the soul, I do not take lightly imparting the things that I do not possess or have not experienced. I am ignorant of much - but I do know that without God's love being experienced in the deepest corners of my being, I will remain flat, vapid, and uninteresting to a world longing to know there is a deeper Love that will meet their deepest ache. Caring for souls is an awesome task. It is a humbling task. It is mysterious and more often than I care to admit, seemingly unproductive. Those looking for quick fixes don't look for soul care... quick fixes change the externals, but rarely the core of one's being. Those who are unwilling to unhurryup!™ - to slow their pace and pay attention, cannot experience the lasting transformation that comes from accepting God's invitation to come close.

For most of us who have been chosen (rarely does someone choose such a demanding, difficult, unmeasurable job description) to be involved in the guidance of souls, it is an underpaid, undervalued, unrecognized calling. That's okay - I haven't met anyone yet who cares deeply about soul cure who stops doing it because they are not valued or paid well. There is a deeper understanding of the privilege of companioning others in an inward soul journey to listen to the "still, small, voice" of God within. As the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, "The Journey is too much for you..." (1 Kings 19:7) (and the journey, take note, was not to go out and do more ministry - but to journey to a place where Elijah could hear the gentle whispers of God.)

So often pastors and ministry leaders are trained in preaching, exegeting scripture and in systematic theology - all very wonderful, good and important things. But how often are spiritual leaders guided to listen to His gentle whispers - even in the midst of earthquakes, winds, and fires? Without also being led in the guidance of the soul, (Love encountering and healing those deep, hidden, bare-naked flabby portions of which we're deeply afraid or in denial) - the homilies, the acts of service, the serving on committees, the evangelism, is more an inauthentic exporting of our neuroses and biases, than of His heart.

Without daily experiencing and soaking in God's love (not just a one hour quiet time, but a being WITH Him throughout the day...being in step with His Spirit...being in sync with and joining the Father in what He is already doing vs. asking Him to bless the strategic and culturally relevant plans I'm making) I operate in the second command (of loving others) vs. letting the second command flow out of the First. (Matt 22:37-40). What does the First Command look like in your daily living - how are you letting God love you?

Do you have guidance for your soul? Are you interested in journeying with a soul companion or to discover, recover or deepen intimacy with God...with yourself...with others?

What questions does this arouse in you? What fears? What longings? Lean into His wooing you deeper, closer...He is for you, not against you (Romans 8:31-32).

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Entering rest...Unhurry Up™

“Rest is a death. We die to ourselves, our agendas, and learn that God loves us deeply just as we are. We dies to ourselves when we choose not to pummel God with more words but to simply sit as with a friend in silence, trusting the Spirit's work on our behalf. For even in our silence, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, praying for us and through us.

“This is the miracle: God's purposes may best be accomplished through our inactivity.

“Our Shepherd holds out his hand and invites us to cease striving, to rest along the banks of still waters. And we lay down our knapsack, put our weary hand in his nail-scarred palm and let him lead us.”

~ from Resting Place: A Personal Guide to Spiritual Retreats 

by Jane Rubietta (22-23).

 

• As you read about “entering rest” - what word or phrase felt like an invitation to your heart – something to pay attention to?

• What agenda might God be calling you to die to in this season of your life/circumstances?

• What parts of you life feel wearisome right now (relationships? Finances? Vocation? Health/Physical?) Imagine Him holding out His hand to you...describe how that feels.
  
  
   Write out a prayer of how you want God to lead you toward rest in your life....
  
  

Unhurry Up™

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Only in love...

"Only in love can I find You, my God. In love the gates of my soul spring open, allowing me to breathe a new air of freedom and forget my own petty self. In love my whole being streams forth out of the rigid confines of narrowness and anxious self-assertion, which makes me a prisoner of my own poverty and emptiness. In love all the powers of my soul flow out toward You, wanting never more to return, but to lose themselves completely in You, since by Your love You are the inmost center of my heart, closer to me than I am to myself."

- Karl Rahner, Encounters with Silence

How God opened my heart through a cat...

I have been sitting with my dear fur baby, Eddie, (black kitty on the left kissing Jack the white kitty on the right) for the past few days. His health has crashed and the doc diagnosed chronic renal failure...in uncertain terms he was given less than a week to live. Savoring each look, each nuzzle, each sweet lingering on my lap I have come to recount how Eddie helped open my heart...

You see, for five years, I walked right by him. Yup - he lived in my parking lot and would come running to greet me every time I came home. He was adorable, laying on his back inviting me to rub his belly. And for five years I said, "No way, I'm not opening my heart to you." For five years I refused to love him - to even pet him - to even acknowledge him. I walked on by with a stiff arm and a cold heart. But Eddie kept coming. He kept pursuing. He kept giving me a chance to love him (and to be loved by him).

Then one cold night in fall of 2002, I let him in for fear that this little creature would die on such a frigid night. And that was it - he captured my heart. For eight years this little guy has sat on my lap every morning during my quiet times of centering my soul with God. I delighted in him just wanting to be with me. Often, when I was distracted and feeling like I was not doing enough for God, God would remind me of my delight in Eddie. The cat was doing nothing but sitting with me, yet I was so happy. And I'd hear the echo of that same sentiment deep withing my soul - that's all God wanted too - "I am delighted to be with you Paula, just like you are with Eddie. Nothing is required...just be with me."

This being with - it is enough.

Now it's time to say goodbye to one of God's little creatures who helped open my heart to love - both in giving and in receiving. Honestly - Eddie is such a picture of God's persistent and joyous pursuit - He keeps coming even when I stiff arm Him and try to close my heart to His advances of
love. David says in Ps. 23:6 - "Surely God's goodness and mercy chase after me all the days of my life." Eddie chased after me...and I finally let my heart be caught.

Ironically, the heartache I now feel is what I was trying to avoid by keeping my heart shut tight for those five years. Now I wish I had those five years back! I know I've loved well because it hurts so dang much.

Frederick Buechner writes about what happens when we steel our hearts against the pain of the world...

“To do for yourself

the best that you have it in you to do –

to grit your teeth and clench your fists

in order to survive the world

at its harshest and worst –

is, by that very act, to be unable

to let something be done for you and in you

that is more wonderful still.

The trouble with steeling yourself against the harshness of reality

is that the same steel that secures your life against being destroyed [further wounded] secures your life also against being opened up and transformed.”

Frederick Buechner in The Sacred Journey

Dear Eddie cat has been an instrument who helped open up my life and heart so that I could be transformed. Something wonderful has happened for me and in me that is more wonderful than I can put words to.

So, I say "pause" (or is that paws) to Eddie - there will be a delay until I reunite with him again...this sweet little instrument of God's grace and love. I love you dear boy.

Creativity and Safety are incompatible...

 This is a repost of a blog by Cole Nesmith -

Last night, I dropped my friend, McKenzie, off at her car after house church. When she got out of the car, I said, “Be safe.” Almost immediately, I looked at Josh – sitting in the passenger seat – and said, “I’m never going to say that again.”

We live in a culture consumed by safety. There are organizations completely dedicated to making sure we’re safe while working and traveling and eating and doing just about any other common practice. And, being good westerners, we’ve allowed our cultural obsession for safety to define our lives as Christians. We’ve spent the last several hundred years sterilizing our relationship with Christ into a religion that is neat, defined, predictable… might I say, systematic?  We’ve worked hard to eliminate as much of the unknown as possible, and we wonder why we feel distant from a God who exists in the mysterious.  Today, we try to compensate with our heads by creating large educational institutions where we can further define and attempt to know God intellectually.
Hence, today, my friend Dustin called me and asked :

What happened historically that caused Christians to stop being influencers and creators of culture?  Where did our creativity go?

The answer : It was driven out by our fear of the unknown and our lust for answers.
Creativity and safety are incompatible.
Creativity is willing to step into the unknown and bring something new into existence.
Creativity is about an unbridled heart that is so free in who it was created to be that it is unstoppable.

Creativity is central to EVERYTHING God does.  And I’m not just talking about the creative work of the land and seas and animals and you and me.  I’m talking about things like redemption, peace, beauty and hope.  These things can only exist when we tap into the creative heart of God.
When I pass a homeless drug addict on the street, I can respond with my earthly, uncreative heart that sees what is before me.  Or, I can choose to look on with the creative heart of God that sees something that is yet to exist.  God looks onto what seems like a dark canvas of nothingness and imagines a beautiful life – a tree bearing all kinds of good fruit that nourishes those who come to eat of it.
Recently, I was talking with a guy  who has lived and worked in Haiti for the last 27 years.  He said,

“the most difficult thing to overcome in Haitian culture is the pervasive mindset of “present hedonism.”

And it seems that statement is true for lots of Americans (especially American Christians) as well.  We’re only concerned with the present, the now, today.  We’ve lost the ability to dream.  In short, his assessment is that one of the largest hurdles in Haiti is a lack of creativity.

That night, I posted this online :

Thinking about two future Haitis : One rebuilt on the foundation of creativity and the other built on the foundation of utility.

And the sole response :

I like the one where their foundation is Jesus

And that’s where we stand today – in a world where Christians have erected a wall of fear, prejudice and sterility between creativity and Jesus. But when we truly look at the heart of Jesus and the river of the Holy Spirit, all we see is the unexpected.
I remember going to the Grand Canyon several years ago.  I was on the road with some friends, and we drove all through the night.  The next morning, when I woke up, we were parked in a campsite several hundred yards from the hole.  I was so excited to start exploring that I skipped breakfast and jogged up the path to the canyon.  It was beautiful.  We hiked all day along the ridge occasionally walking out on the narrow pieces of rock that jutted from the main path – only 3 feet wide with hundreds of feet of cliff on each side.  And no rails!

God wants to take humanity deep in the mystery of Himself, but for generations, Christians have stood on the bank of the river of His Spirit.  And over time, the river has carved out a canyon before us.  That canyon gets deeper and deeper.  The rushing waters that we’re meant to swim in get farther and farther away.  Some thought about diving in for a while, but eventually the river just looked like it was too far down to jump in.  So we started building a fence.  And today, that fence keeps us safely perched on top of the canyon.  We have taken to study the rocks and the sand and the bushes.  We become intimately acquainted with the signs of what once was.  And as we turn our backs to the river, we settle into the comforts of the land.

But I’m so thirsty.  And I know that there are people in the world that are too – people that are ready to swim in the river of God, not exactly sure what will happen, but ready nonetheless.

So, what do you say we tear down the fence, stand on the edge of the cliff and jump into the unknown, beautiful, creative heart of God?"

So what do you think?

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Pragmatic or Spiritual

reprinting this article by Jamin Goggin

Pragmatic or Spiritual

"'I think I could train a non-Christian to do what I do well.'  These were the words spoken by a successful pastor.  Of course, "successful" is a loaded word, which I am defining via the largely accepted standards of the evangelical church today-growing church attendance, establishment of satellite campuses, creative programming, etc.  Having seriously reflected on the source, nature and telos of his ministry he had concluded that in many ways his ministry was natural, earthly...you fill in the blank.  In short, his ministry was pragmatically oriented and fundamentally a human endeavor.  He had become suspicious that the markers of success might be skewed since such success was achieved primarily through his natural ability, charisma, neurotic drives...

What I am finding more and more, and I must say at an alarming rate, is that this is true of many in ministry.  What is perhaps of greater concern is that few (very few) are coming to the realization that this pastor has come to.  Few, having tasted the meat sacrificed to idols have chosen to step away from the sweet taste of power, prestige and success long enough to realize maybe they are dining at the wrong table.

What we see is ministry fundamentally driven by pragmatic questions that are met with pragmatic answers.  What do we need to do to get people in church more often?  What do we need to do to increase giving?  What do we need to do to increase membership?  What do we need to do to get people excited about church?  And so, the answers follow.  It is those who can think creatively, see the "big picture", understand people's felt needs or come up with a clever campaign that are seen as brilliant and successful.  Mind you, within each of these pragmatic questions there may lie legitimate concerns, but might I suggest that the questions are neither primary nor formed correctly.  The concerns of the pastor are no longer spiritual.  The questions that should be primary are not even secondary.  How is the Holy Spirit moving in the lives of these people?  Where does God have our church developmentally?  What temptations do we as leadership have in our approach to ministry?  The problem is that these are questions to be explored in prayer, and if we are honest much less time (perhaps no time) is spent in prayer than in planning meetings, vision team brainstorms, the latest conferences, etc.

Sure, we talk about spiritual things, but not spiritually.  We do not minister in the Spirit, but in human creativity, in the latest church growth ideas, etc.  Here we would do well to hear voices like Eugene Peterson who call the pastor back to a life of prayer (see Working the Angles).  Instead, we are enamored with the guys we believe have arrived (meaning those who have large churches), and their ideas for strategic growth, philosophies of ministry, etc.  Please hear me when I say, this is not all bad.  The pragmatic is an inescapable part of ministry, for we have to do something, and it would certainly be a good idea to do it well.  However, I believe if our ministry was more governed by spiritual questions and answers we would find that we don't have to do as much as we think we do, we are not responsible for the things we think we are (namely, the work of the Holy Spirit) and if we began with such spiritual questions and answers the pragmatic step to follow might just be to glorify God, not man. " Jamin Goggin
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Seems the questions we ask reveal our motivation... what questions are you asking re: your ministries - whether it be to your family, church, small group etc? What important spiritual questions do you ask yourself re: your ministry?

www.mysoulrefresh.com

An interesting question...

I briefly attended a leadership conference this past week. (I admit, I ducked out before it was finished because I was just too tired to sit there and listen...)

One of the questions that was posed to participants was this:

"How have your beliefs influenced your policies and productivity?"

While understanding that beliefs ought to trickle down to influence policies and productivity, I have found the latter two suspiciously minimized over the last year and a half of responding to God's invitation to walk in His unforced rhythms of grace on a journey of transformation. 

As others shared about ramping up policies and productivity to be better stewards of God's resources and giftings, by the world's standards, perhaps I look like a naive freeloader:

• Policies: intentionally cooperate with God by creating unhurried space to hear His voice, linger in His presence, open my heart to trust His love and leading. Oh, and some folks who hang out with me might also add: "Thou shalt not 'should' on thyself"

• Productivity: respond to what He invites me to (with all my heart, soul, mind and strength).

Perhaps this is too simple. Perhaps I am naive. I know I have much more to learn, but find my soul a little ruffled to find leaders discussing "productivity" and "Christianity" in the same breath. Fruit comes from abiding...

I'm wondering how you would answer this question?

Peace and Good

Unhurry Up™

www.mysoulrefresh.com

A book helping to slow down frenzied families...

Do you constantly tell your family to "hurry up!" or feel like you're running around like a chicken with her head cut off? Is your family living frenzied? 

I ran across this title recently and thought I'd share it. Though I haven't read it, it comes with some high reviews on Amazon. I'm definitely intrigued!

Looks like she has another title: The Contemplative Mom - so all you moms out there longing to find unhurried spaces for your soul - check these out and let me know what you think!



Unhurry Up™ 

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Music to help you Unhurry Up™

Want some soothing music to help you Unhurry Up™?
Try out Ancient Faith radio 
They have some mobile apps too (I have it on my iPhone) -

Here's a little exercise for listening:

1) What one or two words describe how you feel as you come to play this music? (Tired? Busy? Expectant? ???)
2) Put on the music, sit or lie down and close your eyes. Breathe deeply two or three times.
3) Linger with the music, paying attention to what it evokes in you? Can you envision a scene? or does it elicit a longing within you? How do you feel about the scene and/or longing?
4) Maybe pray a simple prayer: "Lord I consent to Your Love." or "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."
5) Keep breathing deeply. But also let your body respond to the music however it wants...to fall asleep, to tap a toe, to get up and dance.
6) When you feel ready, change your posture, say a quick prayer of thanks to God for this space, and pay attention to how you now feel. What one or two words describe how you feel after stilling and receiving this unhurried space with God?

Would love to hear any feedback of how this goes for you. Blessings!

Unhurry Up™

www.mysoulrefresh.com

"Success" in ministry

This is reprinted from the metamorpha blog.
It is really great food for thought re: our criteria for "success" in church planting/ church leadership. What do you think?

What You Need

by Jamin Goggin

I recently came across an interview with a pastor at an influential church in the United States talking about church planting.  The two prongs of the discussion basically covered successes and failures in church planting.  A large portion of the interview was focused on challenges in church planting and conversely what is needed to "succeed" in planting a church.  The pastor gave a list of three things that are clearly needed for success-(1) charismatic leader, (2) leader who can communicate well, and (3) leader who is adept at strategic thinking.

What I first found interesting was the complete collapse of needs into the Senior Pastor.  A gifted person is what is needed most.  Of course, how one defines "success" plays a large role in these perceived needs.  If we are defining success as gathering the most people as quickly as possible to the church then of course a more pragmatic turn is liable to be taken.  Don't get me wrong I understand that if the pastor cannot communicate, is terribly awkward with people or is not a strategic thinker then the church will face challenges.  My problem is not that the pragmatic is considered, but rather that is the sole concern. 

I do not seek to explore my concerns from an ecclesiological perspective.  I have many.  Rather, I want to approach this issue with a spiritual formation lense.  In that vain, what is striking to me is that while the needs of the "successful" church plant are solely wrapped up in a person, the Senior Pastor, the reasons are not spiritually oriented what so over, but rather are purely founded in natural ability.  Meaning what is needed in the leader most is as skill-set not holiness.  It is shocking to me that of the top three things listed the spiritual health and maturity of the pastor is not even mentioned.  So, what are your thoughts?  This impacts other areas.  For example, what do churches look for when they hire a new pastor?  How do we gauge the value and leadership ability of our pastors?

What three things are needed for "success" in ministry?

1. Love - (1 Cor 13: 1-8, 13; Rev 2: 1-4; Matt 22: 36-40)
2. Humility (John 13: 12-17) - remember Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matt 16:18)
3. Doing what the Father is doing (John 5:19) (resulting in fruits which seems to be revealed through abiding - John 15: 4,16-17)

What do you think? How might we develop Love, Humility/Servanthood and Abiding in ourselves? Who do you know that walks in love, humility and an abiding lifestyle? Follow her! Follow him!

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Take a listen: Wendell Berry, "How to be a Poet"

I love the first words of Berry's poem : "Make a place to sit down...sit down...."

So make a place to sit down, sit down and take a listen to Wendell Berry's poem on "How to be a poet" 

• Listen to it several times...what words or phrases stand out to you?
• Ask God, "What in this poem do you want me to pay attention to?"
• How might you respond in action to God's (via Berry's) invitation?

 Unhurry Up™

www.mysoulrefresh.com