Here is some things to think about from John Ortberg's book "the me I want to be."

"Many approaches to spiritual growth assume that the same methods will produce the same growth in different people - but they don't. Because you have been created by God as a unique person, this plan to grow you will not look the same as his plan to grow someone else. What would grow an orchid would drown a cactus. What would feed a mouse would starve an elephant. All of those entities need light, food, air and water - but in different amounts and conditions. The key is not treating every creature alike; its finding the unique conditions that help each creature grow." ...

"Reality, such as actually having children and becoming quickly aware that every human being is different. If we really want to help someone grow, we will help them in a way that fits their wiring.

Our great model of this is God himself, for he always knows just what a person needs.

He had Abraham take a walk, Elijah take a nap, Joshua take a lap, and Adam take the rap.

He gave Moses a forty-year time out, he gave David a harp and a dance and he gave Paul a pen and a scroll.

He wrestled with Jacob, argued with Job, whispered to Elijah, warned Cain and comforted Hagar.

He gave Aaron and altar, Miriam a song, Gideon a fleece, Peter a name and Elisha a mantle.

Jesus was stern with the rich young ruler, tender with the woman caught in adultery, patient with the disciples, blistering with the scribes, gentle with the children, and gracious with the thief on the cross.

God never grows two people the same way. God is a hand-crafter, not a mass-producer.

Now it is your turn."

I don't know about you but its freeing to think about how God does not expect us all to be the same. He made us unique and he intends for us to have the freedom to take our uniqueness and grow in a relationship with him that does not follow a prescribed formula and there are no pat answers.

Are we really accepting that freedom and enjoying the journey or are we trying to emulate someone else and feeling like we aren't measuring up!

Remember God loves you and has uniquely wired you to be the person he wants you to be and provided a resident spirit to help you. Why not make it a practice to have God remind you of your uniqueness everyday and watch for the ways he messages that idea celebrate and share the joy you find in that experience.

Until next time...

What is Spiritual Formation?

This picks up on something I talked about a few days ago. I promised to talk about what spiritual formation is. What I am going to do is tell you what John Ortberg has to say it is in his latest book "the me I want to be" - becoming God's best version of you.

"There is an outer you - your body - that is being shaped all the time by the way you eat, drink, sleep, exercise, and live. You may do this well or poorly, intentionally or not, but it will happen. Then there is the inner you - your thoughts, desires, will, and character. This is being shaped all the time by what you see, read, hear, think and do. We call this inner you the spirit.

Spiritual formation is the process by which your inner self and character are shaped.

People sometimes speak as if spiritual formation is an optional activity that some religious people may pursue and others bypass. They think it is reserved for monks, mystics and missionaries. But that's not true.

Everyone has a spirit. Everyone's inner life is being formed - for better or worse.

We flourish when our spirits are rooted in and shaped by the Spirit of God - and God wants to do that in a way that uniquely fits us."

I don't know about you but I like the description and it helps me realize that is an opportunity and not an obligation to follow a set of rigid practices with the intent of trying to make me "more holy". Rather it is a day to day journey where I have choices in watching my intake of the things that I think, watch, read and things I talk about.

I thrive on the idea its a journey and I am a work in progress and thankfully God isn't finished with me yet. It also helps to know that I am unique and so are you. So there is no rigid prescribed formula that works for everyone.

Until next time...

What a Treat!

Who says we are getting too old or too busy to do some of the important things in life?

Gerri and I spent time with baby Wyatt on Saturday and rolled up something like 7 or so hours credit. Neither of us have lost our touch. He was very comfortable with us and a good baby and it gave Nicole and Cecil some time to spend together. We handled the whole experience without one hitch and were able to give Wyatt back to his parents, well fed, well rested, clean, changed and quite content.

We were so successful that we took time with baby Lyla on Sunday and even took her with us for supper and a wonderful evening with the Lonards and Browns. I think we logged about 7 hours again! Lyla survived football and being two months old has some neat facial expressions and was her own little person. She has this neat way of stretching and yawning. Again the day went without a hitch and we returned her happy and content to her parents.

This weekend we are off to Edmonton for Fifth Generation pictures with Great Great Grandma Alain, Great Grandma Reindl, Grandma Gerri, Breanne, Lyla, Nicole and Wyatt. I am just the chauffeur, but it should be quite a memorable day! As well Great Grandpa Adolf is just there for the ride (like me)!

Coming soon it will be our turn to take our granddaughter Preslie out for lunch and shopping to celebrate her birthday.

Like children, grandchildren are a gift from God and we are truly blessed and want to be a good influence on the lives of all of these little people! We are about making memories that last a lifetime. Thank you God!

Until next time..

The Me I Am Afraid God Wants

"A recent study by the Barna group found that the number one challenge to helping people grow spiritually is that most people equate spiritual maturity with trying hard to follow the rules in the Bible. No wonder that people find themselves unmotivated to pursue spiritual growth. If I think God's aim is to produce rule-followers, spiritual growth will always be an obligation rather than a desire of my heart.

"Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith," Paul wrote, "but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping." In other words, it only results in a rule-keeping, desire-smothering, Bible-reading, emotion-controlling, self-righteous person who is not like me. In the end, I cannot follow God if I don't trust that he really has my best interests at heart.

The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. There is an enormous difference between following rules and following Jesus, because I can follow the rules without cultivating the right heart."

"Jesus did not say, "I have come that you might follow the rules." He said, "I have come that you might have life, and have it with abundance."

When we cease to understand spiritual growth as moving toward God's best version of ourselves, the question, how is your spiritual life going? frightens us. A nagging sense of guilt and a deficit of grace prompt us to say, "Not too well. Not as good as I should be doing." People often use external behaviors and devotional practices to measure their spiritual health. They measure their spiritual life by how early they are getting up to read the Bible, or how long their quiet times are, or how often they attend church services. But that is not what spiritual formation is about."

The above is taken from "the me I want to be - becoming God's best version of you" by John Ortberg

If the above resonates with you at all, it would be good to discuss why we tend to feel that way. What is it about what we have been taught or how have we come to think that? It would be interesting to me to have an idea of how many Christians feel that way. What percentage of people have concluded that the spiritual journey is about rule-keeping and have decided they didn't want that and have walked away.

Next time we will look at what spiritual formation is.

More on Worship

Here is some more from N.T. Wright and his book "For All God's Worth" for us to consider:

"It is right, therefore, that from time to time the church should take stock of that which is most central, most important, most vital in our common life together. Though we sing with the tongues of men and of angels, if we are not truly worshipping the living God, we are noisy gongs and clanging cymbals. Though we organize the liturgy most beautifully, if it does not enable us to worship the living God, we are mere ballet-dancers. Though we repave the floor and reface the stonework, though we balance our budgets and attract all the tourists, if we are not worshipping God, we are nothing.

Worship is humble and glad; worship forgets itself in remembering God; worship celebrates the truth as God's truth, not its own. True worship doesn't put on a show or make a fuss; true worship isn't forced, isn't half-hearted, doesn't keep looking at its watch, doesn't worry what the person in the next pew may be doing. True worship is open to God, adoring God, waiting for God, trusting God even in the dark.

Worship will never end; whether there be buildings, they will crumble; whether there be committees, they will fall asleep; whether there be budgets, they will add up to nothing. For we build for the present age; we discuss for the present age, and we pay for the present age, but when the age to come is here, the present age will be done away. For now we see the beauty of God through a glass, darkly, but then face to face; now we appreciate only part, but then we shall affirm and appreciate God, even as the living God has affirmed and appreciated us. So now our tasks are worship, mission and management, these three; but the greatest of these is worship.

And do you see why its so easy to create that pastiche of 1 Corinthians 13, substituting 'worship' for 'love'? Worship is nothing more or less than love on its knees before the beloved; mission is love on its feet to serve the beloved - and just as the Eucharist, as the climax of worship, is love embracing the beloved and so being strengthened for service."

I know how the message of this section impacts me and wonder how it impacts others. We should not lose sight of the fact that our lives need to be lived in worship and in wonder of this great God of ours but it is easy to become distracted and miss out on the wonders of the relationship God wants to have with us.

Be encouraged!

Until next time...

What is beauty?

I am starting off the year in a contemplative mood! I think its a good thing!

One of the authors I am reading is N.T. Wright and he wrote a book entitled - "For All God's Worth."

Here is an excerp:

"What is the most beautiful thing you have experienced this week?

Maybe something you heard. Maybe some beautiful music - perhaps in a church or in a cathedral.

Maybe something you saw in the world of nature: the sun breaking through the mist and making the autumn leaves luminous; the curl of a squirrel's tail as he sat nibbling a nut.

It might be something you smelt: the scent of a rose, perhaps the smell of a good meal cooking when you were hungry.

It might be something you tasted: an exquisite wine, a special cheese, that same meal well seasoned and well cooked.

Maybe something you experienced in work: things suddenly coming together, an unexpected new opportunity.

It might be something you experienced in human relationships: a quiet, gentle glance from someone you love dearly; some soft squeeze of a child's hand.

Hold the moment in your mind. And ask yourself: what does this beauty do to you?

It enriches you; yes. It warms you inside; yes. It makes you more alive; yes. It makes you stronger; yes. It makes you, perhaps a little humble; you didn't cause this beauty, you didn't make it, it just happened, and happened to you. Yes.

And what does this beauty call out from you?

Gratitude - of course; delight - yes, naturally; a sense of awe - well, perhaps; a sense of longing for something beyond, something just out of reach - quite possibly, though if your experience of beauty was the smell of a good meal I hope it didn't stay out of reach too long.

What about - worship?

Does beauty call out worship from you?"

Wright goes on to talk about beauty and worship and how they are connected to God. God is the author of beauty and God is worthy of our worship. It makes him more real and gives us the opportunity to be drawn to him as we go about our day everyday. May we all find ways of finding God in our all day every day as we start this New Year!

Until next time...

It's Not Only A New Year, It's a New Decade

There have been a number of times over the past several months that I seriously contemplated adding to my blog; but it just didn't happen!

Today I read Gerri's new post and thought that I couldn't let the opportunity pass to make it my goal to post some thoughts myself.

It has been an eventful year to say the least in our world (Gerri's and mine) some medical challenges, some life challenges and as the year wound down three new grandchildren have blessed our lives. One significant development was the arrival of Tylan Wil Ashby born to Todd and Michelle. After being blessed with seven granddaughters we now have a grandson and the Ashby name will carry into another generation. I know that Ty will have to find his way to fit in with all the girls who all love spending time together; but I am sure he will be welcomed by all the girls and they'll have a special place for Ty in their hearts.

I am intent on living out my personal, mission, vision, and action plan which will be a work in progress but with some resolve to attend to specific areas in my life that need attention, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Having had a few days to do some reading and reflecting on ideas that I have come across let me share some of my thoughts.

The book "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom has some definite gems to think about. The byline of the book is: "an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lessons. The author Mitch was a student of Professor Morrie Schwartz. They are re-united after being out of touch for 16 years when Morrie is diagnosed with ALS. They agree to meet every Tuesday for as long as Morrie is able.

The book shares on a number of different topics but let me share just two:

1. Morrie shares "Everybody knows they are going to die, but nobody believes it." He contends that when you "Learn how to die, you will learn how to live."

Now as sobering as that is to think about it has merit. If we knew when we were going to die, we would all live differently than when as most of us do - we pretend that we are not going to die. Why not review your priorities in light of the fact we are all going to die?

2. The other thoughts are maybe not quite as sobering but contain some things to think about when it comes to marriage.

Morrie says - "there are a few rules I know to be true about love and marriage: If you don't respect the other person, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. If you don't know how to compromise, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. If you can't talk openly about what goes on between you, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. And if you don't have a common set of values in life, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. Your values must be alike."

There are some nuggets there worth thinking about and for me its a contemplative way to start the year.

My hope is that 2010 will be a year of personal and spiritual growth for each one individually and in our family units.

Until next time...