Spiritual Disicplines...

Following are some kickstarts to some of the Christian Spiritual disciplines with some beginning exercises for each discipline summarized from some entries in the NRV Spiritual Disciplines Bible:

Fasting

Hungering for God’s deliverance  2 Chronicles 20:3

Don’t wait for the Moabites to come marching in before practicing fasting.  Practicing fasting, dependence upon God, prior to emergencies leads to the natural practice of looking to God when emergencies do happen.  Start off practicing a short 24-hour fast, lunch to lunch.  Drink plenty of water, perhaps with a bit of lime or lemon.  Expect distractions and some discomfort--use distractions and discomfort to turn to God in thought and prayer.  Keep a journal/phone/pad handy to record insights throughout the day.

Service

Leading by serving  Mk 10:41-45

Though God is all powerful and worthy of all honor and glory, he became a suffering servant (Is 53.)  In the eyes of God, greatness is not measured by where we stand but by where we kneel.  Where are you most tempted to seek places of honor?  Church?  School?  Sports?  What one step can you take to free yourself from seeking your own interests and to begin focusing on serving others?  Write it down and let your friend know.

Repentance & confession

The 10 Commandments:  A gracious moral inventory  Ex 20:1-17

By God’s grace, a moral inventory of our past behavior compared to the 10 commandments is not a process of despair but rather restitution, reconciliation and renewal.  Examine your spiritual life by reflecting on each of the commandments.  How does each one apply to you--both in attitude and behavior.  What causes you the most concern?  What causes you the least?  How can you make the Ten commandments a regular part of your daily confession to God?

Stewardship

A way to remind yourself  Deut 8:17-18

Prosperity can lead to spiritual amnesia.  If we allow ourselves to be numb to God through comfort and prosperity (America is still the most prosperous world nation), we will pay the price.  Do you consider your money a reminder of God’s provision?  Can you remember living “manna” to mouth?  How did it affect your spiritual life living on more manna and less money?  Read Deut 8 noting the promises of God’s provision.  Record as many specific occasions as you can remember that God has provided for you.

Spiritual Friendship

But isn’t God enough?  Gen 2:18

Our spiritual journey is not a solo journey.  Spiritual friendships can heighten our awareness of God’s presence, provide accountability, and provide encouragement.  Who encourages your spiritual vitality?  Who is trustworthy?  Make a list of some people and spend time praying for God to lead you into a deeper “soul” friend relationship.  If you already have a close Christian relationship as such, pray for God to lead you in deepening that friendship.  Include who God has laid on your heart about your intention to deepen in fellowship.

Prayer

Exploring God’s Mercy, Learning God’s Heart  Gen 18:1-33

Prayer can be one of the most frustrating yet rewarding disciplines.  Prayer begins not with requests but with our relationship with God.  Reflect on your view of God.  How do you think God views you?  Is there someone you know in a bad situation, or is something overwhelming you with anxiety?  Talk with God about it as a conversation with a special friend that wants the best for you and for all.

Bible Study & Meditation

Handwriting on the heart  Deut 17:18

Israel’s king had to make his own personal copy of the law.  Obedience to God was essential to his effectiveness as a leader.  Spend a period of time copying Scripture by hand.  Choose one of the shorter epistles or several favorite chapters of the Bible.  what do you notice as you copy?  As you make your copy, be ready to note insights and ideas in your journal so you can give them thought later.

Worship

Take a Rest  Exodus 20:8-11

Few of the spiritual disciplines are clearly commanded in scripture, though some are.  Most are accepted because of example and the testimony of God’s people.  But observing the Sabbath, a day of rest, is a commandment, to serve as a worshipful reminder of the Lord’s covenant with us and as a means to our well-being.  Worship sets the pace for our lives.  When was the last time you scheduled a time of doing absolutely nothing?  Reflect on you weekly sabbath day.  Consider eliminating some activities and adding some restful things like taking a nap, sitting alone with some music, taking a leisurely walk...how do you rest?  The purpose is to rest and refresh your soul, not exercise the soul.  Remember God’s covenant with you and refresh your soul.

Who's Speaking?

I spent a recent morning in prayer alone with only God and nature on the back deck.  The birds chattered so much that any other sounds were muted in the process.  As I spent time in solitude, getting annoyed by the constant chirping and babbling of the birds,  Job's conclusive statements about God resounded in my head.

About God, he spoke:
You said, "Listen!  And I will speak!  I have some questions for you, and you must answer them!"  I had heard about you before but now I see you with my own eyes.  I take back everything I've said and now I sit in dust and ashes in repentance.

I'd read a different take on Job's conversation with his friends and with God earlier, one that is not important to review here, other than to say, this epiphany was much brighter.  God prepared my heart in  advance through a random presentation of His word.  Then through an exercise in solitude, God made clear to me the babbling bird I can be.

He loves the babble of the birds because He created their songs, but I get caught up in singing my song to other busy birds and forget to listen for the conductor, telling me when I'm a bit flat, or encouraging a good run of notes, or adjusting my tempo.

As I gave Him the issues on my heart, I left them on the table, stopped my chirping and listened for Him.  Scriptures zinged at me and through me as reminders that His voice is written down, and He's happy to remind us of what He's said regarding our struggles.   As I see the value of the rambling of this world compared to the clarity of Christ, I realize that I must listen.  God has some questions for me, and I must answer them.  Will my answer involve obedience always and repentance when necessary?  Truthfully, I'll probably still do my share of screeching in the trees, but I pray through regular solitude, I can become better at recognizing the Spirit's voice, listening for His lead and in obedience, keeping in step with His rhythm.

Spiritual Block: Course Correction

     Upon the precipice of being poured out like a drink offering, Paul wrote about the course he had run for Timothy personally and for generations of Christians throughout the history of the church.  Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:7-8:
     "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."  NAS
     We can often get caught up with pharaisitcal theology of earning God's grace, so I plan to lean on the Spirit in this exercise, looking for God's lead without judging if I've done "enough" so far in my life.  I do think in light of Paul's own self analysis and assurance of salvation in grace with the evidence from his course rather than justification from his course, we as Christians can benefit by asking the Holy Spirit to search our course and bring to light convictions, corrections, exhortation and celebration from our races to date.  He can also point us to the paths ahead that He'd like to see us run, if we can listen for His voice, His direction.
     Paul first pointed out fighting the good fight.  Where in my life have I fought?  We've all fought, but what have been good fights and what have not been.  Fighting for life, for the Gospel, for Jesus is good.  Fighting for self, for pride for stuff is not.  What about for family, in academic or business competition, politics, theology, conservation?  What are the motivations of the heart?  Through this week in prayer, ask Him to lead you through the fights in your heart to see your good fights, quagmires where you should pull your troops back, or fights meant only to win for self.  What good fights lay ahead?  God can prepare your heart for the battles.  Pray for preparation in Him, His word and His Spirit.
     Have you finished the course?  If not, which should be most of us, how has the course gone?  Paul had some disagreements with other Christians along the way, but continually went to God to map out his direction.  Have you been keeping in step with the Spirit along the race, or have you taken a seat on a bench, veered off the wrong direction, tripped and fallen?  Ask the Spirit to lead you through your course in truth.  Let Him speak to your heart.  Don't let your self or the enemy speak lies of discouragement and failure, but allow the Spirit to correct your direction, to dust off your scrapes, to give you a cool drink of water and an encouraging pat on the back to endure the race.  What has marked your course in Christ?  Widows, orphans, discipleship, evangelism, prayer, teaching, nose, ear, foot? What's been your role in the body of Christ?  Where is the Spirit leading you to keep in step with Him in the body of Christ?
     Where's your faith?  Do you have faith in God's promises?  Does God have your back?  What have been your struggles to hand over to God?  Money, worry, health, work, family?  What are you doing on your own so God doesn't have to worry about it?  What has the Spirit advised that you've dismissed?  Ask Him to increase your faith in the tough areas and to sustain your faith where you are confident.  Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
  Bring pen and paper to a daily meeting with God this week.  Pray in the Spirit and listen patiently for His leading.  He may be waiting for you to quiet down and so may seem a while in answering.  He may answer with conviction of the heart immediately in prayer.  He may drop love notes through others or events throughout the day to let you know He's thinking of you and leading you.  He may speak through pain to help you grow, or through joy to raise your spirit.  He knows what you need more than you, so be open especially in focused prayer, but also throughout the coming week, praying through these areas.  Be open to writing down thoughts, convictions, events as they happen and compile them for a Sunday night recap with the Holy Spirit.  Lay your thoughts upon your Bible in prayer and work on a journey check up session with Him. 
     What fights has your heart been in--good and bad?  What good fights lay ahead for your heart?

     What course have you taken with and without the Spirit?  Where has He been leading?  Where does He lead you now?  Follow His steps.

     Where have you been faithful?  If you've made it through this post and are looking to engage in the exercise, you have a measure of faith.  Don't sell yourself short or long...don't sell yourself anything.  Wait on the Spirit to tug at your faith to see areas He would like you to grow and areas bringing joy to His Spirit.

Ask God.  He loves giving good things to His children.  What glorious requests to ask for His Spirit to be alive and active within your heart, to take your feet with His to others who need Him, to live in the security with His promises, His truth...love, hope and faith.

          Soli Deo Gloria

Writer's Block: Sports

What's your favorite sport?  Tell me about a dramatic game with an active voice.  Yardage, velocity, power, precision and backspin are all popular and often necessary subjects in sports.  While describing running yards or serve speed or slugging percentage, describe in active voice what you saw--or what you see in your imaginary game. 

"Defensive tackle Page flopped on a Colts' cut block, and then used the center to spring into the backfield, wrapping the quarterback for a loss of 8 yards."

or

"Defensive tackle Page got an 8-yard sack."

While journalism preaches efficiency and lean writing, I'm saying, 'have fun!'  Let the reader have some fun, too.  Get into the real details and description of the action. 

I love sports and reading about them, so feel free to leave something you've written about an exciting game--real or imaginary!

Resurrection and the Life

Resurrection and Life

The wellspring trickles through straw men

tickling heart and soul

drawing deposits of God upon the spirit

living rock, heart of stone, Spirit of God

Upon the mountain melts the heart of God

rushing through snow melt streams

river swells

Carrying heavenly debris, cutting the soul

deep are the cuts, revealing layers of rock,

marking hardness upon deeper and deeper thoughts of the heart.

As water carries the mountain to the sea,

As the mountain inverts

Divine impression upon human spirit

The grand design displays the faith of a seed, 

the promise of Christ, 

the trade of granite hearts for living water

DREAMS

DREAMS

     Dreams demand my  attention

God demands my dreams

     Tonight, dream of God in His glory

in glory to earth in me, through me to someone

     Lord, let my faith reach the stars

Let the bright fire from Heaven tickle my nose

and warm my face in the chill air of this world.

     Heat, warmth from the Spirit, percolating within

the embers of my soul

     A fire of passion glowing in desire to burn

with tongues of fire

     Consuming the dead wood of my selfish dreams

warming my heart with the sacrifice of my devotion

to me, to the world

     The fire of Christ burns, contain within yet 

reaching to consume my warmth of love

     A vessel deathly hot within, in self-consumption

bringing comfort to a cool night

     I love the warmth yet dare not touch

the heat for I cannot handle it.

     But I do not have to

     All I do is burn with ablaze in the Holy Spirit

burning the chaff and bringing light--the light

of Christ into the darkness!

               Soli Deo Gloria!

Football August 31

CAL Wrangled the Mustangs from North Oldham into a Double Overtime Thriller

Seniors John Popavich and Austin Chelf set the tone early roping and taming the North Oldham Class 4A Mustangs for an initial drive of negative 9 yards.  Three and outs became a trend in the game for the Mustangs.  

The CAL offense then galloped from their 45 yard line to the end zone on 10 straight runs primarily with the legs of Nick Payne.  Nathan Bader followed up Payne’s touchdown with a perfect point after kick pushing the Centurions out front early 7-0 in the first quarter.

North Oldham changed tactics on their next possession and ran away from the defensive line on sweeps, with well-executed blocking schemes.  The Mustangs trotted into the end zone later in that first quarter with a 22-yard sweep right.  

The teams went to the sidelines tied at 7 after that first quarter and battled hard for an advantage for the remaining three.  The CAL defense, led by Chad Meredith and Rider Sparrow with 8 tackles a piece, figured out the containment and held the Mustangs to just two first downs during the last three quarters of regulation play.  Nathan Christmas guided the CAL offense to eight first downs with 37 yards in the air to Chad Lewellyn, a 7-yard completion to Zach Passafiume and a steady dose of Chelf and Payne on the ground.  Neither team penetrated the end zone, leaving the score at the end of regulation 7-7.

North Oldham handled the ball first in overtime.  They punched it in on a sweep to the left and with the successful point after attempt, pushed ahead 14-7.  Andrew Packer and Hunter Trenamen led the offensive linemen in a valiant push through the Mustang defense, giving Payne his second rushing touchdown of the night.  Under extreme pressure, sophomore kicker Nathan Bader came through on a perfect kick to push the game into a second overtime.  

The CAL offense worked first in the second overtime.  The Mustang defense came strong and pushed the Centurions out of field goal range sacking Christmas.  Lewellyn took over at quarterback after Christmas left the game, shaken up on the sack.  He took the snap and scrambled, breaking a couple of tackles in the backfield and then let the ball fly to the corner of the end zone.  The home stands fell silent as a North Oldham defender batted the ball at the last moment, ending the CAL scoring attempt.

The CAL defense then picked up with tackles by Blake Chelf, Meredith and Trenamen preventing a Mustang touchdown.  At fourth down in the second overtime, former CAL student and football player Caleb Kellogg came to the field and kicked a dagger into the heart of the Centurion nation through the uprights.

The Mustangs escaped a valiant fight from the Centurions who took an undefeated 4A team to a difference of three points in double overtime.  What a game, what a fight, what honor, effort and composure on the field!  Go CAL!

Soli Deo Gloria!