GrowDeep

What is Spiritual Formation...?

2009-11-12T12:36:00.005-06:00

What exactly is Spiritual Formation? This is a question I get asked quite often. In some circles its a "buzz word" of the latest discipleship-lingo, while for others, it's a word of apprehension, held with no small level of suspect.Below, is a sampling of various authors and their attempt to conceptualize and define the essence of spiritual formation in a couple sentences or less. As you read

Philippinas: Rythms of Life_Week Eight

2009-11-12T12:31:00.003-06:00

“If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion,” wrote Frank Laubach, “probably God is as weary of it as you are.”This message explores various ways of engaging God in rhythmic seasons of life. In it, we look at the role of spiritual disciplines and a Rule of Life in the process of our spiritual transformation.Philippians: Rythms of Life_Week Eight from Jerrell Jobe on Vimeo.

Developing a Rule for Life

2009-11-10T06:25:00.000-06:00

We all have rules like "Do your best." "Never give up." "Never say never." "Just do it." These mottos tether us to certain behaviors and attitudes so we can, in the words of another rule, "be all we can be." They help us live toward what we most want. Developing a "rule for life" is a way of being intentional about the personal rhythms and guidelines that shape our days.One of the early Christian

Regarding a Rule for Life

2009-11-09T06:05:00.000-06:00

Here's a few things to be mindful about when considering on a rule for life:A rule of life is different for everybody. No two individuals will have exactly the same rule of life. We have a lot of latitude in a personal rule of life. A rule of life should be diverse, reflecting the needs and spiritual aspirations of the person. We are have been called “heavenward in Christ Jesus.” As we said last

A Rule for Life

2009-11-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

St. Benedict, in the 6th Century, initially constructed what is known as a Rule of Life (often also referred to as a Rule for Life).The Latin term for “rule” is regula. From it we get our words regular and regulate. Very simply, a rule of life, is a pattern or rhythm of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for growth in holiness. A rule is not meant to be restrictive or

Boats, Rafts & Sailing in the Wind

2009-11-06T23:22:00.002-06:00

Growth is a byproduct of grace, effort, and discernment.One of the things that has been helpful to me in understanding the process of growth (spiritual formation) and the inter-workings of “grace,” “effort” and “discernment” is comparing the differences between a motorboat, a raft, and a sailboat.MotorboatIn a motorboat I'm in charge. I determine how fast we're going to go, and in what direction

The Sin of Religiosity

2009-11-05T10:20:00.004-06:00

"One of the books I've been working through lately is Thomas Merton's Faith and Violence: Christian Teaching and Christian Practice.This, along with a few other current reads, are stretching my understanding of "justice," or more accurately the prevalence of "injustice" in our world today.The following two excerpts from Merton are particularly thought-provoking and penetrating. Especially

Influencing Others When We Least Expect It

2009-11-04T11:40:00.003-06:00

For the next week, it's just me and Micah home at the ranch. Charissa and the girls ventured north early yesterday monring. It's amazing how excited Micah is to simply spend the next nine days with just me. I'm looking forward as well to being with him and hopefully experiencing some long-lasting memories.All this got me to reflecting on the impact we have on our children and other's in general.

Free Book :: The Sacredness of Questioning Everything

2009-11-02T11:40:00.005-06:00

We each have areas that we "don't know" about and often perhaps, don't "want to know about." Such knowledge and insight is only the byproduct of a series of questions. Questions that cause us to think and re-think why we do what we do, how we do what we do, and so forth. It is so easy to follow the flow of the alternative, which is simply letting life happen to us, all the while, questioning

Philippians: Growing in Christ

2009-10-30T13:27:00.003-05:00

Spiritual growth doesn’t have to be random or haphazard. Yet, it's amazing how often that seems to be the reality. Paul says some interesting things in regards to our on-going progress toward Christ-likeness."15-All of us, then, who are matureshould take such a view of things.And if on some point you think differently,that too God will make clear to you.16-Only let us live up to whatwe have

Jim & Casper go to Church

2009-10-28T13:42:00.004-05:00

Often we become accustomed, thus immune to the environments we find ourselves in day in and day out. Things like a scratch on the wall in the kitchen, that funky smell in the car. We were aware of them, but over time, we simply grown accustomed to having them around.However, what the first thing you look at upon entering another's house or become aware of as soon as you sit in someone's car?It's

Examen.me - An Online Devotional

2009-10-27T09:01:00.006-05:00

For centuries, followers of Christ have engaged in reading Scripture reflectively/devotionally and capturing one's dialogue with God through journaling. This ancient practice once done on scrolls and paper can now be done with a keyboard and a screen. Examen.me is a web app, that functions as an online devotional tool designed by Brent Minter. A few of the features include: reflections through

Philippians: Training to Live Like Christ_Week Six

2009-10-24T13:03:00.004-05:00

There is a difference between trying to do something and training to do something. This week we begin to explore the difference between trying to live the Christian life compared to training ourselves toward Christlikeness.Philippians: Training to Live Like Christ_Week Six from Jerrell Jobe on Vimeo.

Real Formation for Real People

2009-10-24T11:52:00.002-05:00

These are notes from David Johnson's (from Church of the Open Door) opening talk at the Willow Group Life Conference.Real change can be hit or miss.Ron Sider notes in his book The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience, Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World? that most evangelical Christians are not different from the culture in the following areas:moneysexual

Leading from a Healthy Soul :: Mindy Caliguire at GroupLife Conf

2009-10-24T09:30:00.008-05:00

Today at Palm Valley Church, we've gathered about 80 of our Home Team (small group) leaders to tap in to Willow Creek's GroupLife Conference via satellite. We figured it would be nearly impossible to get 80+ key leaders all the way to Chicago. However, we could get Chicago (conference) to Mission, Texas.The following is one of the first sessions, Leading from a Healthy Soul by Mindy Caliguire ,

Geese and the Art of Team Leadership

2009-10-21T11:17:00.009-05:00

I’ve always found the way geese ﬂy one of God’s amazing creations. In fact, geese have become on of my favorite images as it relates to leadership and teamwork.If you’ve ever looked up in the sky and spotted a ﬂock of geese you will notice that they ﬂy in a “V” formation.It seems that God created these geese to ﬂy in this pattern for a speciﬁc reason. The following are some of the reasons behind

Citizens of Heaven

2009-10-19T09:40:00.013-05:00

"Whatever happens, as citizens of heaven live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." (Philippians 1:27 TNIV)Though Phillipi was some 600 miles away from Rome, it was still a colony of Rome. Though they lived in Philippi in Macedonia, these people were citizens of the Roman Empire. They didn’t want to speak the language of Macedonia; they wanted to speak the language of Rome. When they put

The Transformative Element of Joy

2009-10-16T10:55:00.003-05:00

Change is often difficult to come by. This is especially true when it comes to the deeply ingrained issues within our lives. Many resort to all kinds of tactics in hopes of making some progress. Often, these approaches to change bear little lasting change.During these times we forget that Jesus said He actually came to "give us life." And, not just life, but "life to the full." Part of this life,

Just Courage: God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian

2009-10-13T14:32:00.003-05:00

As followers of Christ we invited to journey toward the call to live a life of adventure. Such an invitation moves us beyond a stationary position on the sidelines of life. We are invited to enter the adventure of bringing justice to this planet.This month Christian Audio is giving away a free audio book that lays out this awesome opportunity each of us have to join in and be a part of something

Reflection: Picking up the Crumbs

2009-10-12T10:46:00.004-05:00

Recently, while on a morning run, I got to thinking about the pace of life that many of us become entrenched in, often without even being aware of it. We run from one appointment to another, bounce from one deadline to the next, drive from one drop-off point to the next pick-up spot (at least for those of us with children). None of this is alarming in and of it self. What struck me though is how

The Upside of Down

2009-10-09T14:44:00.002-05:00

We live in a world that tells us to succeed at all costs.“Do whatever it takes” they say, “to get on top?” In fact, many give their whole life to this endeavor. In Philippians chapter two, Paul paints a vivid picture of Jesus. This image, to the early readers of this text, would stand in stark contrast to the mind-sets prevalent within the city of Philippi. To more fully understand the depth of

Philippians: A Prayer for All of Us_Week Three

2009-10-02T17:27:00.000-05:00

Christianity isn’t merely a set of doctrines to be believed. Nor, is it solely interested in securing one’s eternal destination. Biblical Christianity, it’s about an organic life lived out on earth through the power of God’s Spirit. In this message, we begin to explore an ancient prayer prayed by the Apostle Paul for a group of Jesus followers. Though much time has passed since this prayer was

The Awareness Exercise

2009-10-02T06:33:00.004-05:00

“If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are.”(Frank Laubach, Man of Prayer) One of the most beneficial things we can do in our walk with God, is to switch up the routine. Often, we become numbed of the monotony of our lives. As a result we slowly become

Prayer: A Window into the Soul

2009-10-01T14:09:00.008-05:00

You can learn about a person by simply listening to how they pray. Is the rhythm of their prayer rigid and saturated with words and phrases from the 1600’s. Does it feel like their talking to someone whose not actually there? Or, is it fluid and conversational. I love the line in one of Misty Edward’s worship songs where it says, I don't

The Responsibility of Teachers and Learners

2009-09-29T05:51:00.001-05:00

As a communicator/teacher of Scripture, part of the responsibility is help people see Scripture, perhaps in a new light, with the prayer that God will not only show them something new, but continue to work within, "carrying on" that which He's "begun (a reference to Philippians 1:6).Scripture seems to illustrate this happens in a variety of ways. Jesus often told stories with little or no