I guess for all of us the corovirus pandemic has brought about an unexpected change in our lifestyles. Suddenly there is a revised sense of values as normal schedules have been thrown into disarray, the planned everyday routines that we all have suddenly been overthrown by the need to do life in a totally different … Continue reading Coronavirus, God, and us
Spiritual formation – the power of a new affection
People try hard to change their ways, they make vows/resolutions, try to crucify the Flesh, pray more, believe more, stand on the promises, bind the devil, etc.. but very often with little effect. Why? It's not for want of good intentions. The reason more often than not lies in the affections, there hasn't been a … Continue reading Spiritual formation – the power of a new affection
Spiritual formation – open to the Spirit
There can be no spiritual formation without engagement with the Spirit. To attempt to do otherwise makes for a hard life, a miserable experience where the flesh gets the upper hand and joy eludes us and defeat is our constant companion. The transformed life we are called to cannot come about by the mere application … Continue reading Spiritual formation – open to the Spirit
Spiritual formation – everyday holiness
To often spirituality is seen as other worldly, something out there that most of us can never achieve, a super-spirituality that has little time for real life. Yet we were made for everyday life. Adam and Eve had a garden to look after. A garden where they knew the Presence of God. Spiritual formation doesn't … Continue reading Spiritual formation – everyday holiness
Spiritual formation – a question of happiness?
Happiness and joy go hand in hand and for many it will be about having the right people around them or about having the right things, or perhaps the prospect of a better job, a wage rise, getting married, a new house, etc.. It comes back to the question of happiness, what is it, and … Continue reading Spiritual formation – a question of happiness?
Spiritual formation – Jesus grew
With the Christmas season receding and the advance into the New Year getting underway, I've been struck by the words, "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, in favour with God and man..." They seem normal on the one hand, strange on the other, normal because he was a baby like every other baby, strange in … Continue reading Spiritual formation – Jesus grew
Spiritual formation – to busy to be formed
Busy, busy, busy, it seems to be the stuff of life. Busy at work, busy at home, life can seem unavoidably busy. How's yours? When it comes to spirituality it is massive, a killer. To quote Eugene Peterson, "Busyness is the enemy of spirituality. It is essentially laziness. It is doing the easy thing instead … Continue reading Spiritual formation – to busy to be formed
