Alan Fadling's Blog, page 17

UL #283: From Information to Transformation: A Gracious Path to Growth (Gem)

 

Episode Notes

Hard. Crusty. Unyielding.

Rootless. Shallow. Burning out. Withering.

Thorny. Distracted. Choked. Pressed.

Good. Healthy. Vibrant. Thriving.

 

What is this list of (mostly disturbing) words I’ve just uttered? Especially when the title of this episode includes, “A Gracious Reflection.” Well, it’s a list that came to mind upon a recent encounter with the Parable of the Sower from Mark 4. I was struck by the inner dynamics described by Jesus. I’ve taken his four types of soil and created some reflection questions that you can use for a heart-check-in. 

 

283: From Information to Transformation: A Gracious Path to Growth (Gem)

 

Episode Notes

Hard. Crusty. Unyielding.

Rootless. Shallow. Burning out. Withering.

Thorny. Distracted. Choked. Pressed.

Good. Healthy. Vibrant. Thriving.

 

What is this list of (mostly disturbing) words I’ve just uttered? Especially when the title of this episode includes, “A Gracious Reflection.” Well, it’s a list that came to mind upon a recent encounter with the Parable of the Sower from Mark 4. I was struck by the inner dynamics described by Jesus. I’ve taken his four types of soil and created some reflection questions that you can use for a heart-check-in. 

 

Gladness and Singleness of Heart

Blog by Gem Fadling

I want to begin our conversation today with a prayer that we pray almost every Sunday at church. It is just one of the lovely ongoing prayers we pray together as a community.

 

Eternal God, heavenly Father, with great joy we thank you for graciously accepting us as living members of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and for feeding us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace and mission, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you and others with gladness and singleness of heart, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

I love every part of this prayer, and certainly there are multiple sermons that could emerge from the truths tucked within it. But today I want to focus on the ending. Particularly this phrase: “grant us strength and courage to love and serve you and others with gladness and singleness of heart, through Christ our Lord.”

 

Let’s begin with the phrase “serving God and others.” Notice the prayer includes God and others.

 

If we lean too heavily on serving others, we can easily slide into exhaustion or even burnout. Serving others can often be a never-ending, thankless job. We find ourselves on the wrong end of other people’s whims, and it can be soul killing.

 

If we lean too much on serving God, then the unhelpful image of God as boss pops up, and that is quite detrimental to our relationship. There is nothing wrong with serving God—I have based my life on this—as long as we remember that first we are beloved children or sheep under the care of a loving Shepherd. The idea of God as boss can go horribly wrong if we lose sight of relationship.

 

When we maintain the pairing of God and others, we have the chance to remember and engage overflow leadership:

 

God loves me.
I receive God’s love.
I pass God’s love on to others through service.

 

This process matters.

 

But what can help us lead in this way? Well, that comes next in the phrase: “with gladness and singleness of heart.”

 

I have to admit, I don’t often use the word gladness. So, to help us out, here are a few synonyms: joy, delight, pleasure, cheerfulness. We can love and serve God and others from a center of joy and delight.

 

I love the phrase “singleness of heart.” Every time I hear it, it just snaps me back into place. A focused heart.

 

This might be the “one thing” Jesus spoke of to Mary and Martha: “Few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42, emphasis mine).

 

If you’re like me, you might easily forget this one thing. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet, allowing herself to be apprenticed by him. She was focused on his words and his way.

 

Our world is not set up to encourage us to move out from this focused center. The swirl of news, issues, and controversies is endless. Singleness of heart is a worthy pursuit, and I believe Jesus invites us to it in John 15:5:

 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

 

This simple way of abiding is what leads to much fruit that lasts. As long as we keep the first thing the first thing, we never have to be afraid that we’ll lose our edge or not produce enough.

 

What might help us live into this way of loving God and others with gladness and singleness of heart? The first part of the phrase is a clue: “grant us strength and courage.”

 

We need strength and courage because living a life of love is hard. Let’s be real. On any given day we get tossed about by all kinds of interactions and surprises. It’s easy to get knocked off our mission.

 

Asking God for strength and courage can help us to make our way in a life of love.

 

I hope you hear my heart here. I’m pulling this prayer apart so we can simply consider the phrases in light of our own hearts, lives, and leadership. It is always good to check in to see if we are leading in our own strength, sinking into unhealthy boundaries, or losing sight of God with us in this life of love.

 

The final phrase in this prayer is “through Christ our Lord.” That’s the only way any of this is possible. We can embrace all the best of who Jesus is—loving, nurturing, wise, focused, capable, and sacrificial.

 

So let’s return to this prayer. Join me…

 

Grant us strength and courage to love and serve you and others with gladness and singleness of heart, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection 

Try praying this prayer once a day for a week.
Notice what happens in your heart. What emerges?
Journal your thoughts at the end of the week.

 

Remember, you’re making your way forward one small, simple, and gracious step at a time.

 

 

Photo by Amos Bar-Zeev on Unsplash

UL #282: Creativity and Spiritual Life (Alan with Amy Pierson)

 

The greatest priority in the kingdom of God is simple and straightforward. Love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).” That sentence will not surprise a single one of you listening.

 

But, in my own experience of the Christian life, it has often felt like we majored on loving God with our minds over loving God with our souls, or hearts, or physical strength. We’ve often valued the right ideas over the right sort of heart or fruitful practice. Today, we’ll talk about how we might experience a more creative way of living our lives in God. 

 

Our guest today is Amy Pierson  and we're chatting about her recent book Makers in a Thinkers’ World. She writes at the intersection of neuroscience, spiritual formation, creativity and lived experience. She speaks from a long journey with Jesus in these practices and disciplines. 

 

AMY PIERSON is the founder of Burning Heart Workshops (a soul care ministry) and former executive director of the Spiritual Formation Alliance. A writer, speaker, artist, mom, and Gamma of two, Amy lives in the Denver area with her hilarious husband, Bill, and their ridiculous golden retriever.

282: Creativity and Spiritual Life (Alan with Amy Pierson)

 

The greatest priority in the kingdom of God is simple and straightforward. Love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).” That sentence will not surprise a single one of you listening.

 

But, in my own experience of the Christian life, it has often felt like we majored on loving God with our minds over loving God with our souls, or hearts, or physical strength. We’ve often valued the right ideas over the right sort of heart or fruitful practice. Today, we’ll talk about how we might experience a more creative way of living our lives in God. 

 

Our guest today is Amy Pierson  and we're chatting about her recent book Makers in a Thinkers’ World. She writes at the intersection of neuroscience, spiritual formation, creativity and lived experience. She speaks from a long journey with Jesus in these practices and disciplines. 

 

AMY PIERSON is the founder of Burning Heart Workshops (a soul care ministry) and former executive director of the Spiritual Formation Alliance. A writer, speaker, artist, mom, and Gamma of two, Amy lives in the Denver area with her hilarious husband, Bill, and their ridiculous golden retriever.

UL #281: Trust Tested (Gem)

 

In Anne Lamott's book, Traveling Mercies, she shares the story that led her to take the leap into her own faith journey. It was the story of Abraham and Isaac that caught her attention. The reality and authenticity of Abraham's belief and trust in God's provision compelled her. It led me to ponder and process that moment in Abraham's life. This is where we’re headed today on the Unhurried Living Podcast.

 

And these are some of the questions we will be addressing: 

If we place ourselves in Abraham’s place, what level of trust might emerge from our own deep place? How far would I go in sacrificing that which I hold most dear? 

In the Yoke of Jesus: A Path to Soulful Renewal and Rest

Blog by Alan Fadling

As we continue to navigate so many changes that have come to so many of us in these last few years, I wonder how tired you feel inside. I’m not talking about the sort of tired that a nap would resolve or a good night’s sleep might address. I’m talking about a deeper tired—a weariness of soul.

 

I’ve found myself wrestling with a level of weariness that has often surprised me. My wife, Gem, and I have both had to be far more intentional in the present season about finding the deep rest our souls need from God. Let me share a little of what we’ve been learning together.

 

There are many ways I could talk about rest for leaders. Sometimes what we need most is physical rest. We need to give better attention to our sleep patterns.

 

Sometimes we need vocational rest. God offers us an invitation to a weekly Sabbath. (It’s actually a command.) While Sabbath isn’t a popular practice in our culture—sometimes even in churches and other ministry settings—it’s worth exploring the goodness of this rhythm.

 

Sometimes we need mental rest. We need to enjoy hobbies, engage in challenging physical activities, or be creative apart from our work. We need some vacation time to play and enjoy our life.

 

But I’d like to talk about rest for our souls. What is it? How do we find rest for the deep places of weariness we experience?

 

Our best guide for exploring this question is Jesus. When I talk about “soul rest,” I’m echoing a message that Jesus proclaimed. Remember these familiar words?

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

 

Sometimes a passage of Scripture like this becomes so familiar that we assume we know exactly what it means. But there can be a difference between knowing about a passage and encountering and embracing the living truth of a passage. What do these words of Jesus look like in our lived experience? I find this an invigorating question to reflect on.

 

Jesus begins by saying “come to me.” This reminds me that rest for my soul is not so much an escape from something as it is being in the presence of Someone. It is in the presence of Jesus that I find rest. Jesus is a restful presence. Jesus isn’t anxious or easily angered or frantically driven. Jesus is powerfully at work in a restful way. He works restfully. I learn how to live this way from him.

 

And those to whom Jesus extends this invitation are the weary ones. Weariness can go so far that it becomes burnout. But it can come in many forms, from mild to extreme. Soul fatigue can make even the smallest task feel like climbing the tallest mountain. It drains the life from me.

 

Jesus also invites the burdened. We may find ourselves overwhelmed, feeling that we can’t possibly carry everything we’ve been given. We might find ourselves sighing without realizing we’re doing it. Our countenance may feel as heavy as our workload. If Jesus is going to give us rest from our burden, that means he will address our burden, either by helping us see we’re carrying too much or by offering his shoulders to carry it with us.

 

Jesus gives us rest for our weariness by being a river of living water within us by his Spirit. But then Jesus surprises us by saying that he gives rest to the weary and burdened by inviting them to take his yoke.

 

The word “yoke” doesn’t exactly sound like a strategy for soul rest. It sounds more like a way to do more work. A yoke is placed on the shoulders of two draft animals to pull a wagon or a plow. While a yoke certainly makes some work easier, it still involves work.

 

But the yoke we’re talking about here is a unique one. Jesus calls it “my yoke.” In Jesus’ day, rabbis would invite students to take on their yoke—their instruction, their training, their way of life. Jesus said that some Jewish leaders put a burden on their followers that was hard to carry, and they didn’t offer any help to their students in bearing it (Matthew 23:4).

 

This is not the way of Jesus. What Jesus commands us is not burdensome (1 John 5:3). What Jesus invites us to doesn’t weigh us down. His way lifts us up.

 

I envision Jesus inviting us to join him in his own yoke. He himself is carrying something. He is bearing something. He is working at something. And he invites us to join him there. In this way, a yoke is a way of staying close to Jesus. It is a way of working side by side with Jesus. It is a place of friendship, fellowship, and collaboration.

 

And Jesus works peacefully, not anxiously, with patience rather than harshness, and graciously instead of frantically. Jesus works restfully. And when I work alongside him, I find that I can do the same.

 

In the yoke of Jesus, we can learn from One who is gentle and humble in heart. Have you ever had teachers who were harsh and arrogant? They are rather hard to learn from. They are often more focused on their need to teach than they are on serving those who’ve come to learn from them.

 

But even in his teaching, Jesus comes not to be served but to serve. He is inviting us to join him in a life that is beyond our imagining. The yoke of becoming apprentices to Jesus leads us to good living and good work. Rather than weighing us down, it empowers us to do better work than we ever imagined possible.

 

I’ll share more reflections on Jesus’ invitation to rest in a couple of weeks.

 

For Reflection:

How might staying close to Jesus in your work prove to be more restful for your soul? How does a sense of distance from Jesus contribute to the weariness and heaviness that so many feel?

 

Photo by Do Nhu on Unsplash

UL #280: Embodying Peace: How Jesus' Wisdom Can Silence Anxiety (Alan)

 

Sometimes, anxiety rises in my thoughts, emotions, and body as an overwhelming wave. I’m tempted in moments like that to let myself be overcome, whether by allowing anxiety to immobilize me, to chase me away from what God has given me to do, or even to drive me to ways of working that seem to be only thinly aware that God is with me as I work. 

I’ve been learning that over time that anxiety became embedded in my mind, my emotions, even my body. But I’ve also been learning that the peace of Christ can displace anxiety in me. I can learn to let the peace of Christ protect me from anxious worry in the midst of my many concerns. And I wanted to share with you what I’ve been learning, and more about what I wrote in A Non-Anxious Life. 

The Impact of Authenticity

Blog by Gem Fadling

I want what Jim has.

 

That was the phrase 17-year-old Alan uttered as he made one of his first moves into the Christian life.

 

I have always loved hearing Alan share about the first time he went forward in a church to receive Christ. I’ve heard this story multiple times, and I’m always struck by how simple and heartfelt Alan’s desire was. We’ll talk more about this today…

 

Notice that a person’s name was attached to Alan’s desire: Jim.

 

Jim was Alan’s boss at the Magic Tunnel Car Wash, and he had a vibrant relationship with Jesus. So much so that it punctured through Alan’s rough-and-tumble teenage heart. At 17, Alan was going through a very low point in his life. To say that he was wayward would not be far off the mark. Teenage angst mixed with alcohol and depression colored his days.

 

But Jim stood out to Alan. Jim was buoyant. He loved people and he loved his life. He cared for Alan, his employee, with a servant heart.

 

According to Alan, Jim was there to bless people. And it had nothing to do with Jim communicating some compelling message that Alan was convinced by. It was the quality of Jim’s life. He was kind and joyful, and Alan wanted to be like that.

 

That’s a big part of the gospel, isn’t it? God’s life shining through our life—and not by words or methods. It was the quality of Jim’s life that impressed Alan. It was his way.

 

Obviously, you don’t have to be joyful and buoyant all the time. But you can be you. And you can extend the goodness of you to others. But not in an under duress, you’ve got to be perfect, kind of way. No.

 

Real. Humble. Offered.

 

My way must match my words. Jim’s way was so compelling that it was all Alan could think of when someone asked him, “Why did you come forward?”

 

Dallas Willard once said, “All the church needs to fulfill Christ’s purpose on earth is the quality of life he makes real in the life of his disciples.” I’ve shared this quote before, and I’m positive I will share it again in the future. That’s because I think Dallas was really onto something here.

 

The quality of our lives matters a great deal. This is one of the heartbeats of Unhurried Living. It is of vital importance that we each make time and space to engage the process of our own life as a disciple (an apprenticed one).

 

It is from this central relationship with Jesus that our influence emerges and overflows. This process cannot be underestimated. Our formation matters.

 

A great question to ask here is, Do you desire to rely on Jesus as your model as you learn to love and serve others with gladness and singleness of heart?

 

If you answer yes, then you are on a journey of transformation. And your way will be changed over time. You will become more like Jesus. This is what Alan saw in Jim: the likeness of Jesus—joyful, servant-hearted, and ready to bless.

 

Spiritual formation isn’t really anything mysterious. It is cooperating with the transforming process initiated by a loving God.

 

This happens in many different ways—through Scripture, spiritual practices, spiritual direction, and teaching. We are also being formed by conversations, music, art, and nature. God reveals himself in all kinds of ways. Are you open?

 

Reflection

Let’s rein all this back to where we began, with Alan uttering a simple phrase: I want what Jim has.

 

First, is there someone in your life who models the ways of Jesus for you? Spend some time thinking or journaling about that person: 

What about them is compelling?
How did they get where they are? (i.e., their trials and triumphs)
How might you share with them how they have impacted you?

 

Second, how is your way influencing others? Spend some time thinking or journaling about this:

 Does your life recommend your message?
How did you get where you are? (Reflect on your process.)
What adjustments might you make to increase the importance of your way?

 

Blessings to you as you consider your impact on those around you.

 

 

I want what Jim has.

 

That was the phrase 17-year-old Alan uttered as he made one of his first moves into the Christian life.

 

I (Gem) have always loved hearing Alan share about the first time he went forward in a church to receive Christ. I’ve heard this story multiple times, and I’m always struck by how simple and heartfelt Alan’s desire was. We’ll talk more about this today…

 

Notice that a person’s name was attached to Alan’s desire: Jim.

 

Jim was Alan’s boss at the Magic Tunnel Car Wash, and he had a vibrant relationship with Jesus. So much so that it punctured through Alan’s rough-and-tumble teenage heart. At 17, Alan was going through a very low point in his life. To say that he was wayward would not be far off the mark. Teenage angst mixed with alcohol and depression colored his days.

 

But Jim stood out to Alan. Jim was buoyant. He loved people and he loved his life. He cared for Alan, his employee, with a servant heart.

 

According to Alan, Jim was there to bless people. And it had nothing to do with Jim communicating some compelling message that Alan was convinced by. It was the quality of Jim’s life. He was kind and joyful, and Alan wanted to be like that.

 

That’s a big part of the gospel, isn’t it? God’s life shining through our life—and not by words or methods. It was the quality of Jim’s life that impressed Alan. It was his way.

 

Obviously, you don’t have to be joyful and buoyant all the time. But you can be you. And you can extend the goodness of you to others. But not in an under duress, you’ve got to be perfect, kind of way. No.

 

Real. Humble. Offered.

 

My way must match my words. Jim’s way was so compelling that it was all Alan could think of when someone asked him, “Why did you come forward?”

 

Dallas Willard once said, “All the church needs to fulfill Christ’s purpose on earth is the quality of life he makes real in the life of his disciples.” I’ve shared this quote before, and I’m positive I will share it again in the future. That’s because I think Dallas was really onto something here.

 

The quality of our lives matters a great deal. This is one of the heartbeats of Unhurried Living. It is of vital importance that we each make time and space to engage the process of our own life as a disciple (an apprenticed one).

 

It is from this central relationship with Jesus that our influence emerges and overflows. This process cannot be underestimated. Our formation matters.

 

A great question to ask here is, Do you desire to rely on Jesus as your model as you learn to love and serve others with gladness and singleness of heart?

 

If you answer yes, then you are on a journey of transformation. And your way will be changed over time. You will become more like Jesus. This is what Alan saw in Jim: the likeness of Jesus—joyful, servant-hearted, and ready to bless.

 

Spiritual formation isn’t really anything mysterious. It is cooperating with the transforming process initiated by a loving God.

 

This happens in many different ways—through Scripture, spiritual practices, spiritual direction, and teaching. We are also being formed by conversations, music, art, and nature. God reveals himself in all kinds of ways. Are you open?

 

Reflection

Let’s rein all this back to where we began, with Alan uttering a simple phrase: I want what Jim has.

 

First, is there someone in your life who models the ways of Jesus for you? Spend some time thinking or journaling about that person:

 

What about them is compelling?
How did they get where they are? (i.e., their trials and triumphs)
How might you share with them how they have impacted you?

 

Second, how is your way influencing others? Spend some time thinking or journaling about this:

 

Does your life recommend your message?
How did you get where you are? (Reflect on your process.)
What adjustments might you make to increase the importance of your way?

 

Blessings to you as you consider your impact on those around you.

 

 

UL #279: Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith (Alan with Bill & Kristi Gaultiere)

 

Spiritual growth is often sparked by great love or deep pain. But so much of our world conspires to keep us too busy to feel loved or to pay attention to our deep feelings. We want to grow, but we aren’t always aware of the points at which God is inviting us forward. We need mentors and tools that will help slow us down to notice God with us, and to see where we may be welcoming the grace of God in our lives and where we may be resisting God’s initiative and work. 

 

One tool that has helped me immensely over the years is the Enneagram. It’s become rather popular in the church in recent years. My guests today, Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, have written an important book that unpacks this tool titled Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually through the Enneagram. I really appreciate how they make the Enneagram understandable as a tool for growth. 

 

Bill and Kristi have been counseling and ministering to people for thirty years. Bill is a psychologist who has served in private practice, co-led a New Life psychiatric day hospital, and pastored churches. Kristi is a marriage and family therapist who has also served in private practice and church ministry. Together they are the founders of Soul Shepherding, a nonprofit ministry to help believers discover their next steps for growing in emotional health and intimacy with Jesus.