Spiritual Growth
Items on spiritual disciplines and better following Jesus
Slow Down!
Tue 09 Feb 2010 • Responses: 4 • by T. M. Moore
Maximizing the Moments of Life
In the first of a series, T. M. Moore looks at the ways poetry can help us pay attention to the individual moments of our too-hurried lives and see the beauty and truth we would otherwise miss.
Failure is Not a Sin
Thu 10 Jul 2008 by T. M. Moore
Flesh-and-Blood Jesus: Learning to be Fully Human from the Son of Man, by Dan Russ (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2008), 192 pages, $14.99.
Reading Dan Russ’s excellent and provocative new book about Jesus I was reminded of an incident in which I was involved during my preparation for ministry.
I went to seminary a complete theological novice. I’d been a Christian for only a few years and had never read any theology nor had any introduction to the theological traditions of the Christian heritage. On the advice of trusted pastors, I enrolled in a seminary in the reformed tradition, where it immediately became apparent to me that how one articulates what one believes is just as important as what one actually believes.
Driving in the Fog
Tue 03 Jun 2008 • Responses: 1 • by Nathan A. Baxter
A paradox of revelation
Sometimes the air we look through becomes part of what we see. Nathan Baxter reflects on the paradox of fog and the ways, by forcing us to slow down, it both hides and reveals.
A Life Worth Emulating
Fri 07 Mar 2008 by Luder G. Whitlock, Jr.
John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace, by Jonathan Aitken (Crossway, 2007), 400pp., $22.
Jonathan Aitken, a skilled biographer and author of the award-winning Nixon: A Life and, more recently, Charles W. Colson: A Life Redeemed, has produced a valuable biography of John Newton illumined by important, unpublished letters and diary entries. He embellishes a compelling narrative by inserting thoughtful assessments of Newton’s life and ministry at appropriate points.
A flurry of books, articles, and films about William Wilberforce have been published recently in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. Appropriately so, for in addition to his pivotal role in Parliament leading to decisive action against the slave trade, Wilberforce was an extraordinary figure of great influence in England.
Intimations of Spirit
Mon 29 Oct 2007 • Responses: 2 • by T. M. Moore
Reflections on Spiritual Realities in the Art of Andrew Wyeth
T. M. Moore looks at the spiritual themes in the paintings of Andrew Wyeth and the different ways they challenge different audiences.
The Glory of Kings
Wed 25 Jul 2007 by T. M. Moore
Searching Out the Glory of God in Creation
T. M. Moore discusses the way God reveals himself in creation, drawing on the practices of the medieval Celtic saints to demonstrate practical ways you can profit by reading “the book of nature,” looking carefully at creation to deepen your spiritual life.
Dialogue in an Age of Narcissism
Wed 06 Jun 2007 • Responses: 1 • by Fred Harburg
Advice to a graduate on moving from preoccupation with self to a healthy and enriched perspective.
A graduating senior recently asked me, “How can I develop character in my life?” I think I mumbled something about the importance of reflection and living an examined life. I even gave him an empty leather-bound journal with the advice to be attentive to capture his observations, feelings, and questions.
With the benefit of greater reflection, I realize that my answer was a half-truth. What I left out was the practice of dialogue that can move one from preoccupation with self to a healthy enrichment of perspective.
The World in a Ray of Sun
Mon 23 Apr 2007 • Responses: 1 • by T. M. Moore
Poetry as Spiritual Discipline
T. M. Moore introduces the reading of poetry as a means of cultivating “second sight”—the ability to see through the here and now to the deeper realities behind all things. Seen this way, poetry can be a useful aid to spiritual growth. He illustrates with three poems and offers some practical guidelines to get started.
On Not Leaving Theology to the Professionals
Thu 12 Oct 2006 by Peter Edman
Lesslie Newbigin: Missionary Theologian: A Reader, compiled and introduced by Paul Weston (Eerdmans/SPCK, 2006, ISBN 0802829821); 264 pages plus notes, bibliography, and index.
Since Provocations is directed in large part to business and professional leaders you may wonder why our first formal book review is about theology. The reason is that all of us, consciously or not, are theologians, and as Andrzej Turkanik said at a recent emerging leaders forum, the question is, what kind of theologians are we?
Most of us tend to leave the deep thinking to the “professionals,” and as Lesslie Newbigin says, “Theology has been largely the preserve of clergy and academics.” He said this as a challenge to the average follower of Jesus, reminding us that we have a deeper responsibility than we sometimes wish to acknowledge. We must not be satisfied with a superficial understanding and there are significant dangers when you leave everything to the professionals. We thus start with this collection of writings of the great missionary bishop and theologian who died in 1998, for it offers a framework for the type of approach we will often take.
Freeing the Slaves of the Market
Fri 08 Sep 2006 • Responses: 3 • by Vigen Guroian
Why (and how) we should teach literature to business students
Dr. Vigen Guroian has concluded that his college is “complicit in producing so-called educated people who are deaf to wisdom, blind to beauty, and incapable of mounting an argument for goodness and truth against evil and falsehood.” In response, he decided this spring to try an experiment with a class of business undergrads, helping them to make the distinction between a truly liberating education and mere training for work, showing them how literature can help make them—and us—more fully human. This is his story.
