Mark Conner General Interest, Personal Development, Spirituality

Seasons (Part 2)

Here is my second reflection on Paul’s life and the transition of seasons he was undergoing in leaving the city of Ephesus (read Seasons – Part 1).

Seasons are Marked by Endings and Beginnings

Paul felt an urgency that compelled him to leave Ephesus and go to Jerusalem, though he was completely in the dark about what would happen there (Acts 20:22). In fact, he knew there were hard times and imprisonment ahead (Acts 20:23). What mattered most was to finish what God had started through him – letting everyone know about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God (Acts 20:24). While with the church at Ephesus, Paul gave it all he had (Acts 20:18-21). He was with them totally, doing is best, giving his all (Acts 20:26-27, 31). But now he knew his time in Ephesus was coming to an end.

I know the feeling. I served on staff of a large church for 32 years – 22 years as the Senior Minister. I gave it all I had. I did my very best. But in the end, I was tired … I was spent and ready for a change. I had said and done everything I could and needed to. As I reflected personally and discussed this with my family over a period of time, I sensed that an ending was at hand. It was time to move on.

Life’s seasons are marked by endings and new beginnings. In fact, life is a series of endings, in-betweens, and beginnings, all interconnected. Examples include family changes (getting married, becoming a parent, a marriage breakdown, sickness, aging or death), school changes (from primary to secondary to university), work changes (career changes, downsizing, mergers, acquisitions, promotions or a new boss), house changes (moving, immigration, relocation), church changes (relocation, changing demographics) and ministry changes (transitions, relational changes).

Henry Cloud is his helpful book book Necessary Endings says:

“Endings are a natural part of life – we either face them, stagnate or die. Without the ability to do endings well, we flounder, stay stuck and fail to reach our goals and dreams. Endings are crucial but we rarely like them. We naturally avoid them. That’s the problem. When endings are done well, the seasons of life are negotiated, and the proper endings lead to the end of pain, greater growth, personal and business goals reached and better lives. Endings bring hope. When done poorly, bad outcomes happen, good opportunities are lost, and misery either remains or is repeated … Endings are not failures or something to be avoided. Nothing lasts forever. Endings are normal. Life produces too much – more relationships, activities, clients, mentors, partners, strategies and stuff than we have time and room for. It it time for pruning? An ending does not mean you have failed. Avoid misunderstood loyalty and co-dependency. Insecurities and fears cause us to resist endings.”

The first half of life involves mostly beginnings. In the second half of life there are more endings and new beginnings. What endings have occurred for you that led to new beginnings? Make a list of them all. You’ll be surprised how many there are in life. What were these times like for you? What were the various feelings you had to navigate? How are you different now? What did you learn?

Read Part 3.

Mark Conner General Interest, Personal Development, Spirituality

Seasons (Part 1)

I love Autumn! It is one of my favourite seasons of the year. The somewhat cooler days, the clear blue skies, and the glorious colours of the leaves. Change is in the air. The cycle of life is moving forward.

Nicole and I moved back to Melbourne last May after 18 months of living in the Sunshine Coast. We love Queensland but one of the things we missed were the seasons. I remember Nicole saying to me one day after 6 weeks of continuous sunshine and 32 degree days – “I really miss the rain!” Then when we were driving into Victoria, the first thing we noticed were the beautiful autumn leaves everywhere. We were coming back ‘home’. Yes, we have fallen in love with Melbourne … again.

Our time away was vital for us. It was like a long drink at the fountain, a place to re-fresh and re-fuel, a time to re-calibrate and transition into this new chapter of our lives. I am deeply grateful for it. It was part of my ongoing metamorphosis – of becoming who I truly am, apart from the various roles and responsibilities I have had for so many decades.

Today, I want to review some thoughts I shared back in 2015 about ‘seasons’. Take some time to read the story of the apostle Paul when he was about to leave the church at Ephesus. It’s recored for us in detail in Acts 20:13-38. Here are my observations:

Life is a Journey with Many Seasons

Paul grew up as a strict Pharisee, committed to his Jewish faith and its legal requirements. After encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), his life was radically changed and he became an apostle to the Gentiles, sharing the gospel of Jesus to people from every strata of society. He ended up basing at the church in Antioch from where he travelled out on a number of church-planting missionary journeys (Acts 13). Eventually, he re-located to Ephesus where he had three years of his most fruitful ministry. This episode in his life shows us his transition away from Ephesus towards his eventual destination of Rome, the centre of the Roman Empire.

Paul’s time in Ephesus was about to come to an end. His life, like ours, was a journey with many different seasons, a story with many different chapters, much like a movie with many different scenes. Time is a constant as everything continually moves forward and is continually changing. Today becomes yesterday and tomorrow becomes today … and more quickly as you get older! We can’t control or stop the seasons, which are under God’s control (Ecclesiastes 3:1). However, we can decide how we will respond to the circumstances and the seasonal movements in our life.

In his book The Making of a Leader, leadership expert Robert Clinton says that each person that God uses goes through a common journey with different phases – sovereign foundations, ministry maturing (a primary focus on ‘doing’), life maturing (a greater focus on ‘being’), convergence, and then afterglow. There are many tests and incidents along the way – both positive and painful. There is benefit in stopping and reflecting on your journey. Life is lived forward but often understood backward.

Take some time to reflect on your life. Look back … where have you come from, where are you now, where are heading? What is God up to? What are incidents that have shaped who you are today? What have you learned? What season are you in right now?

Experience isn’t the greatest teacher. It is only the experiences that you reflect on that have the potential to become insight.

Read Part 2 of this series of BLOG posts on ‘Seasons’.

P.S. If you haven’t already, have a read of my poem entitled ‘Seasons‘.

Mark Conner Spirituality

How’s Your Spiritual Journey?

As we near the end of another year, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on our lives. There are many metaphors and images through which to do so. One of those is through that of a journey. A journey usually has different sections, hills and valleys, twists and turns, and a few surprises along the way. That sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it.

On a journey, it is helpful to have a map of the terrain and a guide to give us a few pointers of things to look out for along the way. I’ve put together such a map for the stages of faith often experienced in the spiritual journey. This outlines what often happens for people, not what must or should occur. 

Here are some of the stages of faith:

  1. Awareness – this is where we discover or recognise the reality of God. Everyone ‘wakes up’ at different times and in different ways.
  2. Growth – here we start to grow in our faith, often aided by being part of a faith community, spiritual experiences, and spiritual exercises. 
  3. Contribution – here we discover our life purpose and start to live it out with fresh intentionality.
  4. The Wall – sooner or later our faith doesn’t work as it did in the earlier stages. Often due to a crisis, a challenge, a loss, or disappointment and pain, we start to experience questions, doubts, and uncertainty. 
  5. Surrender – if we courageously refuse to deny that the wall exists or to defect on our faith, we can end up with a much deeper faith by surrendering to God in new ways, even when we don’t understand why we experienced our time at The Wall.
  6. Paradox – at this stage we embrace the mystery of life and become comfortable with ambiguity, uncertainty and even contradictions.
  7. Love – at this stage we realise that life is not about us but about God and others. We lose our life only to find it again.

A few observations: 

  • This is not the end. Hopefully, we continue to move on to a greater awareness of God, as well as further growth and contribution. Inevitably, we will spend more time at The Wall and come to places of fresh surrender.
  • The spiritual journey is often more random than ordered, more cyclical than linear.
  • God is present and at work in each stage and our goal is not to try to control our growth experience but to draw closer to God in each season.  
  • Various stages may be fuzzy and even overlap. We may also re-visit stages at times in no particular order.
  • There are no set formulas for spiritual growth nor can we always know exactly where we are in our spiritual journey. Unfortunately, we also can’t control the length of time we may spend in a particular stage or the time we spend transitioning from one stage to another. 
  • The most important thing is that we are more connected to God and we are becoming better people every day. That’s the ultimate goal of the spiritual journey.

Some questions:

  1. Where do you think you are now in your own spiritual journey and why?
  2. Where have you been in the past? What stages do you recognize or identify with?
  3. What are some insights for relating well to others who may be at a different stage than you?
  4. What sort of activities or experiences might be most helpful at each stage?
  5. In what ways can entire families or communities of people experience various stages of faith together (e.g. grief, joy, or awareness of God)?
  6. Many churches focus primarily on the first three stages of faith. How can church leaders better equip and prepare people for the full journey of faith will all its nuances and diverse experiences?

If you found this BLOG post of interest to you, here are some further resources that will be of help to you:

  1. Check out my new book on this topic: The Spiritual Journey – Understanding the Stages of Faith. It is available from WORD in Australia and Amazon worldwide (in paperback and Kindle formats).
  2. Watch the videos of a two part teaching series that summarises this material, which I gave at Bayside Church in Melbourne recently (see part 1 and part 2).

All the best on your own spiritual journey!

Mark Conner Books, Spirituality

NEW Book: “The Spiritual Journey – Understanding the Stages of Faith”

In December last year, one of my goals for 2018 was to publish three books. Well, number three was released a few weeks ago. It’s called The Spiritual Journey: Understanding the Stages of Faith. I am really excited about it as I believe this material will be of help to many people in their spiritual journey, whether seekers, beginners, or experienced travellers.

When you are on a journey, it helps to have a map of the terrain and a guide to help you along the way. In this book, I present such a map and seek guide people through the stages of faith that are common to the spiritual journey. This journey is rarely linear or in a straight line. There are many curves, twists and surprises along the way. Sometimes we seem to move in circles or in random patterns that don’t make sense at the time. Nevertheless, God is at work in our lives. Welcome to the journey of faith.

The book can be purchased from WORD in Australia or internationally from Amazon in either paperback or eBook format.

Here are a few endorsements:

Continue reading “NEW Book: “The Spiritual Journey – Understanding the Stages of Faith”” →

Mark Conner General Interest, Personal, Spirituality

Navigating the Storms of Life

Navigating the Storms of Life (JPEG)

Nahum 1:3. The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. NKJV

The book of Nahum is one of the 12 minor prophets found at the end of the Old Testament. Nahum lived in the seventh century BC during a time of great political upheaval due to the rise of the Assyrian Empire. His messages sought to encourage God’s people who were being oppressed by a seemingly invincible foe. The book opens with a song of praise to God for his power and justice. The spectacular manifestations of nature are symbolic of his power. Continue reading “Navigating the Storms of Life” →

Mark Conner Personal Development, Spirituality

Navigating the Stages of Faith

A few years ago, I wrote about stages of the life of faith. I have been thinking about this again recently and I strongly believe that this is an insightful way to view our faith in and relationship to God. I have edited the number of stages and their names, as well as some of the descriptions as I prepare to speak about this at a church leaders' conference next week.

Personal and spiritual growth occurs over a period of time and always involves a process that is very much like a journey. Many people find it helpful to have a roadmap or at least a loose guide for their journey of faith.

Have a look at the following diagram … then read the descriptions below. 

Stages of Faith

Stages in the Life of Faith

Awareness. This is where we all begin our journey of faith. The experience of faith at this stage is the discovery and recognition of God. It is accepting the fact of the reality of God in our lives. Someone bigger than us really exists and truly loves us. This may occur in childhood or later in life as adults. For some people this is a very identifiable experience, like a moment in time where everything changes. For others, there is a gradual realisation, with no certainty as to just where or when the experience began. Either way, we simply ‘know’ that God is there. Factors contributing to this experience can be either a sense of awe or a sense of need in our lives. [See posts on Waking Up and Awareness]

Growth. This stage is about learning and belonging. We begin to learn, explore, absorb and put into place our set of beliefs or faith principles. In this stage we learn the most about God by association with others we respect and trust. We are apprentices. We need others because we are relatively unsure and insecure at first in our growth and what we believe. The group also provides a sense of belonging, which helps to alleviate some of our feelings of fear and even inadequacy that accompany the excitement of new learning. The group begins to give us a sense of identity and security. We start to feel at home, with family. We are loved and accepted, despite our struggles. It’s not always easy but we are with our kind of people. We have a sense of security and comfort in our faith.

Contribution. This stage is best described as the ‘doing’ stage as it is the period of time where we find ourselves most consciously working in service for God. It’s now time to give in return for all we have received. This is usually a very active stage of our journey. It is positive and dynamic, centred on being productive in the area of our faith. This stage nourishes us because it is so personally rewarding. It operates on goals and achievement, building and creating, which can be exciting, fulfilling, inspiring and fruitful. We start to feel unique within our community. We are taking on extra responsibility. We feel a degree of confidence because of our experience. Leadership may be part of this stage.

The Wall. Eventually we experience what can be referred to as "The Wall" – a face to face experience with God and with our own will. This stage is a deep and very personal inward journey. It almost always comes as an unsettling experience yet results in healing for those who continue through it. Until now, our journey has had a very external dimension to it – the community of faith, serving with our gifts, leading others, and productivity. Upon entering this stage, many people experience a period of questioning, exploring, doubting, and even uncertainty. This can be caused by a life or faith crisis. For the first time our faith does not seem to work the same as it has before and our answers seem inadequate, leaving us feeling quite vulnerable. Some people refuse to engage fully with this stage. Therefore, they become inadequate guides for others who enter this stage.

This time is a critical experience. It represents another layer of transformation and a potentially renewed layer of faith – for those who have the courage to move into it. We decide anew whether we are willing to surrender and let God direct our lives. This is a time of mystery and not something we can do through our own strength or wisdom. This is a pivotal moment. We are afraid, yet drawn to surrender, knowing it will not be easy, but that it will be worthwhile. We are dying to self and letting God be God. 

Surrender. This is the next step after rediscovering God and accepting his love afresh. We surrender anew to God’s will to fully direct our lives. This outward journey may seem similar to earlier stages, but our focus is different. We have changed. We endure suffering gracefully, because of our confidence in God. Our primary motivation in life becomes the desire to love honestly and live according to God’s purposes. There is a fresh sense of calling, vocation or ministry. We start to focus more on other people’s best interests. We start to experience a deep calm and stillness. This is a time to acknowledge with deeper conviction that we are not in control and that our lives are in God's hands. We learn to trust in Providence. With Job we declare, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15).

Paradox. By this stage, we find a new certainty in God while being comfortable with ambiguity in life. We learn to live in the tension between "the Now" and the "Not Yet". We are okay with liminal spaces. We embrace and even celebrate mystery. We let go of black and white and embrace the wonderful rainbow of colours in a God-inhabited universe. We embrace the joy of not knowing it all – and it's okay. 

Love. At this stage we reflect God to others in the world more clearly and consistently than we ever thought possible. We let our light shine in such a way that God is given the credit and the thanks. We have lost ourselves yet truly found ourselves. We are selfless. Life is not about ME (see Selfie post). We are at peace with ourselves, fully conscious of being the person God created us to be. Obedience comes naturally. We give our all without feeling that it means surrender or sacrifice. We are at one with the Spirit of God. God becomes everything to us.

There is a mystery to our journey of faith. Everyone is unique and will experience variations in their individual journey but we are all headed in the same direction – closer to God. It is helpful to view this journey as a circle rather than as a linear progression. God is at the centre. He is at work in each stage and our goal is not to try to control our growth experience but to draw closer to him in each season. There are no set formulas for spiritual growth nor can we always know exactly where we are in our spiritual journey. Stages may overlap and we may re-visit stages at times.

Reflection Questions

  1. Where do you think you are now in your own journey of faith and why?
  2. Where have you been in the past? What stages do you recognise or identify with?
  3. Select two Bible characters and see if you can see this pattern in their faith journey.
  4. What are some insights for relating well to others who may be at a different stage than you?
  5. What sort of activities or experiences might be most helpful at each stage – and especially the stage you are at right now?
  6. Many churches focus primarily on the first three stages. How can church leaders better equip and prepare followers of Jesus for the full journey of faith will all it nuances and diverse experiences?
Mark Conner Personal Development, Spirituality

Flight Mode

Flight mode

I was travelling overseas recently and as the airplane took off the pilot reminded us to turn our phones off or put them in 'flight mode'. Flight mode suspends radio-frequency signal transmission on the device, thereby disabling Bluetooth, telephony, and Wi-Fi. As a result, during this time you can't receive any incoming phone calls, messages or email or surf the Internet. In some ways, this is nice. Could 'offline' could be the new nirvana!? Finally, no more inflow of things interrupting us and needing our attention … at least for a while. [Of course, some airplanes are now offering wi-fi for the entire trip so you don't ever have to be disconnected!]

We live in a world where distraction has become the norm. Our senses are over-stimulated. No wonder there is so much talk about meditation and mindfulness, which can help us learn to take time to just BE still and cease our endless activity. After all, hurry leads to skimming and it damages the quality of our relationships and our experience of life.

Maybe it's worth us taking some specific times during our day to intentionally go into 'flight mode'. Turn off your phone, put down your tools, move away from your computer and your task list. Tune out the noise. Cease the activity. Find a quiet place.

King David had a kingdom to run yet he penned these words from God speaking to his own restless soul: "Be still and know that I am God". Now there's a good mantra for a healthy soul in 'flight mode' …

Be still and know that I am God

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know

Be still

Be 

Mark Conner Spirituality

Your Story Building Project (Part 3)

BP

God’s work of renovation is designed to make us more like Jesus so that we can have a greater positive impact on our world. Ask yourself, “Is there anything about my life that makes being a Christian attractive to the world?” We are to be a sweet smelling aroma not someone carrying around stinking attitudes. Sadly, there is often a big difference between being a “Christian” and being “Christ-like”.

We are called to join with God is seeing thousands of stories of transformation in our world. BUT guess what? Transformation starts with me and with you.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. NIV

The word "transformed" is the Greek word metamorphoo from which we get the idea of metamorphic rocks, which are shaped through pressure and heat.  This is about dramatic change – like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. 

Finally, reach out for new things.

Embrace the future and the new things that God has for you.

Isaiah 43:18-19. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. NIV

YOU individually are God’s work in process – God's Story Building Project. It’s about renovation of the heart – becoming a place where God loves to dwell and becoming a person who exudes the character and nature of God. All so we can be a part of seeing more stories of transformation in our world.

Thankfully, God is committed to finishing the story building project that he has begun in you and me. 

Philippians 1:6. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. The Message Bible

That's good news!

Mark Conner Spirituality

Your Story Building Project (Part 2)

BP

How Do We Co-Operate With God's Work of Renovation is Our Lives?

Firstly, let go of the past. See yesterday's post.

Secondly, deal with what is happening today.

God is more interested in who we are becoming (our character) than what we are doing for him (our achievements). So what is God up to in your life right now? Not everything that happens to us has to have some deep and meaningful reason … but what are we learning? This season you are in right now is only one chapter in your life – it is not the whole story. But why not get the most out of it.

Is there some conflict resolution that you need to work towards. Has someone offended you that you need to GO and speak with? Matthew 18:15 is one of the most disobeyed commands of Jesus and it causes great damage in our relationships. Sadly, we are much better at speaking 'about people' than we are at speaking 'to people'. Don’t carry other people’s offences either. What a waste of energy that is.

Be open to feedback. We all have blindspots and weaknesses. The sooner we discover and admit them, the sooner we can work on them. Don't be defensive. All of us should still be growing and changing. 

Integrity is another area of character development. Integrity means that there is an 'integration' between what people see on the outside (the impressions we give) and who we are when no one is looking (our true self). For most of us there are some gaps between the two and so our integrity becomes a focus of God's renovation work. 

Integrity in relationships refers to how we treat those who are not present. If someone you know bad-mouths another person in front of you, you can guarantee that they will most likely bad-mouth you to someone else at a future time. Come on, you know what I mean. Every time you speak about someone, imagine that they are in the room and let this awareness shape what you do and don't say about that person. This builds trust and nothing moves faster than the speed of trust. Where there is trust that has been built over time because of integrity in our relationships, there is warmth and genuine love and much can be achieved together. Where there is a lack of integrity due to people saying one thing to a person's face but talking negatively about them behind their back or down the hallway, there will be low or no trust. Relationships become unenjoyable and nothing much will be accomplished. 

Key Personal Interview Question: “What area of my life is God putting his finger on right now, drawing my attention to it, because there is some renovation that is needed?”

Some final thoughts tomorrow …

Mark Conner Bible, Spirituality

Reflections on Psalm 139 (Part 4)

As we said when we began these reflections, the writer of Psalm 139 was facing many challenges from unjust people and oppressors. In this context, a hymn of adoration was crafted, declaring that (1) God is always with us, (2) God's affections are towards us, and (3) we have a unique purpose. 

In concluding this journey, the psalmist offers a prayer to God:

An Open Book
Vs. 23-24. Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I'm about;
See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life. The Message Bible

When life is difficult and we are in the midst of stormy weather or huge challenges, it is easy to become overwhelmed. It is also common to get caught up in blaming God and others for our circumstances. We tend to want to ask that every-hungry question, always searching for an answer -"Why!?"

In contrast, this spiritual pilgrim looks in the mirror and invites God to conduct some self-examination. 

That's a good thing to do – for people and for leaders.

Business expert Jim Collins, in his extensive research on effective leaders, writes about what he calls a 'Level 5 Leader'. When things are going great, Level 5 leaders look out the window and give the credit to others. When things are going wrong, they look in the mirror and examine themselves as to what they can do better. In stark contrast, when things are going wrong, ineffective leaders look out the window and blame others. When things are going well, they look in the mirror and congratulate themselves. Ah, what a world of difference between these two kinds of leaders!

Many followers of Jesus have found it beneficial to have a daily time of self-examination. It is so easy to get caught up in the external world of what other people are saying and doing. There is great wisdom in first having a deep look at ourselves. After all, if you really want to change the world, change yourself first.

Suggestions:

  1. Start a journal.
  2. Make use of a daily awareness examen.
  3. Take time each day to pause and reflect, asking yourself a few key questions.
  4. Find a good counsellor and talk through some of your personal challenges. Outside input with accountability can be truly life-transforming.
  5. Practice the art of authenticity. It is quite counter-intuitive, but you will find that vulnerability has a way of freeing us from the shame of our own failures. 

We go about self-examination in a legalistic manner. God's Spirit never comes to condemn us (knock us down) but always to encourage us (lift us up). Condemnation is this general negative feeling of never being good enough while conviction is always specific and aimed at positive change. 

Making our life an open book can be scary and even risky but when it is done in the context of an awareness that (1) God is with us, that (2) he loves us, and that (3) he has a purpose for our lives, it can be one of the most transformative things we ever do. After all, God loves us too much to leave us as we are. That's why the essence of life is never about what we have achieved but rather about who we are becoming. You may have already discovered that God is more interested in your character than your comfort 🙂

Be the change you seek. 

Leo-tolstoy-3227

Mark Conner Bible, Spirituality

Reflections on Psalm 139 (Part 3)

Psalm 139 not only reminds us that (1) God is with us and that (2) we are objects of his affection. It also shows us that we have been crafted for a specific purpose.

Crafted for a Purpose
Vs. 15. You know me inside and out,
You know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
How I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Vs. 16. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
All the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day. The Message Bible

Think about it. You are not a product of chance or accident. Even if your parents didn't want you, the truth is that you were shaped by design and for a purpose. Just like there is no snowflake or no fingerprint alike, so you are completely unique. No one is exactly like you. So why try to be like somebody else? Why try to copy or initiate others? You are a one-of-a-kind original. Tread your own path. Discover who you are and then be yourself. Live inside out. Let your true colours come shining through. You will feel better and the world will be a much better place as a result.

Unique-selling-point-pencils

No one's story is quite like your story. Quit following the scripts that other people have imposed upon you. Stop being dependent on your environment to tell you who you are or who you are meant to be. Dig deep inside and draw out who God has crafted you to be – nothing more and nothing less. Like an onion, peel back the layers that other people and circumstances have projected on you and discover who you really are – at your very core.

You are not your surname, you are not your post code, you are not your educational results, you are not your ancestry, you are not your birth order, you are not your career or your job title. Sure, all of these aspects have contributed to your life and have been influential factors BUT you are not dependent on them nor do you have to be defined by them alone. 

Here are some reflections questions that might be of hero as your journey further towards the full discovery of YOU:

  1. What did you love to do as a kid?
  2. When you were young, who did you want to be when you grew up?
  3. What is happening or what are you doing when time seems to stand still?
  4. If you could be or do anything you wanted to, what would it be?
  5. What would you do, even if you didn't get paid for it? [You might also like to read Discover for some more thoughts around how God has shaped you]
  6. What makes you angry? Sometimes this is insightful in discovering what problem you are called to solve.
  7. What energises you the most?
  8. What do other people tell you that you are really good at?
  9. Draw a timeline of your life so far, noting various stages and the transitions between them. What were your most enjoyable events? Most painful? How did these shape who you are today? What could the future hold?
  10. If you life was a story, what genre would it be? A comedy, a drama, a tragedy, a romance or an epic narrative? How would you describe yourself as the main character? [Check out The Story of Your Life for more on this way of looking at your life]

Here's to you being the best you, you can be!

Explorers

Mark Conner Bible, Spirituality

Reflections of Psalm 139 (Part 2)

As we continue our reflections on Psalm 139, we move on from the awareness that God is always with us to the understanding that you, like every other human being, are made in the image of God.

Let's read on …

Vs.13-15. Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
You formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God — you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration —what a creation!

Image_of_god

Your Identity – A Child of God

We all long for a sense of identity and significance. We often search for these things through our achievements, through acquiring material possessions, or through seeking forms of fame or popularity. Sadly, most of these pursuits end up being fleeting when it comes to a lasting sense of personal value. They so easily fade and leave us feeling empty on the inside. 

The good news is that we can have a lasting sense of identity through the realisation that we are a unique creation of God – formed by his hand even before we were born. Our true value is in who we ARE not what we DO. 

Imagine if we could live every day, not only with a constant awareness of God's presence but with a strong belief that we are valuable, precious, unique and special – because we have been created by God. What a difference that would make!

And then imagine if we treated every other human being the same way – realising they too are crafted in God's image and are greatly valued by God. It's true, you have never locked eyes with anyone who is not deeply loved by God.

Later in the Psalm, we read …

Vs. 17-18. Your thoughts — how rare, how beautiful!
God, I'll never comprehend them!
I couldn't even begin to count them —
any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!

How amazing is that! YOU are the Object of God's Love and he thinks about you all the time. In fact, the quantity of his thoughts about you are uncountable, like the sand of the sea.

No wonder Brennan Manning, author of the best-selling book Ragamuffin Gospel, said:

“Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.”

“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.”

Today, I pray that God's Spirit would keep you constantly aware that God is with you AND that His orientation towards you is one of love and goodwill. That's really good news!

Mark Conner Bible, Spirituality

Reflections on Psalm 139 (Part 1)

This beautiful Psalm begins by boldly declaring that God knows all about us, will never let us go, and has been involved with us from our earliest beginnings (vs.1-18). The latter part of the Psalm provides the context – one of feeling the injustice of people who go about doing wrong and need to be held to account (vs.19-23). When we are faced with life's contradictions, with personal challenges, or opposition from others, it's good to remind ourselves of these truths about God:

God With Us

God-With-Us

Vs.3-5. I'm never out of your sight …
I look behind me and you're there,
then up ahead and you're there, too —
your reassuring presence, coming and going. The Message Bible

The truth of God's 'omnipresence' is taught everywhere through the Bible. God is everywhere at once. There is nowhere you can go that he isn't already there. 

Unfortunately, a lot of the language that Christians use today has hints of Greek 'dualism' – the separation of the world into sacred and secular spaces. We often hear statements during church services such as, "Isn't it good to be in God's presence today?", as if we weren't beforehand and won't be when the church meeting is done! Another classic is, "Isn't it good to be in God's house today", as if God lives in the church building and will be waiting all week, hoping we will return next week! Of course, there is often something special that happens when followers of Jesus gather together but let's not let that result in a mindset that assumes that God is not with us unless we are with other believers. Another common prayer phrase is, "God, please be with us today", as if he is somewhere else and we need to call him to come hang out with us. 

The truth is that we are always in God's presence. He is Emmanuel – "God WITH us". WE are God's house. He dwells, or lives, inside of us as his people. What we need is not more of God's presence. We need a greater awareness of His presence. 

I love the story of Jacob who came to a certain desert place. Once asleep, he had a dream of angels ascending up into heaven and and descending back down to earth on a ladder. When he woke up he declared, "God is in the place and I did not know it!" What turned a desert place into 'Bethel' – the place where God lives? Awareness of God's presence. 

God is with us – always. Imagine if we could live with this reality. 

Of course, it's worth considering whether this is good news or bad news. This truth can be both solemn, realising that God sees everything and we are accountable for our words and actions, and encouraging, knowing God is always near.

It reminds me of one of the prayers believed to belong to St Patrick, the 5th century Irish missionary. He is widely celebrated as being the one who brought the good news of Christ to what was, at the time, a largely pagan island. By the time of his death he is said to have established over 2,000 churches in Ireland. The prayer is written in the style of a druid chant. Legend has it that St Patrick recited these words before encountering a number of druids who had been plotting against him. 

Here are a few stanzas. As you read them slowly, may they be your prayer as you live each day in the presence of Almighty God – wherever you are and whatever you may be doing. Remember, God IS with you.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

Read: Part 2

Mark Conner Spirituality

Another Work Week …

Work

As we come to the end of the weekend (a long one for those living in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia), another work week awaits for most people. It is interesting that in the ancient Hebrew mindset, the day begins in the evening – with rest (see Genesis 1 where it repeatedly says "… and the evening and the morning were the first day"). We are to fill our tank (with physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy) and then work from this position of fullness. This is in stark contrast to the common Western worldview that sees the evening or the night as recovery time after a day's work. It's only a slight paradigm shift but what a world of difference this kind of thinking can make.

Breathe in … then breathe out.

Fill up then pour out.

Rest … then work.

Even Jesus often ended the day or began the day in solitude, before the crowds of people, with all of their needs, concerns and questions, started to gather around him. 

After Jesus had dismissed the crowd, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. Matthew 14:23. 

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35. 

This was a regular occurrence in Jesus' life and obviously was a key habit undergirding his life and ministry work. Of course, if he needed this kind of refueling and recalibration, how much more do we in today's demanding, pressured and fast-paced work environment. 

Here are some suggestions for making the most of each of your days this coming work week:

1. Stop whatever you are doing, find a comfortable place, be still and simply notice what is taking place around you. 

2. Set aside 10 minutes to focus on your breath. Breathe IN … slowly … then breathe … OUT slowly. As you breathe out, let go of worry, anxiety, fear, anger and envy. As you breathe in, thank God for his joy, his peace, his love, and his comfort.

3. Take a few moments to slowly read the poem Morning Moments.

I hope you have an enjoyable and meaningful week.

Mark Conner Spirituality, Theology

Trinity

A few years ago, when I was on a week-long prayer and silent retreat, I had just finished dinner and I walked out to the retreat centre's garden area. A lot of it was over-grown and unkept but there were some beautiful spots. Great places to sit, meditate, reflect and pray.

I had this image of being invited into fellowship with the Trinity. I put 3 chairs in a semi-circle in front of where I was sitting – one for the Father, one for the Son, and one for the Spirit. It was quite impacting. I could feel their warmth and love. [See the photo below which I took]

Trinity Chairs

I had a few reflections at the time:

  1. This is the centre of reality as it exists – one God living in a community of 3 persons.
  2. I am invited into this divine centre. Not alone, but with others too.
  3. It is a fellowship characterised by love. I too am loved, cherished and I have dignity and honour – because of who I am.
  4. My relationship with the Trinity is to be one of intimacy and closeness – I am a family member (not an employer) and a son (not a servant).
  5. I am to feel at “home” here, not a stranger or a visitor, who is somewhat awkward. I must admit, I didn’t feel as comfortable as I think I should have, which showed that I had not been living in the sense of intimacy and partnership that was available to me. Why the distance?
  6. Sometimes it felt like I was just sitting there alone and God was merely a figment of my imagination … like the place was empty of life. At other times I sensed God's presence tangibly … though quiet and peaceful. God was just there. Then occasionally, God would speak … sweeping over my heart and mind with a rush of thoughts. I realised that I was more wired for God doing  something and if not, I quickly headed back to what I was doing … rather than being content to just be together.
  7. Thinking about my proximity with the Trinity. Am I content just to be still and present with God OR does something always need to be happening for me to remain attentive?
  8. When it says that God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, it must have been the Trinity, not a single God! I too can walk and talk with the Trinity wherever I am. Where are they? Behind me, alongside of me or ahead of me? Think spatially.
  9. What will dictate my direction today? The Spirit is like the wind. You aren’t sure which way it is coming from or where it is going. Jesus said, “Come and see”. He didn’t give his followers an answer or a plan but rather an invitation. It was an invitation into a relationship and a journey together that would unfold along the way.
  10. Trinity fellowship leads to amazing resources for life and ministry – love, power and wisdom, ALL I need or could ever want.
  11. Where is the Trinity inviting me to today? Where are they drawing me? What are they drawing me into? Will I follow? Or will I get busy doing things I want to do. Will I get distracted and preoccupied with trivial matters? The choice is mine. The river is there. The Spirit calls, “Come and drink” and “Come up here”. Will I hear and see what God is showing me today? Prophets look and listen. They feel the pathos of God and know his thoughts. Apostles hear instruction and receive revelation. They are commissioned and sent ones. Ambassadors, representing heaven’s throne room. Called, then sent. Come, then go.
  12. What am waiting for? What else could be worth my time and effort? How deceptive the enemy is in alluring me away from this water of life to other containers that contain no lasting life at all.

Trinity … is it time for you to join the dance?

SEE also: An Invitation and the poems Invitation and Morning Moments.