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I had the great privilege of preaching a 3-part series in November 2018 called "God Is Always Home." It's my own unique riff on Luke 15. I channel Augustine's lovely line: God is more near to me than I am to myself. I hope it's an encouragement for you during this season. http://westminstergr.org/blog/entry/sermon-god-is-always-home http://westminstergr.org/blog/entry/sermon-god-is-always-home-part-2 http://westminstergr.org/blog/entry/sermon-god-is-always-home-part-3

“There is a desire in many people in the modern world to see themselves clearly. But if you listen to them, between the psychological cliches and the chatter of false intimacy, what they’re seeing is a certain limited image that they have partly projected and partly excavated, but which is terribly limited in proportion to … Continue reading The Beautiful Mystery of You

I'm excited to share with you my video course An Introduction to Contemplative Prayer. This five-video course is something I believe can be transformation for you, if you give yourself not just to understanding but to practice. These days, mindfulness, yoga, meditation and other embodied practices are all-the-rage. Popular authors like Daniel Siegel, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Daniel Goleman … Continue reading Introducing My New Video Course

A little more than two years ago, I set out on an inner adventure. Contemplative practices came and went over the years, but I was ready to commit. A few things conspired to motivate me. A deep dive into neuroscience convinced me that our brains are malleable, and that with intention and practice we can … Continue reading Reflections on Two Years of Every.Damn.Day Contemplative Prayer

*New Retreat! The Seven Paths to Transformation Based on new material for my next book, I explore seven unique paths or stages of growth and transformation toward union with Christ. Inspired by St. Teresa’s “seven dwellings” in her Interior Castle, I integrate the wisdom of Scripture, developmental psychology, spiral dynamics, and more to imagine the places … Continue reading RETREATS AND CONFERENCES OFFERED

Lent is nearly upon us! Ash Wednesday is Wednesday March 1. I've been working on a little side project - a Lenten devotional - complete with short Bible readings, reflections, and prayers. The Kindle version is available now, with the paperback releasing within days. I invite you to use this personally, with a friend, in a … Continue reading BOOK RELEASE: Falling into Goodness – Lenten Reflections

My denomination is engaged in a difficult conversation. But aren’t we all, and more often than we think? We’re always dancing around possible difficult conversations – with bosses and pastors, tough-to-love family members, obnoxious small group members, pestering employees, unhelpful custom service reps, and more. As I prepare to facilitate a time to consider how … Continue reading thoughts on how to have difficult conversations

God is our homeland, Augustine once said. It's we who are not home. God in Jesus and through the Spirit has taken up residence in our "interior castle," and yet we're often away, scattered here and there, far from home. Even amidst our religious practices, we might be distant from home. Our busyness - spiritual, … Continue reading ENTERING THE SEVENTH MANSION: HOME

This is a guest post by my friend and former student at Western Theological Seminary (www.westernsem.edu, @westernsem), Adam Lorenz. Here is how Adam describes himself: Adam Lorenz is a mut of the Church currently looking to find a home. If he had to paint himself into a corner you could label him as a Lutheran-Non-Denom-Baptist-Charismatic-Fundy-Progressive-Emergent-Reformed-Anglican. Social media … Continue reading FOG by Adam Lorenz

As we travel into the depth of the interior castle, I find myself out of my depths. I long to know the experiential intimacy that Teresa speaks of, but I spend the bulk of my life ambivalently living with one foot outside of the castle and one foot in the first mansion. If I've stuck my pinky … Continue reading Entering the Sixth Mansion: Suffering Love