Spiritual Spring Training: Resources

What will you toss in your gym bag to work your spiritual muscles this spring?  Give your brain a workout that will transform you from the inside out.  Christian authors and speakers bring their deep and broad life experience as well as years of research and study to us through books, speeches, podcasts, interviews, broadcasts, videos, etc.  Sharing life and learning with fellow disciples of Jesus Christ will strengthen your spirit and equip you for ministry.  Enjoy this buffet of new books at your library or bookstore.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." Deut. 6:5 

Always a Guest: Speaking of Faith Far From Home. Barbara Brown Taylor. Westminster John Knox Press.  Oct. 20, 2020.

Broken Sign Posts: How Christianity Makes Sense of the World. N.T. Wright. HaperOne. Oct. 6, 2020.

Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage. Anne Lamott. Riverhead Books.  March 2, 2021.

God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and Its Aftermath. N.T. Wright. Zondervan, June 19, 2020.

Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter.  Timothy Keller. Viking. March 9, 2021

How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice. Jemar Tisby. Zondervan. January 5, 2021.

My Tech-Wise Life: Growing Up and Making Choices in a World of Devices. Amy Crouch and Andy Crouch. Baker Books. Nov. 17, 2020.

Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today.  Rabi Jason Sobel and Kathie Lee Gifford. Thomas Nelson.  March 23, 2021.

A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal. Sarah Bessey.  Convergent Books, Feb. 9, 2021.

Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World. Katharine Hayhoe. Atria. Sept. 21, 2021.

Seeing Beautiful Again:  50 Devotions to Find Redemption in Every Part of Your Story.  Lysa TerKeurst. Thomas Nelson. March 31, 2021.

U-Turns: Reversing the Consequences in Your Life. Tony Evans. B&H Books, January 12, 2021.

Until Unity. Francis Chan. David C. Cook. April 2021.

Following Jesus: Resources

So growing up in Christ is one of your longings, but you’re not exactly sure how to get started or how to get back on track.

Start Reading.
Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety. Henri J. M. Nouwen. 2019.
Dutch-born Catholic priest, Nouwen lived the scholar’s life of teaching at Harvard and later a servant’s life to an adult with mental disabilities in Toronto’s L’Arche community. Based on a Lenten lecture series, Nouwen encourages us to become peaceful, joyful people who rediscover how to love as Jesus does.

Go Deeper.
A Shelter in the Time of Storm. Paul David Tripp. 2015. 52 meditations on Psalm 27, a psalm of trouble and worship. Start meditating on scripture. Fill your mind with God’s truth and grace.

Pray More.
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God. Timothy Keller. 2014.
Become a person who prays. Your prayers will become more personal and powerful as you practice. Because Keller carried the weight of church leadership and faced the personal trial of cancer, he is an experienced guide in practicing prayer.

Get Grounded.
Register for a 6 week foundational theology course at Crestview, starting October 11 - November 15, 2020 at Crestview. Participants receive a copy of Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know by Wayne Grudem. 2005.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect Romans 12:2

Contact Adult Education Team members at Crestview to learn more.
Beth Tumbleson. 9/22/20

How Long, Lord?

Seniors in their 90s like my Dad are discovering iPads and FaceTime can bring loved ones closer, even when they are feeling isolated.  Seeing a smile or hearing laughter brightens the long day.  Technology enables connection. 

Those with immunity concerns are also feeling cut off from casual interactions with friends.  The realization that there is no end in sight to this COVID-19 pandemic makes the loneliness all the harder to bear.  How do we engage in abundant living while protecting our health?  How do we fellowship?  Are outdoor, masked, socially distanced gatherings a possibility?

Yes, survival requires adapting, letting go of accustomed routines, and embracing new practices like virtual interactions, outdoor meetings/activities, social distancing, and wearing masks.  

Who could have imagined working remotely for months, online silver sneakers workouts, virtual art and cooking classes, and web conferencing to discuss church matters?  We have been forced to rethink, to cope, to set up life differently, to distance to avoid possible contagion.   Life online is possible for many, but is ultimately less satisfying long-term.

A few suggestions for now:

Spiritual Formation:  Join a Crestview Bible Study or Summer Parables Group.  See the Crestview Website to connect online.

Worship:  Play the music you love, that promotes worship.  God is near.  Try listening now: 

In Christ Alone.

Fellowship:  Call someone in your life, that needs a word of encouragement or comfort.  Send a card.

Love One Another:  Give whatever you are longing for, to someone else.  A delightful surprise lifts the spirit. 

Create:  Like our Creator God, make something good to share:  a meal, a picture, music...

Christian Spiritual Formation Resources

During these COVID-19 days when life can feel like you @home on an endless spin cycle, consider rethinking how you spend time.  Meet with God and go deeper in your faith. Travel with the Holy Spirit while you are “stay safe” @home.  Listen, Read, Study, Watch, Worship!  Godspeed! 

  


Beth’s Top Picks, May 2020 

European Leadership Conference, May 22-28, 2020.  Free, Online

The Bible. All-time bestseller. Read a passage, a chapter, a book.

Crestview Sermons Archive. Rev. Shawn Barkley, West Chester, OH.

Podcast: The Well.  Rev. Shawn Barkley 

Midwest Musing: New Every Morning.  Blog.  

Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. John Ortberg, Menlo Park, CA. Watch messages.

Redeemer Presbyterian Church. NY, NY. Tim Keller
Resources: Meditations, Skeptics Series, Audio files, Sermon Archive, Recommended Reading, Articles,etc.

Park Street Church. Boston, MA. Sermon Library

Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Calvin University 

Calvin Center of Faith and Writing. Christian writers in various genres. Biannual conference.

Hall of Church History.  Phil Johnson.  Church history information.

Ligionier Ministries.  Founded by R.C. Sproul, Learn Resources

IF Gathering TV. Jennie Allen.  Women's ministry resources, videos, annual conference.

Ann Voskamp. Daily Blog. Women's ministry.

On Being with Krista Tippett.  Radio and Podcasts 

Virtual Religion Index  Websites

YouTube Watch, Listen, & Worship. Search  Christian authors, speakers, musicians.

Looking for something to READ by a celebrated Christian author? Pick up a book by
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Corrie ten Boom
Frederick Buechner
Francis Chan  
C.K. Chesterton
Elisabeth Eliot
Richard Foster
Bill Hybels
Timothy Keller
C.S. Lewis
Max Lucado
Kathleen Norris 
Henri Nouwen
John Ortberg
Eugene Peterson
James K.A. Smith
R.C. Sproul
John Stott
Joni Eareckson Tada
Barbara Brown Taylor
Ann Voskamp
Dallas Willard
N. T. Wright
Philip Yancey


Want more?  Willing to pay tuition?
Christian Witness and Ministry in a COVID-shaped World.  
Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI. Online 3 week summer courses. 3 Sessions.