You Are a Soul: Vocational Health

Paul Tournier was a Swiss physician and is widely regarded as the most prominent Christian physician of the 20th century. He published over 20 books during his career and was a prominent and captivating public speaker. But what made Tournier unique was not his writing prowess or his charismatic speeches – it was the way he practiced his healing vocation. …

You Are a Soul: Mental Health

My wife and I celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary this year. We got married on March 30, 2012 and it was a fantastic celebration with friends, family, and a lot of dancing. 2012 was a great year for me in many ways, but there were also a few situations that occurred that I did not know how to process …

You Are a Soul: Physical Health

Human beings are like ecosystems. They are made of many different elements that interact, intersect, and impact one another. There are several different types of ecosystems in the world, but the core idea is that an ecosystem contains diversity – wildlife, weather, soil, water, vegetation, and rock are normal elements. Each of these elements is distinct from the rest but …

Soul-Care for Leaders Immersion

A 5-week Immersion in how to cultivate a healthy soul and craft a rule and rhythm of life w/ Matt Alexander and Keisha Polonio About this Immersion The challenges and costs of leading others in the way of Jesus are high. Ministry life and leadership can be perilous. Leading others in the way of Jesus is beautiful, messy, painful work. …

Wishing For Not Normal: Erasing the Deep Darkness Within

Normal.  What is normal?  After all, what seems normal to some is abnormal for others.  When my work takes me out of town, I try to stay with friends, family, or colleagues as often as possible.  Not only is it more cost-effective, but doing this allows me to catch a glimpse into someone else’s “normal,” solidifying the fact that “normals” …

Discernment 101: 5 Practices

“Our God is a God who cares, heals, guides, directs, challenges, confronts, corrects. To discern means first of all to listen to God, to pay attention to God’s active presence, and to obey God’s prompting, direction, leadings, and guidance.” [Henri Nouwen][1] Discerning God’s direction does not happen by accident. The Spirit helps us to discern but we have a part to …

Narratives in Silence

“We are shaped by our stories. And these stories, or narratives are running and (often ruining) our lives.” [James Bryan Smith][1] Discerning God’s direction in life is often messy and confusing. The stories that we have picked up in life often times do not serve us well. We need regular periods of silence to help us identify these stories, examine …