Category Archives: Soul Care

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What is Blue Zone Ministry?

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

Blue Zone is the category of Full Spectrum Ministry that brings life to all the rest. Sadly, Blue Zone (rest and retreat) is the type of ministry that leaders neglect the most. 

blue zone ministry, full spectrum youth ministry

Photo by Matt Gross on Unslpash

The consequence of neglecting our need to retreat from the busyness of life is painful. Leaders who don’t develop a regular rhythm of rest and retreat suffer from emotional, spiritual, and physical burnout. They lose their ability to share grace and truth with the people around them. 

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You Can’t Completely Take the Dufus Out of the Disciple (John 21)

I just finished studying through the Gospel of John with my kids today. If you haven’t read John in a while I recommend it. John is a mender. Jesus actually called him when he was mending and fixing his fishing nets, (Matthew 4:21) and it seems that throughout his life John served his friends and churches with a special knack for mending. Maybe his words can be a balm to your soul today. Here is what I mean…

 

Dufus out of the disciple, shepherding

Photo by Mike Erskine on Unsplash

At the end of the Gospel of John is a very tender and instructive scene where Jesus reinstates Peter. Similar to an event a couple of years previous to this moment, the disciples had gone out fishing and come up empty. As they quietly rowed toward the shore, they see a figure standing on the sandy beach by a campfire, looking out at them on the water. It was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No” they answered. (John 21:5). Just like he had done a couple of years before, he tells them to drop their net on the right side of the boat. In an instant, they were overwhelmed by the number of fish that swarmed into their net. There were 153 to be exact (maybe Matthew was with them and being a former tax collector, just couldn’t help but count the fish).
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The Freedom of Finding Your Soul’s Deepest Desires

solitude on a mountain

Years ago one of my good friends, Howard Baker (who is now the professor of Christian Formation at Denver Seminary), led me through what he called an “Adventure in Prayer.” It was a time of spiritual direction to slow me down and experience Jesus’ love for me in a time, as a leader, that I was being tempted a lot by performance and achievement. Howard’s guidance through Scripture nurtured my soul. He pointed me toward some passages that continue to bring life and more life as I consider them (Psalm 63, 23; Isaiah 55; Psalm 139; Isaiah 43; Hosea 11:1-4).