Systematic Spiritual Discipline

Our spiritual formation is assisted by systematic self discipline.

Health is found in balance.

I have thought about many disciplines, but a long list can be overwhelming. So, please allow me to suggest just a few to live by:

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES;
- Daily time with God
- Practicing a weekly Sabbath

FAMILY DISCIPLINES;
- Regular date night with your spouse
- Monthly son/daughter lunch or dinner

PERSONAL GROWTH DISCIPLINES;
- Reading one book a month
- A monthly mentoring or coaching relations

What would you add? Click "comments" below.

Cry Out America

America needs a new spiritual Awakening!

God is calling us to sound the alarm!

In 2001, extremist enemies assaulted our nation with the terrorist attacks of 9-11. These acts of aggression signaled a physical wake up call for our nation as we entered the new millennium. America and many of our allies united together in immediate response. Vigilance increased. Security tightened. Reserves were activated and our nation was moved to action.

Now, seven years later, a new spiritual wake-up call will be issued on 9-11-08. This spiritual alarm will be sounded by Christian believers across America in a nationwide, simultaneous prayer gathering.

Cry Out America calls for us to gather at every county courthouse from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. on this notable day in a united response before the Lord. Together we will cry out for God's mercy at the place of justice and focus prayer on awakening our county for Christ.

The Awakening America Alliance believes that now is the time to unite for America's future. Supernatural intervention is our only hope of turning the spiritual tide in our day. In every great awakening throughout history, extraordinary, united prayer has been critical. We need your help in making September 11th an extraordinary day of prayer.

We would like for you to prayerfully consider becoming involved by coordinating your county's Cry Out America gathering(s). Many of the 3,141 counties in the United States still need coordinators to facilitate and lead this event. If you believe that extraordinary prayer is needed to awaken our nation and you are willing to be used of God in making it happen, then please take a moment to review the county coordinator job description, find your county and apply today.


Printnt and share details about the 9/11 prayer gathering:
Cry Out America!, Legal Size Poster - Color 8.5 x 14 Poster (PDF)
Cry Out America!, Bulletin Flyer - Color 6x9 Flyer (PDF)
July Prayer Guide (PDF)

Download and print this powerful prayer guide to assist you in praying for a Christ Awakening in America. This month’s guide focuses on restoring the highway of holiness.

Order the Awakening America Leadership Summit CD's. Please print the attached CD Order Form and return it to:
Awakening America
PO Box 3986
Cleveland, TN 37311

Articles and Program Resources:

Cry Out America Generic Letterhead (PDF)

Cry Out America Generic Envelope (PDF)

Cry Out America Letterhead (PDF)

Cry Out America Envelope (PDF)

Suggested Introduction for Cry Out America Courthouse Gathering (PDF)

Suggested Patriotic, God and Country Themed Hymns (PDF)

Scripture Readings (PDF)

Readings on Revival (PDF)

Cry Out America Job Description (PDF)

Sample Cry Out America Program Outline (PDF)

International Awakening Ministries Explore the cycles, marks and necessity of revival.
LifeAction Revival MinistriesAudio downloads, magazine publication, and articles on issues related to revival.

Solemn Assembly - A sermon, in PDF format, explaining the Biblical concept of Solemn Assembly by Richard Owen Roberts.

From the Founding Fathers - Quotes from America’s founding fathers on the spiritual heritage of the United States

Lincoln’s National Day of Prayer Proclamation - Abraham Lincoln’s call to a national day of prayer serves as a powerful example of what can happen to our nation when we humble ourselves and seek God’s face.

Spiritual Formation and Leadership Formation

The New Testament speaks clearly that God's call upon our lives is to be transformed into the image of Christ.

So, how does this process of transformation connect with the concepts of leadership formation? Does leadership formation happen alone or in an organizational context?

In this session, Drs. Bekker and Gomez encourage leaders to delve deeper as they discuss the connection between leadership and Christian formation and how our innermost being affects how we lead, our organization and ultimately the world.

To listen, click http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/leadershiptalks/home.htm

Eight Laws of Spiritual Growth

#1 - Spiritual Growth is Incarnational

Spiritual growth is Christ in you…being a Christian is not trying to be like Christ…it is Christ living through you! (Galatians 2:20)
Spiritual growth is both mystical and practical. I Corinthians 3:6…in spiritual growth we have a part and God has a part! Philippians 2:12-13

We are to work out our salvation while God works in our salvation!

#2 - Spiritual Growth Is Intentional

You have to choose to grow! We grow by making commitments. You are as close to God as you choose to be…stop blaming others (husband, wife, friends…)

Get people to make commitment … not move to it. Once people make the commitment then they grow through it.

Jesus first asked people to follow Him … that’s it! It was three years later He asked people to take up their cross. The level of commitment deepened with time.

We need to be a balanced church that challenges people to both “come and see” and “come and die!” This is a process.

Everyone will NOT BE at the same level of commitment.

To the non believer Jesus said “come and see,” to the believer Jesus said “go and tell!”

Once again … commitment MUST be asked for!!! The heat must constantly be turned up!

Providing message notes helps people to remember the message – we forget around 95% of what we hear withing 72 hours. The problem many times is not a matter of dedication but rather retention!

Why use outline and handouts? #1, It increases attention. #2, It increases retention. #3, It increases participation. #4, You can cover more material in less time. #5, You can view the message for years to come. #6, It is the basis for small group discussions. #7, You can use multiple translations. #8, Unbelievers don’t bring Bibles – they don’t have Bibles … and even if they did they would not know where to find the passage!

#3 - Spiritual Growth Is Incremental

It happens in steps, not overnight. I Corinthians 3:18! A baby has to learn to breathe, to eat, to walk, to talk … what is true physically is true spiritually.

You’ve got to know Christ before you can love Him. You’ve got to love Him before you can serve Him. You have to serve Him before you can share Him…

#4 - Spiritual Growth Is Personal

Reality is we grow according to how we are shaped. II Corinthians 5:13

#5 - Spiritual Growth Is Habitual

We grow by developing good habits.

How do we develop habits? #1 - Give homework at the end of a message. (It’s not just about belief–it’s about behavior). #2 - Challenge people to journal. #3 - Provide a daily e-mail devotional/podcast.

#6 - Spiritual Growth Is Relational

A huge myth is that you can become spiritually mature on your own. We can only grow in community. American have gotten so into isolation that we don’t believe this.

If you are not in community then there are at least 58 commands in the Bible that you can’t do. You learn to love by being around unlovely people.

Knowledge makes us feel important … but love IS what is important. Hebrews 10:25

Three tools for relational growth - small groups, spiritual coaches, retreats!

#7 - Spiritual Growth Is Multi-Dimensional

Real maturity is so much more about knowing … it is about doing.

To be a Pharisee … you had to memorize the Torah! And these are the people that Jesus went off on! They KNEW but didn’t do!

We’ve got to be about public charity and personal purity!

#8 - Spiritual Growth Is Seasonal

There are times of growth and times of consolidation! In the fall and winter it may not look like you are growing … but you are actually putting down roots!

Just as sure as winter comes … so does spring and summer. NOTHING is on all of the time. No church can be in a continual state of growth.

Don’t worry about the speed & size of your church … worry about the growth of your people.

We grow in spurts! Pastors can’t push their people all of the time

Growth seasons are done around Saddleback during campaigns. “I love my church campaign, I want to grow campaign, etc.”

[Rick Warren]

How Many Americans Actually Help?

It seems that 72 percent of Americans say their lives have meaning and purpose because of faith. But there’s a gap between what we believe and how we act.

That’s the finding of a new Gallup Poll that was conducted with The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society. It examined “The Spiritual State of the Union.” To do this, it looked at Inner Commitment—people’s connection with God or a higher power — and Outer Commitment — how they live out their commitment through service to society.

Nearly 80 percent of people agreed with the statement “the overall health of the nation depends a great deal on the spiritual health of the nation.” And almost as many people agreed “life has meaning and purpose because of faith.” Sixty percent agreed with the idea that all people, regardless of race, creed, or wealth, are connected by a higher power and therefore we should accept everybody.

More than a third of Americans prefer to think of themselves as spiritual, rather than religious. And they defined spirituality in several ways, including belief in God or a higher power, or just seeking to be a good person and reach their full human potential.

But here’s the problem: Only 44 percent agreed with this statement: “I’m involved and try to help the lives of the poor and suffering.” Could it be that we’re not putting our money where our mouth is? Something to think about.

[John Tesh]

Study Shows Students Want Spiritual Fulfillment

Though many students drop out of church during the college years, a new study suggests their longing for meaning and purpose only intensifies.

Church attendance among participants in the UCLA study dropped from nearly 44 percent to about 25 percent between the students freshman and junior years. During that period, emotional distress deepened. The number of students who said, "My life is filled with stress and anxiety," shot up from 26 percent during the first year of college to more than 41 percent as a senior. The percentage that felt "overwhelmed" increased from 31.8 percent to 46.3 percent, while depression jumped from about 9 percent to more than 12 percent.

This was accompanied by an apparent rising interest in moral and spiritual matters. While 41.2 percent of first-year students in 2004 reported they considered developing a meaningful philosophy of life "very important" or "essential," in 2007 more than 55 percent agreed.

Additionally, the perceived importance of "integrating spirituality into my life" increased from 41.8 percent in 2004 to more than 50 percent in 2007, and the desire for "attaining inner harmony" climbed from 48.7 to 62.6.

"What I see in local Chi Alpha groups nationwide confirms the findings of the study," says Dennis Gaylor, Assemblies of God national director for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. "Students are hungry for dynamic worship, authentic relationships and vibrant spirituality. They want to make a difference in the world. Their life stage is ground zero for finding meaning and purpose and making decisions that will last a lifetime."

[For more information about Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, see http://www.chialpha.com/. Christina Quick, Today's Pentecostal Evangel .]

Are You Burned Out?

According to a London Daily Mail poll, more than half of those reading this right now are completely burned out on the job. How can you tell if you're burned out? If you have lost that satisfied feeling at work and don't even revel in your own job accomplishments, there might be a problem. Are your coworkers asking if everything is okay with you? Have they noticed you acting depressed or even moody on the job? Have you been snapping at everyone?

Here's a telltale sign of work burnout: the minute you return from a vacation, the joy, happiness, and relaxation you felt are instantly gone, and you can't even manage to come back from lunch on time.

Another sign: procrastination is your new middle name.

Dr. Alan Shelton, author of Transforming Burnout, studies worker burnout. He notes that you shouldn't feel alone if you're feeling this particular burn. Some three-quarters of all workers are hit with this feeling from time to time. According to Dr. Shelton, vacations, days off, new hours and outside interests don't always help. Professional counselors can help, especially if you're a workaholic who is stressed out by a desire for everything to be perfect all of the time.

The important thing is to find balance between work and other pursuits. Then work isn't the only focus. Dr. Shelton also suggests the following:

• Get a physical to rule out more serious health problems.
• Take care of the spiritual side of life. It will give you focus. Meditation and prayer can help with burnout because they take the focus off work. Make relaxation a priority in your life.
• Remind yourself that each morning is a new day to be appreciated. On the way to work find two or three things that make you happy, even if it's just a beautiful forest preserve on the side of the road or watching your kids.
• Exercise helps beat job burnout.
• Sleep helps beat job burnout.

[Research by John Tesh]