God In All Things

Have you noticed how Jesus helps us focus on the essentials of faith? We tend to overcomplicate or over-theologise Christianity. Let's examine the value of being fed the essentials: about God and in our life. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/support

What are you prioritising in life? In other words, what are the big principles and values around which you organise your life? These principles will inform almost everything. Here are some ways to intentionally discern your life's guiding principles. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/support

Religion often becomes a program of certainty that doesn't fully embrace the dynamism of divine creativity, where moments like incarnation and resurrection cause old sacred paradigms to fall away.

I am always on the lookout for children's books that convey the wisdom of Ignatian spirituality. This children's book witnesses to the central Ignatian principle of finding God in all things. I had the privilege to speak with author and spiritual director, MaryEllen Weber, about everything from children being natural contemplatives to her image of God. Learn more about the book and follow MaryEllen's Instagram where she has a picture of her granddaughter Teagan, and the real Grandmother Willow!

We still have some more time in Lent. So let's renew the purpose of this season! Jesus discovered that he was human and hungry and lonely. Lent is not so much about penances and bodily denial as it is a season to discover our ordinariness. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

We're all prone to the tactics of the evil spirit. For some it leads to catastrophic evil like war. This episode concludes with an adaptation of Ignatius' Two Standards meditation. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

It's important to look at a piece of the jigsaw puzzle, but we must also know its context. In the spiritual life we must widen our gaze and see more of the whole picture. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

Let's examine four main dichotomic themes in Disney's Encanto. There are spoilers! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

Within each of us is "inner furniture" that inhibits our full life in God. They can be past hurts, stereotypes, bad memories, religious wounds, and even our images of God. We find many examples in the Gospels of people who are blind to the layout of their inner rooms. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

We all struggle with a "shadow side" that gets us anxious or judgemental. Ignatius invites us to externalise this part of ourselves a bit so we can let our true selves emerge, the part of us that is compassionate and loving. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

What is the significance of the Incarnation? It was not just one moment, but continues to unfold God's dream for us and for the world. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

How do we practically understand and live the Ignatian concept of 'cura personalis'? This is a talk I recently gave for the Ignatian Spirituality Center of Seattle. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

Your instructor for this lesson on rest: Jesus. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

A new PBS Kids show speaks to the Ignatian pattern we see in the Examen. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

Ignatius tells us that feelings are important guides in the spiritual life. How do we discern what feelings are telling us? How do we know they are leading us to God? Be curious. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

How do we know we're moving toward union with God? Simple: we can know that by the fruits we see. Ignatius and Paul may use different words, but they're in sync with the idea of "living by the Spirit". --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

If we dig beneath the desires of our hearts we will discover deeper core motivations for those desires. They're ultimately for God or the ego. Here are a couple ways we can dig down and uncover those motivations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

Our image of God depends on how we understand the Bible. Is the Bible a moral rulebook or does it present a larger Truth about humanity's experience with God told through stories? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

Whenever we bring suffering or negative feelings into our consciousness, we give it less power over us. When we take a mindful, contemplative, and non-resistance stance like Jesus, we discover a new kind of freedom. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message

Think you don't have an imagination? Here's why Ignatius felt imagination was so important to our prayer. Also, try our new Memory Recollection audio meditation. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/god-in-all-things/message