Soul Care Postcards

Soul care is slow painstaking work, with ebbs and flow, up and down, freshness and dryness, progress and regression. It is hard work for it is the renovation of our souls to the character of Christ; the fully restored image of God. Like drops of water than can wear down a mountain, soul work needs patience but is a powerful vocation.

spiritual direction is the process where two or more companions on a spiritual journey help one another to be open to God, to their inner lives and to each other

spiritual direction is mainly about rest; rest in God's goodness, rest in believing God will reveal Himself to us and guide our actions, and rest in His sovereignty

Trust is holding the hand of God as we walk through the woods that is our lives

spiritual direction is cultivating awareness-the awareness of the movements of the Holy Spirit in our lives; of what God is working with our lives in the past, present and future; and to get on board with what ever He is doing now. Awareness is seeing God in all things.

Love is the emotion and the passion that is the matrix of our spiritual life

Photos by Wong Ling Hong

Soul Care in MBS

 

It has been an exhausting but rewarding experience in teaching Soul Care: The Art and Science of Spiritual Direction in an intensive module 27-31 August 2010 at the wonderful campus of the Malaysia Bible Seminari (MBS) in Kuang, Selangor. There were initial apprehensive in the understanding of spiritual direction especially with its emphasis on the dimensions of spiritual experiences. All the students are evangelicals and most are experienced pastors or pastoral workers. Many of them are studying theology in the seminary. It is understandable that spiritual direction with its emphasis of listening, silence, watching for the movement of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God challenges their evangelical Bible-centred framework. I hope that the lectures, lectio divina, small group sessions and practicums helped to relieve some of their anxieties.

Basically the module is designed in such a way that we begin with ourselves and our relationship with God. This includes being aware of ourselves, our needs and frustrations and how we employ filters when we listen to others. We also need to learn to be aware of the movements of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. This come from experiences of listening to and responding. Only then are we able to discern these movements of the Holy Spirit in others. We also have to learn to be open to others and allow them space to process their spiritual quests. This involves trust and patience. Finally only in love do we speak into the lives of each other. Soul Care is the journeying together of two or more souls towards the awareness and enjoyment of God in whom we move, live our daily lives, and have our being, as we rest in His goodness.

Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts - SFI seminar

Spiritual Formation Institute Seminar 2012/2

Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts 

Date : 2.00pm- 9.30pm, Saturday 11 August 2012

Place : Berea, Holy Light Church, Johor Bahru

Synopsis : Spiritual gifts are endowed to all people of God because of His grace. They are meant to empower every part of the body of Christ to serve God effectively to build up the body of Christ for God's glory. It is vital for Christians to know the gift(s) that God has given them so that they are able to live a fruitful Christian living. Among the major topics that this seminar aims to discuss include the meaning and significance of spiritual gifts, importance of knowing one's gifting and ways to discover it.

Speaker : Rev. Dr. Philip Siew, BTh (Trinity Theological College, 1983); MTheol (SEAGST, 1991); MTh (Fuller, 1993); PhD (Fuller, 1999), is a lecturer in Homiletics, Missiology, Evangelism, Church Growth and Hebrew in the Chinese Department of Seminari Theologi Malaysia, and the Director of Advanced Ministerial Studies.

All are welcome

(Seminar cost RM20.00 includes refreshment,dinner and seminar notes).

Please register with Sister Grace Soon of HLCE (Tel:07-2243285)

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Spiritual Direction Course Syllabus

Course Description

This is an introduction to the art and science of spiritual direction as soul care in the Protestant tradition.  The course will provide a model for spiritual direction as soul care in the local congregations. The primary focus will be upon listening, seeking wisdom and direction of God in journeying with others. Attention will be given to two other questions: the inner spiritual life of the spiritual director as well as the art of discernment.

Course Objectives:

The desired outcomes are that by the end of the course, students are able to

• develop a biblical and theological basis of Christian spiritual formation and transformation
• understand the psychospiritual dynamics of spiritual development
• differentiate between the dynamics of spiritual friendship, mentoring, counseling and spiritual direction
• listen and cultivate discernment concerning the movements of the Holy Spirit
• acquire some basic skills in spiritual direction

Course Outline

• Defining spiritual direction and its role in spiritual formation and transformation
• Spiritual direction in different traditions (Reformed, Pentecostal, Wesleyan, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, etc)
• Biblical and theological foundations of spiritual formation (concepts from shalom, Trinity, imago dei and missio dei)
• The psychospiritual dynamics of spiritual development
• The continuum of soul care: spiritual friendship, discipling, mentoring, coaching, counseling and spiritual direction.
• The spiritual life of a spiritual director
• The art of listening
• Discernment
• Guidelines in spiritual direction

Academic Requirements

Lectures

Small groups

Reflection paper

Reading and Review Essay

Assignments:

1.      Attendance.

All students are expected to attend all lectures; this is a short, compact course; attendance is therefore expected for all sessions.

2.      Small Group Discussion and Reflection Paper.

Each student will either choose or be assigned to a small group of 2-4 persons (ideally

3) discussion. The faciliatator will provide guidelines during the first session for these

groups which will meet outside of the lecture time, but during the week of the course. From this small group interaction each student will submit a reflection paper of 3-4 pages.  

DUE: Mon., Nov 26, 2012

3.      Reading and Essay.

Read the recommended texts the course reader (500 pages for 2 or 3 credit students)

and from the bibliography, and write a review essay of your reading. The review

article should be a critical examination of material read, which both reviews the book

but then also provides an extended reflect critical response. The response to this

reading should give clear evidence of understanding of the course lectures; ideally,

the review of these books should provide for critical interaction between the lectures

and the readings. Note: only books from the bibliography may be chosen for this

assignment; any additional books need to be approved in advance by the facilitator.

Word limit: 1,500.

DUE: Mon., Nov 26, 2012

Evaluation

Small Group/Reflection Paper               30%

Review Essay                                       70%

Recommended Reading

Required reading:

(1)   Anderson, Keith R. & Randy D. Reese. 1999. Spiritual Mentoring. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

(2)   The course reader

(3)   One of the following:

a.       Peterson, Eugene H. 1989. The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

b.      Barry, William A., William J. Connolly. 2009. The Practice of Spiritual Direction. New York, NY: HarperOne.

Bibliography

Benner, David G. 2002. Sacred Companions. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Bakke, Jeanette A. 2000. Holy Invitations. Grand Rapids, Ml: Baker Books.

Baker, Howard. 1998. Soul Keeping: Ancient Paths of Spiritual Direction. Colorado

Springs: NavPress.

Barry, William A. 1990. Discernment in Prayer: Paying Attention to God. Notre Dame:

Ave Maria Publication.

Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. 2005.  Spiritual Disciplines Handbook.  Downers Grove, IL:

InterVarsity Press.

Demacopoulos, George E. 2007. Five Models of Spiritual Direction in the Early Church.

Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame.

Edwards, Tilden. 1980. Spiritual friend: Reclaiming the Gift of Spiritual Direction.

Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.

Dyckman, Katherine Marie, L. Patrick Carroll. 1981. Inviting the Mystic Supporting

Prophet. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.

Gratton, Carolyn. 1995. The Art of Spiritual Guidance: a Contemporary Approach to

Growing in the Spirit. NY: Crossroad.

Guenther, Margaret. 1992. Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction. Cambridge:

Cowley Pubs.

Horsfall, Tony. 2008. Mentoring for Spiritual Growth. Abingdon, UK: The Bible

Reading Fellowship.

Houston, James M. 2006. Joyful Exiles.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press

Howard, Elmer B. 2008. The Brazos Introduction to Christian Spirituality. Grand Rapid

Brazos Press.

Johnson, Jan. 1999. When the Soul Listens: Finding Rest and Direction in Contemplative

Prayer. Colorado Springs: NavPress.

Jones, Alan 1982. Exploring Spiritual Direction. Boston, MA: Cowley Publications.

Jones, W. Paul. 2002. The Art of Spiritual Direction: Giving and Receiving Spiritual

Guidance. Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books

Leech, Kenneth. 2001. Soul Friend: Spiritual Direction in the Modern World. Harrisburg,

PA: Morehouse Publishing.

Nouwen, Henri. 2006. Spiritual Direction.  New York, NY: HarperCollins.

May, Gerard G. 1992. Care of Mind, Care of Spirit: A Psychiatrist Explores Spiritual

Direction. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Moon, Gary W. David G. Benner. 2004. Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls.

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Phillips, Susan S. 2008. Candlelight: Illuminating the Art of Spiritual Direction. New

York, NY: Morehouse Publishing.

Reed, Angela H. 2011. Quest for Community: Reclaiming Spiritual Guidance for

Contemporary Congregations. New York, NY: T&T Clark International.

Tan, Soo-lnn. 2008. Friends in a Broken World. Singapore: Graceworks.

Voon, Choon Khing. 1999. Spiritual Direction in a Malaysian Context: in Search of a

Viable Way Ahead. Donaldson, Indiana: Graduate Theological Foundation.

Wilhoit, James C., Evans B. Howard. 2012. Discovering lectio divina: Bringing Scripture

 into ordinary life. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Discipleship Conference May 2011 Singapore

more details here

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BPMC Camp 2010 musings

One of the joys of being a camp speaker is that you start the camp with a group of strangers and end it with lots of friends.

I meet a wonderful sister-in-Christ with her three delightful children. This is what she shared on her blog         I Can Do It!

*Dr Alex Tang was our speaker. Soft-spoken yet firm, he was excellent in his focus on the Bible, relating stories and personal anecdotes and the use of multimedia to share on the theme – ‘Lights That Cannot Be Hidden’ – how do we let our lights shine amidst the darkness in our society? Lessons were drawn from the book of Jeremiah (Chp 1, 12, 35). Dr Tang first gave us the background of the book. Then he shared about God’s response to Jeremiah when Jeremiah brought his concerns before Him. In Jeremiah 12.5, God said

“If you have raced with men on foot

and they have worn you out,

how can you compete with horses?

If you stumble in safe country,

how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

Immediately, I understood that God wanted my family and I to run with the horses – it started at the camp (yes, God worked fast) when I had to handle the children by myself, relying only on God’s strength. And God gave me assurance that we will win, because He will empower us. Although we will run in the face of wild and windy challenges, God impressed upon my heart that it will be a time of receiving. Huh? I couldn’t understand how that’s possible but I will take God’s word by faith. I’m really excited and am eagerly awaiting another adventure with the Lord – God knows how the adrenaline rush motivates me. “HOLD your horses!! Remember this…” God gave me a timely reminder. I see the familiar image of a huge guy holding the hands of a little girl in ponytails – that’s my Abba Father and me

read more

BMPC Camp 2010 Day Three

03 lights.of.the.world

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

download powerpoint here

BPMC Camp 2010 Day Two

They have a wonderful room set up with prayer stations for people to pray in before the morning and evening sessions.

Some prayers are shared on a prayer wall

group discussions

02 keep.light.bright

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

download powerpoint here

BPMC Camp 2010 Day One

Had a wonderful welcome from this church who extended to me the right hand of fellowship and made me feel at home. It is a joy to share God's word with them

01 lights.in.darkness

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

download powerpoint here

Self-Promotion

I have been invited to be a speaker for a church camp. The organisers have asked me to make a short promo video. That is something I have never done before. This is the result of my amateurish attempt.

can you spot the typo? So embarassing.