the longest journey

"The longest journey that a man must take is the 18 inches between his head to his heart."

This anonymous quote is full of God's Wisdom and Truth. It speaks to the dichotomy between head knowledge and heart knowledge, the difference between empirical knowledge and true wisdom that flows from the Father.

We can know much about God (head knowledge), without knowing (heart knowledge) God. It is God's Spirit (the Holy Spirit) within us that attests to the Truth of our identity in Christ, and hence our unity with the Holy Trinity. Without the "second" baptism (to born again as Jesus taught Nicodemus) we can not attain to this divine heart knowledge. It is the baptism in the Spirit, or the release of the Spirit within us that heart knowledge becomes possible . . . where true Wisdom lies waiting to be revealed.

This aspect of our Christian life is nurtured by discipleship, by being discipled and by discipling others. It is the "work" of partnering with God as His Spirit does the work of transformation (formation in Christ) in every believer. All the ancient fathers and mothers understood the necessity of "experiencing God", beyond head knowledge. These experiences often occur during or because of our efforts in the disciplines. God desires to honor our efforts as we seek Him, practicing the disciplines in season as God leads.

This life is for every person who desires to live the abundant life Jesus promised. It is a journey, a process, which has seasons that are different for every person and their circumstances. It looks different for every person, but it has in common the idea of a "journey" we are all on together. This life happens in community, while there are contemplative aspects of it, we are always called to community, to discipling one another. Or, as the Celtic saints called it, Anam Chara (soul care). As Larry Crabb suggests, "connecting" is the soul care we should be craving, that connection of the Spirit in each of us, then the formation we experience as we disciple one another.

Discipleship is THE WORK of the church (whether institutional or the true Body of Christ). Without discipleship there is no Christ, and without Christ there is no "church". (Bonhoeffer)

Are you on that long journey from head to heart, find someone to take it with you; spiritual partner, soul friend, small intimate group covenanted to discipling.

Anthony Cayden DeFazio

Born at 1:23 am, on 8/9/10 and weighing in at 7lb 7oz to the parents, Karly Elizabeth and Philip Anthony DeFazio - Anthony Cayden DeFazio

Celtic roots go deep . . .

I have had time recently to research (and search) my family's humble beginnings, and God has blessed my time as I kept Him always in view in this search. Watters - they that dwell by the loch and sea. My ancestors were from both the Highlands and northern islands of Scotland, as well as the north of Ireland. They were Celts before all else, not holding to any nationality, and being poor share farmers constantly beleaguered by all sorts of both worldly and human oppression. The Highland clearances saw them move out, mostly to the shores of northern Ireland (the majority who remained there live primarily in County Antrim.) Then, the Ulster Plantations forced them out once again, and many took to the seas and North America. Intermarriage to Lakota peoples led to yet another fleeing of sorts during the Reservation days of native American persecution. Through it all I can trace a dependence on God, even among the Lakota/Celtic family that finally settled in northeastern Montana, after a short sojourn in Canada. Pilgrimage . . . always . . .the journey of faith of the "aliens". (to be continued I pray)

Busy season for our kids!!!!

Karly and Phil are expecting Anthony Cayden De Fazio any day now!
Cody showing a hairy armadillo for Pacific Animal Productions at a recent show. He'll be very busy in September at the LA County Fair!
Kyle - former Nikon model, current astrophysics PhD candidate on the cover of Crazy Shirts catalog (black/red shorts.) Soon to be joining sweetheart/wife Laura in their Omahome in Nebraska where she is a resident OB/GYN MD.

PnP Discipleship

Soul Care (Anam Chara), Christian spiritual direction, healing prayer (inner and maybe even outer healing), marriage and family mentoring, mental health support . . . however Jesus leads via His Spirit to the glory, honor and praise of the The Father. All the books and study help, and certainly experiences of God throughout life, but discipleship is a journey that is specifically designed for each person, and there is no quick, "canned" process.

We are all called to disciple one another wherever we're at. And, no matter how old and wise we get, we are always being discipled by others.

Patrick Perching Eagle

Officially appearing at Fairytale Town beginning August 13, Fridays from 11AM to 2PM in the plains indian tipi. Music and storytelling of the Lakota people.

(Also appearing at Short Center South on Tu/Th from 12:30-2PM for the wonderful people there.)

What Happened to Discipleship?

I know many fine pastors (shepherds) who love this teaching from Dallas Willard in The Divine Conspiracy, but also know their churches are, at least, uncomfortable with it, and worst, in complete denial or oblivion.

Excerpts from chapter 8, The Divine Conspiracy, on discipleship:

“ . . . we saw how weak a hold the church currently has on the message of the kingdom. We saw internationally known leaders commenting on how little is said in Christian teachings about the kingdom (here and now) and some admitting that they had neither heard nor preached a sermon on the topic.”

“It also becomes clear, in the light of the disappearance of the kingdom and Jesus the teacher, why the making of converts, or church members, has become the mandatory goal of Christian ministers – if even that – while the making of disciples is pushed to the very margins of Christian existence. Many Christian groups simply have no idea what discipleship is and have relegated it to para-church organizations.”

“Nondiscpleship is the elephant in the church. It is not the much discussed moral failures, financial abuses, or the amazing general similarity between Christians and non-Christians. These are only effects of the underlying problem.”

“ . . . division has worked its way into the very heart of the gospel message. It is now understood to be a part of the “good news” that one does not have to be a life student of Jesus in order to be a Christian and receive forgiveness of sins. This gives a precise meaning to the phrase “cheap grace”, though it would be better described as “costly faithlessness.”

“If we cannot break through to a new vision of faith and discipleship, the real significance and power of the gospel of the kingdom of God can never come into its own. It will be constantly defeated by the idea that it is somehow not a real part of faith in Jesus Christ, and the church will remain in the dead embrace of consumer Christianity.”

Discipleship consists of all that Jesus taught and modeled in His earthly ministry time; living in the Kingdom of God (now), applying that Kingdom for the good of others, and even making it possible for them to enter it themselves. Whether we call it spiritual formation, spiritual direction, discipleship, soul care, healing ministry, teaching . . . it is all “making disciples” as He commanded all who would follow Him and take up their own cross. We are all supposed to be doing this (discipleship) among our families, in our marriages, at school, at work, wherever God has us, and of course in our congregations; faith families, small groups, etc.

Without this, Uncle Screwtape has us just where he wants us . . . thinking we are Christians, but not even coming close to imitating Christ.