How can we deepen our spiritual lives through stillness, surrender, and sacred tradition? In this episode, Dave speaks with Reverend Dr. Barbara Peacock about spiritual formation through an African American lens, focusing on prayer, soul care, and spiritual direction. Barbara shares her theological journey, personal struggles with depression and burnout, and the inspiration behind her book Soul Care and African American Practice. She explores historical connections to spiritual practices like Lectio Divina, linking them to notable figures in the African American community. The conversation emphasizes resilience, trust in God, and passive spirituality— inviting listeners to experience God’s love through stillness and surrender.

Takeaways:

• Spiritual Tenacity: Barbara discusses the importance of spiritual tenacity and perseverance, linking it to her heritage and personal experiences. She emphasizes that tenacity is essential for surviving and thriving in adversity, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible and African American history.
  • Takeaway: Embrace a posture of spiritual resilience by trusting God through challenges. Draw strength from personal and communal histories of perseverance.
• Receiving God's Love: Barbara emphasizes the power of passive spirituality—pausing, resting, and allowing yourself to be loved by God—as foundational to spiritual growth.
  • Takeaway: Create space in your daily rhythm for stillness. Practice pausing to welcome God’s presence without striving.
• Lectio Divina and Sacred Reading: She introduces Lectio Divina as a slow, prayerful way of engaging scripture, using Frederick Douglass as a historical example of this contemplative approach.
  • Takeaway: Read scripture slowly and meditatively. Choose one verse a day and let it guide your reflection, prayer, and attention to God.
• Soul Care in Historical Context: Barbara links soul care and spiritual direction to the communal practices of enslaved Africans, who leaned on prayer, love, and mutual support during pivotal times, such as the Middle Passage journey.
  • Honor the spiritual wisdom passed down through your community. Engage in practices that connect personal faith to collective healing.
• Dark Night of the Soul: Connecting the theology of St. John of the Cross to African American suffering, Barbara reflects on how spiritual darkness can lead to deeper trust and transformation.
  • When experiencing uncertainty or despair, remain open to God’s work in the unknown. Transformation often begins in the dark.

Quote of the Show:

• “ Being silent and being still are imperative for the formative journey. ” - Barbara Peacock

Links:

• Website: barbaralpeacock.com, peacockselfcare.com
• Book Link: https://www.ivpress.com/soul-care-in-african-american-practice
• X/Twitter: https://x.com/BarbaraLPeacock?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Join Pastor Dave Ripper for an enriching conversation with Dr. Gary W. Moon, founding director of the Martin Institute and Dallas Willard Research Center, as they explore the golden thread of Christian spiritual formation: encountering divine presence. Gary shares his framework for spiritual healing, emphasizing salvation as a journey of union with God, and offers practical questions to overcome spiritual stagnation. Through a powerful river baptism exercise, listeners are invited to experience God’s presence by releasing the past and embracing the present moment with Jesus.

Key Points and Actionable Takeaways

1. Golden Thread of Spiritual Formation: Gary identifies the core of Christian spirituality as encountering divine presence, a theme woven through church history. This encounter fosters healing and union with God, reframing salvation as a holistic restoration.
   • Takeaway: Reflect on salvation as healing, not just forgiveness. Pray, “Lord, heal me of my sinfulness,” to reconnect with God’s presence daily.
2. Salvation as Healing (Sōzō): Gary redefines salvation using the Greek word sōzō, meaning healing, to emphasize restoring all aspects of personhood (thoughts, feelings, behaviors, relationships, choices) for union with God.
   • Takeaway: Incorporate “healing” into your prayers or devotions (e.g., replace “save” with “heal” in scripture readings) to focus on holistic restoration.
3. Cup and Saucer Analogy: Gary’s analogy of aligning our “saucer” (personal will) with God’s “platter” (His kingdom) illustrates the journey toward union with God, where our will surrenders to God’s without losing our unique identity.
   • Takeaway: Visualize your will as a saucer resting on God’s platter during prayer to align your desires with God’s kingdom.
4. Seven Questions for Spiritual Growth: Gary offers seven questions to address spiritual stagnation: three vision questions (Is salvation a healing process? Is my view of God and self magnificent and loving enough?), two intention questions (Am I desperate to change? Do I recognize my will’s limits?), and two means questions (Is my rule of life holistic and ecumenical?).
   • Takeaway: Journal through these questions to assess and adjust your spiritual practices, ensuring they engage all aspects of your personhood and draw from diverse Christian traditions.
5. River Baptism Exercise: Gary’s guided prayer exercise invites listeners to stand in a river with Jesus, letting the past flow downstream and the future arrive in God’s timing, fostering presence and peace.
   • Takeaway: Practice the river baptism exercise daily, imagining standing with Jesus in the present moment, releasing past regrets and future anxieties.

Quote of the Show

“The primary activity of living as an apprentice of Jesus is to be with him in the river that is our life.” – Gary W. Moon

Connect with Gary W. Moon

• Explore Gary’s work and Dallas Willard’s archived teachings at Conversatio Divina or download the Conversatio Divina app.
• Read Gary’s books, including Becoming Dallas Willard and Apprenticeship with Jesus, available wherever books are sold.

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Join Pastor Dave Ripper for a transformative conversation with bestselling author John Ortberg, a leading voice in spiritual formation. In this episode, they explore vital spiritual experiences, drawing from John’s book Steps: A Guide to Transforming Life When Willpower Isn’t Enough and the Christian roots of the 12-step program. Learn how to cultivate a deeper connection with God through practices like prayer, meditation, and scripture immersion, and discover actionable steps to overcome challenges and grow in faith. John shares insights from Dallas Willard, integrates psychology with spirituality, and leads a guided exercise to encounter God’s presence.

Takeaways

• Vital Spiritual Experiences: John explains that vital spiritual experiences, like those that shaped the 12-step program, can be dramatic (e.g., Bill W.’s encounter with God) or gradual awakenings through disciplined practice. These experiences connect us to God’s transformative power.
  • Takeaway: Focus on seeking God rather than chasing specific emotional experiences. Invite God into your daily life through prayer and meditation to foster spiritual growth.
• Conscious Contact with God (Step 11): Step 11 of the 12-step program emphasizes improving conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation. John suggests simple practices like reflecting on a word like “joy” throughout the day or recognizing others as “image bearers” to stay connected to God.
  • Takeaway: Experiment with small, playful practices to turn your thoughts to God regularly, such as setting phone reminders or silently naming moments as sacred (e.g., “Bethel” – the house of God).
• Letting Go of Reputation: John shares wisdom from Dallas Willard about releasing the burden of reputation—what others think of you. He encourages trusting God with how you’re perceived rather than managing impressions.
  • Takeaway: Practice secrecy when you do something good (e.g., don’t share achievements publicly) and openly admit mistakes to break the cycle of impression management. Try Dallas’s discipline of “not having the last word” when criticized.
• Scripture as a Living Connection: Dallas Willard’s approach to scripture emphasized immersion and memorization to experience God’s reality. John highlights Dallas’s balance of deep reverence for scripture’s truth.
  • Takeaway: Spend intentional time with scripture, such as memorizing passages like John 14–15, to let God’s truth shape your thoughts and actions.
• Integrating Psychology and Faith: John discusses how Freud’s depth psychology addressed human complexity but dismissed spiritual experiences. Dallas Willard’s work, like Renovation of the Heart, integrates psychology and theology to understand personhood holistically.
  • Takeaway: Reflect on how psychological insights can complement your faith. Explore Dallas Willard’s writings to deepen your understanding of spiritual formation.

Quote of the Show

“Reputation is just what you think other people think about you. It’s a very good thing to let go of.” – John Ortberg

“If I go into worship thinking I must have this certain kind of experience, then I end up worshiping the experience instead of God.” – John Ortberg

Connect with John Ortberg

• Follow John’s daily teachings at Become New: https://becomenew.com/
• Check out his book, Steps: A Guide to Transforming Life When Willpower Isn’t Enough, available wherever books are sold: https://www.amazon.com/Steps-Guide-Transforming-Willpower-Enough/dp/1496447042