By Lighthouse Trails Editors Is your church involved in a Spiritual Formation program? If so, you might want to ask the question, what exactly is Spiritual Formation? It’s a fair question, and one that, if not asked, could end up surprising you when your church changes in ways you never imagined. A Christianity Today article … [Read more…]
For many years, Lighthouse Trails has written about the slide that Biola University in Southern California has taken into contemplative spirituality. Our first indication that the school was heading that way was in February of 2006 when we learned that Biola was actively participating in a publication called Conversations Journal, a magazine whose primary purpose … [Read more…]
Just as Lighthouse Trails was about to issue a post this week about Celebration of Discipline’s (by Richard Foster) 40-year anniversary announcement (that we received by e-mail this month), we received the following e-mail from a Christian university graduate: Three years ago this past September, I began my studies at Tyndale University in Toronto, Ontario. … [Read more…]
Sometimes we think of spiritual formation as formation by the Holy Spirit. Once again. That’s essential. . . . But now I have to say something that may be challenging for you to think about: Spiritual formation is not all by the Holy Spirit. . . . We have to recognize that spiritual formation in … [Read more…]
Last week, a colleague sent a note to Lighthouse Trails asking us to review a sermon that Erwin Lutzer recently gave at Skip Heitzig’s Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque (New Mexico) Church. Lighthouse Trails has issued challenges and appeals to Erwin Lutzer on a number of occasions over the past ten years because of our concerns … [Read more…]
One of the most common arguments we hear defending Spiritual Formation is that there is a “good” Spiritual Formation done without contemplative prayer. To that we say, we have never yet seen a Spiritual Formation program in a school or a church that doesn’t in some way point people to the contemplative mystics. It might … [Read more…]
In Chuck Swindoll’s book, Wisdom for the Way, in a section titled “Segments of Solitude” (p. 14), Swindoll states: “Henri Nouwen called solitude . . . ‘the furnace of transformation.’” A LT article, “Why Christian Leaders Should Not Promote Henri Nouwen” helps to clarify the serious problem with Henri Nouwen’s “solitude” and “transformation” meaning. A … [Read more…]
Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why it Shouldn’t) by the editors at Lighthouse Trails is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklets. The Booklet is 16 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are as much as 50% off retail. Our Booklets are designed to give away to others or … [Read more…]
Dear Lighthouse Trails: Can you recommend how to find a biblical teaching church that is not on the contemplative/emergent/Acts 29 path? My husband and I are feeling so unsettled about how these movement seem to be creeping in to all the churches in our area including the one that we are members at. Any suggestions … [Read more…]
by Roger Oakland Promoters of the emergent conversation say we are on the verge of an era that promises renewed spiritual awareness. “Spiritual disciplines” are being touted as the avenue to a “spiritual reformation” that will take Christianity to a new and higher level of spirituality drawing all participants closer to God. Books published by … [Read more…]
This past weekend, Lighthouse Trails received the following letter from one of our readers: To Lighthouse Trails: Please listen to the sermon dated August 21st [at Grace to You]. I was shocked when John MacArthur promoted Dallas Willard. Has anyone else contacted you concerning this endorsement? After receiving this letter, we found the August 21st 2013 Grace to … [Read more…]
By David Dombrowski If I were to say to you that much of the church today has set aside the power of God, would you be shocked? After all, we live in a time where having the power of God in your life is a major theme preached from pulpits across the country. And book … [Read more…]
Dear Lighthouse: Thank you for that article from Dave Dombrowski on Sounding the Trumpet. I had my radio on KMBI (Moody) and they had Eugene [from Focus on the Family’s Adventure’s in Odyssey] going to a monastery to experience “silence.” I have heard this episode in the past. It is episode # 366. http://www.odysseyscoop.com/episodes/Episodes_1996.htm#AIO366 Sincerely, … [Read more…]
Is Charles Stanley trying to tell Christians something but doesn’t want to come right out and just admit, “Hey, I’m a contemplative, and I am using my In Touch magazine to let everybody know it.” A Lighthouse Trails January 2010 article titled “Letter to Charles Stanley: Is In Touch Getting Out-of-Touch With the True Gospel?,” discussed … [Read more…]
