The Anchor Church

Some restful thoughts from Drew Leaver at http://www.drewleaver.blogspot.com/

As important as it is to our physical health to physically get away from the office, it is equally important for my spiritual health to unplug as well.  To escape the office isn’t just a practice that will keep your body from breaking down – it will keep your soul from breaking down as well.  When I seize moments to be quiet and still before God it quiet’s my soul.  When I unplug the TV and spend an evening with God it fills my cup.  When I stop listening to all the noise and all the other voices I so often tune in to and give careful attention to God’s voice I find that I come away refreshed.  Truth is, I rarely her God speak unless I shut everything else off.  Continue reading Rest

Continuing the theme of caring for our hearts – from Drew Leaver www.drewleaver.blogspot.com 

He says……

Last time I talked about the necessity of eating right for your heart.  I confess, I live in a land saturated with great restaurants and so I don’t often eat well… uh, wait… was that a metaphor for great churches or actual restaurants?  Okay, so the secret is out, I don’t eat well physically or spiritually.  But I digress.  Continue reading Exercise!

Last week I wrote about the people who I have recently found out they have heart issues.  Drew Leaver in his blog talks about food for the heart….here is what he says

Any heart doctor will tell you that how you eat and what you eat are key to keeping healthy, and the same is true spiritually.  If you want spiritual health then it only makes sense to watch what you eat – and what you eat is extremely important to your heart.

I regret to say that my spiritual eating habits are often times no better than my physical ones.  I too willingly settle for fast food.  I eat cheaply instead of deeply.  As a Christian there is no substitute for eating well.  Getting into God’s Word is critical.  “Fast food” feedings and “drive through” devotions will not keep you spiritually healthy.

Snacking instead of feasting is also a problem.  I know a lot of Christians who snack but never eat.  Continue reading Heart Food

It has happened twice lately – one colleague who had a few twinges when he went for a run – now he has a stent – and another person whose blog I read, having chest pains and having to realign life a little.

My blogging contact wondered if he cared as much about his heart as he should have done.  In the busyness of life is there that space that is needed to care, what goes when life is tough and do we recognise the symptoms that a heart attack is imminent.  He made the following comment…

For me, staying spiritually healthy demands staying focused on a few key priorities:

• Face-Time with God.  If you are a Christian, spending time with God isn’t optional; it’s foundational.  No relationship can survive without face-time; time connecting, time communicating, time ‘relating.’  If face-time with God gets pushed aside then you will have heart issues.  For me, this means time with God in the morning – yes, that’s right, before work!  There’s no point putting your armour on after you get home from the battle.
  
• Face-Time with Key People.  Everyone needs a Paul in their life.  (If you don’t get that reference, you probably don’t have one in yours.)  We all need someone who knows us and can hold our feet to the fire when we need it.  Having someone to speak truth to us is critical to staying healthy and mis-prioritising this is dangerous. 
  
• Spiritual Community.  You can’t do it on your own.  One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is taking Sunday off when things get busy or hard.  If life is killing you, don’t skip out on the one place designed to build you back up.  (Oh, and if you don’t have a place – call me.)  My LifeGroup and my church are essential to my heart’s health.  I need these people and these moments of study, worship, and connection with them.  Cutting back here is not an option. 

It takes intentionality to let people in, to pursue conversations with others and to pursue time with God.  If you don’t plan it, it won’t happen and if it doesn’t happen it will come back to haunt you.  Maybe not now.  Maybe not next week.  But it will hurt your heart.  Do yourself a favor, do what I do and put these things on your calendar.  Live and die by them.   When you need to take a break, skip something else but not these – never these.
Worth thinking about before the chest pains come

Geoff

I’ve been asked to write a blog – the thoughtful type. I don’t know much about blogs. Here goes …

I think approaching 40 is a time for effort … or resignation. Last week when I asked a friend to define his mid-life crisis he half jokingly said “it’s when you realise you’ve had your chance, blew it, and it’s time to get on with the rest of your life”.

Two people lost their spouse’s of several years – one wallowed, wanted no one around, and pretty much ended up a shut in. The other built new friendships, moved bravely into gaps their spouse used to fill – amidst sorrow a new life was born.

I think it takes courage to step out and live. To live out all the values I hold, out of my faith with your God – but when I calm down and think of how faithful, able, and self-giving God is, I am ashamed of my fear. Continue reading Writing a blog!