paulbestill

Our Essential, True-Self Identity

An Introduction How I view myself will determine the entire spectrum of who I am. This is the fabric of my core self. One way that I do this is to create an image of myself that I believe will be received by the world. I carefully fabricate this image of myself and nurture itContinue reading “Our Essential, True-Self Identity”

The Spiritual Formation Practice of Submisson

I have been thinking a lot about submission these days. Actually this has been going on for sometime, but it is only recently that I am discovering this as a significant practice of spiritual formation. The discipline of submission does not surface very often. In a culture that embraces and pursues individualism, any conversation aboutContinue reading “The Spiritual Formation Practice of Submisson”

Suffering

Every day I hear of suffering and the death of people who woke up that day and were not expecting to experience the unjust suffering and death that came upon them. This is so hard and the feeling that is most prevalent in me is helplessness. I do not feel guilty about the goodness IContinue reading “Suffering”

Balance

Examen – Balance Discipleship and any journey of faith is ultimately about keeping one’s life in balance, which creates a freedom of expression in life. When we get out of balance, we lose this sense of center and become focused on the imbalance. Yoga has a lot to teach us about balance, but we oftenContinue reading “Balance”

Pursuing Something Greater than Right or Wrong Thinking

Can I live in the space above being right and wrong, and instead simply live in the space of just Being? Right and wrong living: eliminates curiosity presses me into proving I am right even though I am wrong changes my relationship with others causes me to miss the truth changes how I view myselfContinue reading “Pursuing Something Greater than Right or Wrong Thinking”

I Know You!

Hear Jesus speak these words: The sheep hear the shepherd’s voice. The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. The sheep fallow him because they know his voice. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I knowContinue reading “I Know You!”

“I never knew you.”

Matthew 7:23/Matthew 25:12 I have found this to be a rather daunting statement for Jesus to say. Jesus, through whom all things were created, who is God who is omniscient, Jesus who knows the hearts of humanity and what is in their hearts. How is it that Jesus would say, “I never knew you”? TheContinue reading ““I never knew you.””

The Spiritual Practice of Emptying

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but He emptied Himself taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, He humbledContinue reading “The Spiritual Practice of Emptying”

Our Essential, True Self Identity (Part 5)

When Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from. the water, suddenly the heaves were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)Continue reading “Our Essential, True Self Identity (Part 5)”

Our Essential, True-Self Identity (Part 4)

The Father and I are one. The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good works that we are going to stone you, butContinue reading “Our Essential, True-Self Identity (Part 4)”