Become Good Soil

All of life is a coming home. Salesmen, secretaries, coal miners, bee keepers, sword swallowers, all of us. All the restless hearts of the world, trying to find a way to go home. It's hard to describe how I felt then. Picture yourself walking for days in a driving snow. You don't even know you're walking in circles...the heaviness of your legs in the drifts, your shouts disappearing into the wind. How small you can feel. How far away home can be.Home.The dictionary defines it as both a place of origin and a goal or destination. The storm? The storm was all in my mind. Eventually I would find the right path, but in the most unlikely place.– Patch AdamsWhere have you taken your soul's need for unearned love?In what or in whom do you seek a sense of unconditional belonging?Where do you regularly feel joyful, nourished, and satisfied? In Isaiah 66, God unveils the secret to these questions with a promise brimming with hope and possibility:“You newborns can satisfy yourselves  at her nurturing breasts.Yes, delight yourselves and drink your fill    at her ample bosom.God’s Message:I’ll pour robust well-being into her like a river,    the glory of nations like a river in flood.You’ll nurse at her breasts,    nestle in her bosom,    and be bounced on her knees.As a mother comforts her child,    so I’ll comfort you.    You will be comforted in Jerusalem.You’ll see all this and burst with joy  —you’ll feel ten feet tall—As it becomes apparent that God is on your side.”If this is God’s intention, then what's gone wrong? What is in the way of growing our attachment and attunement to God? Why do we find ourselves wanting and even genuinely loving God, yet continuing to attach our hearts and hopes to so many other things? Join Cherie and me in Part 1 of this series as we explore the hope of a palpable attachment to the living God as our Source of pleasure, joy, and comfort—a secure attachment through which we could feel ten feet tall, overflowing with loyal love for our Father’s good and precious world.For the Kingdom,MorganTaking Action:List three unhealthy ways you seek comfort.List three healthy ways you seek comfort.What is the condition of your attachment to God? Not beliefs, or theology, but your operational, daily practice. In prayer and with God, explore this PDF.

There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places. – Wendell Berry There simply is no distinction between sacred and unsacred work in the world.  The ache and longing in a man to have purpose and meaning expressed in his daily work is universal. It is intrinsic to our design, marred in the fall, and contested terrain in every masculine soul. So often we spend precious energy and time hoping for "the next job" in order to engage in the work of God. Rarely does it come. And even when it does, the familiar specter of futility so often continues to haunt us.  But what if our work already is sacred?  What if our current assignment already is God's work? Or at least, it could be? As men, the core desires we share are greater than any distinction in how they are expressed.   I had the JOY of circling up with two men I love who are both fully immersed in the Kingdom of God and are engaging wholeheartedly in work that many might mistakenly consider secular assignments. Buckle up for an honest and hopeful conversation that helps us recover a Kingdom vision of the aspect of our lives we have come to call work.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

Now I have had most of the life I am going to have, and I can see what it has been. I can remember those early years when it seemed to me I was completely adrift, and time when, looking back, at earliest times, it seemed I had been wandering in the dark woods of error. But now it looks to me as though I was following a path that was laid out for me, unbroken, and maybe even as straight as possible, from one end to the other, and I have this feeling, which never leaves me anymore that I have been led. I will leave you to judge the truth of that for yourself… there is no proof. – Jayber Crow Reflecting on the whole of his story, Wendell Berry’s unforgettable character Jayber Crow utters these words in the twilight of his life. A resident of a small Kentucky town on the banks of the Ohio River, an itinerant barber by trade, Jayber speaks of a feeling that never leaves him: the feeling of being led.  Over seven decades of curiosity, heartbreak, and loyal love for an increasingly marginalized community, Jayber became the kind of man who experiences even the bewildering turns in his story as an unbroken line of grace. Including painful setbacks and unforeseen bends in the road, it was, in fact, the “the straightest path possible.” Over time, Jayber became the kind of man who now experienced the feeling of being led every moment of his days. What if, even in the midst of bewildering pain and disappointment, we are actually being led, being led by a Father on the particular path and process of masculine initiation that he has uniquely set for each of us? What if there is an ancient path that leads to life?  What if you can discover who God meant when he meant you, and find yourself being led to become that man?  It’s all available, dear brothers. And it might even prove to be the apex of our masculine becoming. Come along with me and a remarkable global fellowship of men as we dive into yet another foundational question of masculine initiation. For the Kingdom, Morgan Taking Action “I Am Being Led" – Download this PDF postcard and place it in a prominent, disruptive place. Say the words out loud every day through the end of the year. Linger. Look for God's leading.  Notice when you are most aware of it and when you are most clueless to it.  Notice what is primarily in the way.  Notice what part of your soul is mostly in the way of this right now. (Ex.: Does the “strategist” always have permission to drive the bus?) Notice the effect of practicing confidently resting and trusting in his leading. Meditate on Paul’s Theology of Being Led. Dig into “The Worker” (unpacking 1 Corinthians 9:11-27, from Approved unto God by Oswald Chambers). Get the book Approved unto God. The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers is fabulous and also a great source of the teaching above, along with much more. Read Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry.

Aim at Heaven and you will get earth "thrown in"; aim at earth and you will get neither. It seems a strange rule, but something like it can be seen at work in other matters. Health is a great blessing, but the moment you make health your main and direct object you start becoming a crank and imagining there is something wrong with you. You are only likely to get health provided you want other things more—food, games, work, fun, open air. In the same way, we shall never save civilization as long as civilization is our main object. We must learn to want something else even more. – C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity There is nothing more clarifying for our masculine souls than proximity to birth and death and the invitation these twin experiences provide to consider what we most deeply want. This immutable truth struck me freshly today while driving my daughter to school. In the midst of the bewilderment, unmet longings, and painful misses that my brave teenage daughter and I are navigating in the emerging rapids of our relationship, the memory of her birth rose up and caught my breath with startling power. The words spilled out to her before I could edit them: “The day you were born was the best day of my life. I remember every moment. I always will.” Surely the poignancy of birth and death is why a man like Bill Lokey would risk so much, risk sitting with me for hours even as he draws closer to his grand transition from Life to Life. The gift of being with Bill was a privilege beyond measure—this wise guide, this father in the faith. Together laughing and crying as we explored some of the deeply mysterious miles of life in a broken world; touching on the painful death of a marriage, the challenges and graces of parenting teenagers, intimacy lost and gained, vocation, and remarriage; and the task of showing up with intentional engagement all the way through our very last mile and very last breath along this slow and steady process of transformation into the likeness of Jesus. Bill is nearing the end of his beginning. His journey through aggressive cancer has led him to the end of what modern medicine has to offer. Yet in the midst of this chapter of his story, he joyously mustered the strength to respond to my questions with bravery, courage, and love. Join us for a conversation where we risk living and offering as we all journey from life to Life. For the Kingdom, Morgan

We all need a witness to the particularities of our story, someone who takes in and holds everything from banal trivialities to what is so horrendous it can barely be seen, let alone spoken. Even truer, however, is that we are a proxy witness for the One who reminds us that our life is seen and held by a great cloud of witnesses. – Dan Allender It was Ezra, one of the heroes of our faith, who reminded us, "The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). For almost a decade, the Spirit has fueled the Become Good Soil podcast, reaching the many to find and strengthen the few. Though the world has changed a great deal since we launched, the mission has remained the same: supporting men and their families as they respond to our Father’s creative and relentless invitation to a path and process of masculine initiation.  To mark this sacred milestone of 100 episodes, it is my deep joy to celebrate your stories! I asked, and from around the globe you responded with story after story of God working through the Become Good Soil podcast to fuel your journey. It is my deep hope that this chorus of stories will strengthen each of our souls and grant us fresh revelation of what our Father might be pursuing for us, in us, and through us as we trek this narrow road together that leads to life.   The human race is in trouble. Yet as one man at a time experiences the restoration, integration, and maturing of his heart, our world can be healed and we can participate together in the greatest story ever written.   Dive in with me as we savor the stories of like-hearted men consenting to the path and process of becoming. For the Kingdom, Morgan

Life is our resume. It is our story to tell, and the choices we make write the chapters. Can we live in a way where we look forward to looking back? Inevitably, we are all going to die. Our eulogy, our story, will be told by others, and forever introduce us when we are gone. The soul objective: begin with the end in mind. – Matthew McConaughey, Greenlights Where have you collided with the limit of what your best can accomplish?  Where are you coming to terms with your powerlessness?  How have you responded to the reality that, in some stories and places in your life, your very best strength is still not enough to achieve the outcome you long for?  Brothers, we are diving into deep waters yet again.  Masculine initiation is always unique and, at the same time, always universal.  One of the universal crucibles is when our best is not enough. Through this painful birth canal of soul, God delivers us from our self-sufficiency into the reality of an indestructible life.  Drafting off the wheel of brave men like Adam Paulson—a legend among the few who have said yes to God and his Kingdom a thousand times—greatly helps us cross this challenging terrain. You don’t want to miss this poignant blend of conversation and song featuring the newest album release by BGS alumni, music artist, and worship leader Adam Paulson. In this very special episode, Adam and I reflect afresh, with tears and laughter, on the mystery of suffering and hope presented in the holy middle of a decade of consented initiation. Beyond the new songs featured in this podcast episode, you can find the full collection of Adam’s music on Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp, or just about any place you go for soul-strengthening melodies. Sit back, slow down, and let these songs and stories permeate your soul, tend to you in your quiet suffering, and fill you with a greater hope. For the Kingdom, Morgan

To be a man, a boy must see a man. – J. R. Moehringer, The Tender Bar Adultery. Rumors. Scandal. A growing cloud of suspicion. God invades humanity through the womb of an unwed 14-year-old Jewish girl? Mary had been betrothed to Joseph in a romance fit for a fairytale, but her story suddenly appeared to be going sideways. Joseph could’ve bailed; it was his right given the alleged adultery. How does a woman get pregnant without having sex? If he had chosen this path, would Mary have been left, like most unwed young mothers at the time, with no recourse but to sell her body as a prostitute in order to ensure the survival of her child? But he didn’t.   What was going on in the heart and soul of Joseph that caused him to risk everything on God? G. K. Chesterton observed that Jesus made three promises to those who consented to being his disciples: they could be completely without fear, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble. No story highlights this trinity of experiences more than the circumstances of the Incarnation.  Friends, as we draw closer to Christmas and the celebration of the Rescuing Creator’s great invasion of our raw and fragile human scene, may this creative rendering from Joseph’s perspective grant you pause. May his story slow you down and draw you afresh into the Deep Magic of the Kingdom of God.  May this story strengthen you with wonder, and may you find yourself newly awed before the invitation that your Father in the Heavens extends to you to play an irreplaceable role as his apprentice in the greatest Story of all. Christ has come. Christ is coming. Christ will come again. For the Kingdom, Morgan P.S. To reflect even more on the paradox of this "Average Joe," take six minutes and dive into this video created by one of our BGS allies. P.P.S. Much of this episode is drawn from a compelling Christmas book, The Indescribable Gift. Blending tradition, biblical story, historical fact, and sanctified imagination, Richard Exley uses words like chisels and scalpels to unveil the heart of the Incarnation. You don’t want to miss a chance to add this collection of beautifully imagined eyewitness accounts to your holiday library.

What will they say about you when you're gone? What is the most important thing? What if you had another chance? What if there was an ancient path that led to life as it was meant to be? Would you take it? What if it wasn't easy? What if it wasn’t cheap? What if it wasn’t quick? What if there was a way to be good again? ...to become who God meant when he meant you? What if you could have your whole heart restored? What if you could be strong again? ...courageous again? ...and learn to love with a ferocity that outlives your life? What if that's what they remember? Brothers, it's happening.  More and more men are saying yes to God in this hour, consenting to a process of inner transformation and slowly and steadily becoming men who are deeply good. Men who are true. Men who will be celebrated when they cross over from this life into eternity as men who built and lived legacies of love. Don’t miss this invitation to the Becoming a King Experience as John and I explore the heartbeat of authentic masculine initiation and provide a relevant and fresh context to use this resource personally or with a group.  As you turn the corner into a new year, we invite you to pray about how this free resource can personally fuel your masculine initiation and strengthen the souls of the men in your world. After listening to this BGS podcast exclusive, find out more about the Becoming a King Experience here. For the Kingdom, Morgan

Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download We see the things we want to see, the things that confirm our assumptions and our preferred way of looking at the world. Our masculine initiation was intended to be an interpretive grid and narrative arc for every moment of every day of our lives. However, the transformative experiences at the heart of the process often come in forms contrary to our preferences. Here’s the good news: God at times gives us what we want, but at all times gives us what we need. Reckoning with our unconscious biases is a form of initiation that is often unpleasant. Yet in order to become the kind of men who can increasingly see more of how God sees, the interrogative process of engaging our own bias is essential. Have you ever wondered why God chose to record the story of Jesus through four distinct and intentionally biased Gospel accounts? Through each writer's highly designed story-telling of the teaching, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, what do you think is lost, and what is gained? Turn your attention back to your own process of transformation. How are you becoming a student of your own bias?  I want to suggest that our biases were intended to be habitually explored and scrutinized, then consecrated and, over time, brought more and more into alignment with the vision of Jesus. Here are a few questions, by way of example, to begin to engage us in this process: How has your social location or your family of origin affected your bias?  How about your consumption of information? Who and what are your sources? Most importantly, why is this so? How does the information you choose to engage form your way of seeing? These questions lead us to deep waters, and engaging them takes both humility and courage that few men ever choose to exercise. But the offer of freedom and joy in becoming the kind of men who can see through the eyes of Christ makes all the discomfort and effort of challenging our biases more than worth it.   Come join a fellowship of rare and remarkable men from across the globe as we dive deep into these foundational questions of becoming. For the Kingdom, Morgan Taking Action WATCH: Crash (2005 film) Fill out the reflection sheet, then prayerfully enter into each character’s story and ask God for one thing from each story you can learn that will help you further crucify and consecrate your personal bias. READ: Four Gospel accounts of the resurrection Matthew 28 Mark 16 Luke 24 John 20-21 Observe the impact of bias and how it shapes the story in which we find ourselves. What is lost and what is gained through each Gospel writer’s unique storytelling that is not captured by the others? What might God be bringing to us through these four distinct accounts of the resurrection? If you were asked to write an account of the resurrection, drawing from the four Gospels and your own walk with God, what would you choose to include? What would you choose not to include? How would your bias have shaped those decisions? TAKE HONEST INVENTORY: What is your bias? Begin using these gateways for your excavation: family of origin social location my consumption of information – Who and what are my sources? (silo bias) fear and shame The “unforgivable sin” in which I operate in relationships is_____. “I tolerate this but I value this.”

Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download Christ from the very first moment of his existence virtually bears all men within himself....For the Word did not merely take a human body; he incorporated himself in our humanity, and incorporated our humanity in his humanity. – G. K. Chesterton As a man, what does Advent mean?  What is a winsome onramp to engage in the practice of Advent for our own souls and for those entrusted to our care? And what is the fruit of a wholehearted preparation for the Coming of Christ in the final days of our calendar year?  As we explore Advent, we might be pleasantly surprised to find it is not only a celebration of Christ’s cunning entry into the landscape of humanity, but a rousing call to prepare for his Return and the Restoration of All Things he promises.  And so we are invited not only to seasonal readying of hearts and lives, but to become the kind of men who urgently desire and ardently prepare for his Coming Again. It has been said that when the will of God meets the will of man, one must die. St. John the Baptist expressed this holy exchange between himself and his God in this way: “I must decrease, so Christ can increase.”  Advent is yet another powerful context for our masculine initiation, an opportunity to relinquish our inferior self-will in order to joyfully receive more of our King and his Indestructible Life. Christ has come, and he is coming.  Behind it all is a Person. And that Person is God—coming for us.  Pause with me and Simon Kyne as we wonder together how we can be men who are ready to receive the God who is coming.  For the Kingdom, Morgan P.S. If you want to go deeper, engage these calendars, Scriptures, and prayers, inviting God to illuminate a deeper meaning of Advent.  Advent as considering the Incarnation: Isaiah 40:1-4 Isaiah 60:1-3 Isaiah 61:1-3 Micah 5:2 John 1:1-12 Luke 1:26-38 Advent as preparing for the Second Coming of Christ: Matthew 24:37-44 Matthew 25:1-13 Mark 13:33-37 Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 Advent Wreath and Prayers for Lighting Tradition of Hay in the Manger Pray or Sing the O Antiphons