Can pain make us more loving? Continuing our discussion of stage theory, John Mark uses the story of Leah and Rachel in Genesis to show how our responses to the pain in our lives can either lead us closer to God and acceptance of our circumstances, or towards bitterness and pain.Key Scripture Passages: Gen 29v15-35; Gen 30v1-24; Gen 35v16-20Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/naming

“Have you ever cried out to God in a time of distress, but felt nothing in return?”John Mark continues his discussion on the dark night of the soul, focusing on the two types of “dark nights” that are written about by St. John and St. Teresa in the 16th century. In it, he encourages us to continue to press into community and into God if we find ourselves in a dark night.Key Scripture Passage: Psalm 77Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/namingThe Dark Night of the Soul, Dr. Gerald May

Have you ever felt like there is a wall between you and heaven? John Mark explores the Dark Night of the Soul, talking about what it is, what it isn’t, and some ideas for how to move through this season well.Key Scripture Passage: Psalm 42Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/naming

“The farther we get down the path of the spiritual journey, the more our apprenticeship to Jesus feels less and less active, and more and more passive.”John Mark continues with our discussion on the stages of apprenticeship, this time talking about active and passive spirituality and its role in our formation. He shows us how to use practice (active) and surrender (passive) to be more formed into the likeness of Jesus in every season of our lives.Key Scripture Passages: John 21v18; Matthew 6v25-34Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/namingSacred Fire, Ronald Rolheiser

As we continue to explore stage theory paradigms, John Mark turns to the paradigm of the two halves of life by drawing on Jesus’s post-resurrection conversation with Peter. John Mark breaks down the common challenges and struggles of each half of life and offers some helpful ideas on how to move through these stages well.Key Scripture Passages: John 21v18-25Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/namingSacred Fire, Ronald RolheiserThe Second Mountain, David Brooks

How do we get unstuck? This week, John Mark introduces the newest spiritual journey paradigm: the Critical Journey, and discusses how we can get unstuck at the various stages and challenge us to push through the “wall” in the various places in our lives.Key Scripture Passage(s): John 21v15-19Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/namingIn the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership, Henri Nouwen

What is the meaning of life? According to Jesus, the meaning of life is love: becoming a person who loves God and loves others. Breaking down the story of the Road to Emmaus and our modern cultural moment, John Mark challenges us to embrace the good news of the resurrection and live as beacons of love and hope in our world.Key Scripture Passages: Luke 24v13-35Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/naming

Do you feel stuck in your apprenticeship to Jesus? Drawing from the wisdom of followers of Jesus throughout church history, John Mark discusses how identifying landmarks on the journey of our apprenticeship to Jesus can help us get unstuck. This week, he talks about one ancient journey paradigm called The Three Ways to show how the purpose of our spiritual formation is becoming people of love and presence.Key Scripture Passages: Luke 9v57-62; 1 Corinthians 13v11; Hebrews 5v12-14Recommended Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/namingInvitation to a Journey, Robert MulhollandSacred Fire, Ronald Rolheiser

Did Jesus practice sabbath? John Mark talks about Jesus’s teachings and relationship to the sabbath by highlighting four common words associated with the word “shabbat”: stop, rest, delight, and worship. John Mark shows how these four words give us clues on how to find happiness, joy, and peace in this practice.Key Scripture Passages: Mark 2v23-28; Mark 3v1-6Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/sabbathSacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton

“Sabbath is an act of resistance, a prophetic act over against the accomplishment and accumulation of our society.”In a culture that is addicted to the twin drugs of accomplishment and accumulation, sabbath is how we “fight” back against Egypt, Pharaoh, and his empire. John Mark continues his biblical theology on sabbath with an exploration of work and rest in the story of the Exodus.Key Scripture Passages: Exodus 20v8; Deuteronomy 5v12-15; Nehemiah 13v15-22Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/sabbath