Renew Your Life E-Book

Kai Mark Nilsen

• Herausgeber: IVP Formatio
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Seitenzahl: 203

Beschreibung

"I was dying from the inside out and could envision nothing life giving, nothing energizing, nothing vital happening in my life. Ever. Again." Many of us can identify with pastor Kai Nilsen in this place of exhaustion and long to find a source of refreshment. This book shows us the way to the wellspring of the Holy Spirit. When we find the energy for creative life change in God, we discover the courage to - say no to an addiction and yes to life - gain new insight to how we are designed and linked to the web of creation - forgive others and reconnect relationships - participate in loving service with and for othersIf you are ready for renewal, then the life-giving spiritual practices in this book will point the way.

Leseprobe

www.IVPress.com/books

To my mom and dad for giving me a vision of a grace-filled world, and for living as if your lives depended on it.

Contents

Foreword by James Bryan Smith

Introduction: Energy Depletion

1 The Renewable Energy of the Holy Spirit

2 The Energy of Grace

3 The Energy of Possibility

4 The Energy of Paradox

5 The Energy of the Natural World

6 The Energy of Relationships

7 The Energy of Fruitful Work

8 The Energy of Rest

Conclusion: Trusting the Slow Work of God

Acknowledgments

Study Guide

Notes

Praise for Renew Your Life

About the Author

More Titles from InterVarsity Press

Formatio

Renovaré

Copyright

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.

Ezekiel 37:5

Foreword

James Bryan Smith

When I read Kai Nilsen’s insightful and encouraging book, Renew Your Life, I kept thinking, “I know this story. I know these truths.” But I could not recall where I had read them. About the time I finished the book it hit me. Kai was describing the classic Christian conflict described by the apostle Paul: “Walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom 8:4).

I believe that in this fine book Kai Nilsen has given us a modern look at the same problem, the same struggle and the same choice that Paul was writing about. In place of the language of flesh and spirit, Kai invites us to consider modern equivalents—our spirits paralyzed by the weight of choice in a consumer world, longing to experience the freedom of simplicity in the world God desires; our minds numbed by demand and external expectation, craving a sense of God’s delight in us and internal affirmation of God’s love; our bodies wearied by the pace of life desperately seeking renewal by the ever present breath of life, the Spirit of God.

Kai is honest, even vulnerable, in this book. He will tell you that he—as a pastor—lost his passion for ministry, that he contemplated leaving the ministry, that he battled discouragement and disillusionment and nearly gave up. He confessed his struggle to his father, hoping for a piece of wisdom or a word of encouragement. He didn’t get it. His father simply said, “You may have to muddle through this for a while.” While this advice was honest and true, it was not what Kai wanted to hear.

But it was what he needed to hear because it led him on an inner journey that only he could take. No one can take this journey for us. Fortunately, in this book we get the benefit of journeying with Kai and learning valuable truths that could serve as preventive medicine for many of us. Along this journey Kai encountered many people who helped him find his way, each offering pieces of a larger puzzle. Some allowed him to explore his emptiness and longing and gave him glimpses into their own understanding. Another would offer him a puzzle piece in the form of a spiritual practice such as breath prayer. Another would offer him a puzzle piece in the form of a word of grace: “You need to figure out who you are, not what you think you should be.”

This book chronicles Kai’s attempts to restore the energy he once had but had lost along the way, and energy he says he “desperately needed in order to revitalize [his] work and refresh [his] relationships.” He narrates his story of energy depletion and shares how he discovered the renewable energies of God, the same mystery Paul describes when he writes about walking in the Spirit. This book, Kai states, is intended “to give you tools for tapping into the divine flow of creative energy.” Gladly, he succeeds. Kai is helping the modern reader understand what it means to set the mind on the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit and thus find life and peace . . . and energy.

We learn that when we walk in the Spirit we are accessing an energy that is renewable. It never runs out. We learn that when we walk in the Spirit we are accessing an energy that is graceful, possible, paradoxical, natural, relational, fruitful and restful. This energy is grace—it is not earned, but freely given to those who would surrender and receive it. It is full of possibility: there is no limit to what it can do. It is paradox: it is not black and white, simple and easy, but like life, requires that we hold opposites in tension. It is natural: the created world is charged with it. It is relational: it is accessed when we, with authenticity, seek to know and be known. It leads to fruitful labor: it energizes us to be creative and productive. It is restful: it revitalizes. Finally, we learn that renewing our lives with this renewable energy is not a quick process, but a slow one.

The book provides more than just a narrative of healing. It is filled with wonderful, probing questions and with helpful practices. The process of asking and answering questions provides a space for grace for the reader, a chance for the Spirit to reveal things to us we might not otherwise see. The exercises he suggests are challenging yet doable. They, too, allow the Spirit to enlighten and strengthen us along the way. In this sense, we are actually taking the journey with the author as he tells his story.

The energy depletion Kai experienced was the natural result of setting the mind on the flesh. Paul uses the word flesh (Greek sarx) when he describes such things as living with envy, trying to be religious, wanting to appear something we are not and striving for success according to values of this world. Someone jokingly said that they thought Kai should simply buy a little red sports car and get over it. But this would have played right into the hands of the flesh and made him more depleted, unhappy, dissatisfied and discouraged.

Instead, Kai chose the way of the Spirit. He began with an honest assessment of his condition. He admitted he was at the end of his rope, which is a wonderful place to be. Dallas Willard often remarked that “God’s address is at the end of your rope.” Kai sought God, and God was faithful. The world screams at us, “seek more and more,” while offering us less and less. In this marvelous book, Kai gently reminds us that our souls demand not more and more but that which is more essential. May God bless you in the reading of this book and provide a wellspring of energy that enables you to do more than you could ever ask or imagine.

Introduction

Energy Depletion

His lips were moving, but I could barely hear a sound. Unfulfilled dreams, a meaningless job, a relationship devoid of energy—a different conversation, but the same old story circling round and round again. Though the narrative had not changed, something was dramatically different that day—not in him but in me. As we sipped our coffees and rummaged through his life once again, a startling thought passed through my mind: I did not care. I did not care about his life. I did not want to hear about his struggles. I was not interested in his relationships. I did not care.

I was shocked to admit that I, a pastor, could not fill the empty space between us with an ounce of compassion. Such compassion had always been a hallmark of my ministry. As the conversation dragged to a merciful close, I escaped to the solitude of my car, called my parish administrator and told her to cancel all my appointments for the rest of the day. Then I fled to the safe confines of my living room.

Slumping into the couch, I gazed through the picture window only to discover that even the vibrant hues of fall appeared bleak and gray. The same tree I had admired for ten years now mocked me. The same friendly neighborhood seemed devoid of life. I was dying from the inside out and could envision nothing life giving, nothing energizing, nothing vital happening in my life. Ever. Again.

How many of you identify with this story?

My story is my own, but I know it is not unique. In Western culture, too many of us are attempting to navigate the mind-numbing pressures of our lives with eyes blank, spirits diminished, relationships drained. Though we appear orderly and presentable on the outside, within our energy has drained away. Paradoxically, what we often need the most—the renewing energy of connective relationships—is what we have the least time and energy to pursue.

In 2013, the Barna research team highlighted a disturbing trend:

Ten years ago, slightly over one out of 10 Americans self-identified as lonely. Today, that number has doubled—a paradoxical reality in the full swing of the social media age. . . . “As a nation, we are embracing the digital revolution and, ironically, we are becoming a lonelier population. While there are many benefits of being participants in possibly the most relationally connected age in human history, the social media revolution has not made us feel more connected, less lonely, or replete with friends.”1

This book chronicles my attempts to restore the energy I once had, the energy I desperately needed in order to revitalize my work and refresh my relationships. I write hoping that readers struggling with similar issues will not feel alone, will find helpful guidance and will be renewed in their ability to access life-giving energy. As the apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians, “For this I toil and struggle with all the energy [ἐνέργειαν] that he powerfully inspires within me” (Col 1:29).

Jürgen Moltmann captures the concept of vital living in his book The Spirit of Life. “Here we shall interpret vitality as love of life. This love of life links human beings with all other living things, which are not merely alive but want to live. . . . Love for life says ‘yes’ to life in spite of its sicknesses, handicaps and infirmities, and opens the door to a ‘life against death.’”2 This vitality of life pulses through all of creation—from the ever-expanding universe to the vibrating subatomic particles at the core of all existence. It pulses through the dynamic forces of the natural world that transform the breathtaking beauty of autumn foliage into the bleak gray of winter and then into the lush green of spring. It pulses through the transforming cycle of human existence from life to death to life. The same God who breathes life into creation and into dead bones (Ezek 37) refreshes our bodies, restores our relationships and revives our energy for serving. This wellspring of life energy was present from the creation of the world and is presently available to you through God’s Spirit. Perhaps you have experienced this energy for life in the dynamic movement from vibrant joy to numbing depression and back to vitality again. Or perhaps, like me, you are stuck somewhere between boredom and depression, and you fear you will never get out.

Sitting in a coffee shop working on my iPad, a software update notification appeared. Having the time and space available, I mindlessly clicked update, then moseyed over to purchase another cup of coffee. When I returned, the update was complete, and I was astounded to discover that Siri, the voice-activated software, was now live on my iPad. I asked myself, How does that happen? Moments before, no Siri. Now, this remarkable expanded capacity for communication. Nothing had changed in the physical structure of the tablet. The update was accessible whether I clicked on it or not. Simply by being open to receiving this update and intentionally saying yes, a new capacity for my work was unlocked.

Thrilled, I launched Siri and asked her, “Siri, what do you do?” She responded with lists of possibilities: make a phone call, check a contact, launch a web search, and on and on. In one moment, what I thought was impossible became possible.

In the same way, I am convinced it is possible to discover the wellspring of God’s creative energy by intentionally and purposefully opening ourselves to it and letting it expand our capacity for more vital living. Creative energy empowers our lives, allows us to interact more energetically with others and connects us more intentionally with all of creation. This creative life change enables us to find the courage to

say no to an addiction and yes to lifegain new insight into how we are designed and linked to the web of creationforgive others and reconnect relationshipsparticipate in loving service with and for others

Over the past decade I have been fascinated by stories I have heard from friends and acquaintances about their creative life changes. Whether losing weight and recovering a new vitality in body, wrestling through a relationship issue and discovering a new vision for their common life, or overcoming a destructive habit and experiencing new freedom, the generative energy behind the change and the sustaining energy that led them through the change were described in similar ways. They adopted a new vision for their life, whether driven by fear or hope. They knew and were willing to embrace the struggle inherent in the process of change. They were strengthened and encouraged by some relationship. And they intentionally crafted a new rhythm of life that supported the desired behaviors.

The change themes were so consistent that I wondered about a common source. Then, it hit me. This wellspring of renewing life energy is articulated in the story of creation (Gen 1:1–2:4).

Embedded in the Creation Story

The biblical creation story is often considered a description of what God did in the past. However, Christian theologian Claus Westermann states that this creation story is not a static event but a dynamic, ongoing source of power and inspiration for each generation. He writes, “All over the world people know that their existence and their relationship to the world goes back to a beginning and they try to relate this beginning in some way to the present; . . . they trace back to its source the power which carries on their existence from generation to generation.”3

Within the creation story, I have uncovered seven creative, renewable energies that were unleashed and continue to empower life from generation to generation. We do nothing to deserve or earn them. They come from God’s loving and gracious hand. We are designed to receive and use them as a wind turbine is designed to pick up the energy of the wind and turn it into power. And these energies are renewable; they will never run out. The seven creative, renewable energies include:

Grace (Gen 1:1). Receiving the grace of life itself, I open myself to God’s ever-flowing energy in which I “live and move and have [my] being” (Acts 17:28).

Possibility (Gen 1:2). Hovering over the waters of chaos, the Spirit of God makes possible hope for the new things God has already declared (Is 42:9).

Paradox (Gen 1:4). Wrestling with the reality of both light and darkness in our lives and in the created world, we receive the energy to move from suffering to endurance to new character to hope that will not disappoint us (Rom 5:3-4).

Natural world (Gen 1:9-25). Tapping into the ever-present wonder of God’s creation, we learn what the natural world teaches us. “Consider the lilies of the field” (Mt 6:28).

Relationships (Gen 1:26-27). Opening ourselves to the divine image in the other, we discover the vitality that comes from relationships. “And who is my neighbor?” (Lk 10:29).

Fruitful work (Gen 1:28). Engaging our daily work we multiply our capacity to contribute to the good of the world. “For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me” (Col 1:29).

Rest (Gen 2:3). By embracing a sabbath rhythm for life, we learn to let go and trust God’s providential care. “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Ex 33:14).

I call these creative, renewable energies for three reasons: First, they are creative because they are embedded in the creation story and, therefore, accessible to all. You do not have to consider yourself an artist to receive these creative energies. They are simply the energies we all need to live vibrant, vital lives. Second, they are renewable. Unlike a gas tank that runs dry or an oil field that becomes depleted, these energies are always available, waiting for us to access them. Third, I use the term energies because they infuse power for living and for loving service. For instance, the energy of grace connects us to the God who loves us no matter what, freeing us from the burden of others’ expectations or our own harsh self-critique. God’s grace is embedded in the creation story and renewable from generation to generation. The energy we gain by receiving this gracious presence makes us more alive and more willing to participate in loving service.

Each of these creative, renewable energies will be explored in subsequent chapters. But, before we proceed, we need to name and reflect on three particularly debilitating cultural distortions that can deplete us: (1) the pace of life, (2) our quick-fix mentality and (3) the seduction of more.

Pace of Life

“How are you doing today?” I asked my friend as we passed in the coffee shop. “Busy,” he responded, and I nodded a me too nod, thus relieving each other of having to take time to talk.

“What’s up?” I asked my teenaged son. “I’m busy, Dad,” he responded. I nodded a that’s good nod and left him alone.

“Time to talk?” a staff member texted. “Busy right now,” I texted back. “Important?” “Not really,” she responded. She unders­­­tood—maybe.

In its recent research, the Barna Group points out a subtle shift in our common language. “It has been noted that the new default answer to the standard, ‘How are you?’ is no longer, ‘Good,’ but, ‘Busy.’ Such busyness is often perceived as ‘the new normal’ of the 21st century.”4 The effects of this busyness are many and varied:

Less quality time with children

Less time making love

Less time eating meals together

Less time talking to friends and family

More time glued to our smartphones

More fast food on the fly

More time in front of a screen

More frustrating time in cars

All of this has produced a culture filled with physically exhausted, emotionally enervated and spiritually empty people. Is it any wonder that we so seldom feel the joy of vitality, the power of energy? What makes this issue so complex is that we recognize the seductive power of busyness in our lives, have experienced its detrimental effects, but we cannot imagine an alternate way.

Quick-Fix Mentality

“Seven Quick Steps to Serenity,” the announcement proclaimed. All I needed to do was come to a lecture, buy a book and follow those quick steps, and I would be there. I would have it. Seven seemed doable, the steps were orderly, and best of all, it was quick. I could fix myself and then get to work on all those harried, stressed, overworked people around me. Get them fixed. Quick.

The quick-fix mentality of consumer culture has perhaps produced marginally effective results in the short term. However, for the development of a deep life in the Spirit, the quick-fix mentality is counterproductive. Millions of books that promise simple answers to complex life issues have been sold, consumed and discarded, and yet our lives are increasingly lonely and enervated. Consumers have overdosed on quick fixes, but they haven’t produced lasting personal change or necessary social change.

In my personal circumstances, what I failed to understand was that in my attempt to get past my pain and do it quickly, I was confusing technical problems with adaptive problems. Technical problems ask the question, How? and are problems of logistics for which we already have the necessary know-how. In my case, a technical problem was, how could I schedule my life in such a way that I could balance my spiritual and emotional needs with all the demands of home and career? Solution: I could open up my calendar and attempt to make time for each.

Adaptive problems ask the question, Why? and challenge values, deeply held beliefs and behaviors, according to Heifitz in Leadership Without Easy Answers.5 Again, in my case, I needed to ask such questions as, Could I be a good parent and not be at every event? What would my kids think of me? What would other parents think of me? Will my kids succeed if they are not pushed in academics or involved in sports or music from the earliest age? Can I be an effective pastor without being present for every meeting? Is it possible to choose a life that does not require two full incomes? And why are all of these questions so important to me?

These are my questions at my current stage of life. What are yours right now? Do they require technical solutions or adaptive life changes?

In the face of these questions and through my reading and observing, I now realize that movement toward a more vital life can happen over time, as the daily habits we have created are examined and reshaped, as our habits of mind are questioned and recast, as our hearts are molded and stretched. The problem is in the phrase “over time.” Letting anything emerge gradually over months and years is difficult. But such is the nature of creative life change.

The Seduction of More

My wireless carrier recently launched a “More Everything” plan. I can get more data, more talk, more text, more international calling, more, more, more. Even though I know the game, even though I understand they just want me to pay more money over more time, even though I am very satisfied with my current plan, every time I see the commercial a part of me wonders what it would be like to have more.

I am a living example of the pernicious soul twisting of Western culture—the seduction of more. Nothing is ever enough. We think a new car will make us happy, and maybe it does for a brief moment, but then we see our friend driving a bigger, better car. We think a new home will make our lives easier, our relationships more loving, but soon find that it is the same old same old. We think that losing a few pounds, building stronger muscles and tighter abs will give us delight in our bodies, but looking in the mirror tells us it is not enough. We are not enough.

When have you noticed this in your life? What form does it take?

The seduction of more also affects my understanding of my life with God. I think I should be more like ____ who prays an hour a day, or more like ____ who loves to study Scripture, or more like ____ who spends hours a week serving the homeless, or more like ____ leading the charge on environmental issues. In our minds, living more with more always trumps living more with less.

These three distortions—pace of life, a quick-fix mentality and the seduction of more—are impossible to avoid in our culture. The best we can do is tap into the wellspring of God’s renewable energy to daily, hourly, thought by thought realign our thinking. The intent of this book is to give you tools for tapping into the divine flow of creative energy. You will be invited to read, reflect and talk with others, gaining wisdom from the written word, insights from your own mental and spiritual reflection, and the informed support of trusted friends to help you in this lifelong process.

To that end, throughout the book you will be invited to pause and reflect on a number of questions. I am convinced that the process of asking and reflecting on good questions is of greater benefit to a maturing faith and a more energized life than seeking simple answers. My hope is that you will not simply devour the words on the page like a fast-food burger but chew the concepts slowly and carefully, savoring the sacred nourishment that comes from deliberate, conscious reflection.

Beginning in chapter two when we explore the seven energies, you will notice what I call “Essential Life Questions.” Creation narratives across cultures were written down and told in response to the essential life questions, “Where did we come from?” and “Why are we here?” These questions connect us with the core of who we are: our relationship with God, ourselves, others and the world.