chrisaltrock

Each Christmas we set up and take down three Christmas trees.  One is the large family Christmas tree in our living room.  The other two are three-foot trees which Jordan and Jacob place in their rooms.  The large family tree holds the ornaments which are mine and Kendra’s.  Jordan’s and Jacob’s trees hold the ornaments they have received over the years.  One of the annual tasks as we set up the trees each year is to determine whose ornament is whose.  All the ornaments are stored together.  So as we unwrap each ornament, we go through a routine of “That’s mine-I got it for Christmas last year,” “No, that’s mine-Gran gave it to me last year,” “No, that’s mine-I  bought it at a clearance sale.” Read More »The Spirituality of Physical Fitness

A couple of years ago someone in Seattle decided that alcoholics couldn’t change.[1] Taxpayers had been spending $50,000 per year on recovery programs, prison, and emergency room visits for each homeless alcoholic assisted by the city.  Then, the city built a new $11 million housing complex to accommodate 75 homeless alcoholics at one time.  But the new housing was not part of a larger plan to help alcoholics overcome their dependency upon alcohol.  Instead, residents in the new $11 million project are allowed to drink all they want.  There is no expectation that they will change their drinking habits or overcome alcoholism.  The program’s executive director says that most alcoholics can’t change and thus recovery is no longer a part of the city’s new initiative.

The city’s action raises a critical question: Can people change?  Read More »Getting Your Spirit in Shape

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  (1 Tim. 4:7-8 TNIV) 

Over these 12 weeks you’ll have the opportunity to practice a comprehensive set of spiritual disciplines.  The program is built around three types of disciplines and different time intervals.  Some disciplines will be practiced daily, some once a week, some once a month, and some only once during the 12 weeks.  The three types of disciplines include private inward, private outward, and corporate.  Private inward disciplines are those we practice in private or by ourselves and which have an inward focus.  Private outward disciplines are those we practice in private or by ourselves and which have an outward focus.  Finally, corporate disciplines are those we practice with other Christians.  During the 1st 4 weeks you choose private inward disciplines to practice on daily, weekly, and monthly intervals.  During the 2nd 4 weeks you choose private outward disciplines to practice on daily, weekly, and monthly intervals.  During the last 4 weeks you choose corporate disciplines to practice on daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly intervals.  The program begins on Ash Wednesday.  Easter Sunday is just past halfway.  By Easter you’ve had 7 weeks of training and have 5 more to go. Read More »12 Spiritual Training Course

Fasting is not always met with enthusiasm.

Several years ago, my congregation was in the midst of difficult decisions.  The leaders called the church to forty days of prayer and fasting, asking members to fast in any way they desired during that forty day period.  But one well-known and very active woman in the church refused to fast.  She told me that she only fasted when she felt moved by the Holy Spirit to fast, and she didn’t feel moved by the plea of the church leadership.  In addition, she believed fasting was a private matter between one person and God, not a corporate matter that the whole church participates in together.  Read More »A Primer on Fasting