Kensington Church: Birmingham Weekend (Audio)

Me? A digital detox? I have to be honest… 00:00 00:00 A Digital Detox - Audio 00:00 I loved technology as a kid. In 2006, I was following blog posts about the new iPhone that would change everything, and was counting down the days (or years) till I could get it. I knew this new device would integrate my favorite things, but I had no idea that it would change the way I – and people everywhere – lived. Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, wrote mind-blowing and  scientifically-backed thoughts in his book. Here are three of my takeaways that I want you to consider and let sink in: “Overprotection in the real world and underprotection in the virtual world—are the major reasons why children born after 1995 became the anxious generation.” “Experience, not information, is the key to emotional development.” “This is the great irony of social media: the more you immerse yourself in it, the more lonely and depressed you become.” These statements cause me to think even more deeply about how my kids – and myself are being affected on a day-to-day basis. I have to be honest: my own struggle is real. There was a defining moment in my life around technology. One of my daughters, around 5 years old, drew a picture of our family. She was proud to show me. There she was, with sister, mom, and me. Everyone had unique features except me: she drew me AS a cell phone. UGH…  As I think about her little smiling, innocent face, I am still moved to tears. My digitally-distracted and physically-disconnected habits had shaped my daughter’s view of me. That was the beginning of a change. I wish I could say digital consumption has been not an issue since then, that the temptations of doomscrolling don’t exist in me. However, the hold that the digital world has on me, on us as a culture, is ever-present.  We have set up rules, boundaries, and limitations and yet the pull toward more always exists. This has made me wrestle with the “why?”. We crave intimacy, and yet settle for “golden cows.” We seek belonging, and yet trade it for a digital shadow of the real thing. We seek adventures and a full life, and yet stay home, numb, and tethered to screens. We seek meaning and presence, and yet trade it for distraction and isolation. We have settled for substitutes of the real thing, the human thing.  I wonder how Moses felt when he returned from meeting with God on Mount Sinai, and found the impatient and wayward Israelites worshiping a golden calf. They traded worshiping God for worshiping an idol made by human hands. I wonder how God felt in that moment… I think that we often allow the justifications to flow when our decisions are revealed as misguided. The Israelites were the same. So, how do we take back some of the ground we have lost? I have been trying, inch by inch. THE FAST: No Tech For 7 Days I recently went on a 7-day intensive and therapy experience retreat. (I’ve got issues like everyone else.) One of the requirements was no technology for 7 days.  I was excited and nervous: MSU was in the NCAA tournament. Our kids had many things going on. I wanted to check in with my wife about things that were important to both of us. And yet, for healing to happen, the group shared that a digital detox is necessary for the work required and full presence of mind. They weren’t just accurate, they were prophetic. After 7 days of no technology, I didn’t miss it. No notifications. No reaching for my phone because I felt a fake buzz in my pocket. No more distractions or interruptions. Life slowed down and I loved it. And I realized how much of my world was impacted by digital devices I experienced a reality check that Jonathan Haidt mentioned, “The phone-based life makes it difficult for people to be fully present with others when they are with others, and to sit silently with themselves when they are alone.” I don’t want a phone-based life. I want a life where I am present with the people around me and in the places I enter. I want a life present to God’s voice and invitation. I want a life that is flourishing. When they handed me back my phone and laptop, they felt heavier than I remembered. MAKING IT SPIRITUAL (BECAUSE EVERYTHING ACTUALLY IS) In his book, The Digital Fast: 40 Days to Detox Your Mind and Reclaim What Matters Most, Darren Whitehead wrote this modern-day insight about John 10:10: “Jesus also gave us a glimpse into the enemy’s playbook. He said the enemy has three aims: to steal, kill, and destroy. The enemy’s goal is death and total destruction by whatever means possible. In the case of technology and our devices, he uses them to: Steal – time and attention; missing out on significant moments and relationships in life; inability to focus; restlessness; insomnia and decreased sleep Kill – rise in anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, narcissism, and suicide Destroy – the flourishing life (e.g., necessary social skills for nurturing relationships and healthy coping mechanisms for relieving stress and anxiety); tarnishing of the divine image in us (e.g., pornography, intimacy in marriage, objectification of others, etc.); spiritual connectedness with God and others; strife and division.” Whitehead, Darren. The Digital Fast: 40 Days to Detox Your Mind and Reclaim What Matters Most (pp. 56-57). (Function). Kindle Edition. When I came home, I made a few commitments toward a more flourishing life: 1. I started to put my phone down from dinner time to bed time. I am at my best at home when my phone isn’t on me. 2. While in meetings, I leave my phone behind on my office desk. 3. I placed massive screen time limits on social and distracting apps. I have considered how much of a dumb phone I can create at this point. 4. I am working toward a whole new digital rhythm. Some days are better than others, but it is a work in progress! I love what Darren Whitehead said in his book, The Digital Fast, “The boundaries that protected your real life, which is time with your closest relationships, your most meaningful activities, and your God, are gone. No built-in boundaries of space or time to protect your life. Unless you build them.” Jesus’ invitation is a life to the fullest, and I can’t imagine Him watching me stare at my phone while missing the moments He created me for. The average American spends 5 hours a day on their phone – that is 76 full days a year, or 1,824 hours per year. As I calculated, I realized that by the time my children turn 18 years old, I, as an average American, will have spent ~3.5 of those years on my phone. I am choosing to be different. I am choosing to be present. I am choosing a healthier relationship with digital technology because it will positively impact every other area of my life. WANT TO JOIN ME? Consider a digital fast.  Add screen-time limits. Turn of the notifications that you don’t need. Delete the unnecessary apps. Add purposeful frustration to your phone. Make your smart phone a lot dumber. It will be worth it! View ideas for a digital fast and for healthy family habits related to technology here. 

How do we feel it anew when the elements are the same every year? The angry mob, the beatings, the Cross, the Resurrection. I don’t want my brain to just understand the progression of events, I want my heart to feel it. Somehow, writing creatively and poetically gets my heart more involved – it feels vulnerable and messy and grappling, but cuts through the noise to the marrow. Whether you’re inclined to like poetry or not, I hope something within these verses touches your heart. 00:00 00:00 The Poetry of Easter - Audio 00:00 FULLY HUMAN How did He come? He didn’t burst onto the scene in golden light, dressed in celestial white – He came in the flesh, bloodied and bawling From His mother’s inner cradle into chilly night air What is more human than blood, birth, and pain? Fully human – but without a single stain. Did He get splinters? Toothaches? Stubbed toes? Did He “grow like a weed”? Sneeze in threes and have achy knees? And, how did He leave? He died human too: body torn (bone from bone and then the soul); His life-blood pooled beneath Him hanging – ebbing from Him and flowing to us. Taking life, giving Life. Did He know? How much and when? (That He was God incarnate and would die for men.) BLOOD-THIRSTY The same people who had roared with praise turned around again and cried out in rage (if their hearts grow cold, is the blood also chilled? Or does it race hotter through veins burning with destruction, corruption, and self-promotion?) “We love you, we hate you.” His heart beats for them (and us) the same. We, His created, called for this blood. (Treachery!) Dry throated, thirsty for it. The ground cracked dry waiting for red rain – all the Earth calling in a twisted, strangled scream for the death of Perfection. DOUBTING & DEATH None of His words could be true, His miracles too? Death is taking Him – pulling Him to the grave (He, not even resisting the depraved!) It was a sham, a hoax, a game, but I saw Him heal the lame…? And, why is the air electric with things unseen? Will God somehow intervene? Brittle bones breaking Sockets popping Lungs sucking deep Rattling, rasping final breaths…. Gathering air to out loud bless The weight of the world: In a vast palm the blue marble easily spins but how could a man shoulder all sin? (Is the world in God’s Hand, as they say, or was it all on Christ’s shoulders that day?) EMPTY GRAVE The grave stands deserted now, yawning emptiness & hope to the full He didn’t cheat death, sneaking by By the skin of His teeth He didn’t reconsider, change His mind, throw in the towel on humankind, He died all the way, to the extent of the law that governs us – the dusty, mortal, flawed And then He came back alive, killing Death and robbing its prey: What does this mean for us today? It means decay can be reversed (Even in your festering heart), It means every time you slip into the darkness, there is a real, living hand extended It means the creatures formed from earth won’t always hobble and huddle close to the ground, dirty hands, feet, faces It means we – shabby and magnificent and numbered-of-days – can live free and forever in the Presence of the One who loves us Loves us to death & back again It means the end is the beginning. We’d love to have you join us for Good Friday and Easter services! Learn more at https://www.kensingtonchurch.org/easter

The idea of starting the new year with a “clean slate” and a fresh sense of hope is a beautiful concept, but so many of us dread the new year, its call to change, and the failure that seems imminent. But as followers of Jesus, changing for the better is our birthright! 00:00 00:00 Why Change Doesn't Stick - Audio 00:00 So, why is it hard to change our behaviors, our thoughts, and our habits? Here are two factors that may contribute: 1. We forget our worth; and 2. We forget we are forgiven Part 1: We forget our worth. Over a decade ago, I volunteered in a correctional facility for women and taught a creative writing class. After reflecting on major life events, they wrote their own autobiographies. Reading about their trauma, addiction, and loss haunted me, but perhaps the hardest thing to read was their absence of self-worth. When I heard the story of a young woman named “Diamond” I told her how well her name suited her: a jewel of rare beauty and value was produced in extreme conditions. Diamond’s eyes filled with tears. Many of these women didn’t know or didn’t believe or couldn’t believe that they were precious. As image bearers of God – the Imago Dei mentioned in Genesis 1:27 – every human being has intrinsic, eternal, and matchless worth. Even if our life experiences are different than those of the women at the correctional facility, we are all tempted to question our worth. But our perspective doesn’t make it more or less true – this reality of our worth stands with or without our assent. And it’s not diminished because it applies to everyone – it’s personal. My conversations with the incarcerated women made me wonder if a sense of worth is a necessary prerequisite to change. In other words, maybe we have to know our value to (1) admit our full potential and then to (2) recognize how we need to change. And how can we get the truth of our value lodged deep within? It does take intentionality, but it isn’t striving. It’s the discipline of rehearsing the truth, and choosing what God says over how we feel. It’s remembering that we need a Savior (and there is still work to be done in us!) but above all, our Savior finds us worthy of the ultimate sacrifice. Part 2: We forget we are forgiven. Recently, I was sitting in a class with third-graders, listening to my friend Amy teach with a world globe under her arm. She choked up, tearful, at this verse: As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. – Psalm 103:2, NIV In my mind, the visual that had always accompanied this verse was a flattened world map. I imagined God taking our sinfulness all 46 inches to the other side of the glossy paper. But that day, Amy placed her finger on the globe and moved it eastward. Her circumnavigation in that direction was endless. She then moved her finger in the opposite direction, westward. Again, a direction without end. How far is the east from the west? It’s an infinite, immeasurable distance! Did you hear that? Do you believe it? Our record isn’t hanging over our heads. Our sins aren’t piled up on our shoulders. If you’re desperate for the lightness of freedom and cleanness of righteousness, it is yours in Christ. When we start from a place of knowing our worth and knowing we are forgiven, then we can experience grace and hope as we try to make changes in our lives. Grace means that we aren’t undone when the sought-after change isn’t perfect and immediate. We need God’s grace in every aspect of our lives and He delights to extend it to us. Hope means that we don’t slide into despair when we slip up because we know our God is a God of hope and He’s always at work. So, friends, let’s dream and make resolutions for positive change in 2025 – but let’s do it all from a place of embracing our God-given worth and our God-given forgiveness. Cheers!

If you ever saw “Holy Ghost” in the King James Version of the Bible, you may have been curious – or even uncomfortable. But the Holy Spirit isn’t creepy – He is our helper. 00:00 00:00 Understanding The Holy Spirit - Audio 00:00 The world was turned upside down for the earliest followers of Jesus when they had to learn to follow Him – without His physical presence – in the aftermath of His death, resurrection, and ascension. The introduction of the Holy Spirit, a pretty epic account we call Pentecost, outlines the collision of the Holy Spirit and humanity in a brand new way that is paradigm-shifting and life-changing: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them… -Acts 2:1-3 I grew up thinking this was one of the most important chapters in the entire Bible with an emphasis on the experiences of the Holy Spirit. Many of my beliefs about the Holy Spirit have changed since my childhood – some of that growth was painful – but I now have a deeper understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in my own life, and I feel more freedom than I did when I was penned in by the expectations of my childhood church. I still hold the sentiment that Acts chapter two is one of the most important scriptures for us as modern-day Christ followers, but the emphasis is different for me now. Rather than focusing on what, I focus on who. When I fully wrapped my head around the Holy Spirit being present at creation (Gen. 1:2), and the Holy Spirit empowering different individuals throughout the Old Testament (Numbers 11:24-25, 1 Samuel 11:6, 1 Samuel 16:3), it made the ‘presence’ of the Holy Spirit in my own life easier to understand. Seeing that the Holy Spirit has engaged with humanity and creation since the beginning, helped me to embrace the invitation of the Holy Spirit to walk through life with me! And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. – Acts 2:44-47, ESV ‘Church people’ often reference the early church and their approach to communal living as the gold standard, a sort of utopian goal to be achieved. The challenge is that we live in an incredibly individualistic society. Very rarely do we open our lives to others in a way that fosters the authentic community that the early church was experiencing. We will open certain segments of our lives to certain people, as required to be accepted in society, but nothing close to being ‘devoted to fellowship’ and ‘together, having all things in common.’  One of the reasons this is so difficult and seemingly unattainable, is because we seek the results of Acts chapter 2, without first turning inward to do the work in our own hearts. To be like the early church we have to do the same work that the early church put in!  The gift of the Holy Spirit – the very presence of God – came in a new and fresh way and required believers to completely shift their understanding of who God was and how God operated. As they were trying to wrap their heads around this new understanding of God, Peter challenges them with three areas for personal work, and that’s still what we need to do too: Repent – turn away from our own way and align ourselves with God  Be baptized – find our new identity in Christ Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – live out this new reality in God Once this heart work is done in the individual, a special community was possible: the early church. A group of believers who understood that God was for every[one] – not exclusively for the Hebrews alone. A group of believers who found their identity in Christ– not the things of this world. A group of believers who allowed the Holy Spirit to lead and did not follow their own way or seek their own advancement. The same power and presence of the Holy Spirit that we see throughout the Old Testament into the New Testament Church is available to you and to me! We are invited into a relationship with the Holy Spirit, a divine dance in which He leads, and we follow. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. – Galatians 5:25 Still have questions about the Holy Spirit? Discuss further with a staff member from your campus: Birmingham: Jenny Warns | jenny.warns@kensingtonchurch.org Clarkston: Lindsey Nartker | lindsey.nartker@kensingtonchurch.org Clinton Twp: Tracey Henkel | tracey.henkel@kensingtonchurch.org Orion: Susan Welsh | susan.welsh@kensingtonchurch.org Traverse City: Brent Swensen | brent.swensen@kensingtonchurch.org Troy: Carrie Kernen | carrie.kernen@kensingtonchurch.org

We took this topic to the studio and recorded an interview with Cory Henrickson and staff writer Kristin Pelletier. Listen to it here. Ready to try it? Cory also recorded a guided Prayer of Examen here. Sometimes spiritual practices — the habits and activities we participate in to cultivate spiritual growth — can seem confusing, outdated, or too complex to add them into our already busy lives. And even when we commit to a spiritual practice — like praying, reading the Bible, finding rest, or silence and solitude — we can often worry if we’re doing them right.  Am I going to church enough? Am I praying correctly? Is my quiet time with God good enough? But what if we were asking ourselves the wrong questions? What if doing spiritual practices wasn’t about getting it right, but rather, more about being available?   We don’t win or lose at spiritual practices, all we do is participate. The often-quoted wisdom of Yoda from Star Wars is wrong, “Do or do not. There is no try.” All we can do is try. We are not responsible for growing our souls; we are only responsible for positioning ourselves for growth. We position ourselves to be shaped by our Heavenly Father. We can’t force a houseplant to grow, but we can put it in the best situation for it to get the right amount of sunlight, water, and fertilizer it needs to flourish. The same is true with our spiritual growth. God is simply asking us to show up — to take some time to focus our attention on who He is, what He is doing in our lives, and how we might be able to respond to Him in the future. One of the most helpful exercises I have found is called the Prayer of Examen.  The Prayer of Examen might sound intimidating — probably because of its lofty Latin name and ancient church origin — but it’s really just a framework that we can use to slow down, reflect, and notice God in our everyday lives. I have found that I especially need this prayer in my life because I can get so focused on the tasks at hand and the things I have to do, that I can easily miss God at work right in front of me. Even as someone who works in a church, I can shift into an auto-pilot mode where I am more focused on working for God, rather than working with God.  By integrating the Prayer of Examen into my life, I found that it creates space for me to put everything on pause in order to understand who I am, who God is, and consider how I am responding to God at home, at work, and in my community. It helps me become more mindful and responsive to God in the present, and expectant, hopeful, and engaged with Him in the future.  The Prayer of Examen was developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits in the 16th century. His greatest desire was to develop a life that was completely focused on and devoted to God, and this Prayer of Examen was an essential part of that lifestyle. The word, Examen, is Latin for “Self-Knowledge” and the goal of this prayer is to help you see and know yourself in your current reality, understanding where you stand in proximity and response to God.  During the first part of the Examen, the examen of consciousness, we are waking up our soul to the world around us, and finding out how we can be a part of God’s transforming work. We talk to God by naming the ways He was with us throughout the day, and consider how we responded to His presence.  We ask, “what might God have been asking of me? What did I not notice in the moment, that I now see might have been a divine opportunity? How did I respond or not respond? What gifts and opportunities has God given me that I can be grateful for?” The second part of the framework is the examen of conscience, where we reflect on the areas that need cleaning, healing, or clearing from our life. It’s not beating ourselves up for not meeting God’s expectations or our own standards. But instead, it is mindfully walking through our day, and identifying where God’s grace is poured out on us, and where we are being invited into transformation.  It’s an exercise in divine paradox of the Christian life — where we are called to be transformed, but we do not do any of the work of transformation. We just make ourselves available to be changed and hold a posture that accepts God’s love and grace, learning how we can respond to the Spirit in the future. I would love to invite you on this journey as well. I am sure that I am not the only one who can get so lost in all the things that need to get done that I miss Jesus calling me to live and work alongside Him. You can listen to a guided prayer audio recording here,  or, if you would rather, read the written prayer below: Assurance of Grace & Love  It can be hard to know how to bring ourselves fully to God. It can be tempting to try to say the “right things” instead of the truthful things. But God invites you to come to Him as you are. He invites us to trust His love, mercy, tenderness, faithfulness, and care for us. As we enter into this time, consider these verses: Psalm 51:6 says, “He delights in truth in the inmost being.” 1 John 3:1, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called Children of God; that is what we are. Luke 12:6-7, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are counted. Do not be afraid: you are of more value than many sparrows.” You are loved. You are seen. You are known. We often hold ourselves tensely, ready to do battle, ready to protect or defend ourselves. But with the Lord, we can truly rest. He is our safe place. You can trust our Heavenly Father to be your shield and defender. No one can harm you here. Breathe deeply. In the loving presence of God, remember and reflect on your life this past day. Gratitude  James 1:17 says that, “All good things come from our father in Heaven.” Take some time to name the things you are thankful for — the things that God has provided for you. Maybe it’s your morning coffee. Maybe it’s the furnace in your house, or the food in your fridge. It could be a relationship that you are grateful for. Or the clothes on your back. Maybe it’s just the simple fact that you have another day ahead, filled with possibilities and opportunities to see and receive God in a new way. Examen of Consciousness Ask yourself, in the past day, were there times that you recognized God’s presence? When did you feel distressed? Misunderstood? Alone? Talk to God about those moments. He was there with you. When did you feel hopeful? Encouraged? Loved? In those moments, God was there. Over the past day, did you cry out to the Lord? In Joy? In Sorrow? How did He respond? Did you notice it? Are you still waiting for a response? In all those moments, God was and is with you. What narratives are you believing? About yourself? About others? About your calling? Are they True? Are they helpful? Are they the things God would say to you? God is still speaking. He is speaking to you. Examen of Conscious Were there times this past week when God called to you, and you turned away? Are there areas in your life that need cleaning, healing, or clearing from life? Take some time in silence to confess these things to God. John 15 says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. Remember that God prunes branches that do not produce fruit, and those that do. In this season, God is pruning you — the good and the bad, to transform you into His likeness. All He asks is for you to abide with and in Him. Remember that God is merciful, gracious, and loving, and that forgiveness is already yours. You can look to the future and step into God’s calling all over again. Looking to the Future How do you expect to see God in the week to come? How might you respond differently than last week? What are you longing for from God? Take some time to listen to God, and consider what might lay ahead this week. Where is He calling to you? Where are you calling out for Him? Closing As we close, let’s say the ancient Prayer of Ignatius together: “Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my own. Whatever I have or hold, you have given me. I return it all to you and surrender it wholly to be governed by your will. Give me only your love and your grace and I am rich enough to ask for nothing more.” Amen. Interested in more resources to help posture your heart for deeper spiritual growth? We recommend: Book: Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton- Ruth Haley Barton is an author, spiritual director, and pastor and her book on spiritual practices is a great exploration on 8 different disciplines, rhythms, and routines that you can implement in your life to draw you closer to Christ. She writes and entire chapter on the Examen, and gives a great breakdown on both why and how we can use it in our spiritual walk with Christ.   YouVersion Reading Plan: Practicing The Examen– Here’s an Examen that lives on the Bible App. If you want to start a streak or keep a streak alive, the Daily Examen is a great addition to your devotional routine. Apps: Abide or Reimagining the Examen– Similar to Headspace or Calm, Abide and Reimagining the Examen offer guided Examen meditations. Also read, from our own blog, Why And How Should We Pray

Demystify: Mystery in the History

Bite-Sized Wisdom: #WatchYourMouth

Bite-Sized Wisdom: #SquadGoals

Bite-Sized Wisdom: #BoomChickaWowWow

Bite-Sized Wisdom: #StuffMyDadSays

Bite-Sized Wisdom: #WiseUp

The Anti-Hero: Running Scared

The Anti-Hero: Impossible Odds

BOLD: Spirit-Driven Living

BOLD: God's Perfect Will

Easter 2017: Torn

Palm Sunday 2017: Palm Sunday

Bank: Unexpected Profits: R.O.I.

Bank: Unexpected Profits: Bail Bonds

Bank: Unexpected Profits: In The Black