Become Good Soil

“What is hard about marriage is what is hard also about facing the Christian God: It is the strain of living continually in the light of a conscience other than our own, being under the intimate scrutiny of another pair of eyes.”— Mike Mason, The Mystery of MarriageWhat is the fruit of a decade given over to apprenticeship, to the slow work of excavation, and to the painful but promising transformation within the Kingdom of God? More precisely, what is the fruit born from the tender soil of our closest relationships?Over twenty-five years spent investing in the shaping of leaders, I have found one of the deepest and most gladdening sources of confirmation to be the voices of the wives of Become Good Soil men. It is one thing, after all, for a man to speak of his own progress—but it is quite another, and perhaps of far greater weight, when a spouse dares to offer her own candid reflections on what it is to share life with one who has set his whole heart upon the precarious path of becoming.As we prepare to launch into an extended BGS Podcast series—a deeper dive into the central truths of Becoming a King—it seems only fitting, indeed right and good, and more than a little risky, to let this voyage begin with the voices of women. These are women who generously offer their honest and loving observations from a deep well of intimate relationships.This episode features the voices of four remarkable women whose husbands have been engaged with the message of Become Good Soil for a decade or more. Join me as they share about the joyous, transformative effects they've witnessed in every dimension of their husbands' lives, their marriages, and their families.For the Kingdom,Morgan and Cherie

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given to you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer. —Rainer Maria RilkeFriends,On our unique paths of initiation as women and men, we often encounter the severe mercy—the painful hope—of having our illusion of control shattered by the rebellious parts of our own souls.The infant, longing for nourishment. The toddler, yearning for eye contact and the smile of an attentive parent. The boyish hope and daring of a third-grade cowboy. The angry teenager, thirsting for a strength both within and beyond himself. The older man, carrying an unsung song in his heart.When we finally summon the courage to face the collective of young men within us, what do we do?To whom do we turn?I suggest that the invitation and intention of Jesus Christ is to welcome, see, love, know, sustain, restore, and champion all the uninitiated men within us—bringing them into an effectively organized community, fully held together and integrated by Him.With permission, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at an authentic, real-time mentoring call with a courageous apprentice. He is noticing the parts within and creating a safe space for each one to embark on the journey ever closer to Home.Join me as his story unfolds, opening access to our own stories in ways beyond what we can yet imagine.For the Kingdom,Morgan & Cherie

“Questions are the tools of transformation. They disturb our certainty and awaken our longing.”— James K. A. SmithThe power of questions is central to the path of an apprentice—especially the questions we don't realize we are asking and the unconscious answers that shape our every moment. What questions have you recovered along the way of your initiation? And how are you allowing these questions to shape your apprenticeship as kings and queens in God's Kingdom?In this episode, we seek to recover core questions of the human experience and explore how reflecting on questions helps interrupt disintegrating patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving—and connects us in fresh ways to Jesus and His Kingdom.Join us as we continue to risk together in this deeper exploration of the big ideas explored in Becoming a King. To access the free and recently released second edition of the companion retreat, go to Becomingakingretreat.com.For the Kingdom,Morgan and Cherie

Friends,Jean Giono, author of The Man Who Planted Trees, penned these breathtaking and invitational lines - words that draw us back to the path of Christ's Kingdom Simplicity and Generous Love:“Creation seemed to come about in a sort of chain reaction. But the man who planted trees did not worry about it; he was determinedly pursuing his task in all its simplicity... For a human character to reveal truly exceptional qualities, one must have the good fortune to observe its performance over many years. If this performance is devoid of all egoism, if its guiding motive is unparalleled generosity, if it is absolutely certain there is no thought of recompense, and that, in addition, it has left its visible mark upon the earth, then there can be no mistake… This was the most impressive visible mark of his work: as we went back toward the village, I saw water flowing in brooks that had been dry since the memory of man. These dry streams had once, long ago, run with water…”Friends, take a moment to ask yourself:What would it be like to receive this invitation?To become this kind of person?To return to simplicity?To see dry stream beds run with water once more?To give most of our attention and affection to God and to a few things and a few others, in a way that is deeply affecting and outrageously good?To receive the freedom from our Father to engage only what is essential?It would change the world.Join me for a hidden conversation originally shared among a handful of Become Good Soil Intensive alumni. For other thirsty, like-hearted women and men among us, we'd love to welcome you to explore simplicity, essentialism, and generous love—together.For the Kingdom,Morgan & Cherie

Friends,Jean Giono, author of The Man Who Planted Trees, penned these breathtaking and invitational lines - words that draw us back to the path of Christ's Kingdom Simplicity and Generous Love:“Creation seemed to come about in a sort of chain reaction. But the man who planted trees did not worry about it; he was determinedly pursuing his task in all its simplicity... For a human character to reveal truly exceptional qualities, one must have the good fortune to observe its performance over many years. If this performance is devoid of all egoism, if its guiding motive is unparalleled generosity, if it is absolutely certain there is no thought of recompense, and that, in addition, it has left its visible mark upon the earth, then there can be no mistake… This was the most impressive visible mark of his work: as we went back toward the village, I saw water flowing in brooks that had been dry since the memory of man. These dry streams had once, long ago, run with water…”Friends, take a moment to ask yourself:What would it be like to receive this invitation?To become this kind of person?To return to simplicity?To see dry stream beds run with water once more?To give most of our attention and affection to God and to a few things and a few others, in a way that is deeply affecting and outrageously good?To receive the freedom from our Father to engage only what is essential?It would change the world.Join me for a hidden conversation originally shared among a handful of Become Good Soil Intensive alumni. For other thirsty, like-hearted women and men among us, we'd love to welcome you to explore simplicity, essentialism, and generous love—together.For the Kingdom,Morgan & Cherie

"You shall consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you shall return to your property, and each of you shall return to your family." — Leviticus 25:10Consider these provocative words by Walter Brueggeman from Sabbath as Resistance. “Sabbath is not only resistance; it is an alternative. Sabbath offers both the awareness and practice of the claim that we are on the receiving end of the gifts of God.... To be so situated is a staggering option because we are accustomed to initiating all things. I have come to believe that the fourth commandment on the Sabbath is the most difficult and urgent commandment in our society because it calls us to an intent and conduct that defy the fundamental demands of a commodity-driven society - one that thrives on control, entertainment, bread, and circuses, and requires 24/7 multitasking to achieve, accomplish, perform, and possess.” Pause with me for a moment and try on this reality. The joyous restoration of land to its original owners. Debts canceled—forever. Slaves released from bondage. Relationships healed. Even the land recovers its vitality with extended rest from sowing and reaping. Spiritual renewal and re-creation as the community shifts from striving and acquiring to pausing, noticing, receiving, forgiving, reconciling, celebrating, and resting.In The Year of Jubilee, biblical scholar John Bergsma invites readers to consider how God is calling His people to a collective, life-saving practice - one that preserves freedom, family, and the fullness of God in a fallen world that has lost its ability to rest and to heal.What lies behind Yahweh's profound directive and promise of Jubilee, first given to the people of Israel to reform them? How was it ultimately fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Messianic King?Given to the people of God 3,500 years ago, this ancient rhythm feels like a long-lost key to life's riddle. How can we participate in this biblical pattern of stopping and settling in, of forgiveness and renewal?And what might we say to the curious—or to those who think we are out of our minds?Join us as we explore The Sabbath of Sabbaths, inviting you more intimately into our story and walking alongside you as you discern what God may be calling you into in yours.For the Kingdom, Morgan & Cherie

What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. Luke 12:19-32 MSGFriends,Our initiation into wholehearted maturity and deeper union with Christ unfolds over decades of learning to practice without pressure.Perhaps nowhere is this invitation more hopeful than in parenting.Of all the questions I receive, none are more common than questions about fathering—and none consistently carry within them more weight of pressure and fear or confusion.Pause and consider for a moment: What would it be like to shift from a posture of performance into a posture of practicing without pressure? What would it be like not only to understand but also to accept the reality that our children's lives are held in the hands of a present, caring, and beautifully winsome Father? In the ordinary rhythms of daily life as a dad, what would it be like to encounter God, recognize His presence, feast on His goodness, and, from that nourished place, carry His very essence into the sacred journey of fathering our children?It would change the world.Dare I say, it is changing the world.We are men choosing to become the kind of fathers to whom God is glad to entrust His Kingdom—His rule, His presence—that we might generously reveal His unrelenting affection to our children.Moms and dads, join us for Part 2 as we explore together the hope and promise of participating in the story of our becoming—the story God is authoring in and through our journey of fatherhood.For the Kingdom,MorganP.S. For more parenting resources, explore more with the free Becoming a King Parenting Devotional and this blog, Celebration of Boyhood.

Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Matthew 7:12 MSGFriends,Few questions come my way as consistently and sincerely as questions about the desire and dilemma of initiating children—particularly sons—into wholehearted maturity. And few aspects of my own initiation have received more of my attention.On behalf of the boys in our world—and the boy within every man (myself included)—I want to invite both men and women to join this roundtable on Initiating Sons.Often beneath our questions about parenting lay fear, shame, or a nagging sense of lack, fueling a persistent apprehension that we are blowing it royally both in what we do and what we leave undone as parents.But if we pause long enough—choosing curiosity over fear and consent over control—we may discover that below our fear lies one of the Gospel's most profound invitations: the invitation to become what we did not have. And as we become, we will naturally offer and initiate from our transformation.Our role as fathers will eventually evolve into an unbreakable bond of siblinghood with our children in the Kingdom of God—where each of us is deeply loved and securely rooted in the heart of our Common Father.Join us for Part 1 of a conversation exploring both the pain and possibility of being initiated—and of offering initiation to our sons.For the Kingdom,MorganP.S. For more on initiating boys, check out these blogs: An Arsenal, a Library, and a Tool Collection and The Gospel as Initiation.

Jesus' way with his disciples is to both heal and mature. The post 180: Jesus as Coach, with Conrad Schottel appeared first on Become Good Soil.

In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects.Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity.Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.– Matthew 5:48 MSGThe invitation of the Gospel is stark and unrelenting: Come and die in order to live. It is strange and compelling that Jesus, who healed so many, never once chose to heal his own disciples instantaneously. Instead, he continually beckoned them to the weightiest of challenges, probing the very depths of their souls—both the masculine and the feminine within them—daring them to come and die at the deepest levels of their human experience:Pick up your cross and follow me.If you want to save your life, you must lose it.You cannot serve God and money. You cannot serve God and power.Leave everything you've ever known, and follow me.Unless you surrender all to me—giving up everything, father, mother, sister, brother—you cannot be my disciple.Jesus' language to his disciples is a language of initiation. He shaped and implemented a culture where men and women can realize their God-given identities. And from generation to generation, he guides his followers into a lifestyle of ever-increasing maturity through loving challenge.If we allow our lives to speak, we will hear Reality inviting us to pass through a death and experience rebirth. At every moment, Jesus is freshly inviting us onto the ancient path of initiation. It is the center of his brilliant and loving work.You cannot discipline your way out of woundedness and brokenness. At the same time, you cannot heal your way out of immaturity. Jesus' way with the disciples is both: to heal and mature. By day and by decade, he not only heals what is lame in us but trains us to join him in walking on the water.Join me and Conrad Schottel for a conversation as we dare to let Jesus lovingly challenge us.For the Kingdom,

Reclaim the lover inside you. The post 179: The Sex Talk You Never Got, with Sam Jolman (Part 2) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

"If you can't be kind to yourself, you can't change."– Sam JolmanFriends,I'd like to invite you to savor with me a breathtaking excerpt from Sam Jolman's book as we plumb the depths of the intersection of God's kindness and our sexual stories: We take the risk to call shame what it is: a damn liar. We turn the tables on shame and question it. That starts with getting curious about what provoked it. Maybe it's lying to you. Maybe love is still available . . . and you can recover a sense of safety. Leaning into vulnerability like that takes immense courage.If you don't want to handle your sexual shame with contempt, you must take a risk on love.Contempt or kindness. That's it.What is this kindness stuff? Maybe it invokes an eye roll. Kindness feels too close to niceness . . . but kindness is not niceness. It has more teeth than that. It's brave with the deep things of life. It looks you right in the face and really sees you with no pretense, with no threat of harm. Can you imagine someone who does not flee from you or metaphorically hit you back, who keeps their heart open and available, but does not flinch from the truth? That is kindness. Someone who can hold the tension of facing reality but still stays openhearted and kind.Kindness says I can handle you. And I can love you. It's profound.Jesus is this incarnate kindness we most desperately need. And Jesus is the kindness that we get if we but turn to him with our need.The Sex Talk You Never Got is brilliant, thorough, and God-breathed. I will be recommending it and giving copies as gifts to men (and their wives) I am investing in for decades to come. Grab a copy and immerse yourself in this treasure chest of wisdom, guidance, and hope.Come along into Part 2 as we reclaim, together, the lover inside of us all. For the Kingdom,Morgan

God loves masculine sexuality. The post 178: The Sex Talk You Never Got, with Sam Jolman (Part 1) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

The Gospel is an invitation to be curious, rather than ashamed, about our sin. – Sam Jolman Friends, Decades ago, a wise man made an observation about the masculine journey that has stayed with me: “Finances are not about finances, and sex is not about sex.” It's been over 10 years since I received this disruptive counsel, and my own and the experience of men I walk with have verified its truth again and again. Yet when it comes to the power and significance of sex and the path and process of liberating the lover of the masculine soul, I have more questions and curiosity than ever.  Simultaneously, I am more hopeful than ever about the possibility of reclaiming masculine sexuality. Sam Jolman is one of the reasons why.  He has faithfully, beautifully, and powerfully engaged the hearts of men and women for over 20 years as a Christ-centered therapist. He has consented to his own path and process of initiation. He has died thousands of deaths. And he has been raised by the indestructible life of Christ a thousand more.  He is emerging as a Lover-King, and he is offering his strength to the next generation.  Sam wrote a brilliant book on reclaiming the heart of masculine sexuality. It's called The Sex Talk You Never Got, and I will recommend it and give copies as gifts to the men I love (and their wives) for decades to come. I'm encouraging everyone I know to grab a copy and immerse themselves in this treasure chest of wisdom, guidance, and hope. Come along into Part 1 as together we reclaim the lover inside us all.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

A brief, real-time reflection for the soul The post 177: Examen appeared first on Become Good Soil.

God's preferred method of communication is through a still, small voice. – Dallas WillardDear Friends, Who have I become, and who am I becoming? For over two decades, I've relentlessly asked these questions and found myself lovingly interrogated by Jesus and His Kingdom at every turn of my journey. Now, as I transition from one season to the next, I sense another pair of soul-searching questions rising from the depths: Who is God, really? Who will I allow Him to become in the decades ahead? Parker Palmer beautifully wrote, “Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must first listen to my life telling me who I am.” God comes to us brilliantly disguised in the ordinary moments of our everyday lives. Let us look back and see afresh the God who has prevailed. Let us look forward with confidence and hope, trusting in the God who will continue to prevail. This episode offers a brief, real-time reflection for the soul. My hope is that it will beckon you deeper still. As you engage with this Examen, may you receive a renewed and personal invitation to explore the updated version of "A Soul's Review," BGS Podcast Episode 151. While this exercise can be done individually, many allies have found it to be an especially transformational experience when shared as a couple or small group during a half-day or full-day retreat. Pray about it. You and your community are worth the time it takes to transition well from one season to the next. So, as a prologue, come along. Let us slow down and dare to tune in to the still, small voice of God. For the Kingdom, Morgan & Cherie

Salvation is not merely a rescue from peril but the restoration of our true selves. The post 176: First Breath appeared first on Become Good Soil.

"You should not be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'" – Jesus of Nazareth Dear Friends, Advent is upon us—a season not merely of waiting but of planting, where the seed of hope is buried deep in the soil of time. It is the prologue to Christmas when the Author Himself stepped onto the stage of His own story. But like all great stories, this one is layered. Beneath the glitter and sentiment of the season lies a truth so profound it shakes the foundations of our reality: that life springs from death, joy from suffering, and rebirth from what we thought was the end. Have you ever considered what it truly means to be born again? Cast aside, for a moment, the tattered clichés and the defensive armor we often wrap around such words. To be born again is not a slogan or a doctrine but the startling, living reality of God's relentless affection—an affection that invades every shadowed corner of the human heart. The Incarnation of Christ is not merely an event in history; it is the eternal declaration that God has chosen to make Himself known not in distant thunder but in the fragile cry of a child. And yet, it is more. It is an invitation—a call to enter into a union so mysterious, so vivid, that we find ourselves remade, again and again, until we come to know the safety and intimacy that Christ Himself knew with the Father. This, my friends, is the heart of the process of salvation. It is not merely a rescue from peril but the restoration of our true selves, rooted in divine love and revealed in our human relationships, by day and by decade. Every celebration of the Incarnation is pregnant with the invitation to come, taste, and see. And here lies the wonder: this salvation is not a far-off promise. It is here, now, within reach of the humble and the weary, waiting to be received by you and by me. This Advent, let us pause amidst the noise and receive this gift afresh. Let us prepare to experience the miracle of new birth, of first breath, as we are drawn ever deeper into the life of the One who has come to make all things new. For the Kingdom, Cherie and Morgan

I had always felt life first as a story—and if there is a story there is a storyteller. – G. K. Chesterton Friends, The human soul craves meaning, just as the body needs food and water. On our journey of masculine initiation, our souls long for the stories of others to illuminate our own. Stories are the language of the heart. They nourish us, bring meaning to our lives, and, most importantly, disrupt and inspire us to take heart once more, drawing us back to the ultimate Storyteller. Our stories begin with God, are sustained by God, and are guided by him toward a flourishing finish. Through his grace, we discover an extraordinary truth: we are not called to avoid failure but to entrust it to God's redemptive and undefeated story of love. Greg Lindsey embodies this courage. As a husband, father, grandfather, and shepherd to his church community, he invites others into a deeper connection with God and their own stories. Join me as we explore the universal and personal landscape of one man's redemption story. You won't want to miss it. For the Kingdom, Morgan P.S. For those interested in Greg's work, he recently wrote The Rest of Your Story, a book for men and women to consider the depth and possibility of a life in God's Kingdom.

We are not called to avoid failure but to entrust it to God's redemptive story of love. The post 175: Live to Rescue, with Greg Lindsey appeared first on Become Good Soil.

Love begets compassion. Compassion begets connection. Connection begets love. And love wins. The post 174: Fieldnotes with Pablo Ceron (Part 3) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

Love, as Paul and the New Testament present it, is not action— not even action with a special intention—but a source of action. – Dallas Willard Friends, Thousands of years ago, Saint Paul penned his breathtaking discourse on Love.  It's been misunderstood, watered down, and robbed of its beauty by overuse. Yet the life of God still pulses through, if we but let these old words visit us in a new way: Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always “me first,” Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete…but Love never dies.” Love begets compassion. Compassion begets connection. Connection begets love.  And Love wins. Let's dive into Part 3 of this series as we revel together in the consummation of compassion and love. For the Kingdom, MorganP.S. Here are the resources mentioned in this episode: 088: Blurring the Lines of Family and Vocation 091: Soulcraft with Sam Jolman Become Good Soil Comfort Survey

Do you receive compassion for yourself to the measure that God is offering it? The post 173: Field Notes with Pablo Ceron (Part 2) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

Clothe yourself with compassion… – Saint Paul Friends, If we come from the Trinity and thus naturally return to the Trinity, I want to lovingly ask again...What is in the way of our homecoming?  Perhaps better said, where do we find ourselves along the journey of home-going? As a community of mature men who desire what is good, true, and beautiful, we often find ourselves pouring ourselves out on behalf of others.  We risk. We love. We serve. We sacrifice. We come through. We are warriors on behalf of love, consenting to a story bigger than ourselves. It is simply who we have become over the past two decades.  Yet as we come through for the desires and needs of those we treasure most, we very comfortably ignore and minimize our own desires and needs.  What do you want? What do you need? Deeper still, do you receive compassion for yourself to the measure that God is offering compassion to you?  Let's dive into Part 2 of this conversation with Pablo Ceron.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

In times of uncertainty, there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our Kingdom's call. The post 172: Fieldnotes with Pablo Ceron (Part 1) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts... – Saint Paul Friends, Life is hard. Damn hard.  And, brothers, with the convergence of the headlines, the violent speed of life, and the hyperindividualism of this hour, there is little hope that life will get easier.  Haunting the masculine soul with uncertainty, pain, and tragedy, we're left with quite a predicament.  Before a man can even honestly utter what he must do to thrive in this hour, a deeper question cries out.  Who must I become to live and love well?  The answer lies in the depths of the image of God in us as men: In times of uncertainty, there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our Kingdom's call; a common man with an uncommon desire to love. Forged by adversity, he stands alongside God's finest warriors to serve his Kingdom and to serve the people God has placed under his care, and to protect their way of life. I am that man. We are that man.  Though dormant in varying degrees and dimensions, this identity is nonetheless concrete. It is who we are, and who we are becoming. Design indeed reveals destiny. And the intentioned destiny of our Father in and through our hearts and stories as men will triumph.  Let's dive in.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

We invite you to an intimate conversation to hear firsthand about a new birth emerging.  The post 171: A New Birth appeared first on Become Good Soil.

Discipleship is the process of restoring secure attachment to God. – Morgan and Cherie Snyder Friends, In his thoroughly beautiful novel Jayber Crow, Wendell Berry writes,  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 times when…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. Friends, as Cherie and I seek to respond to the unbroken, God-breathed path laid out before us, we want to invite you into our emerging sense of what we are to steward in the season ahead.  It is likely the most unique BGS podcast we've offered in 14 years and 171 episodes. In partnership with John and Stasi Eldredge, we invite you to an intimate conversation with our team to hear firsthand about this new birth.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

As we bring all our parts into connection with Love, we are healed and transformed. The post 170: Initiation of Our Parts, with Sam Eldredge (Part 2) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

If you don't like the person you're becoming, you still have time to change that. – Sam Eldredge Friends, It was Dallas Willard who wrote, “Spiritual transformation in Christ is the process of all of the essential parts of the human self being effectively organized around God, as they are restored and sustained by him. Its result is love of God with all of the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and of the neighbor as oneself.”  In Part 2 of this conversation with Sam Eldredge, we continue to cover the terrain of organizing both parts and stories of the masculine soul around one unified story as we discover again that which is most true: We are safe.  We belong. We are loved outrageously by a God who is creatively crafting our lives into the ongoing redemptive Story he is authoring.  Let's dive into Part 2 of Sam's story together. For the Kingdom, [signature}

The mark of a true warrior lies in his capacity to treat his own heart with compassion. The post 169: Initiation of Our Parts, with Sam Eldredge (Part 1) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

The fundamental human experience is that of compassion. – The Hero's Journey Friends, A wise man once said that a warrior's true mark lies in his capacity to treat his own heart with compassion.  Sam Eldredge is a brother and friend who is leading others to become true warriors and kings out of his unique recovery of the Gospel. He's been quietly and faithfully working toward becoming an increasingly initiated man. As one mentor suggests, Sam is among a like-hearted few “steadily being initiated into his true self, initiated into the flow of Reality, initiated into the great patterns that are always true, initiated into the life of God.” From his reservoir of initiation, he's helping others recover the path as well. Sam is a brave and loving husband and father who recently established Noble Workshops, an outpost of the Kingdom offering counseling and five-day immersive workshops to help heal and integrate the human soul. Join me as we dive into Part 1 of Sam's story.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

The point of our practices is the treasure of God himself. The post 168: Reflections on the Praxis appeared first on Become Good Soil.

It starts with God. – Proverbs 1:7    Friends, A wise man once told me, “More is better. Except when it's not.”  We can see this in our spiritual formation. The myth of more has co-opted even the ancient practices meant to root us in the Kingdom of God. More teaching. More study. More content. More events. More healing. More….of everything. Yet more is neither the point nor the prize. As our older brother Jesus winsomely announces, “God alone is good.”  Jesus reminds us that there is treasure along the path of his Kingdom more valuable than all growth, transformation, ministry, and miracles. It is the treasure of God himself. What if the invitation today is to simply enjoy the gift and opportunity of friendship with God? What if God himself is the point and the prize?  What if the goal is simply being with God, enjoying his personality, presence, and outrageous affection…and nothing more?  Come along. Let us enjoy God, together.  For the Kingdom, Morgan Find out more about Denver Seminary's Praxis.

The masculine soul craves the wisdom and joyful rest of the sage's presence. The post 167: The Age of the Sage, with Brett Davis appeared first on Become Good Soil.

The only tragedy greater than the deep fatherlessness our soul experiences is that we have come to accept that sense of fatherlessness as normal. Friends, It's been written that “when there are no kings, young warriors become brutal, magicians behave as charlatans, and lovers are soon addicts.” But what happens when there are no sages?  It's a question entangled in pain yet brimming with possibility.  In our fast-paced, ever-changing, hyper-individualistic landscape, we find endless content: many experts, loads of pep-talkers, and infinite curricula to re-engineer the smallness. Yet the masculine soul remains starving for connection…connection to men who have gone before us, connection to men who have confronted suffering, life, death, and loss and have come out the other side with hearts alive and living generously for love.  The masculine soul craves the wisdom and joyful rest of the sage's presence. Rest and wisdom are critical for the young man to become who he is meant to be.  Brett Davis has become a sage. In my life and the lives of countless others, he is bringing a sage's presence to the next generation.  Having founded Christian Surfers International over forty years ago and led it since, Brett has received his next promotion. Entrusting leadership to the next generation, he has stepped forward into a new season of offering loving engagement to those God brings him as a wise man of peace. He's a risk-taker, father, surfer, husband, friend, and leader. He's become a Sage.  And he's inviting us to come along.  Join me in the lineup, trusting we need only ride the wave given to us to live more freely and lightly through the winsome care of the men ahead. For the Kingdom, Morgan P.S. If you want to explore more on the Age of the Sage, prayerfully engage this PDF compiled by Brett Davis: The Age of the Sage.

Daily prayer paves the path back to secure attachment to the heart of God. The post 166: Unpacking the Daybreak Prayer, with Cherie Snyder (Part 4) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

Above all else, trust in the slow work of God. Friends, Jesus modeled and taught a scandalous and inviting life of prayer.  In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place to pray…  (Mark 1:35) “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” (Matt. 6:5-15 MSG) The invitation of Jesus into this sort of intimate prayer life is a radical path of discipleship.  And I want to suggest that discipleship is the path back to secure attachment to the heart of God.  Daily prayer as a practice of presence paves this path and can slowly and steadily root us deeply into God.  But where to start?  How to continue?  The Daybreak Prayer is nothing new. Its heart is the foundational realities of our common faith collected together as a trailhead, a rallying cry, and an anchor for the soul.  It's simple.  It's powerful. And it's meant to be accessible.  Let's pick up our communal path of prayer again as Cherie and I conclude this four-part series. For the Kingdom, Morgan

Over the decades of our apprenticeship, we become people whose very lives are an act of prayer. The post 165: Unpacking the Daybreak Prayer, with Cherie Snyder (Part 3) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

Pray without ceasing. – St. Paul Friends, It's been said, “Prayer is not about changing God, but being willing to let God change us.”  What if cultivating a practice of prayer that teems with life and connection with God is much less about what we do and much more about who we become?  Through a slow and steady practice of prayer, we are reformed into the kind of people who truly do pray without ceasing. Even more, over the decades of our apprenticeship, we become people whose very lives are an act of prayer.  Join Cherie and me for Part 3 of this Daybreak Prayer series.  We think you're going to love it.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

We are in God's life, and therefore we are fully and forever okay. The post 164: Unpacking the Daybreak Prayer, with Cherie Snyder (Part 2) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

Prayer is never the first word; it is always the second word. God has the first word. – Eugene Peterson Friends, As we continue to explore the Daybreak Prayer, let us immerse ourselves in these God-initiated and God-sustained realities: Father, thank you that our story begins with you, and we will return to the restoration of all things.  We choose to trust that you love us with the same love you have for Jesus.  Therefore we will not give way to fear.   We agree with who you are. We agree with what you are doing. We agree with how you are doing it.  We ask for a revelation of your affection today.  We ask that you would make the impossible possible. Pause.  I invite you to reread these phrases again, but slower.  Linger with each line. Notice the impact on your soul.  Friends, I want to suggest that the truths of our Father's heart and his Kingdom highlighted in the Daybreak Prayer beckon us ever homeward, reconnecting us to ground on which it is wholly safe to rest and live and move and have our being: We are in God's life, and therefore we are fully and forever okay. We have enough.  We are enough.  We are loved.  It's from this secure ground that Cherie and I invite you to come along into Part 2 of this series as we seek again to participate in God's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  For the Kingdom, Morgan P.S. If you want more, consider these resources to take a deeper dive into the Daybreak Prayer: Daybreak Prayer PDF Daybreak Prayer audio (male voice) Daybreak Prayer audio (female voice)

A breathtaking invitation to honesty, simplicity, and connection in prayer The post 163: Unpacking the Daily Prayer, with Cherie Snyder (Part 1) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

God is perfectly capable of saving the world he created. – Dallas Willard Friends, In the section of his Gospel known as the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew tells the story of Jesus drawing his apprentices away from the crowds and up a mountainside to teach them about the heart of our Father and the way of his gracious Kingdom. On the subject of prayer, Jesus says this:  And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either….Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. (Matthew 6:5-15 MSG) What a breathtaking invitation to honesty, simplicity, and connection in prayer.  In this podcast series, Cherie and I invite our fellow apprentices to join us in exploring this posture of prayer in fresh ways. Rooting ourselves in the spacious architecture of the Become Good Soil Daybreak Prayer, let's explore deepening our prayer life together. For the Kingdom, Morgan

The hidden life is key to becoming a wholehearted leader. The post 162: The Great I Am, with Jared Anderson (Part 2) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

There is no power in hell Or any who can stand Before the power and the presence of the Great I Am. – Jared Anderson Friends, Jared Anderson penned these arresting words over a decade ago. His song has become a rallying cry and a lifeline to Reality for the friends of God.  But behind the song is a story.  And behind the story is a soul.  Jared is a husband, father, risk-taker, and renowned soul-poet-musician. Serving in a megachurch during a time of heartrending fallout from failures of leadership and culture, he has traversed essential miles of his initiation. And he still has heart.  He still has God.  Deeper still, God still has him. In Part 2 of this studio session and conversation, we consider the intersection of Jared Anderson's hidden life and the years of becoming a wholehearted leader in the Body of Christ.  Let's take another deep dive together.  For the Kingdom, Morgan You can explore more of Jared's work on Instagram and wherever music can be found.

The goal of masculine initiation is God himself. The post 161: The Great I Am, with Jared Anderson (Part 1) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

The male must be taught "the tears of things" before he is given any power. Friends, The goal of masculine initiation is always God. It is not ultimately healing, though that comes as well. It is not even wholehearted maturity. Above all, the goal of masculine initiation is God himself. Though our Father's aim is always to connect us more deeply to himself, the chaos, losses, failures, pressures, and complexities of our lives obscure the brightness of his good heart. So in the midst of seemingly incoherent pieces, our soul whispers, Where is God? What is God doing?  Why is this happening?  Where do I go? God, ANSWER ME.  In these bewildering moments, let us borrow faith and hope from a man who, in passing through his own initiation, has blazed a path for many to follow.  “I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face, questions die away. What other answer would suffice?” Jared Anderson is a husband, father, risk-taker, and renowned soul-poet-musician. But it is his hidden and unique story that clarifies our central aim: to gaze into the eyes of our Father and discover who we are.  Let's dive into Part 1 of this studio session and conversation. You can explore more of Jared's work wherever music can be found. For the Kingdom, Morgan

Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least. – Goethe Friends, Years ago, as a father in the faith led a group of young, thirsty apprentices and me through a series of exercises and questions for our masculine souls, we came across this question:  What is your dream assignment in the Kingdom?  In other words, if you could be charged with any task, vocation, or work in God's Kingdom, what would you love it to be?  My peers and I sincerely (and rather hastily) shared our responses: Author Life coach Film producer Professor Real estate agent Counselor Our teacher benevolently received the desires of our hearts.  He paused. And then he answered the prompt himself: “My dream is to become a grandfather.” You could hear a pin drop. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. He had my attention. The stark contrast between my peers' and our teacher's answers revealed a gap between our souls' unfinished places and the geography to which God was beckoning us. Somewhere in this man's initiation, he had taken a radical path that transplanted his soul from the narrow field of self-centeredness to the vast open place of wholehearted others-centeredness. He had become the kind of man who had nothing to fear, nothing to prove, and nothing to hide. He had more than enough. And he had become more than enough, in and through the One who made him.  In a phrase, he was full, secure, and free to love with the unconditional generosity of heaven.  The Father is inviting us along a path to become this wholehearted. Join me for Part 3 as we conclude this series on the metanarrative of masculine love.  For the Kingdom, Morgan

We're invited to a radical path that transplants us from narrow self-centeredness to wholehearted others-centeredness. The post 160: The Metanarrative of Masculine Love (Part 3) appeared first on Become Good Soil.

When the time is right, a man must leave his father and mother to find his True Father and Mother in God's heart. The post 159: The Metanarrative of Masculine Love (Part 2) appeared first on Become Good Soil.