Spiritual Formation

Sometimes faith and a passion for fitness can feel like they're in tension. But the habits of a gym rat have redemptive qualities that can be applied to our walk with Christ.

We’re back today with part two of our interview with Suanne Camfield about her book, The Sound of a Million Dreams: Awakening to Who You Are Becoming. Check out part one of the interview here.

It’s still technically summer, but also, as we prepare for the arrival of fall in a few weeks, the perfect time to think more about pursuing our dreams and callings, refraining from comparison, taking risks, facing fears, and being faithful.

What if Jesus is actually more interested in our curiosity than our certainty?

How do we know if we are serving for our own benefit or truly serving as Jesus commanded?

“If we never experience conflict in our relationship with God, the chances are we have replaced the real God with a substitute god made in our image.”

Have you ever felt guilty, foolish, or ashamed because you had doubts and questions about God? Have you ever been afraid to ask those questions because you didn’t want your friends—who you’re positive are all put-together, with-it Bible experts—to know that you didn’t have the answers?

We unintentionally believe a lot of lies about our bodies. The lies fall to both extremes: on the one hand, that the human body is an object of worship, and on the other, that it’s a pointless vessel.

One of the exciting things about summer is that it always offers something of a spiritual growth blank canvas. Vacations get planned, daylight comes sooner and lasts longer, and visions of golf courses, ice cream stands, and picnics begin to dance in my head! May has become an annual alarm to start dreaming about the book list I’m going to conquer, the state parks I’m going to hike through, and the new spiritual disciplines I’m going to begin.

I caught myself scrunching my nose. I was chatting on the phone with a friend when I told him I needed to get back to work, and he said, half jokingly, that work is a result of the Fall.We laughed it off, but something just didn’t sit right with me. I began wondering, If that is true and if God is trying to heal the world, why do we still have to work so hard?

About nine months ago, at the age of 36, with the majority of my friends married and owning houses and raising kids, I moved in with a family to rent a room from them. It’s not what I envisioned for 36, but it’s great.