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"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2) It's just the way I am! Ever said or thought that? I certainly have. The truth in this statement is that some behaviors come really naturally to us in a good way whilst others are troubling habits that seem ingrained into our very souls. The former aspects of us, as long as they are healthy and God-honoring, are gifts given by God to us for His glory. The latter are seeming ingrained patterns within us, and require change but can be quite hard/resistant. I am interested in exploring this latter challenge, and how truly ingrained our habits are in actuality. Is it all "just the way I am"? ICT & Neuroplasticity Intentional Change Theory (ICT), which is a researched theory of how we intentionally grow and change, suggests that the key way we grow and develop is through writing a personal learning agenda for change which, through experimentation, develops us in new patterns of thinking and behavior. The confidence the model has in this change being possible arises out of the neuroscientific research into neuroplasticity. This short YouTube explains what neuroscience is currently pretty confident about, when it comes the human brain and learning / growth. Check it out: Your brain can change! Which means, so too can you! The question I've got to ask us, and myself, is this: what implications does this have for our "it's just the way I am" statements? The answer is not straightforward. We have tendencies, from birth, usually called personality or temperament, that are pretty hardwired in us. But these don't tend to be moral in and of themselves, so much. I have in mind, for example, our level of introversion or extroversion. Some of us are more "wired" to be energized by and pretty constantly around people. Some of us are more "wired" to be energized by and pretty constantly by ourselves with measured doses of other people. One is not better than the other, or more moral. However, what about our tendencies to: lie, gossip, get out of control in anger, indulge ourselves too much, or get caught up in addictions of all sorts. The sorts of tendencies, nay habits, that we truly would like to change, if we can. If it's not "just the way I am!" And further, how does the challenge of our tendency towards sin play into all of this neuroplasticity? Nehemiah was convinced human change was possible He was not aware of modern science, but he nonetheless dared believe that the people around him could and indeed had a responsibility under God to change. In effect, he was acting with conviction in the power of God to work in and through people to change, in the ways that modern science seems to tell us we can. But he knew something that modern science doesn't tend to focus on - that certain kinds of change, especially within our brains, are only possible by God's mercy and empowering help. This is why we see: Him often going to prayer - a chief way he sought God's mercy and help (see Nehemiah 1:4-11; 2:4; 4:4-5; 4:9; 5:19; 6:9; 6:14; 9:5-37; 13:14; 13:22). Him often testifying to God's help and reminding the people God was watching over their efforts and lives (see Nehemiah 1:4-11; 2:8; 2:18; 4:15; 4:20; 5:9-11; 6:16; 13:17-18). Him confronting more than just the "surface level" habits of rebuilding a wall, but the deeper "habits of heart" in the people where sin and sins consequences needed to be identified and overcome (See especially; Nehemiah 1; 5; 9; and 13). In short, for Nehemiah, his calling was to more than a wall-rebuilding effort. This was a moral work within the people, as well as practical work around the people (in the rebuilding of the Jerusalem walls). It was a work of heart-change more than it was a change in their physical circumstances. Sin, neuroplasticity and daring personal change It's interesting (and not so surprising) to me that allot of the research that we see put out from the scientific community, especially surrounding brain change, focuses on describing problematic changes in the brain (like addiction and it's negative effects) or relatively amoral habit builds (new skill development) or rebuilds (like building physical fitness, recovering from injury developing passions like reading and craft, as examples). How to become better, more moral humans is simply less present in the research. I found interesting research that points out that we have been fascinated for thousands of years by the tension between our drives and our will - which is the tension sin introduces into our discussion of behavior change (check it out here if you're interested). Nehemiah, under God's merciful guidance and help, was leading the people of Israel in a conviction that the Apostle Paul would later describe and declare as hope for all humanity through Jesus Christ: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." ------------------------- (Romans 12:1–2) In other words, you can change. Your mind can be transformed, as you offer your bodies as living sacrifices to God and experiencing renewing. The narrative of Nehemiah helps us see how this happens with the active mercy of God on display in Nehemiah and the Israelite community he leads during this time. It is a combination of learning, flexible planning and action, and overcoming more than just superficial habit challenges. Nehemiah leads the people of Israel around him in a moral renewal. A renewing of the mind. Through a renewed dedication to God - an offering of their bodies in "living sacrifice" towards God. Newly human The vision of God for humanity, as revealed fully through Jesus Christ, is not just that we'd become healthier and happier versions of our selves. The vision of God for humanity is to dare to become new humanity - new creation humanity in fact (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). What neuroscience confirms is that the brain can change and renew. What neuroscience can't confirm is if the brain can fundamentally change in a moral direction in response to a new moral vision. Nehemiah and the New Testament respond to this open question with an emphatic "yes"! The brain can and does change in a moral direction in response to the work, power, and grace available to us in Christ. So yes, your brain can change. Which means, so can you. You're called to become a new human. But the key is - the deepest change that the heart truly desires, and needs, is available to us (and our brains) only through the grace and power of Christ. This week Review your change and growth goals. Are they "in Christ." In other words: Are they moral change/growth goals? Habits of the deeper recesses of your heart you seek to change and transform, by Christ's grace and leading? Do they aim in a direction of becoming more like Christ in the specific practice or habit or skill that you are growing in? Do you seek more than just the power of your own will to grow and become in the area of growth your focused on? If you've never thought about these in relation to your growth goals, may this weeks blog be your inspiration. Praise God that we can change, especially at the deepest and most needed levels, through the grace and power of Christ. Written by Ps. Rob. #growth #change #Intentionalchange #daring #greatly

"...From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor." (Nehemiah 4:16) How good is this! You've made plans for an efficient route from your home to your desired destination, and then...traffic! I don't know about you, but I am a sucker for making plans for a most efficient route to wherever I am going, only to 9 times out of 10 be thrown by the inevitable trouble of traffic. Life is allot like this. We make our plans, set our goals, aim for growth and then...life throws us traffic jams. When life throws you a traffic jam? What do you do? I am someone who can be prone to what I term "pinging." When I get stuck, without momentum, in an area of my life, I can tend to "ping" out of the project or focus I am in and onto something new or something where I am guaranteed to get momentum. But I neglect the fact that traffic jams are real in all areas of our lives - in both a literal sense and a metaphorical sense. This is where the concept of experimentation from Intentional Change Theory (ICT) is quite a powerful concept. Experiments and flexibility Over previous weeks (here, here, and here) I have written about ICT and how it relates to the book we're studying as a church, the biblical book of Nehemiah. Last week I wrote about how a crucial step or discovering in intentional personal growth is developing a learning agenda for change. Again, the power of the concept of a learning agenda is noted by Richard Boyatzis, the founder of this theory and the research behind it: "a learning agenda focuses on development. A learning orientation arouses a positive belief in one's capability and the hope of improvement." In other words, having a learning agenda frees us to focus on improvement, and developing our capabilities in light of what we need to learn - come what may. And the way we are freed up to focus on learning and improvement is through experimentation. Flexibility through Experimentation ICT is very clear that change and growth occurs as we learn through experimenting with and practice the desired behavior changes we aim to make on our path to our growth goals. This inevitable involves a "continuous improvement" feedback loop as we aim for change, see how we go, experience challenges and set-backs, and adapt and develop in order to find a new stable pattern of growing and developing. And one of the sure places you and I will need to experiment is in the face of challenges, set-backs, and unforeseen complications. In a way, Nehemiah's key to successful completion was being open to "continuous improvement" through experimentation. Nehemiah's flexibility The easiest part for Nehemiah in the rebuilding project was his starting sense of vision, and selling this vision to King Nebuchadnezzar, who trusted him quite deeply. The second easiest part for Nehemiah was getting a sense of how much rebuild work was needed. Then came the challenges: He had to convinced the people of Jerusalem to build with him. (Nehemiah 2) He had to work with an unconventional building team. (Nehemiah 3) He had to then respond to increasing amounts of opposition to the wall - he devised plans to deal with threats of war and violence against them, and he responded to motivational lows in the building team. (Nehemiah 4) He had to address issues of integrity in the city of Jerusalem - he became aware of oppression by the rich in the city of the poor, and he confronted this oppression and challenged for change. (Nehemiah 5) He had to deal with increasing personal attacks as he begun to make more progress in the rebuilding works (Nehemiah 6). This was no simple work of rebuilding the walls around this ancient and sacred city. This was a masterclass in dealing with traffic jams, and remaining incredibly flexible in terms of the route to the end goal. Flexible but focused What we observe about Nehemiah, when it comes to progressing towards the goal of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, was his flexibility of process towards a specific and focused rebuilding end-goal. The truth is, he had to be - because traffic jams (or challenges) happen in life, all the time. This week Reflect on your growth goals. Reflect on your destination markers. How flexible are you being in getting towards those goals? You can be focused on the target, but flexible in the way that you get to the target. Like me, this week's encouragement is to resist the urge to "ping" off onto a new project, goal, or distraction, but rather think, to use the traffic jam metaphor: How long will this traffic jam last - some traffic jams, you can see, will be cleared sooner rather than later. So the strat is to simply wait it out. Is there an alternative route around this traffic jam - Google Maps is great for this, giving you alternative routes to the same destination. When challenges or struggles hit, think: what is an alternative route to the same goal or outcome? Is there a gift in the traffic jam - maybe you can't go an alternative route, and you have to wait it out longer than 5 minutes. But what is the gift in this challenge? When you're in the car, it's podcast time, thinking time, or otherwise making a few phone calls. What is the equivalent potential gift in the challenge you're experiencing right now? If we can remain flexible in our route, but focused on a healthy, God-honoring growth-goal destination, we will find the growth journey not only more rewarding, but feel an ongoing sense of momentum building. The Nehemiah narrative is testimony to the wisdom of being flexible and focused.I hope you're encouraged. I certainly am! I'm with you and our church in this growth journey! Bring on a flexible and yet focused week together! Written by Ps. Rob #growth #change #Nehemiah #learning #experimentation #goals

"...Run in such a way as to get the prize..." [1 Corinthians 9:24] When You're Not Winning, You're Learning Ever heard that phrase? I’ve heard it, and I like it. We live in a time that loves winning, and finds losing increasingly hard - and some people don't know how to lose well. The bible calls us to run the race to win: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." ------------------------- (1 Corinthians 9:24–25). Paul talks of running the race to win, but does that mean we’ve always got to be winning? And who wins all the time, anyway? The key to a winning mindset, that causes continual growth in our lives, is a deep commitment to learning. Intentional Change & Learning Core to Intentional Change Theory (ICT)are a series of non-linear discoveries, some of which we have covered in this blog series already: Discovery #1 - Having a clear picture of who you want to grow (change) into and become (See blog 1 & blog 2 for more info). Discovery #2 - Having a clear picture of where you are right now. (see blog 3) Discovery #3 - Putting these two clear pictures together, an intentional path for growth and development otherwise called a "Learning Agenda" (link to read more) is devised. Just to note - I added a blog, especially from a Christian perspective, that forgiveness is absolutely essential to personal growth and change - read "No longer driven by guilt" here. The picture here is a brilliant imagery that emphasizes the above well. We always launch out in life from a certain place (we're in the yellow jacket). We face a decision: where am I headed next? Often there is more than two options. But this is where defining who we are called to grow into becoming is so important. What is brilliant about ICT is the emphasis, once you've got your called future and real self clear, on growing through a "learning agenda". As author and theoretical founder Richard Boyatzis notes, "a learning agenda focuses on development. A learning orientation arouses a positive belief in one's capability and the hope of improvement. This results in people setting personal standards of performance, rather than "normative" standards that merely mimic what others have done." (p.615) He contrasts this learning orientation to a performance orientation, which evokes anxiety and doubts within. Why does a performance as opposed to a learning agenda do this? Addressing Performance Anxiety If you're always trying to attain a certain performance "gold standard" at school, university, or in the workplace, you're constantly experiencing a gap between your actual abilities and your required (or perception of) abilities to get the desired results. If this "gold standard" is another person, you've got the increased challenge of trying to do it exactly like that person does it - which is nigh impossible, and freaky if you can perfectly mimic someone else. Compared to a considered personal learning agenda, this performance "gold standard" approach to growth and change emphasizes the gaps (or gulfs) between you and your required performance levels - evoking anxiety and producing strong and potentially debilitating self-doubts. The truth is, the more we lack agency over our growth, the more we tend to be drowned in anxiety and doubts. ICT argues, especially with respect to personal or group growth and change - you've got to have personal agency in the whole process: Define honestly where you want to be (your ideal self, in Christ as Christians). Then define honestly where you are right now. Then you've got a pathway to chart, which is walked down one growth step at a time. The wisdom here is simple - if you're going to learn, you're going to have to start with what you do and don't know, and build from here. The performance "gold standard" model only ever starts with the (usually) big and audacious performance objective you've got to reach, not set by you, and usually in record time. I would say though, the biggest challenge to intentional change is not in the setting of a learning agenda, but in the maintenance of a learning agenda. This is where Nehemiah is a fantastic biblical example for us. Maintenance is the challenge In Nehemiah 2, we see Nehemiah scoping out the wall to work out what needed to be done (setting the learning agenda). We also see him scoping out the motivation levels in his potential team of workers (his fellow Israelite's). Learning Agenda Insight - You need to scope out not simply what you need to learn, but how much resource you've got to learn with at present. He then set about organizing and maintaining the work from Nehemiah 3 onward. Check these out: He refused resistance internally when it came (Nehemiah 4:4-5). Learning Agenda Insight - Without conviction growing is important, you'll give up. You develop this with and from God - as He speaks into your personal growth with His promise and power. He knew there was progress (Nehemiah 4:6) - Learning Agenda Insight - Our learning needs to be measurable and visible. The rebuilding of walls is easy to measure. Our growth may not be. However, think about it like this: you may want to grow your relationship with God, so how much time per week, for example, do you spend currently and could you spend with God, in meaningful ways that inspire you and build your relationship with Him? He was committed before God in prayer (Nehemiah 4:9) - Learning Agenda Insight - Prayer is foundational to our growth. He re-motivated himself and the building team (Nehemiah 4:10-14) - Learning Agenda Insight - growth requires maintenance. The easiest bit is starting a growth project. The hardest bit is maintaining it in the face of challenge, resistance, and lack of motivation. This is what separates out those who grow and those who don't, in the end. He adapted the learning agenda, deciding half his team would continue rebuilding and half were to be ready defend their work from dangerous enemies (Nehemiah 4:16) - Learning Agenda Insight - growth requires adaptation. Real life is messy, and constantly throws us curve balls. He made their growth as a city a moral issue (Nehemiah 5) - Learning Agenda Insight - growing is not simply a change of lifestyle. It's a change of identity. There will always be parts of us that are resistant to change and growth because we like things the way they are. This could be because we're lazy, we're stuck in a rut, or we're simply enjoying the pleasures of our current lifestyle, and it's sinful appeals, too much. But true growth comes through confronting who we are, repenting, and becoming who we're called to be. Hard, but by God's grace, the most richly rewarding part of growth for sure. So Nehemiah gives us great insights into how to maintain a Learning Agenda. Dare to Learn This Week As you set about Daring Greatly this week, Dare to Learn. Dare to not only set a Learning Agenda for personal change, but dare to maintain it, paying close attention the wisdom of Nehemiah's journey above. This week in particularly, I want to encourage you to take some time to think: How is God calling me to "run the race to win"? What learning development does that call me to start doing? As you get clarity in these answers, take heed the biblical wisdom not simply to set this agenda, but maintain it in the face of the inevitable challenges that will come ahead! #growth #daring #learn #greatness #nehemiah

"I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed  against you." [Nehemiah 1:6] That glaring breach Broken down walls are a powerful visual metaphor for guilt. How so? Mirriam-Webster's dictionary defines guilt in two core ways: "the fact of committing a breach of conduct especially violating law and involving a penalty" AND "feelings of culpability especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy." In these two definitions, we get to the heart of guilt - the breach of a standard. The standard may be external or internal. It may be legal or moral, cultural or personal. But we know we've breached a standard we've set ourselves or been set, and it doesn't feel good. In a sense, we've built a wall - this far I will go, and no further. Or - this is my new standard to build up. But how often do we find ourselves busting through our standards, or not being able to finish the standards we start and set ourselves. We end up experiencing breached walls. Sometimes, all over the place. And it just doesn't feel good at all! A question How much of the changes you've attempted to make, or made, in your life, have been driven by this sense of failing a standard followed by successful or unsuccessful further attempts to make the standard and keep it? Think: Personal health patterns and habits. Personal spiritual patterns like Bible reading and prayer or church attendance. Stopping socially problematic behaviors - like gossip, or jealousy. Reigning in your spending. The list goes on, but I would suggest that most human change is driven by a sense of violating a personal, social or moral standard and then trying to rectify this poor performance through doing better next time. The danger of ICT This is where the danger becomes clear in pursuing an "ideal self" without God. Check out our first post here for a basic breakdown of Intentional Change Theory (ICT). In short, ICT is all about personal growth through defining a pathway from your real current self to your ideal future self and then getting about working this plan. The problem is, in the end, that an "ideal self" is a set of standards that are all too easily breached or failed, and guilt is the reality incurred when such breaches occur. Whenever we make plans to change and grow in any area, we have to set standards of behavior. If you want to exercise more and regularly, you have to set out a pattern of habits. Same goes for any area of our lives. So far, so good. The challenge is - what is realistic? Do you want to be realistic, or ambitious? If you want to be ambitious, how ambitious is too ambitious? And then, of course, what happens when you don't make the mark you set for yourself, or don't make it consistently? Guilt kicks in. That's what happens. The icky feeling of failure. The icky feeling of failing again. Of being in that awkward, painful, and distressing place of setting and not meeting your standards. It sucks. It's a kick in the guts. And it seems inevitable.But is it? Enter the renewing power of forgiveness I don't believe guilt is the inevitable and sole driver of change in our lives. Don't get me wrong, guilt is an important feeling that indicates a breach in standards. We need this indicator. But to live on a "mouse wheel" of guilt induced behavior change is a really relentless, tiring, and debilitating way to live. It is the default for humanity, but it doesn't have to be.Forgiveness is the guilt circuit-breaker. Let me explain, from Nehemiah chapter 1. What is the core of Nehemiah's prayer? Check it out: "I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you." (Nehemiah 1:6) Confession. Of sin. Sin that produces guilt in the human heart. Sin that is a breach of God's standards, producing a guilty awareness, that can be cleared in only one way. King David understood the only way guilt gets cleared, and poetically declared his insight, in Psalm 103: "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—3 who forgives all your sinsand heals all your diseases..." (Ps 103:2–3) Even more powerful are the promising words of forgiveness God gives to Israel through Jeremiah the prophet after their rebellion against Him: "In those days, at that time,”declares the Lord, 'search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare." (Jeremiah 50:20) God's word gives us insight into the alternative way to grow, to become more than we are now, to lean into becoming who we are called to be, "ideally", in Christ. And it's not a process driven by guilt. But a process inspired by the power of being forgiven. Guilt removed such that it can no longer be found. But how do I change, if it's no longer by guilt's driving force? You and I can change by faith in the power of a loving, merciful and forgiving God who backs you as you choose to partner with Him, rather than prove to yourself and Him that you can match and exceed the standards - wherever they are from. You change by fixing your eyes on the One who fulfilled the highest standard in the Universe - the standard of being a perfect, sinless human - and letting Him lead you by faith in His empowering grace. You can leave a life driven by fear of guilt and shame and condemnation behind (what Paul argues in Romans 8). True change is possible...but it's not guilt-driven True change is God-led, and for us as Christians, Jesus-empowered. Hear Paul's dramatic life change, as a biblical example from the New Testament: "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (1 Ti 1:12–14) Isn't that cool. A violent man forgiven, and then entrusted with the service of being an Apostle to the newly beginning church of Jesus Christ. That's true change. And it was lasting change. And this is what every human heart craves! Soaked in Forgiveness Nehemiah knew forgiveness was the key to the changes he wanted to see happen in Jerusalem. That's why he started the epic building work with a season of prayer seeking God's complete and total forgiveness for him and his people. He wanted the work he was about to do to be soaked in forgiveness. True and lasting change can be soaked in nothing less. This week, as you continue to grow and think about how you can change, ask the question, "are the changes I'm seeking to make soaked in the forgiveness of my heavenly Father?" If not, why not take the time, like Nehemiah did, to bring your guilt and shame to Jesus first, before you seek to change further, and soak yourself in the forgiveness and mercy of God. Trust me, you won't be the same as a result! Written by Ps. Rob. #change #forgiveness #daring #growth #guilt #love #mercy

"The God of heaven will give us success" (Ne 2:20) Coming "Crashing" Back Down We're working through how we grow as individuals and as a church through this blog series. We're working through a Theory of Intentional Change (ICT), and finding how Nehemiah's God-led change initiative - rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem - seems to dovetail really well with this theory. It makes sense - God's wisdom for personal change is unparalleled, and we're always finding modern insights that simply concur with his ancient wisdom. In esGetting beyond being "crashing" into your personal realitysence, ICT suggests that personal or group change happens through a series of non-linear (i.e. not one-after-the-other) discoveries. Discovery one, covered last week, was discovering the ideal self (or group) - the person or people we want to, or as Christians, are called to become. This week, we come "crashing" back down to the reality of who we are right now! The Not So Fun Discovery Dreaming about the future, or growing in understanding who we are in Christ, is very inspiring. Having to wrestle with the pain-points and reality checks of who we are right now is not so much. But, for intentional change to take place, you have to wrestle with, and get a good understanding of, where you are now. It stands as a self-evident truth that if you want to go in a certain direction, charting the wisest and best course of action requires a good understanding of where you are right now. Hence, the second discovery of ICT. Nehemiah didn't fear asking these questions Nehemiah knew he had to get a good understanding of the current situation for the city of Jerusalem. He couldn't afford to be naive if he was going to lead a successful rebuild. We can't afford to be naive about our current reality if we are going to grow as individuals and as a church. Key questions to ask in this particular discovery phase are: Where am I closer to my called self - in Christ - than not? These are your strengths, areas where the grace of God is clearly at work. Where am I further away from my called self - in Christ - than not? These are your areas of weakness, areas where you need to seek God for His grace and wisdom on. In essence, you are looking to do a personal SWAT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis. Here is a resource to check-out if you are keen to go further - you'll find a list of questions to ponder that will draw out of you much more self-awareness than you might otherwise have found. Nehemiah's SWAT Take-aways What did Nehemiah's SWAT analysis look like? Reading Chapter 2, from verse 11 onward: He spent a short period of 3 days doing his initial inspection of the state of the walls of Jerusalem (vs.11). Key take-away: we don't need endless amounts of analysis on the state of our brokenness. Just enough to get a good picture where God's grace needs to go to work to rebuild us. He took only "a few others" with him (vs.12). Key take-away: We don't need endless numbers of people advising us on our strengths and weakness, but we need a trusted few. Who are your trusted few who you can ask - what are my personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, from your perspective? He did not beat around the bush with the situation before him; it was a "bad situation", "desolate" and the need was to rebuild so as to "no longer be in disgrace." (vs.13) Key take-away: One of the biggest challenges we have as humans is the tendency to underplay our weaknesses and overplay our strengths. Biblical wisdom is humility - to be honest with ourselves. As you do your personal SWAT analysis, don't over or under-play yourself - just be as honest as you possibly can be. He had a clear sense of God being with him (vs.18). Key take-away: Jesus is God with us (Matthew 1:23), as we pursue His purpose for our lives (Matthew 28:18-20). Any personal SWAT analysis we do must be put in the context of this biblical promise and truth. He did his analysis with a hopeful purpose - to rally the people of Israel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, which they did (vs.18).  Key take-away: we must not lose sight of our purpose; we are called to grow into the fullness of who we are in Christ, nothing less and nothing else. He refused to be intimidated by the resistance and opposition that is inevitable when we choose to grow and rebuild (vs.20). Key take-away: The God of heaven wants to give us success in growing in Him, no less than he gave Nehemiah success in his call to rebuild. This week - do two things Seriously, there is no time like right now to do this. Here's two things to do this week: Do a personal SWAT analysis, using the questions in the linked article above from MindTools as your key resource. Take these questions to 2 other people, and do this same SWAT analysis - you asking the questions, and ask these trusted advisers for their honest answers. You'll experience a much greater personal clarity on where you are at right now, and further, you'll experience a sense of clarity around where you are wanting and needing to grow from. Getting a clear starting-point is crucial to making a most accurate and helpful journey to your final destination in Christ. Written by Ps. Rob #growth #change #transformation #daring #Nehemiah #personal

Do you think much about your imagination? What it is, and how it works? I think, if you're anything like me, you simply take it for granted. Therefore, giving some definition will help us all get on the same page. A really helpful book on the imagination and it's need for redemption, titled "Imagination Redeemed", clearly states that the imagination: "...is simply the power of the mind to form a mental image, that is, to think in pictures or other sensory representations." [p.13] As a quick example of the imagination in action, remember right now what you had for lunch, yesterday. Let me help you remember (and imagine): What did it look like? How did it taste? Another example of the imagination in action is in our planning for the future: where will you be going tomorrow? What will you be doing? In short, whenever we relive the past, daydream or fantasize, and plan for the future, we are imagining. It's quite a significant mental capacity. So, a question: have you ever thought that your imagination needs to be redeemed? That God needs to bring healing, renewal, and the power of His grace to work in the midst of all of your imagining? This is the argument of the book, "Imagination Redeemed", and I don't doubt it's truth. You only have to think about how we can quickly plan for and imagine the worst for our future (fear driven imagining), and how often we find ourselves escaping hard, necessary or painful life courses by daydreaming and fantasizing ourselves away into other worlds (or sometimes binge watching what others have imagined for us), to know that we have humans have an imagination problem. Intentional Change Theory (ICT) and Imagination I started last week (link here) to unpack very briefly the model of how we sustain personal and group change known as Intentional Change Theory (ICT). The author of this model of change, Richard Boyatzis, argues that personal and group change is not linear but rather happens as a result of a series of discoveries that interact with each other. The first discovery he lists, foundational for change, is the discovery of the "Ideal Self". This discovery is an intentional process of thinking over and uncovering who I really want to be? Or, to put it in more biblical language, who I am called to be. In short, intentional change starts with using our imaginations to think of the future self we feel most compelled to become. Now this is where things become interesting, if we look to the Nehemiah narrative, especially in chapter 1. Enter Nehemiah Read chapter 1 over again. What do you observe? I'll share my observations. In chapter 1, we find: A man whose imagination has become deeply distressed with images of a broken down Jerusalem city. A man whose imagination turns to the one sure and safe place to go in times of distress - God. A man who turns his imagination to the only sure foundation for true imagining in any area of our lives - the biblical scriptures, and the history of God's working in and through His people. A man who finds a new picture of a preferred future stirring in himself as result of turning to God and letting the biblical scriptures fill his imagination, inform his desires, and through time spent in God's presence, an ideal future begins to form in his mind for himself and his people. A man who is prepared to be more than just good ideas, even magnificent imagining - a man who is prepared to put his imagination, inspired and redeemed by God, into action. Nehemiah was all about intentional change. And for Nehemiah, intentional change begun first in prayer, by surrendering and soaking his imagination in God - God's truth, God's scriptures, God's promises, God's purposes. Growth Is YOUR choice I said the weekly email that change in life is a given, but growth is a choice. Your choice. God has given us the grace. The tools are both ancient and modern. Ancient wisdom from Him, combined with helpful modern psychological frameworks, can truly help you grow...and even transform. Are you ready to make the choices necessary. Start as Nehemiah did. By allowing God to soak your imagination in who He is, and what He promises. The truth is, we've all got cause for distress. Life, especially our personal lives, is not all how we want it to be going. We have problems. Difficulties. Pains we avoid. Things we find hard to overcome, even impossible. In other words, we've got great opportunities for growth, if we will approach these challenges (as well as the strength areas in our lives) in intentional ways. Practice this week. The New Testament takes us one step further than Nehemiah went. Nehemiah did not have the hope, the promise, and the incredible possibilities we now have in Christ. I would encourage you to choose to grow. To choose to step into a season of intentional growth. We are as a church. Let's do this, TOGETHER. For us who trust in and follow Christ, Jesus has given us nothing less than the best resources to grow. Check out this awe-inspiring promise in 1 Corinthians 2: "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of  God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are  discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about  all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ." I don't have time to explain everything here, but CHECK OUT the last line - what do you and I have? The very mind of Christ. Talk about resources to imagine. Talk about resources to plan a faith-filled future. Talk about resources to work out a way forward through the challenges and complexities of life, and purposefully grow through it all. If you want a fuller list of incredible promises of who we are, and what we have, in Christ, and some faith-building commentary, get this book by Ps Phil Pringle, leader of our C3 Church Movement titled, "The Born Identity". Irrespective, redeeming the untapped potential of your imagination starts with bringing who you are, in surrender and seeking trust, before who God is. And the place we discover who God is, every time, is the biblical scriptures. With a seeking disposition, and an open mind, allow God to immerse your imagination in who He is...and watch as you become bold enough to dare greatly - in ways you quite likely never imagined before! Written By Ps Rob. #imagination #daring #growth #change #identity #redemption

"...Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." [Nehemiah 1:11] I've been fascinated with how people grow all my life. It's why I studied psychology, and it's been why I've loved being involved in church - to the point of planting a church. I've been reading recently researching a psychologists work modelling how people and groups intentionally change. And I've found it both fascinating, and deeply connected to how God works. The model of how people change is called "Intentional Change Theory" (ICT).  As the name suggests, it is a theory, backed up by increasing amounts of psychology research, about how people intentionally change. The original author of the work, Richard Boyatzis, has spent a reasonable amount of his professional career working out how people change in desired and sustainable ways. So far, so good. His modelling suggests that personal and group change is not linear (hallelujah - who has lived a life where personal or group growth just proceeded in a nice step-by-step, linear fashion???) but rather happens as a result of a series of discoveries that interact with each other. I'll list them and briefly explain each one below: Discovery #1 - My Ideal Self - I think over and uncover who I want to be. Discovery #2 - My Real Self - I think over and uncover who I am now - the good, bad and ugly. Discovery #2.1 - My Strengths & Gaps - I look at where my ideal self, and real self, are similar (strengths) and different (gaps)? Discovery #3 - My Learning Agenda - I develop a learning agenda that helps me build on my strengths whilst reducing my gaps. Discovery #4 - I develop new thoughts, behaviors and feelings through acting on my learning agenda and experimenting into growth. Discovery #4.1 - New neural pathways (learning patterns and habit building in the brain) are built through practicing to mastery. Discovery #5 - Resonant relationships are sought and built that help and encourage me through this whole growth process. This is, if you like, an "agenda" for growing in your personal life. In a group situation (like our church), the agenda would be modified for a group environment - for example, Discovery #1 would be the groups Ideal self (otherwise known as our vision). I think this is a pretty powerful model for sustained and intentional personal growth (and I am going to set about using it for our church as our church's "growth agenda"). But you know what's even more cool? I think the Nehemiah series we're in at the moment fits really quite powerfully with this framework. ICT & Nehemiah Think about it like this: Nehemiah, in chapter 1, has a really clear picture of his personal and national future, and it is very different to their current circumstances. Nehemiah, in chapter 1, also has a really clear picture of the real personal and national situation - it wasn't good, but there was hope based in God's promises. Nehemiah, in chapter 2, goes about working out the strengths and gaps (quite literally) in the city of Jerusalem - particularly the walls - and develops a learning agenda for change (think - he made a plan for how to rebuild the walls and recruited people). Nehemiah 3 - records how he begins to work on the learning agenda for change with the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 4 on-wards - records lots of different developments in the rebuild project - experimentation is happening, there is resistance to change they have to work through, there is the building of resonant relationships, there is development and adaptation of the learning agenda, and there is further discovery of the strengths and gaps between their real situation and their ideal situation. In short, Nehemiah is a study, not just in Daring Greatly, but in Daring greatly to Grow. It is a study in Daring Greatly to Grow as individuals, and as a church. Over the next few weeks, I'm going to dive in and unpack Nehemiah from this personal and group growth perspective, drawing on insights from ICT to make it all the more interesting, and personally applicable for each of us. Because in the end - who doesn't want to grow. And even more - who doesn't want to see how the bible can help me do so - with clarity and wisdom! Written by Ps. Rob #growth #Nehemiah #change #transformation #God #grace

But the fruit of the Spirit is... self-control - Galatians 5:23 How many times have you said to yourself, "if only I had more self control?" I figure I would be one of the richest women alive if I had a gold coin for every time someone thought that. Self control, or self discipline can be a tough thing to embrace and develop, particularly when the opposite, giving in, is so easy. So what is self control? Although there are multiple theories about it, the scientific research suggests that it is like a muscle - capable of being depleted with repeated use, but also capable of being strengthened with repeated exercise. Think about it. During the day you are going to use self control hundreds of times. From getting out of bed, to getting dressed, actually working from home rather than napping, to reading the bible, praying to God and doing a workout at night. And since it is like a muscle, towards the end of the day, it can get tired. For example, research has consistently shown it is much easier to do a workout in the morning than in the evening because you have more self control. But we also know that while in the short term using the muscle fatigues it, in the long term the more you use it the stronger it becomes. That's why it is so hard to break a bad habit at first, but gets easier with time. How do we build self control? Well, since it is like a muscle, practice strengthens it. So yes, not eating that last Tim Tam is hard the first time. But it gets easier the second and third and fourth. Or maybe the 32nd, or 33rd, or 34th! Furthermore, Since, like a muscle, it can also get depleted, we need to be intentional in taking away opportunities to deplete it unhelpfully - i.e. that don't put you in a position of temptation in the first place (the bible advises us to "flee" temptations - 2 Tim 2:22). But how do we do this through the power of Holy Spirit? Well, have you thought of the bible and prayer, church and regular meaningful connection with other believers, as strength training? Holy Spirit self-control strength training? Well, that's exactly what it is. You want to get strong, God kind of strong. Turn up. Train. Regularly. Build those muscles. In the power of the Holy Spirit. Even when we are not in the mood, turning up and putting in, relying upon the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us, is strength training that will build long term Holy Spirit powered self-control in us. When I think of examples of self-control and temptation, I often compare how Adam and Eve responded to Satan's temptation to how Jesus responded. Adam and Eve were tempted by the Fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 3), and eventually ate the fruit, bringing sin into the world. On the other hand, Jesus (having just fasted for 40 days in the desert) was tempted three times by Satan, and using the word of God was able to resist temptation (E.g. Luke 4). So as we finish this series, think about what aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit you need to work on. Do you need to be more loving, joyful or peaceful? Should you be acting with patience, kindness or goodness? Do you need to demonstrate more faithfulness or gentleness? Or do you just need self control? May God grant you the grace and power you need in the Holy Spirit as you turn up and regularly strength train in the places and with the people He calls you to. -Written by Ashleigh Crosilla.

But the fruit of the Spirit is ...faithfulness, gentleness - Galatians 5:22 - 23 When I first sat down to write this blog, I had no idea what I wanted to say about faithfulness and gentleness. For me, they are the cornerstone of my relationship with God - my trust in him and the way I act. The bible uses the word "faith" 336 times, clearly indicating the importance of this disposition (for example Hebrews 11:1 and Mark 5:36) . Similarly, while gentleness is not found a significant number of times, other words such as "meekness", "humility" and "humble" are regular themes in both the Old and New Testament (for example Proverbs 15:1; Philippians 2:3 ) But like every other fruit of the Spirit, it is so easy to doubt and experience pride. Trusting others, especially an unseen, all powerful being, can be daunting. Similarly, being humble, meek and showing humility is also anachronistic with our current world of individualism, selfies and social media. And yet, in many ways trusting someone and showing humility isn't that tricky to do. Consider children: they are the ultimate example of trusting, relying on Mum and Dad to provide for their every need whether it is food, shelter, comfort or simply a nappy change. And, from my personal experience, they don't understand the concept of pride or bragging (maybe I am wrong - my daughter is only 9 months after all). This is why I think God instructs us to be like children (Matthew 8:3) because they naturally imbue the values which he wants us to act rather than the values and behaviours we have learnt and display as adults. So why do we struggle to trust? Why do we brag or ignore our neighbour? My training, experience and research has shown that it is our childhood experiences that can lead us to struggle to trust, to be selfish or prideful. Research has shown that as children we have particular physical and emotional needs that need to be met. We know that when children don't have these needs met, they apply meaning to this. This meaning is generally personal and teaches them a rule about themselves or the world. These rules are different for each child, but ultimately they can be harmful. For example, a child whose mother often makes promises and then fails to meet them may learn a rule that people are not trustworthy, or that they are not worth having promises kept. Or a father who often tells their child how amazing they are at school may inadvertently teach the child that they are only valuable because of their achievements or that is it important to brag about what they do and showoff. It is very important to recognise that in most cases parents have the best of intentions, but the reality is that life experiences, even from an early age, can be a mixture of matched and mismatched intentions and needs. Ultimately, we all learn rules about the world that contain a mixture of trust and mistrust meanings, or pride versus humility meanings. And these rules continue into adulthood where they generalise out and influence our ability to relate to others - and more importantly - to God. And this is where the beauty of God comes into play. Firstly - God loves us irrespective of our history and experience. Specifically, he loved us so much that he sacrificed his son for us (John 3:16) which, as a mother, is mind boggling. And because God loves us that much, he sent us the Holy Spirit to help us grow in these areas and build faithfulness, build gentleness. All we need to do is start with a seed - a small amount of faith and the Holy Spirit will help us grow - just like a tree starts as a seed and with nutrients and water (reading the bible, praying, connecting with God) it will grow. This week, I therefore encourage you to plant some seeds. Take a step in faithfulness, be gentle. Talk to God and ask him to to heal you from the unhelpful learning of your childhood (which we know he does as demonstrated a gazillion times in the New Testament). Let the Holy Spirit in to show you the areas that you need to work on. Trust him - just like children do. - Written by Ashleigh Crosilla. If the information presented here today triggered some mental distress, you may also benefit from additional support and discussion. Some useful sources of support include: Lifeline 13 11 14 Blue Knot Foundation 1300 657 380 Mensline 1300 78 99 78 Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 Or speak to your GP.

But the fruit of the Spirit is... patience, kindness, goodness - Galatians 5:22 Unconditional positive regard. It's the foundation of my work as a psychologist. No matter who presents in my room, no matter what they are coming to me seeking help for, I make sure to communicate acceptance and support to my client. And in doing so, I am able to help them change and heal. Unfortunately, like everything in life, this can sometimes be a challenge. Some of my clients present with attitudes and beliefs that I personally disagree with. Or having taken actions that I would not, personally, support. And yet, as a psychologist it is not my place to judge or condemn them. Rather, my role is to stand beside them as they explore their innermost self. Fortunately for my clients, I have an amazing God who has given me some tools that can help me treat people with acceptance and support. The three fruit of the spirit that we are exploring today are regularly drawn upon to help me with clients. Patience is defined as "the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious" while kindness is "the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate". Goodness is "the quality of being morally good or virtuous". Each of these are a way of acting or behaving towards others to help them feel loved and accepted. And yet, they can be difficult to maintain in times of struggle. It is very easy to become impatient, or unkind when frustrated or delayed. It is very easy - and tempting - to be wicked, to take short cuts, be rude or cheat when the opportunity arrives. Think about it, how many times have you gotten frustrated when you are driving to an appointment and get stuck behind a slow driver. In that moment - are you demonstrating patience, kindness and goodness? Or are you muttering under your breath (unkindness), honking the horn (impatience) and tailgating them (wickedness)? But in the end, it doesn't help. You are still stuck behind that driver running late to your appointment. However, instead of being relaxed and calm, you are now agitated, frustrated and jumpy - which means you are more likely to cause an accident. Or, in the case of the therapy room, more likely to communicate this to the client, causing them to feel distressed or ashamed. So, what do I do instead? Instead I focus on something positive about the person in the room (even it is something small such as they have nice shoes). I remind myself that they are a human being who God loves and that no matter what, they deserve to be accepted. I embrace patience and the idea of being there beside them and communicate my respect for them as a person with kindness and goodness. It's hard work, but the effect on my clients is amazing. So this week, why don't you practice some unconditional positive regard by the help of the Holy Spirit? How? Ask Him, who is with you, to help you - by giving you opportunity to practice these fruits this week, and the power from Him to walk them out. And in doing so, increase your ability to be patient, kind and good. Written by Ashleigh Crosilla

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace - Galatians 5:22 There are some emotions that I treasure. Peace in particular is one that I strive to experience on a daily basis. Admittedly, in this chaotic world feeling peaceful is something that I struggle to experience regularly, but when I do - when I experience the tranquility that comes with peace then I not only feel one with the world, but I feel close to God. Galatians 5:22 - 23 talk about nine different feelings, behaviours or values that we should strive to experience and act in line with. These values can be developed by connecting closely to God and are brought to fruition through the Holy Spirit, but like my ability to feel peace, are often blocked by the world and our competing demands. Over the next four weeks we are going to look at these nine fruit and explore common blocks preventing us from acting in line with them. The first three fruit - love, joy and peach - are directed inwardly, representing internal states that we should experience. In psychology, we often talk about a variety of different forms of love (for example affectionate love, enduring love, romantic love, obsessive love, self and selfless love) each which play a different role in our life. But we also acknowledge the opposite side to love; which is pain and how it is in our nature to avoid this feeling. Similarly, while we can seek joy or happiness, we may try to avoid sadness which is the opposite side of the coin. And this logic also applies to peace and its opposite - chaos. The unfortunate secret about these emotions is that you cannot have one without the other. For example, you cannot love someone without risking pain, nor can you feel joy without risking sadness. So when you decide that you don't (understandably) want to experience these negative emotions, you are also losing out on the positive ones - and therefore actually missing out on experiencing some amazing things that God wants to give you. So, how do we learn to accept and allow those negative feelings in? We start by deciding that we are no longer going to avoid feeling those emotions. And then we decide that we will be fully present with our emotions - notice the sensations that you are experiencing, rather than distracting, avoiding or numbing ourselves out. Secondly, we start thinking about these emotions in a different way - instead of calling them "negative" or "bad" we call them unpleasant; making them less overwhelming and scary. We take the judgement away from these emotions and instead acknowledge that they are a part of our life. Thirdly, we realise that we can move through our emotion. We know that when we feel an emotion it triggers a physiological or bodily reaction which is what we want to get away from. But just like any other physiological sensation, we know that it will eventually dissipate as we give it time - just like any other bodily sensation. We just need to ride the wave. The Psalms are full of prayers from people who are riding this wave of emotion, they are very helpful in showing us how to talk to God no matter what our emotional state. So, this week I encourage you to focus on feeling your emotions - both those pleasant and unpleasant. Then talk to God about them. -Written by Ashleigh Crosilla.

“...that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”- ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ Whenever I think about hearing God‘s voice and knowing his will, I think of the movie “Saved!” In this satirical movie, the protagonist hits her head and “hears“ the voice of God telling her to have sex with her boyfriend. Whether or not was actually God’s voice is not debated in the movie; but for me, it’s an excellent example of failing to truely discern his will and identify what is good, acceptable and perfect. So, how do you know God's will? In the chaotic world that we live in, failing to listen and discern correctly can be quite easy - especially in matters close to the heart. When we are battling the choice between living a life of worldly values or Godly (good, acceptable and perfect) values, it can be tempting to take the easy path. Which is why it is important to recognise this and make conscious effort to change. And psychology can help us to do this. Firstly, by recognising that there is a difference between the worldly values and the Godly values, we can test our values against God's word in the Bible and know that if it does not match, then it is likely not the will of God. Secondly, we can be present with God; using relaxation and mindfulness strategies to calm our mind and be present with him. Thirdly, we can use the Observing Self to start noticing when we are hearing God and seeking his will. This will allow us to observe both our inner experience and desires while also giving us time to hear his will. We can then use the Thinking Self to evaluate whether what we are hearing from God is in line with what he says in the Bible, and seek guidance from members of the church. Lastly, we can use the Choice Point to help us choose to act in line with God's will, even in times when it is difficult and challenging. I hope this series has helped you in understanding more about how to build a relationship with God and recognise what is important for both him and yourself. - Written by Ashleigh Crosilla.