Dear CLDI Family and Friends,
As I have been reading Andy Crouch’s remarkable book, Culture Making, one particular thought has deeply resonated with me. Crouch beautifully portrays disciplines as these unassuming and inconspicuous practices. He says they go unnoticed, neither attracting attention nor deserving any external reward. Instead, they serve as a humbling reminder, preparing us for those precious moments when our work is finally recognized and applauded. This concept has sparked a reflection on the spiritual disciplines I have been practicing and the responsibilities I now carry in my new role here at CLDI.
I have come to the realization that my spiritual disciplines have played an integral part in shaping and preparing me for this position. Many a time, these seemingly small and routine acts I’ve undertaken throughout the past ten years of walking with Jesus may have felt insignificant. Yet, as I take a step back and assess my present circumstances, I am astounded by how profoundly God has shaped and influenced me through these small acts.
I must confess that these disciplines have not always been easy. In fact, they have often exposed my own weaknesses, laziness, and foolishness. However, it is through their difficulties that I have learned and grown, equipping me to face the challenges that lie ahead. And it is during those precious moments when it feels as if fruit bursts forth from my tiniest efforts, and I am reminded of the true power of God.
As I grow in this new role at CLDI, my heart swells with gratitude for the ways that the Holy Spirit has changed me in this journey. Though my efforts have seemed unassuming and routine at times, Jesus is quietly influencing my actions and decisions each day. It is both humbling and awe-inspiring to recognize the profound impact of these practices and how God moves through them in preparing me for everyday life. So I continue to ask the question, what spiritual practices is God using to shape you?
“Disciplines are small and by themselves inconsequential (like the scales that professional musicians play every day), attracting no notice and deserving no prize, humbling us in advance of the occasions when our work will be recognized and applauded. Disciplines are difficult, revealing all too clearly our laziness and foolishness, preparing us for the times when fruit seems to burst from our smallest efforts.”
― Andy Crouch, Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling
CLDI Monthly Snapshot
- We took a crew of 5 counselors and 18 campers to Junior High Camp on the Boulder. It was amazing to see students freely worship, pray aloud for cabin chat times, and make the decision to give their lives to Jesus!
- Our interns have returned safely from our international exposure trip–thank you so much for your prayers! Please pray as we look at and finalize our 23-24 intern class that the lord would bring the right people to join us for the upcoming year.
- We officially have a full house at the Hannah House, but we will have a couple of transitions out in the next couple of months. We are also gearing up to open up our transition home at the beginning of August. We have two women transitioning from the main house to the transition home and will potentially have the other two spots filled.
Currently reading & listening
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life from Donald S Whitney
- Culture Making by Andy Crouch is a thought-provoking exploration of the role of culture in shaping society and the transformative power of human creativity. Crouch challenges the prevailing notion that culture is something we consume or critique and instead proposes that culture is something we are called to create. Drawing from diverse examples across history and disciplines, Crouch argues that culture making is an essential task for Christians and all people of faith, as it allows us to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world.
Scripture to Meditate On
“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Blessings,
Kaleb
