Author name: Jim Reiter

“Gleanings from the Life of Jesus: Insights for Spiritual Formation” is a Zoe-Life Exploration in which I engage my years of study and work with Biblical archaeologist and teacher, Jim Fleming— filtering it through the lens of spiritual formation (i.e.,…

Ruminations is the name we have given to a [free, downloadable] quarterly/seasonal offering of Zoe-Life Explorations.  Its aim reflects our mission: facilitating conversations and reflections about spiritual formation. The title derives from the process which is a cow chewing its…

For all the ways we are on a common, spiritual journey with fairly identifiable stages, we variously proceed and progress on that journey according to a wide variety of factors – temperaments and “wirings”, life situations and influences, environment,… This…

I’ve long been drawn to the movies for the deeper messages they can communicate. Some of the overtly Christian ones can count here. But, more especially, I’m thinking of “secular” films in which deeper, spiritual messages have surprised me, catching…

My brother, Steve, gave me a “Rolex” watch a few years ago. Had all the looks of the real thing: the word “Rolex” there on the face with the highly recognizable crown above,…  I was astounded when he gave it…

Next week will see us launching the first of two online, Winter-Spring spiritual formation courses at the Richard & Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship (via their website @ BeADisciple.com).  (A previous post [available by clicking here] shares more about these…

It remains a fundamental document in my spiritual formation library: pastor and blogger David Terpstra’s article at Christianity Today, entitled “Exit Stage Left: Why the Spiritually Mature are Leaving the Church.” It was my introduction to Janet Hagberg and Robert…

Symbols are important in our spiritual formation.  Ever pointing to icons and sculptures and artwork, Henri Nouwen has introduced us to the concept of “visio divina”, sacred viewing. Even so, the creche or nativity scene (first developed by St. Francis…

Developing teaching media and working in various secretarial capacities through the years has seen me become a fairly proficient desktop publisher. (In coming posts, I might need to share other proficiencies gleaned from the pastorate – including janitorial work and…