Foster's Ten Counsels in Spiritual Formation

Today I posted a blog entry over at the SoulPerSuit blog site, the other blog to which I contribute. As I wrote it, I could look out my hotel-room window at snow-capped Pikes Peak. It's about time. I've been in Colorado Springs for three days now, which started with board meetings for the Evangelical Press Association followed by the EPA national meeting. And frankly, I was beginning to doubt that they had mountains here. I got drenched and windblown. But when the fog blew off this morning, the view made up for the gloom. And despite the lousy weather, the conference has been great.

Last night we heard from Richard Foster, probably best known for Celebration of Discipline. He shared with us Ten Counsels in Spiritual Formation:

1. Do not define spiritual formation in terms of various practices. Having a quiet time, studying the Bible and journaling are all great. But they are not the same as being Christlike.
2. Do not focus on curriculum-based solutions. Curriculum should always serve ideas, which serve relationship.
3. Do not aim at outward action but on the interior life.
4. Do root spiritual formation in the Great Commission. Disciple the nations. A disciple is an apprentice. "Teach them to observe all that I have taught."
5. Do think internationally. Always think of the whole human family.
6. Do think in terms of the church universal.
7. Do give sustained attention to a balanced vision.
8. Do draw from The Great Tradition. Think Moses. Luther. Catherine of Genoa. The devotional masters.
9. Do take the long view. We think in terms of lifetimes. The soul will live forever. Vast numbers are committed to the long view. Invest in them.
10. Do develop the highest possible Christology. Increasingly our dependence should be on Him and off of us.