I write about spiritual formation in the Christian tradition. • @dwellbible co-founder • @renovare team member • Author of Dwelling in Christ: 👇
Dallas TX
Joined January 2010
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Perfection isn’t mine to give my kids. But penitence is. This, too, is a very real way of showing Christ.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Fatherhood, a Poem from Wendell Berry, and the Gift of Apology
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-f…
Jonathan R. Bailey retweeted
"How does Christianity work? How does transformation happen? How does it get lived? When I look back on my life, I realize so many of my longings were legitimate and sincere, but my understanding was just wrong."-@jonathanrbailey
raptinterviews.com/articles/…
I’m tired of falling. But no one learns to walk without stumbling. You learn by stepping out, falling, and getting back up again ... and again ... and again.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Patience in Prayer, Wisdom from John Main, and Learning Through Clumsiness
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-p…
Practices don’t transform me. Grace does. At best, the practices open me up to receive it.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Humility, a Teaching from Amma Theodora, and Holding Practices Lightly
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-h…
Vainglory wants the image of transformation without the long intimate journey that produces it.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Vainglory, a Teaching from Rebecca DeYoung, and Embracing Obscurity
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-v…
I’m really excited for The Apprentice Gathering in Wichita, KS, coming up in just a couple weeks!
In case you missed it, here's what I'll be teaching:
✨ **THURSDAY INTENSIVE · 2.5 HOURS**
**From Walking an Aisle to Walking a Path**
We’ll explore the ancient Threefold Way—purgation, illumination, and union—as a framework for understanding the lifelong journey of transformation with God.
Offered twice on Thursday.
✨ **FRIDAY WORKSHOP · 85 MINUTES**
**Learning to Pray Again**
We’ll learn and practice three accessible forms of prayer that can become lifelong companions: Little Lectio, Prompt Repentance, and the Jesus Prayer.
✨ **FRIDAY WORKSHOP · 85 MINUTES**
**How to Cultivate a Personal Rule of Life**
We’ll explore the foundations of a Rule of Life and a practical framework for creating a structured yet flexible way of organizing your journey toward God.
✨ I’d love to see you in Wichita, September 24–26.
The registration link is in my bio. 🔗
Jonathan R. Bailey retweeted
Today, @jonathanrbailey shares his passion for the Christian transformative process, the resources that brought lasting change, and the personal challenges he’s faced along the way. He graciously shares these insights exclusively with Rapt readers.
raptinterviews.com/features/…
Jonathan R. Bailey retweeted
From the cofounder of @dwellbible arrives a new book: 'Dwelling in Christ: Discover the Threefold Path of Spiritual Transformation.'
Aided by the wisdom of ancient monastics, contemporary theologians, and thoughtful reflections on his own spiritual journey, @jonathanrbailey invites us to trade the illusion of control for the reality of love.
He reintroduces the Threefold Way:
🤲 Purgation: Learn to release the harmful and unloving things that pull you away from God.
🤲 Illumination: Dwell more deeply in God's presence as you intentionally align your heart more with his.
🤲 Union: Experience an ever-deepening friendship with God that increasingly transforms you into Christlikeness from the inside out.
Out now wherever books are sold!
What matters most isn’t being a perfect parent. It’s being a transforming one — someone who apologizes, needs grace, and keeps growing.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Parenting, a Reminder from Fred Rogers, and Becoming a Transforming Presence
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-p…
Time never really stands still. It always moves us somewhere.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Time, a Word from Martin Luther King Jr., and Staying Awake
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-t…
It is easy to admire love from a distance. The harder work is learning to love the person right in front of us.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Abstract Love, an Insight from C.S. Lewis, and Practicing What We Admire
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-a…
I used to think conversion was a single moment. The longer I follow Jesus, the more I see that all of life is one long conversion—an ongoing turning toward God.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Lifelong Conversion, a Word from Emilie Griffin, and Saying Yes to God
threeweeklylights.substack.c…
There are things I still cling to. Some I don't even recognize. Others I can see, but I hold onto them anyway...
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Illusion and Stubbornness, Wisdom from George MacDonald, and Staying Open to Grace
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-i…
Some days the pace feels glacial. There's movement, to be sure, but no arrival. This may be one of the hardest lessons of the Christian life.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Slow Change, a Counsel from von Hügel, and the Work of Waiting
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-s…
The Desert Fathers weren't trying to be extraordinary. They were simply trying to become more fully themselves in Christ. I think there's something to learn from that.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On the Desert Fathers, Insight from Thomas Merton, and Drawing on Their Counsel
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-t…
The Bible is not a subject to conquer. It’s a record of people living their lives with God.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Reading the Bible, a Reminder from Hans Boersma, and Meeting God in the Text
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-h…
The Bible is not a subject to conquer. It’s a record of people living their lives with God.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Reading the Bible, a Reminder from Hans Boersma, and Meeting God in the Text
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-r…
Growth requires care.
Am I watering my soul enough? Am I placing myself in the right kind of light?
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Care, a Word from Tito Colliander, and the Seasons of the Soul
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-c…
📚 A fun Dwelling in Christ update:
✨ Barnes & Noble selected the book from among IVP's September releases, and it will be available in this fall
✨ June 23–26: Get 25% off preorders at Barnes & Noble with code PREORDER25:
barnesandnoble.com/w/dwellin…
✨ Premium members (free to join) and Rewards members are eligible
✨ Rewards members receive an additional 10% off
I'm grateful for all the support and encouragement along the way!
The more I read, the more I saw the same pattern appearing across centuries: purification, illumination, and union.
From Three Weekly Lights:
On Transformation’s Stages, Insight from Evelyn Underhill, and Living the Path Today
threeweeklylights.com/p/on-t…