02.01.2010

Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of magine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
the world.

Michael is a
Certified Practitioner
of the
Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator.

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Root and Ground:
The second of six, 
"The Divine Narrative"  
Being rooted and grounded
in The Divine Narrative,
a story that is larger than my own.
  
The Spirit of God is a remarkable storyteller, and his wondrous stories are drawn from the very mind of God:
 
As it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words (1 Corinthians 2:9-13).
 
Authors J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis admired God as the Master Storyteller. Both men comprehended the power of story to communicate truth and to inspire the spirit. Interestingly, Tolkien was drawn to story because of his love for scripture; Lewis was drawn to scripture because of his love for story. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, and Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia, used their masterworks to convey themes of good and evil and to allegorize the Christian faith.

My perspective of scripture was formed when, as a youth, I read Life of Christ and Life of Paul by respected Scottish preacher, Professor James Stalker (1848-1927). These slender storybooks awakened me to scripture as a sweeping, interactive narrative--not at all as a reference book akin in literary style to an encyclopedia or a dictionary. Stalker masterfully reconciled the Gospels with Acts, and Acts with the epistles. In time, I discovered the structure and relationship shared by the Old and the New Testaments; and, later, the recurring theme of Bondage, Deliverance, and Reconciliation, common to the whole of scripture and its many parts.

Even as readers engage in Tolkien's Middle Earth and Lewis' Narnia, readers of the New Testament can engage the narratives, characters, and correspondence of the Bible and discover--and develop a passion for--Father, Son, Spirit; and justice, kindness, humility. 

Further, His Story, The Divine Narrative--the story of God's relentless pursuit of reconciliation with all things on earth and in heaven--doesn't conclude with the final page of  The Revelation; it continues to unfold to our generation and beyond, inviting you and me to step into its pages and to participate in the story--much as Peter, Lucy, Edmund, and Susan stepped through the wardrobe and into C.S. Lewis' world of Narnia.
 

Do you view scripture akin in literary style to an encyclopedia or a dictionary, or as a story--an historical narrative? To the point, have you ever picked up the Bible and read it from cover to cover as you would another volume?
 
How might regarding scripture as a narrative as opposed to a book subtitled, say, Book of Regulations Encapsulating Duty of Man (or the acronym thereof) prove transformative?
 
What spiritual rhythms or practices do you have around scripture? What do they suggest of your desire for scripture, your passion for its narrative? Where's your do-better place?
 
Do you have a favorite person, event, place within the narrative of scripture?
 
If you accept scripture as transcendent and true and timeless, how might The Divine Narrative of scripture root and ground you?

Michael Fox
m�agine!

530/613.2774
407 Myrtle Drive
Farmerville, LA, USA 71241  
In addition to personal and professional coaching,
m�agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching,
employing its proprietary models
--Values, Vision, Voice
and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength--

as well as
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator� curriculum
published by CPP, the People Development People.

Michael's books include
 
Complete in Christ,
Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook,
and Biblio�files.

Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details.
For additional information, visit our website at maginethepossibilities.net.

Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching.
On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities
to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees.

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