Many people want to feel emotionally and spiritually well, but aren’t always sure how to get there. The Plumline blog offers practical guidance that will help you get unstuck, find rest, and experience peace.
The Dark Side of “The Bright Side”
Have you ever experienced the following scenario: You open up about a recent disappointment, only to be told how you should, “Look on the bright side?” Then, they remind you that someone else has it worse. . . Let’s be real, the proper human response to hurt isn’t gratefulness or even positivity. The proper response is more like, “OW, this hurts.” The world is full of toxic positivity, pretending to be hope. Yet, maybe the
Losing Religion & Finding Jesus
Perhaps you have experienced a version of religion that feels demanding and exhausting? It feels like when an institution demands you practice your faith a certain way, insisting their process is the only way, and their secondary (or tertiary) theological emphases must be prioritized while undervaluing the core tenets of true Christianity. There is an easy yoke right in front of you that is being offered by Jesus himself. But to carry his light burden,
You’re Not The Voice In Your Head
Ego is the voice in your head. It is the voice that is constantly pulling you off into the future, demanding that you must fix, solve, plan, or perform. Or maybe it is dragging you back to the past, demanding that you fixate on that thing that was said or done, “back there.” Ego is the ENEMY of presence. Ego will steal your happiness if you let it. When you attempt to make space for
A Bit on Breathing. . .
Is it possible that shallow breaths make for a shallow life? Science seems to think so. . . In this caffeinated culture we find ourselves in, it is no wonder why heart rates, blood pressure, and stress are through the roof. In a recent article, Scientific American went as far as to suggest the following: “From stress reduction and insomnia prevention, to emotion control and improved attention—breathing techniques make life better.” When you sign up
The Inward Journey
“Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you.” – St. Augustine of Hippo Perhaps this is the great misunderstanding of life? You look for validation, worth, and love
How to Practice Presence
If you’re like most of us, you’re coming to terms with the fact that the end of summer is just a few weeks away. Kids are going back to school, schedules are changing, and it may seem like your life is about to get busier than ever… So, how do you make the most of the summer you have left? How do you walk into your next season with a strong sense of clarity, resilience,
Where do relationships go wrong?
As human beings, we naturally hunger for strong, healthy relationships. We’re made to be with other people, which is why it hurts so much when relationships go wrong. You’ve asked why this happens, so Dr. Jake recorded this video to shed some light and tell you how you can strengthen your relationships. In it he explains: If you want to keep your relationships from going wrong, we invite you to check out our online HEART
Codependency is NOT caring
From an outside view, codependency can look like loving, caring behavior. But in this video, Dr. Jake explains how it’s anything but. Watch to learn:
How strong are you?
Before you start to sweat, don’t worry. I’m not asking you to flex your biceps or show me how much you can bench press. I want to talk with you about your strength system. Spiritually speaking, your strength system is your ability to embody and express the beliefs that you hold dear. These beliefs could be theological beliefs and philosophies. They could also be reflected in your mindset and self-discipline. People who live primarily out
Engage your mind without losing your heart
Last week, I wrote about your mind system—the part of your spiritual anatomy that engages your intellect. This week we’ll talk about how to engage your mind system without forgoing your heat. You and I are called—along with all Christ followers—to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). This verse is critical to understanding what true mind system nourishment and integration looks like. The key here is the word “transformation,” which is
Your mind and your spiritual health
If you’re like many North Americans, the “mind system” probably feels comfortable and familiar. From the perspective of your spiritual anatomy, the mind system is your ability to think and learn. This system is shaped and molded by many influences as we grow up. Some of these influences are institutional—the schools we attend, the churches in which we worship, the extracurricular activities that we pursue. Other influences are cultural, such as peer pressures and societal
Soul prayer – How does one do soul work?
A couple weeks back, I talked about your “soul system” in the blog post: “Why Are We Drawn to Personality Tests?” To remind you the “soul system” is the part of the spiritual anatomy that represents one’s true identity. As I said then, sometimes, talking about your “soul” can feel very abstract and removed from reality. And there’s a good reason for that. Your soul is a vast ocean. It’s where you commune deeply with