Spiritual Fitness is a periodical (10 times a year) which is part of Presbyterians Today, all of which is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s web site.
If “Spiritual Fitness” has started in 2005 rather than 1999, you’d probably be calling it a blog. But it comes out once a month (with two “double issues” each year which cover 2 months) and has no cat pictures.
The Spiritual Fitness archives go back to 1999 and have very nice summaries of each year’s articles.
Except the 2006 archive, which is missing in action (as of this writing at least). I’ve notified the author who emailed back to say that she has passed the word along.
However, due to the uniform way in which the files are named (and a little help from Google) I was able to piece together the following index which might be useful if anyone is looking for it.
What I have appreciated about these articles is that they deal specifically with Reformed Christian Spirituality on a day-to-day basis in a way which I believe will make sense and be accessible to a number of people, especially Christians, even the non-Reformed among us.
So much of what we see/hear/read these days seems to come exclusively from the extreme conservative side of Christianity, it’s nice to see some excellent reflections coming from a different perspective.
- Jan/Feb: Watching what we watch
- Are we receiving messages that form us in the ways of Christ or those that present violence as normal and entertaining?
- March: Fast from over-stimulation
- If we give up at least some television viewing during Lent we might find ourselves more spiritually alive and at peace.
- April: ‘Open my eyes, illumine me’
- Not meant to be art in the conventional sense, Orthodox icons serve in prayer as portals to the Holy.
- May: ‘Come away … and rest’
- While discipleship involves active ministry it also includes making time for retreat, quiet and prayer.
- June/July: When ‘no’ is the best answer
- Turning down an invitation to participate in a worthy cause might allow others to develop as leaders.
- August: Prayers of the people
- Worship is time when we understand ourselves to be the real and tangible body of Christ in the world.
- September: A working Christianity
- No matter what we do, we can engage the spirit of Christ in our work and seek to manifest his saving presence.
- October: Glimpsing God in films
- The writers, producers and actors may not intend it, but God’s presence can be found in movies.
- November: The Psalms as real prayer
- Verses written thousands of years ago invite us to remember those who hurt today.
- December: Make me an instrument
- As people of prayer we aim to become more perfect resonators with the Spirit of God.