Dallas Willard- Training to Reign

The church at large lost a giant

 in the world of teaching about spiritual disciplines.

 Dallas Willard died May 8, 2013

 at the age of 77 from a short battle with cancer.

Dallas Willard- 1935- May 8, 2013


 The following quote gives an insight to his Resurrection thoughts
 that must bring comfort to his family at this time:

[Willard's] books all call out, in one way or another: Come on over. It's going to be okay to die first. You have to do it, and you can do it. Not even Jesus got a resurrection without a death, and he'll be at your side when you surrender your old life. Trust me on this. If you die with Jesus Christ, God will walk you out of your tomb into a life of incomparable joy and purpose inside his boundless and competent love.

I stumbled on the writings of Dallas Willard

 about 5 years ago in my research on Spiritual Formation.

 Nothing had as much of an impact as his writings. 

 I was blessed to hear him speak at the

 Renovare Conference in San Antonio in 2006

 and he came to a local church a few years back

 and I heard him speak there also....

 The phrase that still sticks in my mind --

sometimes out of the blue on a hard day-

"We are training to reign."  

We are to bring God Glory Here

 and this is all "training to reign " with Him in heaven.

Not as equal in majesty, but esteemed,

 dearly loved creatures of our Heavenly Father.

His book Renovation of the Heart Renovation

 and the work with Jan Johnson in Daily Practice brought 

clarity to a new understanding of the practices of spiritual disciplines. 

 I taught a Bible class using these materials

 and walked a journey of exploration

 with a group of women on Wednesday mornings.

We are blessed to have his clear thinking in writing.

 As I sat listening to him speak in a packed room,

 I could not help but think-

" this is what it must have been like to listen to C.S. Lewis."

 For no doubt, the writings of Dallas Willard will be words

 that shape critical thinking in the world of philosophy and faith life

 for decades to come.

His last words echo my heart thoughts today too- " Thank you."