Carl DeLine

Coached by Grace

As children growing up, religion played an important part in both my mother’s and my father’s life. My mother had been raped as a child. Her mother died when she was young. My grandfather struck out in anger, he ended up in prison for what he did to his daughter.

My mother began a difficult walk through life. She constantly ended up reaching out to people in the church for meaning. It was not uncommon for her to then sabotage that process.

My father, when he was young, lost his father in a tornado. My father’s mother and two of his sisters each turned to religion. The house became a war-zone of religious rhetoric. My father scoffed at what was happening and turned away. He joined the army and fought in WWII, where he contracted malaria and yellow fever. When he came home he could not make his life work. He married my mother. His drinking turned bad. He became abusive. He did a lot of “junk” and damaged his own children.

Coached by Grace: So What Is It?

It is an attempt to say there is another way. It is an attempt to say that people outside a religious experience non-the-less have a valid self history.

It is an attempt to say that grace is operative in a way that religion does not always understand.

It is an attempt to say that religion nonetheless has words and a message that is relevant.

It is an attempt to nurture an environment respecting the process that creates an opportunity for dialogue from both sides.

It is about healing, redemption and direction. Ultimately it is about life. It is about a belief that each person has been given life and there is value in life.

In my own experience I have followed both my mother and my father in their search. One turned toward the church while the other found himself outside the church. Both of them ultimately led broken lives unable to reconcile themselves to a sense of destiny.

Coached by Grace will bring people together to discuss how grace is a gift. It is not an attempt to impose religious jargon. It will give credibility to how everyday living can bring fulfillment. Religious experience is not ignored. Each person’s search and quest for fulfillment is given credibility.

Coached by Grace is intended for people or groups wanting to make sense out of their faith walk. Often people need some help to get started in a new direction or to discover how to handle specific situations. This tool has been created to help people in this kind of short term help.

The use of Coached by Grace is freely available to you. If you choose to duplicate any or all of this material please cite the appropriate source.

Further Reading: Handbook for Coached By Grace
Further Reading: Contracting for Coached By Grace

CoachedByGrace.net (circa 2016)

Throughout the world people speak of seeking a sense of spirituality. They are often willing to fight, even to die, for this spirituality. Jesus said, love your neighbor. It seems like such a simple set of words. Add to that journey the battle of living with a long term illness and you have the making of a serious set of obstacles.

Coached by Grace uses the study of the Bible to achieve an understanding of integrating faith and spirit into one’s everyday journey. Each participant will be a part of a journaling process with an online support group. Individual coaching will also be available. Look at the Chapter divisions on how you may be a part of this effort.

Chapter 1 of your journal identifies a Biblical text. Spirituality is nurtured as a person asks where is God in the text and how do I connect? The use of an assigned text allows a person to see God’s activity as a part of the Biblical story. Each participant’s story is then related to the Biblical text, hence being introduced to a deeper walk with God.

Nurturing Spirituality

Seeking spirituality, nurturing spirituality, happens as a person asks where is God and how do I connect? The use of an assigned text allows a person to see God’s activity as a part of the Biblical story. Each participant’s story is then related to the Biblical text encouraging a deeper walk with God.

Step 1: Read the assigned texts from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Step 2: As you read the text ask yourself who/what is being revealed about God.

Step 3: Write a paragraph about what you learned about God and a second paragraph about how your life intersects with this knowledge of God.

Chapter 2 in this journey is the confirming of life principles as illustrated by the life of Jesus. The walk of Jesus enables individuals to be nurtured in a holistic understanding of the Christian faith.

Being Whole

Our world is changing every day. That is especially true in the field of medicine. Patients experience this reality so many times while waiting for care. Ironically, as medical knowledge speeds up it then service begins to slowdown. Knowledgeable changes seem to take an eternity to trickle down to the front lines. Costs are added eventually putting many new treatments beyond reach. Then another layer of barriers is added as the politicians and bureaucrats get involved. In the meantime people with long term illnesses get caught in the tug o’ war of life. An old theologian once asked the question “How shall we then live?” Chapter 2, “Being Whole,” finds that answer in the life of Jesus.

Step 1: Read the assigned Gospel texts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Step 2: As you read the text ask yourself what values does Jesus live by or teach in this text.

Step 3: Write a paragraph about what you learned about the values Jesus lived by. Then write a second paragraph about how you see these values carried out in the lives of people around you.

Chapter 3 includes participation for a set period of time creating tools, process, and patterns toward healing and restoration.

Walking in Faith