Finishing off some thoughts on the Integrated Life. I like Dallas Willard’s acronym for how we pursue the type of integrity we all long for: V-I-M.
I think the progression makes sense. Like anything, we first need to have a Vision we want to move towards; a picture we strive to make a reality. It is silly to look for a workout program until you know what you are trying to do. What is your vision? To lose weight? To be hard core cut? To improve your conditioning? Vision drives everything.
Next comes Intent. There is no getting around the ‘want-it’ factor. A vision is compelling, but if it doesn’t create a hunger and thirst in you chances are low that you are ever going to make progress.
Means is the final part of the acronym. Dallas Willard says most of the game is won or lost around the first two, which i agree with. But you still have to have a plan. There needs to be means by which you pursue the vision.
A few quotes to make the point – the first four are from John Ortberg and the last one from Dallas Willard:
“What does it mean to be thirsty? It doesn’t mean to be a spiritual giant. It means to be discontent and driven by what you do not have and to have unfulfilled potential and longings.”
“This process of trying to get there is frustrating for people. Some get so frustrated and turn to an emotional “re-dedication.” Some just fake it (“fake joy better than real depression”)… What if Jesus was right? What if he really meant what he said about rivers of living water flowing from the core? What if that kind of life was really possible?”
Psalm 42.1: “As the deer panteth for the water so my soul longeth after thee.” This is not Bambi who is a little thirsty. This is desert language and this deer is going to die if it does not find water. This is me. Without the rivers of grace I will dry up and die.”
“How do you know if your spiritual life is on track? How do you measure spiritual vitality in such a way that the Pharisees don’t come out on top?”
“We want to train our bodies to act without thinking. You don’t think about your first language. You don’t think when you are a great violinist – you just play.”
I am a lifelong Chicagoan, a pastor at River City Community Church, and an author who writes a lot about resisting and confronting white supremacy from a faith lens.
Our church was founded in January of 2003 in the west Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, and is centered on the core values of worship, reconciliation, and neighborhood development. We long to see increased spiritual renewal as well as social and economic justice in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and entire city, demonstrating compassion and alleviating poverty as tangible expressions of the Kingdom of God. It is also through the gift of this faith community that I have learned to see the profound historical and spiritual impact of the stronghold of white supremacy, and where I have been challenged to broaden and deepen my understanding of discipleship in the hopes of becoming a serious enough Christ follower who is able to meaningfully participate with those who have risen up in defiance of this evil principality.
The lessons learned in this journey have been captured in a pair of books on race. The first, White Awake, explores the barriers that white people tend to face – white Christians specifically – when we attempt to awaken to and understand white supremacy through a faith lens. I spend a lot of time here addressing the internal defenses that are bound to go off when this journey is taken seriously, and I chart out a path for developing a resilient spirit that steadfastly moves towards truth, justice, and equity. The second, White Lies, further builds out the path for the white Christian who longs to actively participate in the resistance and confrontation of white supremacy. I spend a lot of time here exploring why it is so hard to tell the truth about race, as well as expose the lies that sustain it, within white, Christian, Bible-believing environments. I then propose nine practices that position us for engaging in this task.
On the personal front, my career started in the marketplace, as I was part of three dot.com startups in the 90’s. My vocational path shifted when I joined the staff of Willow Creek Community Church in 1998, and I spent five years working there. I started River City Community Church in January 2003 and have been happily serving here ever since. On the education front, my undergrad was in Business (Purdue University), my graduate degree in theology (Moody Bible Institute), and my doctoral degree in community development (Northern Seminary). On the family front, my wife is a Professor of Psychology, and we have two amazing children (Xander and Gabriella).
Finishing off some thoughts on the Integrated Life. I like Dallas Willard’s acronym for how we pursue the type of integrity we all long for: V-I-M.
drdanielhill.com 
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