Larry Crabb - Soul Talk: The Language God Longs for Us to Speak

SOULTALK

SOULTALK

Speaking with Power into the Lives of Others

DR. LARRY CRABB

2003 by Larry Crabb.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

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HELPING PEOPLE WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCE the MANIFEST PRESENCE of GOD.All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from The Message, copyright 1993.
Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Other Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Published in association with Yates & Yates, LLP,
Attorneys and Counselors, Orange, California

Cover Design: UDG | Designworks Interior:
Inside Out Design & Typesetting

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Crabb, Lawrence J.
Soultalk : speaking with power into the lives of others / by Larry Crabb.
p. cm.

ISBN 10: 1-59145-039-X (hc)
ISBN 10: 978-1-59145-039-9 (hc)
ISBN 10: 1-59145-347-X (tp)
ISBN 10: 978-1-59145-347-5 (tp)

1. Spiritual lifeChristianity. I. Title: Soul talk. II. Title.
BV4501.3C735
2003 248.4dc22 2003
2003014233

Printed in the United States of America
07 08 09 10 RRD 9 8 7 6 5

To our Intentional Spiritual Formation Group:

Thanks for the opportunity you provide for each of us
to learn the language
God longs for us to speak.

CONTENTS

1. The SoulTalk Revolution
Speaking Words of Life to Each Other

2. We Need a New Way to Relate
The Old Way Isnt Working

3. Pay Close Attention to Whats Inside
Beginning to Learn the Language of SoulTalk

4. Want God More Than Anything Else
Seeing the Real Battle in a Persons Soul

5. Go Beneath the Superficial
Entering the War Zone

6. Move In for a Closer Look
Recognizing Religion As the Real Enemy

7. Go After the Very Best
Seeing a Vision of True Goodness

8. Look Deep into Your Own Motivation
Preparing for the Dance Lesson

9. Keep Looking Deep Inside
Discovering What Is Most Alive within
Youand Releasing It into Others

10. Know That You Have Something to Say
Entering Anothers Story with Transcendent Curiosity

11. Listen to More Than the Story Youre Told
Moving Beyond Empathy and Accountability to
Transcendent Curiosity

12. Reach into the Soul through a Persons Story
Seizing the Opportunity for SoulTalk

13. Listen to How a Story Is Told
Tuning In to the Energy behind the Story

14. Move to the Center of the Story
Following the Spirit into Action

15. Lead Others to a New Life in a New Land
Embracing What the Spirit Is Already Doing

16. Dont Jitterbug to Beethoven
Speaking in Rhythm with the Spirits Movement

17. Enter the Mystery of Movement
Finding the Courage to Cooperate with
What We Cannot Control

18. Learn the Unforced Rhythms of Grace
Waiting for God: A Final Story

W ITHOUT JOEY PAUL, this book would not have been written. Thanks, Joey, and thanks to Byron, Rob, Kris, Jennifer, and the entire Integrity team.

Sealy, your encouragement and guidance means a lot. Thanks for your commitment to kingdom work.

Friendships deepen when SoulTalk is spoken. Trip, our conversations are literally life-giving. Evan, your heart is anchored in first things; that strengthens my faith. Dwight, Jimmy, and Kent, you help me see that the narrow path is inviting. Bob and Claudia, your investment in me has made my soul rich. Thank you all, and many more.

To all who have spent a week with me in our School of Spiritual Direction: Youve given me the awesome privilege of watching the Spirit work right in front of my eyes. Amazing! Thank you.

Family provides the richest tastes of real life, and those tastes energize me to write. Kim and Lesley, I count you both among my most celebrated blessings. Josie, Jake, and Kaitlyn, I hope you hear lots of SoulTalk from Pop-Pop. Kep and Ken, I cant write your names without tearing up. You believe in me and my calling. And Rachael, we walk togetherI have no greater joy on earth.

Mom and Dad, if youre listening: Thanks for everything! See you soon.

INTRODUCTION
When Life Begins

S HORTLY AFTER NOON on July 5, 1997, the doctor told me I had cancer. I cant recall the physicians name, but I can see his face as clearly as if I were watching a video of him walking into my hospital room, where my wife and I awaited his diagnosis. I see the thick, dark moustache draped over a full mouth and the intense Hispanic eyes looking at me with kind sadness, which I instantly registered with alarm.

He stood at the foot of my bed, the way a nervous missionary might keep his distance from a leper. I sensed he wanted to come closer, maybe touch my shoulder, but he remained at a professional distance while he spoke.

And I can still hear his voice as distinctly as if he were speaking to me right now. His accent was pronounced, almost as thick as his moustache, but I had absolutely no trouble making out every word. We just got the results from your CAT scan. You have a mass the size of a tennis ball near your stomach. Were pretty certain its malignant.

My wife and I cried when the doctor left. He had made no promises. We didnt know if Id live or die. It takes awhile to realize what life is all about.We dont ask the hard questions until we have to. That day, I had to.The doctors words got me thinking, more than I had since my brother was killed six years earlier in a plane crash, about what Im doing here, how Im supposed to maneuver through lifes unpredictability, what I really want out of life, and whether its available.

Most of us live for years determined not to look too closely into our soul.

The curtains covering my soul fell back, and I began to see what was happening inside. When that occurred, the battle began. But its also when life began.

SEEING INSIDE OUR SOUL

Most of us live for years determined not to look too closely into our soul. We dont want to get that well acquainted with ourselves and with the world we live in. We worry that if we looked closely at what we want and whats available, if we saw all that was happening in our soul, wed give up or go mad or maybe become religious fanatics, nut cases for Jesus who hold up John 3:16 placards at football gamesor maybe worse.