About
I believe all of us need companions on our journey with the Spirit (ruach in Hebrew). I know I do. I hope that my reflections on what I am learning may help you as much as it helps me to process.
My name is David Nichols. Welcome to A Ruach Journey. I began this blog soon after I began my doctoral studies in spiritual formation at Asbury Seminary. I taught at a Seminary in the Philippines in the area of spirituality for a number of years and so when an opportunity arose to do more advanced and focused study in the area of spirituality, I jumped at it In May of 2011, I finally graduated with a doctor of ministry in spiritual formation at Asbury. I say, finally, since I first started on my doctorate in 1996!
After living in the Philippines from 1986 to the end of 2012, we moved back to the U.S. and we took a position in the area of member care with our mission and currently live in Texas.
Many of my initial blog posts came out of personal reading and reflections for my studies at Asbury. In fact, I have posted a number of papers I did for classes. Many of them need editing for public consumption.
I try to be honest about my journey with the Spirit–my journey has often been full of struggle and you will see that here. I try to include some of my reflections on Scripture and try to write about things that are fresh for me. I continue to read extensively in the area of spirituality even though I am no longer in a formal study program and so I think I will not run out of material to write about.
And so, I write primarily for myself–to process in a public way what I am learning in this journey with the Spirit since I not in the classroom too much these days. But, I also write to encourage others, who, like me need companions for the journey. I enjoy greatly seeing comments to my posts and I try to respond to each one. I would invite you to become a subscriber to my blog. If you like what I am writing or have written, please pass it on to others! If you don’t, please tell me! You may contact me at dnichols55@gmail.com. After posting almost every day for the first few years, I have slowed down a bit. I am trying to get back into the habit of posting weekly but sometimes I am too busy or i have little to contribute because of my busyness.
Following are a few of my more popular posts:
https://ruach.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/prayer-for-the-poor-and-the-marginalized/https://ruach.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/need-some-encouragement/
https://ruach.wordpress.com/other-pages/personal-accountability-questions/
https://ruach.wordpress.com/papers-written/reflections-on-david-benners-spiritual-formation-series/
https://ruach.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/atlas-of-the-real-world/
https://ruach.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/signature-sins-an-introduction/
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Ruach by David Nichols is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at ruach.wordpress.com.
A Ruach Journey 
Thanks for stopping by. We trust that no matter how far your daughter may roam, she is never out of His care. I pray that she will be captivated by His love for her.
I’ve made three trips in recent years to the Philippines to assist a local church and their pastor in Culion near Coron in the Palawan chain. Those people have a very special place in my heart. I still keep in touch with several of the ministry leaders and a local native missionary. I pray God will continue to bless your work there. Please keep in touch.
I don’t know you, but I’m guessing my dad does. Thank you for praying. It took some time, and quite a bit of wandering the wilderness, but I found my way back.
Hi David, I’ve never been to a blog site before. I’m impressed with how you have designed and created this blog. What a great way to connect to others on deeper and spiritutual levels. I look forward to reading more. Thank you for your courage to learn- grow-heal and humbly using your journey for others.
welcome to the blog world. beware it can be addicting!
Fancy meeting you here.
Just came across this while doing a tag search.
Steve M, formally at CBC, now in San Antonio
Hey Steve, good to hear from you. Saw your bro and parents when we were in Houston
Hey David,
Thanks to JC and Brent in Pittsburgh I found your blog site. Great to see you again! Your journaling is encouraging. Blessings, LD
Linda
Good to hear from you again as well. Hope the studies are coming along well.
Hi.
Interesting blog.
I discovered your blog because I google my name – and its variants – to see what comes up.
Curiously, your name ends in “-man” which, when they try to spell my name, is their typical error.
There is a Peter G. van Breemen who is an author and Jesuit priest in Holland.
Well, see ya around.
Peter Anthony van Breemen, age 54
Hi Ruach,
I’m new to your blog! Are you still serving overseas and if so where?
Sorry, have not been blogging much of late. Yep, we are still in Manila, Philippines. Thanks for dropping by. I looked at your page–i like the pics!
Thank you for visiting my blog!
I also have a Christian/Photo/Devotional blog
lydiaann7.wordpress.com
Indigo Crossing
Sorry correction on the blog
indigocrossing7.wordpress.com
Sorry about that!
Our Prayer for You!
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you exerience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:16-19
many thanks!!
A challenge. Why are you appropriating Hebrew to describe a Christian process?
Reb A.
Its all about a journey with the Spirit!
What a great site! Already love your posts, especially about Benner’s work and the accountability list. 10 rules for men has me on the floor…. can’t wait to keep reading, Doug, SC
Thanks for dropping by!
Would love to receive your blog. Studying Ephesians now, and I love your reminder that it’s all about Him. I fall into wrong thinking and behavior, and before you know it, it’s all about me.
Angie
Easiest way to do it is to subscribe–I think you can do that on the main page. I certainly identify with what you say–one of my main and often repeated lessons in recent years, “its not about all about me.”
Great and inspiring writing.
I like the little bit I have read in your blogs. Please be sure I am signed up to receive your blog. Thank you.
Love this: I try to be honest about my journey with the Spirit. I look forward to reading your blog!
-Tasha, The Bridge Chicago