Soul Fitness Coaching

Welcome! 

 My name is Robert Burlingham.  When I turned 40 I resigned by position as Operations Manager at a private Country Club.  I attended seminary at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.  Prior to retirement I served  28 years as an Elder in the United Methodist Church.  I now work as an ICF Life Coach and Positive Intelligence  Mental Fitness Coach.  

My interest and passions are varied.  My undergraduate work focused on ornamental horticulture and turf grass management.  I enjoy gardening, cooking, cycling, and carving,  My wife, Andrea, and I recently purchased a motorhome.  Tiamat and Kacu, our Boykin Spaniels, journey with us as we explore the places on our bucket list.  I am deeply curious about the intersection  of theology, quantum physics, and neuroscience.  The writings of Dr. James Bryan Smith continue to inspire me to be an Apprentice of Christ Jesus.  I am a student of Henri Nouwen, Richard Rohr, and Anthony De Mello.  Shirzad Chamine's  book and six-week program, Positive Intelligence, provides an operating system that lets me escape my judgmental mind, heal my heart, and restore my soul.

During the five years I volunteered as an Emergency Medical Technician, CPR Instructor, and Basic EMT Instructor my eyes were  opened to the power and human need of compassion and empathy.  Serving United Methodist congregations personalized these basic human needs.  I have an off and on relationship with depression.  I have first hand experience with  the lure of "Successful Ministry" and the pitfalls of Ministry Burnout.   I am passionate  about freeing  life long church members  from their fear of death, fear of God,  and fears about  their share in Jesus'  promise of eternal life.  

I prefer to Coach pastors, lay people,  and those who work for the Fire Department, EMS, and Rescue. Coaching is like being what Henri Nouwen calls  The Wounded Healer.  It is an opportunity to co-create  the place Shirzad Chamine calls "blameless discernment".    Imagine entering a place where you gain Knowledge from exploring  the past with the Power of blameless discernment which Inspires you to be Present with God, self, and neighbor.  

Please take a few minutes to further explore  this "Home" page.  You might explore "Coach Robert's Blog.  The link is in the banner at the top of this page.  

Imagine a place where you enter into your Beliefs, experience their Spirit, and let your self be fully Present.  It is not a University, virtual classroom, or seminar. It takes a different kind of courage to journey into the depths of your Body, Mind, and Soul. 

Courage is also what it takes to listen to hear your troubled mind and broken heart.  It takes courage to deliver your heart and mind from self judgement. Such courage heals the Soul. The Soul reveals your true self, your Life purpose.   

Empathy is the power to deny our Beliefs in order to discover unity in suffering.  Compassion is a Spirit that delivers us from suffering.  Presence heals the Soul. 

We have been taught to focus on the past and to plan for the future.  These two skills are vital for our survival.  Survival rises out of fear and or dependance on another person. 

For example: What word describes the way you think and feel when a neighbor does something TO you?  The words trespass, sin, and suffering comes to my mind.  What word describes the way you think and feel when a neighbor does something FOR you.  The words friend and  promise stir my heart. What word describes abiding WITH another person. Words like patience, communion, unity, and oneness describe my experiences of being with others.  

The name Jesus means "Jehovah is salvation".  The Prophet Isaiah says messiah will be known as Immanuel, God WITH us.  I know what people believe God does TO sinners.  I believe Jesus suffered sin and died at the hands of his judges.  I believe Jesus prayed for me and all of humanity, "Father forgive them they do not know what they are doing."  I trust that unconditional love, yes, the Fruit of the Spirit, resurrected Jesus from sin and death to Life Eternal.  I believe but faith is trust in His Promises.  John records the nature and power of faith in Christ Jesus.  'Jesus said to them again, Peace be WITH you. As the Father sent the Son, so I send you."  

Imagine being sent into your heart and mind to be delivered from your suffering, sin, and fear for the purpose of being healed in Jesus' presence.  In his presence we experience the two movements Salvation.  Jesus delivers us from thinking and feeling forsaken by God. He delivers us from sin to grace.  Grace is the place God heals us with unconditional love.  The words that describes such experiences are Immanuel, Peace, Sabbath, and The Kingdom of Heaven. 

As your Coach I listen to hear your heart and mind.  I ask questions that let you make peace with the past and your plans for the future.  Such peace, that is beyond Knowledge, delivers the broken heart and troubled mind from fear and suffering.  This peace heals the Soul.  It lets you take a seat at the table of Grace here on earth as it is in heaven.  Imagine being clothed in unconditional love that lets you be like Jesus here on earth as He is in Heaven.