Weekly Messages
The Virtue Curriculum: Self-Control (1)
Today we begin a lesson on self-control because I (Doug) need more of it! When we teach something, we internalize it in a way we don't when we just read about it. So, I hope this lesson helps you. However, that's not the point. The point is to help me <grin>....
Sunday Fun-Day
It's our annual 4th of July-ish hot-dog picnic Sunday. Today's lesson we have our kids in with us before we celebrate. We are teaching them about the beauty of diversity within a spiritual community. Have a listen, Doug
The Virtue Curriculum: Honesty (2)
As we saw last week, most of us believe honesty is a good thing... and most of us believe we are honest. But statistics tell us we're overly optimistic. What's up with that? If we knew that, we'd be forearmed to live more integrously. Have a listen, Doug...
The Virtue Curriculum: Honesty (1)
Everybody thinks honesty is a good thing. Most believe they are honest. The numbers, however, don't really bear that out. What's up with that? Answer that question well, and we might live more virtuously. Have a listen, Doug
Pitfalls on the Journey (1)
We just finished a lengthy lesson; The Journey to Oneness. We've been looking at the three stages on the spiritual journey since the early part of the year. We're finished now. Sort of. One quick appendix to the lesson. Should finish in 2-3 weeks. Potential pitfalls...
Help One Now – Chris Marlow
by Chris Marlow, the ceo and founder of the non-profit Help One Now (click to read up on them). Help One Now operates in Africa, Haiti and other parts of the world serving the most oppressed there (orphans and vulnerable children). This is not a cause but a...
The Third Leg of the Journey to Oneness (6)
Putting in a lifetime of religious energy and focus... only to find we completely missed the point. I can't imagine many regrets more painful. Let's not do that, shall we? Have a listen. If we don't get the starting point right (which I suggest we haven't), all our...
The Third Leg of the Journey to Oneness (5)
We become like the God we worship. That's a good thing... if our Story about God is healthy. But from time to time, it becomes quite toxic. When that happens, we need to do some rethinking. So lets... Abraham is the father of all Jews, Christians, and Muslims. He...
The Third Leg of the Journey to Oneness (4)
I get distracted. I bet you do too. Emails, car repair, conflicts that need to be resolved, books that need to be read. And sometimes when we get distracted, the things we deem most important can get away from us. And that's true for you and me. And it's true for the...
The Third Leg of the Journey to Oneness (3)
If we don't think about the end of a thing, we rarely get the beginning or middle right. If we don't think about where a journey is going, we rarely point ourselves in the right direction. A lot of words are said in our religion. A lot of energies are focused. A lot...
The Third Leg of the Journey to Oneness (2)
History is a funny thing. People tend to remain the same, but cultures don't. As Christians, we have missed an important part of our history. We started in a Middle-Eastern, Hebrew worldview, but around 325 AD, we migrated into a Greco-Roman one. And scriptures...
The Third Leg of the Journey to Oneness (1)
We long for a world (albeit an impractical one) where everyone gets along and there are no wars or suffering. We comfort ourselves about not having this as our reality by turning Jesus into a "poet". His words are often interpreted almost as if they were dreams or...
I’ve Been on a Walk
I have been on a 16-day long walk along the MST. The purpose was solitude, quiet and prayer. I tell my story of my walk and the few people I met along the way to the kids at NRCC. by Doug Hammack
04/21 – Scott Shackleton
NRCC Sermon for April 21 by Scott Shackleton
On Solitude and The Journey to Oneness
I'm going on a walk. (details). The purpose of the walk is the ancient practice of solitude. It is one of the contemplative practices we talk about that works with the deconstructive process that is part of the Journey to Oneness. Have a listen, Doug
Easter 2013
I'm posting this the day before Easter. I have a pretty good idea how tomorrow will go, but I'm not sure what will get recorded. Easter is the most important day we Christians celebrate, and as a result it'll be more of a party than a "service." We're doing a lot of...
The Journey to Oneness (7): Prepare for the Great Unraveling!
If the death to ego-as-self is an inevitable part of the spiritual journey, is there a way we could work with it, instead of resisting it when it comes? I think so. Have a listen. Doug
NRCC Spring 2013 Community Meeting
Doug Hammack, George Fuller and Scott Shackleton give us some insight into where we are currently and where we plan to be going as a community.
Becoming a Community That Follows Jesus More Closely – Scott Shackleton
by Scott Shackleton We have a primarily Caucasian middle-class perspective at NRCC. This greatly influences our perception of what it means to follow Jesus. Many of us were taught that if we followed "the rules" and did enough of the "right things" it would make Jesus...
Enneagram Personality Type 1 – The Perfectionist – Robin Camu
by Robin Camu This is a summary of the characteristics of the Enneagram Type 1 personality (The Perfectionist) from our Wednesday night discussions. Type 1 Brief Summary: (from http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/typeone.asp) Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a...
The Journey to Oneness (6): Joseph’s Technicolor Ego
On the journey to oneness, we've seen three movements we go through. Today we tell the story of Joseph through the lens of these three way-stations on the journey. Have a listen, Doug
Enneagram Personality Type 9 – The Peacemaker – Robin Camu
by Robin Camu This is a summary of the characteristics of the Enneagram Type 9 personality (The Peacemaker) from our Wednesday night discussions. The next one is the last one. Join us! Type 9 Brief Summary: (from http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/typenine.asp) Nines...
The Journey to Oneness (5): Death to the Ego-Self
My friend lost his son to leukemia. People said something died in him when that happened. They were right. Have a listen, Doug
Enneagram Personality Type 8 – The Challenger – Robin Camu
by Robin Camu This is a summary of the characteristics of the Enneagram Type 8 personality (The Challenger) from our Wednesday night discussions. Join us for the next one! Type 8 Brief Summary: (from https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-8) Eights are...