Weekly Messages
Introducing Meditation (part 2)
by Doug Hammack | Jan 18, 2009
by Doug Hammack In 2009, NRCC focused for a year on integrating the ancient Christian contemplative practices into our lives. We did three 11-week Wednesday evening sessions of learning, practicing, and supporting one another. These three Sunday messages were an...
Introducing Meditation (part 1)
by Doug Hammack | Jan 10, 2009
by Doug Hammack In 2009, NRCC focused for a year on integrating the ancient Christian contemplative practices into our lives. We did three 11-week Wednesday evening sessions of learning, practicing, and supporting one another. These three Sunday messages were an...
Reaching Out To God In Our Innermost Self; Centering Prayer – Robin Camu
by Robin Camu | Jan 4, 2009
by Robin Camu Spiritual discipline is any activity I can do that will help me to do (or become) what I cannot do (or become). There are kataphatic vs. apophatic approaches to spirituality. This is also reflected in how God presents himself. Centering prayer is letting...
New Year: A Time to Examine Our Lives
by Doug Hammack | Dec 28, 2008
by Doug Hammack The turning of the calendar invites us to look at our lives, our values, and the habits that accumulate over time. Are these habits serving us well? In this lesson we talk about how one goes about shifting from one way of being alive, to a new and...
Advent 2008: A Late and Hurried Advent Message (with apologies)
by Doug Hammack | Dec 21, 2008
by Doug Hammack This year, we’ve been more inattentive to the meaningful season of Advent than usual. Here, this last week of Advent, in a hurried attempt to make up for lost time, we talk about why the season matters. It’s a very old practice, setting aside these...
Community-Wide Business Meeting
by Doug Hammack | Dec 14, 2008
by Doug Hammack Once a year, our community takes a Sunday to deal with the business of church-family life. After a report on where we’ve been and where we are today, we’ll make some projections about where we’re going in 2009. It’s a delightful part of our community...
Rethinking Leisure: Sabbath Consciousness (Part 2)
by Doug Hammack | Dec 7, 2008
by Doug Hammack The ancients proscribed a weekly Sabbath rest as a rule to follow that was good for the soul. Later, sages and seers expanded the idea of Sabbath rest to mean an internal peace that characterized the every-day life of the spiritual person. Even in busy...
Thanksgiving 2008: On Gratitude (part 2)
by Doug Hammack | Nov 30, 2008
by Doug Hammack Storytelling is a powerful medium. In this lesson, we reinforce the content of last week’s lesson by simply retelling an ancient story. It’s a story that invites us to live in a posture of gratitude and thankfulness.
Thanksgiving 2008: On Gratitude (part 1)
by Doug Hammack | Nov 23, 2008
by Doug Hammack What a curious notion, that the Congress of the United States would create a federal holiday for the express purpose of stirring up gratitude in our hearts. In this lesson we consider the benefits that accrue to us when we embrace a posture of...
Rethinking Leisure: Sabbath-Consciousness (1)
by Doug Hammack | Nov 16, 2008
by Doug Hammack The ancients proscribed a weekly Sabbath rest as a rule to follow that was good for the soul. Later, sages and seers expanded the idea of Sabbath rest to mean an internal peace that characterized the every-day life of the spiritual person. Even in busy...
Rethinking Leisure: Sabbath Consciousness (Introduction)
by Doug Hammack | Nov 9, 2008
by Doug Hammack We all have leisure time available to us and we must make the best use of it. If you have not yet reflected on Luke 12, please do so this week.
Another Story About Stewards: Luke 12 – Rich Farmer
by Doug Hammack | Nov 2, 2008
by Doug Hammack
Did We Get Jesus All Wrong? (The Unjust Steward 2)
by Doug Hammack | Oct 26, 2008
by Doug Hammack In this lesson we look at two parables, Jesus’ parable of “The Unjust Steward” (improperly named, we’ll conclude), and Doug’s parable of Fred the Goldfish. The point of both is to ask ourselves if the Reality Narratives we tell ourselves that help us...
Did We Get Jesus All Wrong? (The Unjust Steward 1)
by Doug Hammack | Oct 19, 2008
by Doug Hammack In this lesson we look at two parables, Jesus’ parable of “The Unjust Steward” (improperly named, we’ll conclude), and Doug’s parable of Fred the Goldfish. The point of both is to ask ourselves if the Reality Narratives we tell ourselves that...
Did We Get Jesus All Wrong? (introduction)
by Doug Hammack | Oct 12, 2008
by Doug Hammack In this lesson we look at two parables, Jesus' parable of "The Unjust Steward" (improperly named, we'll conclude), and Doug's parable of Fred the Goldfish. The point of both is to ask ourselves if the Reality Narratives we tell ourselves that help us...
The Earth: Are We Owners or Renters? (part 3)
by Doug Hammack | Oct 5, 2008
by Doug Hammack
The Earth: Are We Owners or Renters? (part 2)
by Doug Hammack | Sep 28, 2008
by Doug Hammack
The Earth: Are We Owners or Renters? (part 1)
by Doug Hammack | Sep 21, 2008
by Doug Hammack
The Earth: Are We Owners or Renters? (Introduction)
by Doug Hammack | Sep 14, 2008
by Doug Hammack
Kindness Toward Evil People and Run-Of-The-Mill Sinners: It’s Different
by Doug Hammack | Sep 7, 2008
by Doug Hammack
What to Wear This Season? Kindness
by Doug Hammack | Aug 31, 2008
by Doug Hammack
To What is Your Heart Tuned? – Dawn Drew
by Doug Hammack | Aug 18, 2008
by Dawn Drew
Living in Forgiveness-Land – Appendix
by Doug Hammack | Aug 3, 2008
by Doug Hammack
The Crazy People Who Live in Forgiveness-Land – Part 4
by Doug Hammack | Jul 27, 2008
by Doug Hammack