by Doug Hammack | Oct 31, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
Our well-being is connected — to our connection — to others. And — our most powerful connections, are with those we think of as “the other.” When “they” become “us,” a deep source of our fear and anxiety is eliminated....
by Doug Hammack | Oct 24, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
When we undertake the ancient spiritual practices, we find health. As we do, we build up reserves from which we can serve our hurting world. We are blessed so that we can bless others. It’s our way. It’s our cycle. Jump on. ...
by Doug Hammack | Oct 17, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
Our Western instincts tend to view meditation as passivity in a world needing action. But no! Meditation helps us detach from agendas, anger, ego, and fear . . . so we can be active in the world. It helps bring our healthy selves, our loving selves to action. It...
by Doug Hammack | Oct 9, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
We practice contemplative practices so that we can bring our best selves to repairing the earth during this of great time of upheaval. It is our gift we can offer a hurting world. Without the detachment contemplative practices afford us, we remain clanging cymbals who...
by Doug Hammack | Oct 4, 2018 | Message Audio
Four Fall Wednesdays Introducing the practice of self-awareness and self-disclosure https://media.blubrry.com/north_raleigh_community_church/s3.amazonaws.com/nrccaudio/2018/SASD_Orientation.mp3Podcast: Play in new window |...
by Doug Hammack | Oct 2, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
Often cringeworthy words for those who grew up in church, these ancient practices, when stripped to their essential purpose, can enliven our spiritual journeys. We believe they deserve a resurrection. Note: some folks found the introduction to the lesson...
by Doug Hammack | Sep 25, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
When you see what you hadn’t seen, your life can turn significantly. Turn from thought ruts and defeating habits. At NRCC, we use a worksheet to help us see what we hadn’t. And it’s true! Our lives do turn around. The ancients called the process...
by Doug Hammack | Sep 19, 2018 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
In our pursuit of oneness that is not sameness, we ascribe to a basic set of time-tested spiritual practices to unify us. While each one of us must discern to which practices we are called, when to stretch, and when to rest. ...
by Doug Hammack | Sep 12, 2018 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
When church is healthy, its place in society is to take the lead in helping, healing and hoping. Grace is needed at North Raleigh Community Church as we find the appropriate pace with which to step into our place. ...
by Doug Hammack | Aug 26, 2018 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
by Robin Camu When we shame ourselves, scorn ourselves or procrastinate, we are choosing to not love ourselves. When we don’t properly cultivate love within us, it makes it more difficult to unconditionally love those around us. Instead, how can we use the...
by Doug Hammack | Aug 20, 2018 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
Today is storytime. Stories about NRCC’s past — and how grace has been such a powerful principle in our community. WARNING: there is a potential trigger for victims of sexual violence starting at time point 19:30 Have a listen. ...
by Doug Hammack | Aug 12, 2018 | Guest Speaker, Message Audio
by Jon Powell Restorative Justice is different from our traditional court and prison justice system (which is punitive justice). This is an overview of the Restorative Justice community in Wake County, what we do and how anyone can get involved. ...
by Doug Hammack | Aug 8, 2018 | Christian Meditation, Message Audio
https://media.blubrry.com/north_raleigh_community_church/s3.amazonaws.com/nrccaudio/2018/08-05-18_Sermon.mp3Podcast: Play in new window |...
by Doug Hammack | Aug 1, 2018 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
Turns out, this is rocket science. And we have to pass the class! Our world is desperate for religious people to take their place as repairers of the earth. We must move beyond the marketing machine narrative selling us an us-against-them narrative, and take our place...
by Doug Hammack | Jul 25, 2018 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
https://media.blubrry.com/north_raleigh_community_church/s3.amazonaws.com/nrccaudio/2018/07-22-18_Sermon.mp3Podcast: Play in new window |...
by Doug Hammack | Jul 17, 2018 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
Apologies for the quality of the audio this week. There were problems with the recording equipment. God is too big to contain in words, images, or metaphors. When you reach the boundaries of one metaphor, trying another will add somethings but lose others. This is...
by Doug Hammack | Jul 11, 2018 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
We cannot contain God. Our words and images are metaphors, incomplete at best. When we believe and insist they reflect more than a fleeting glimpse of a reality we cannot contain, they stop helping and start damaging . . . us . . . and others. ...
by Doug Hammack | Jul 3, 2018 | A Life that Matters, Message Audio
“Experiencing the Divine” can range from peak, mystical experience to inner changes that sneak up on us. The primary door into experience, is steadfast participation in spiritual practice. ...
by Doug Hammack | Jun 26, 2018 | A Life that Matters, Message Audio
As we consider living lives that matter, we do well to recognize that we humans are meaning making beings. When religion get things right, it provides a grand narrative of redemption to inspire our personal stories toward growth and hope, even in the dark times....
by Doug Hammack | Jun 19, 2018 | A Life that Matters, Message Audio
Chasing happy . . . is killing us all. Contributing to something bigger than self, surprisingly, helps us live longer. A meaningful life lies at “the intersection of your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger.” (Frederick Buechner) ...
