Why we should nurture our hearts
by Doug Hammack | Feb 12, 2019 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
By Robin Camu What does the “Heart” or heart center mean? Heart-dominant people tend to feel first, and then they think and then they know. We often believe that our feelings always tell us the truth. But we need the sum total of our feelings, thoughts...
Spiritual Puberty – The Coming of Age Talk
by Doug Hammack | Feb 5, 2019 | Divine Love Is in You and Me, Message Audio
As we grow spiritually, our journey can become stale and rote. God Is not the problem, it is our man-made God metaphors that are in need of an update. ...
Pecking Orders are Real . . . Just Not Real Enough
by Doug Hammack | Jan 28, 2019 | Divine Love Is in You and Me, Message Audio
https://media.blubrry.com/north_raleigh_community_church/s3.amazonaws.com/nrccaudio/2019/01-27-19_Sermon.mp3Podcast: Play in new window |...
We’re Better Together
by Doug Hammack | Jan 22, 2019 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
Have a listen. https://media.blubrry.com/north_raleigh_community_church/s3.amazonaws.com/nrccaudio/2019/01-20-19_Sermon.mp3Podcast: Play in new window |...
From Reacting to Responding
by Doug Hammack | Jan 15, 2019 | Individual Lesson, Message Audio
Our 24-hour news cycle keeps us on 24-hour alert. Break the cycle with the Welcoming Prayer. https://media.blubrry.com/north_raleigh_community_church/s3.amazonaws.com/nrccaudio/2019/01-13-19_Sermon.mp3Podcast: Play in new window |...
Values Stated. Values Lived. The Difference.
by Doug Hammack | Jan 8, 2019 | Message Audio, New Year
The New Year prompts us to check in on our values and our actions. Are we spending our time on what we say we value? A couple things you’ll need to process the lesson 1. watch THIS youtube 2. print out THIS form ...
12/23/18
by Doug Hammack | Dec 27, 2018 | Advent, Message Audio
https://media.blubrry.com/north_raleigh_community_church/s3.amazonaws.com/nrccaudio/2018/12-23-18_Sermon.mp3Podcast: Play in new window |...
Finding Peace … Through Nature’s Nurture
by Doug Hammack | Dec 18, 2018 | Advent, Message Audio
Step out in nature, and we gain a perspective that brings peace. Here’s a self-care practice to carry us through this Advent season. https://media.blubrry.com/north_raleigh_community_church/s3.amazonaws.com/nrccaudio/2018/12-16-18_Sermon.mp3Podcast: Play...
All Roads Lead to the Golden Rule
by Doug Hammack | Nov 27, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
Study any religion and you will encounter the Golden Rule. There is no way forward from all that divides us but this. It is as simple . . . and difficult . . . as that. (special thanks to Norman Rockwell) ...
Stirring Up … Our Gratitude Attitude
by Doug Hammack | Nov 20, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
Our brains have a negative bias. We must be intentional in stirring gratitude, or we can easily zombie through life missing everyday light and love. Stirring gratitude is a simple spiritual practice that returns to us twenty-fold. ...
Serving . . . Serves Us
by Doug Hammack | Nov 14, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
Our independent Western instincts lead us away from connectedness. When we feel lonely, isolated and depressed, we focus on fixing ourselves. But counter-intuitively, self-focus only makes us more miserable. When we give ourselves in service to others, we heal...
Dying to Connect
by Doug Hammack | Nov 6, 2018 | Message Audio, The "Yoga Poses" of the Spiritual Life
Americans are lonely people. Our lack of connectedness is literally killing us. The physical effects of loneliness include depression, anxiety, cardio vascular stress and suppressed immune systems. As technological and cultural trends move us further away from true...
The Connection Connection
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....
Spiritual Exercise: Get on the Virtue Cycle
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. ...
Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There
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...
Just Be . . . All You Can Just Be
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...
Self-Awareness, Self-Disclosure Orientation (week 1)
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 |...
Repentance, Reconciliation, Redemption — Redux
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...
You Don’t Need the Hokey Pokey . . . to Turn Yourself Around
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...