» centering prayer

Meditation: Good for the Soul (A Reminder Lesson)

NRCC — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:38:34 +0000

Today’s lesson is abbreviated because the Church Council has some business that’s important to our community. I want to use my time to remind you of an important spiritual practice and encourage you to take it up this new year.

If you don’t have a regular meditation practice, have a listen.

Doug

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Reconsidering Prayer (part 4)

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:48:25 +0000

Today, as we continue our lesson rethinking prayer, we come to the mindset necessary for this “seeking-Truth” way of praying.

Self-discipline is necessary to this new way, but that term falls on hard times for many Christians. We’ve tried and tried to be disciplined with our prayer practices, but they returned so little to our souls.

This lesson talks about applying discipline in such a way that it returns an elevated understanding of Truth, awakens us to the Divine Presence that is always in and around us, and answers to the yearning to see the Divine in our daily lives.

Abhishiktananda, a French Benedictine monk who lived in India, said it this way…
Truly there is nothing in the created universe, in all time and space, which does not manifest God and reveal his glory to mankind. In creating us God made us us able to recognize his manifestation in the world and in events, so that we might respond to it in love.

Have a listen.
Doug

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Meditation: Four Practical Steps

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:09:43 +0000

Centering Prayer is an updated form of the ancient meditative practice, lectio divina. Because many Christians are frightened by anything Eastern, in this lesson we put those fears to rest, talking about what meditation is, and then four practical steps for practicing it. Continue reading →

Overcoming Spiritual Helplessness

admin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:50:26 +0000

by Robin Camu

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The Theory of Learned Helplessness is a “theory in psychology which alludes to a human condition in which one has learned to behave helplessly even when the opportunity is restored for one to help oneself ”. Some of us have brought these tendencies into our Christian walk. We can unlearn these tendencies by recognizing them and by receiving God’s blessing by giving ourselves the gift of controlled and focused thoughts.

Introducing our 2009 Meditation Practicum (part 3)

admin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:58:45 +0000

by Doug Hammack

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In 2009, NRCC is embarking on a one-year experiment in integrating the ancient Christian contemplative practices into our lives. This “Meditation Practicum” will be three 11-week sessions of learning, practicing, and supporting one another. Today’s message gives some more practicum to our experiment. It’s worth a listen even if you’re not at NRCC.

Reaching Out To God In Our Innermost Self; Centering Prayer

admin — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:41:20 +0000

by Robin Camu

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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 go of our thoughts and surrendering ourselves. Our thoughts are not reality, they are simply our choices. What are we missing because we are not “programmed” to look for it (by our choices and/or our training)? Everything we need from God we have been given and it is within us. We should not get angry with God if we refuse to come there and meet with him to receive it.

The Ancient Christian Practice of Spiritual Reading: "Contemplatio" (part 4)

admin — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 15:04:28 +0000

by Doug Hammack

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The Ancient Christian Practice of Spiritual Reading: "Contemplatio" (part 3)

admin — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 14:29:53 +0000

by Doug Hammack

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