Tag Archives: prayer
Soul-Training: Praying Differently (introduction)
Many have abandoned prayer as irrelevant, incomprehensible, or useless. Sadly, there is good reason why they have done so. In this lesson we talk about how prayer has devolved into talking, talking, talking, and the underlying unspoken assumption that makes us responsible for the universe. Next week we’ll talk about some practical forms of prayer that undo this toxic assumption. Continue reading
Archive: So… you don’t pray anymore? I get that. (part 2)
We’ve laid a foundation for questioning the instinctive assumptions we make about spirituality and prayer. So, I suggested that we’ve been tooling along for several generations now thinking that when we pray, we get God to do something. But, what if the assumption itself is inaccurate, or incomplete? God loves, and has created reality out of that love. You can tell that by looking at the birds, looking at the flowers… Jesus broached a new way of being w/ God when he spoke about breaking down the servant/master image (John 15). The quest for God-awareness sometimes leads us into seasons of pain, seasons of dryness and emptiness. One of the greatest moments of Jesus’ life was the Garden of Gethsemane. But for those who will acquire it, the fullness of humanity is restored to us. Continue reading
Archive: So… you don’t pray anymore? I get that. (part 1)
Many of you have told me that prayer no longer has the same meaning to you it did at one time. Some have asked and asked and asked for something, and it hasn’t happened so they don’t ask any more. And doing this long enough, most fervent, most devout begin to weary, their faith in prayer begins to flag… Not ready to give up on God, many have given up on prayer. So I’m not suggesting these people should try harder. I’m not suggesting any of us should try harder at prayer. If our understanding of prayer has grown polluted over time, it would be good to go back to time when it was pure. Maybe prayer is about seeing and hearing what already is instead of getting God to do what is not yet. Maybe it’s more about getting out of our illusions or ignorance than it is managing or manipulating our world. Continue reading
Archive: Another Way to Pray: Straight-Up Honesty (Part 2)
Coming to God in face of painful circumstances is a deep act of faith. Because these are heroic acts of spirituality… (and because we often need baby steps before heroic steps)
To be successful in these new practices, we need to develop the spiritual pattern of coming to God as honestly as we can during those times that are not as demanding. There is something in this simple first movement of prayer that takes us to the center of ourselves. When we become immersed in our own identity we become candidates for the experience of God. Continue reading
Archive: Another Way to Pray: Straight-Up Honesty (Part 1)
When we began the spiritual journey, many of us picked up some assumptions about prayer. Many find that “God-do-something” prayer grows empty after a while. Many people are not inclined to take ugly stuff before God. But to bring this stuff before God is a profoundly spiritual thing to do. But the first movement in prayer we’re talking about is to come to God honestly. Continue reading
Introducing our 2009 Meditation Practicum (part 3)
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. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Meditation
Tagged 3 levels of consciousness, cataphatic/apophatic, centering prayer, Christian Meditation, Meditation Practicum, prayer
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Introducing our 2009 Meditation Practicum (part 2)
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 introductory practicum to our experiment. It’s worth a listen even if you’re not at NRCC. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Meditation
Tagged 3 levels of consciousness, cataphatic/apophatic, Christian Meditation, Church history, human nature, lectio divina, Meditation Practicum, prayer, spiritual wellness, true/false self
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Introducing our 2009 Meditation Practicum (part 1)
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 context to our experiment. It’s worth a listen even if you’re not at NRCC. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Meditation
Tagged 3 levels of consciousness, cataphatic/apophatic, Christian Meditation, Church history, lectio divina, Meditation Practicum, prayer, spiritual wellness
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Another Story About Stewards: Luke 12 – Rich Farmer
by Doug Hammack [Download MP3]
Posted in Lessons Learned From Stewards
Tagged Church history, fear, generosity, justice, Mission, our Story, prayer, spiritual reading, steward
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Sin’s Just Not That Big A Deal (Scandalous!) part 2
by Doug Hammack [Download MP3]
Posted in Dancing With the Divine
Tagged Church history, fear, prayer, repentance, selfishness, sin
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