iHOPE

The Daring Life

 

Have you heard of Brené Brown?

She is the best-selling author of three books, her speaking events sell out within hours, she is interviewed in TIME magazine, Oprah Winfrey and even on the cover of this month's Costco Connections (the true test that you have arrived!).

I think it is more than hype. Brené's research has sparked a global conversation about what it means to live wholeheartedly, with courage, vulnerability and creativity.  More than self-help, this is the necessary work of the soul and people are often amazed at how well her work integrates with the wisdom, insight and teaching of the scriptures.

That is why I'm excited that we have several opportunities to explore the discoveries of Brené Brown and expand our own understanding of the abundant, wholehearted life that Christ offers.

You can choose courage or you can choose comfort, but you cannot have both

Brené Brown

The Daring Way

Beyond what you can get from just her books and talks, Brené put together an intensive training workshop that digs deep into the personal work necessary to embody wholehearted living. She spent time personally training and certifying instructors who could present her material- people like my friend, Rich Gantenbein. He is bringing that workshop to New Hope on October 9-10 (he'll also be preaching on October 11). 

Its going to be a powerful weekend. Bring a friend, your spouse and even your entire LIFE Group! The cost is $35 and you can register online or at church. 

The Book of Forgiving

I would like to share with you two simple truths: there is nothing that cannot be forgiven, and there is no one undeserving of forgiveness.

Desmond Tutu

The content of this quote captures the attention. The source demands it. Desmond Tutu knows something about forgiveness and his wisdom and integrity are woven into every page. I have read a number of books about forgiveness over the years, some of them were very good. None is better than The Book of Forgiving. 

Tutu and his daughter, Mpho, don't duck any of the hard questions about forgiveness. The book is eloquent as well as practical. If you have wondered about how (or why) to forgive others, even when they haven't asked for forgiveness, they address it. If you have wondered about how to forgive without feeling like you are simply excusing bad behavior, they tackle that, too. If you are wondering how to make forgiveness and reconciliation a regular part of your life, you will want to read this book. Copies are available at the church. 

That's why I am excited about the new mid-week class that begins this Wednesday, (September 16). Rae Behrens is leading a five-week discussion on this book and its implications. I'll be there, assisting any way I can. I hope you'll be there, too! The class is from 6:45-8:00 and runs through October 14. 

Coming to New Hope: The Daring Way

Have you heard about best-selling author, Brené Brown? She is a researcher who listens to stories- lots of them. Over years of listening to people's lives, emerged recurring themes of guilt and shame, scarcity and vulnerability, empathy and creativity, authenticity, whole-heartedness and courage. What Brené heard surprised her, even frightened her. If what she was hearing was true, it meant she needed to make some changes in her own life if she was going to experience whole-hearted living.  

Brené began to share her findings and her own struggles with change, first in a TED Talk, then in books. It struck a nerve. Her TED talks are some of the most watched in history. Her books* have become best-sellers. She has been consulted by such disparate groups as the Pentagon (in trying to crack the code of PTSD) and Pixar (releasing and enhancing creativity).

Have you ever noticed that the Bible is full of stories, too? You don’t have to listen too long, before you also begin to hear some common themes about shame and guilt, scarcity and vulnerability, empathy, authenticity, creativity and wholehearted living.  Some of these go by other names, but the underlying lessons are remarkably consistent. I believe our communities and our churches would benefit from and people’s lives would be changed by, integrating Brown’s insights and the truths of scripture.

It's More Than "Nothing"

We have a strong tendency to imagine Silence as the absence of sound. This imagination deprives Silence of being anything in itself and makes it an emptiness, a void that should be the norm. But Silence was here before anything else, and it envelopes everything else. It is the most primary phenomenon of existence, both palpably something and seemingly nothing. Silence is prior to sound, not the cessation of sound. It is already present. If we drop into quietness for just a moment, we feel the presence of Silence as an invitation.

 

Silence: The Mystery of Wholeness, Robert Sardello

We launched our first "Quiet Space" last Sunday and we'll continue through the summer. It is hosted by our Spiritual Formation Team and is held in the Sedalia Room from 9:15-9:45. Come for five minutes- or stay for thirty!

Praying for Charleston

There are too many stories like this.

Faith communities all across the country are grieving with the congregation of Emmanuel. The PCUSA is no different and you can read some of the responses here and here.

There will be a time for discussions about race and racism in the weeks and months ahead- as there should. Today is a time for prayer.

To say the name is to say the prayer:  "Emmanuel- God be with us." Amen.

Start Your Sunday With Silence

Have you discovered the power of silence? 

Silence is not the absence of sound. It is an invitation into the sacredness of life and the presence of God. It is the source of strength, creativity and renewal. There is a reason the psalmist challenges us with the invitation:

Be still, and know that I am God.

The implication is clear: If you want to "know" God (not 'know about God', but 'experience' God), be still.

That is why I am excited about a new experiment in spiritual growth and worship at New Hope this summer. We are going to take advantage of the new summer schedule (one worship service at 10:00 am) and create a place for people to practice being still as part of our worship experience. We are turning the Sedalia Room into The Quiet Room from 9:15-9:45 am each Sunday morning. Members of the Spiritual Formation Team will be there each week to host this time. We'll have materials with scripture and thoughts that are appropriate for the theme of the morning, if you choose.

It starts this Sunday (June 21) through the summer. Come for the whole time- or stay 5 minutes. Use this summer to practice "being still" as part of worship. Come and experience the power of silence!

Summer Schedule Begins June 21!

We are trying something new this summer and it all begins Sunday, June 21. We are shifting to a single service @ 10:00 am, followed by many opportunities for congregational interaction and fellowship.

Why are we doing this?

Summer Book Club Selection: "Falling Upward"

Every summer I pick a couple books that have had an impact on me and I want to share with others. I invite people to read along at their own pace (especially good for summer schedules!) and then gather  to discuss it. All of us are learners. No one is an expert. 

My first selection for the summer is Richard Rohr's, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. Rohr is a prolific writer and one of the leading voices on Christian spirituality. Here is a short introduction to the book from the author himself.

 

Memorial Day

 

We showed a portion of this video in the service yesterday and several people asked about it. A good reminder of the sacrifice that is at the heart of Memorial Day. 

The Belhar Confession

I mentioned the Belhar Confession in worship on Sunday. It was written in the midst of the turmoil of South Africa in 1982 (8 years before Mandela was released). If you would like to read it, click here. This document is part of the proposal at last year's General Assembly to include Belhar into our Book of Confessions. It includes scripture references on the side.