Podcasts about pastor adam hamilton

What is the blessing of fear? Join us as we gather to reset our new daily rhythm and build resilience during this time of change. I'm excited to have Adam Hamilton. Adam is senior pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, one of the fastest growing, most highly visible churches in the country. The Church Report named Hamilton's congregation the most influential mainline church in America, and he preached at the National Prayer Service as part of the presidential inauguration festivities in 2013. Hamilton is the best-selling and award-winning author of The Call, Making Sense of the Bible, Love to Stay, The Journey, The Way, 24 Hours That Changed the World, Revival, Not a Silent Night, Enough, When Christians Get It Wrong, and Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White,all published by Abingdon Press. Adam has been married 30 years to LaVon. They have two grown daughters. I'm happy to have Adam share how they're finding Rhythm and Resilience right now, and how we can do the same. I invite you to tune in as we unite as a community. Looking forward to spending time together for some R & R. Join Dr. Michelle and Adam as they talk about:  The importance of rhythm during quarantine. Pastor Adam's call to church. Faith being an experience of trust. Rising levels of anxiety and suicide, and how to create hope. Tuning out the noise and paying attention to the nudges, whispers, and God moments. Pastor Adam's “God-incidence” in Atlanta with a man who passed. Tragic passings of Mindy Corporan and Erin Langhofer. How to reconcile tragedy with an all loving God, Dr. Martin Luther King's interpretation. Fear being a gift of God. Being mindful of media consumption. A quick breath prayer Pastor Adam's prayer practice What guidance and gifts have come from quarantine Pastor Adam's medicine Not coincidences, God-incidences. - Adam Hamilton Mentioned In This Episode United Methodist Church of the Resurection Adam Hamilton's Website Unafraid by Adam Hamilton Why by Adam Hamilton Psalm 31:5 The Story of Elijah When God Winks by Squire Rushnell Mindy Corporan Erin Langhofer

I had a great conversation with my friend and Pastor, Adam Hamilton. Adam is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas www.cor.org. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/timmygibson/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/timmygibson/support

Today's theme from Luke winds its way throughout the letter, and it has to do with the “great reversal” that comes from the gospel. He speaks of pride and humility, of favoritism or partiality in the church, and he speaks of judging others, of the rich and the poor and of what constitutes true religion and the worthless substitute. Take a listen as Pastor Adam Hamilton invites us to consider how James calls us not to judge a book by its cover, not to make assumptions about others but to value and show honor, dignity and respect particularly to those who are struggling.

When we feel we are falling short, failing, or generally losing, it's important to remember that when we don't fail, we may not learn, we won't have the experience of recovering, and we may not try again. Some Christians are deluded into thinking that because they are in a relationship with God, failure is not an option. However, scripture tells us in multiple places that God uses suffering and failure to build strength and character in our lives.  All three of our guests today know what it's like to fail. Discovery Channel's Todd Hoffman has had highs and lows in his mining career. He's learned as much–if not more–from his mistakes navigating the world of gold mining as from his successes. Pastor Adam Hamilton and his wife Lavon know what it's like to serve the Lord and their family as best as they possibly can, but that sometimes, they don't meet the mark as spouses and parents. They speak about the challenging transitions of parenting kids as they become adults.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Meg Meeker Upcoming interview: Walker Hayes and Craig Cooper Luke 16 NIV   Todd Hoffman Hoffman family Gold Rush on Discovery Channel Joshua 24:15 NIV Hoffman Family Gold   Adam Hamilton United Methodist Church of the Resurrection www.cor.org   Interview Quotes: “I don't care about fame, but I do care about the reach when it comes to my faith.” - Todd Hoffman “I was kind of depressed and coming out of that and trying to fix things in my marriage. And that's when God kind of met me. I said, ‘I need a good idea and I need something new to believe in.' And that's when I got that vision of Gold Rush.” “We try to serve the Lord the best we can and we fail, but we get back up and we ask for forgiveness and we carry on.” - Todd Hoffman “I would hope that as long as we're still alive, that we're finding ways to parent, that you're still finding ways to show [your children] love and care.  And I know as we age, the tables kind of turn and they start helping take care of us. But I think that no matter how old you are, you can still look for ways that you can be a mom or dad to your children.“ - LaVon Hamilton “I feel like all of our best years were way after our thirties. You know, there were some things that were great at that time, I'm not denying that, but I feel like we have more joy. There is more satisfaction in life. I think we feel more in love with each other today than at any point in our past.” - Adam Hamilton “You have to figure out how you transition together, or how you learn the dance steps for this phase in your life. Because dance music doesn't stay the same throughout your whole life. It changes as you go through life.” - LaVon Hamilton “There's a direct correlation between our spiritual life and our time with God and how we live out our faith towards the people that are closest to us.” - Adam Hamilton ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website

When we are weary, Jesus Christ comes beside, showing us a way of hope and life. In this year's Candlelight Christmas Eve sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares with us the hope we find in a child born in a manger.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares some interesting information about the life of Joseph, the husband of Mary. We learn about the humility of Joseph and are challenged to consider how we can have the same posture of generosity as Joseph.

In the Gospels, it was important that Jesus was from Nazareth because it showed that he was humble and that God chooses the most lowly, unexpected people to bring the kingdom of God into the world. In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton takes us on a journey to Nazareth and challenges us to think about the ways we might be representatives of God in our communities.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers how our legacies are about so much more than the money we make. People remember us for the time we spent with them, the things we're passionate about, and the memories we've made. How do the decisions we make today affect the legacy we leave behind?

In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton digs into Romans 12 and 13 as he examines the Apostle Paul's teachings on how we ought to live our lives in response to God's grace and mercy.

Does God choose some people to experience eternal life and other to experience eternal separation from God? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers this difficult passage in Romans and interprets it through the lens of Jesus.

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considered Romans 7-8 and what the Apostle Paul wrote about our human tendency to make bad decisions and how God's love remains with us through all of life's troubles.

When Paul wrote his letter to the church in Rome, he was writing to a group of Christians who were deeply divided. In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers how Paul's message in Romans can guide us today through the conflict we feel in our society.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton concludes our series on being People of the Light by teaching us three keys to a life filled with meaning: Using discernment in the voices we listen to, remembering to rejoice, pray, and give thanks, and pursuing the good of our fellow humans.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton concludes our series on being People of the Light by teaching us three keys to a life filled with meaning: Using discernment in the voices we listen to, remembering to rejoice, pray, and give thanks, and pursuing the good of our fellow humans.

Joining Timmy today in studio was former evangelical Vineyard Pastor Fred Herron, and Co-host of the Timmy Gibson Show, and former evangelical Pastor Lance Strickland for a conversation on How Our Understanding of the Bible has evolved over the years. Then they had the opportunity to bring Pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Adam Hamilton in via phone and go even deeper down the road of understanding these ancient texts we call the Bible. They talk about faith, religion, LGBTQ, and so much. You'll just need to listen to it, it was an amazing conversation. Please consider supporting our podcast, email to find out how timmy@timmygibson.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/timmygibson/support

What does it mean to live a life pleasing to God? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers what that kind of faithfulness ought to look like for Christians today.

What does it mean to live a life pleasing to God? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers what that kind of faithfulness ought to look like for Christians today.

Healing a Shattered Soul - My Faithful Journey of Courageous Kindness After the Trauma and Grief of Domestic Terrorism is my memoir.When the unimaginable occurs we can keep our mouths shut or find our voice. Tormented by sorrow and anguish after losing two family members to domestic terrorism I placed trust in God and listened for guidance. Healing a Shattered Soul is a reflection of my personal journey receiving and offering courageous kindness, a guide to those grieving and in need of inspiration and a tribute to the perpetual love of my father and son. It also provides insight into the psychological changes that can occur after traumatic experiences.In episode 31, “I Can’t See the Pain Inside You”, my intention is to raise your awareness surrounding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Listening, you will hear me read from one of the chapters in my book allowing for time and space in the realm of mental health. Noted clearly throughout, trauma can do a doozy on our minds and souls. Of course, no one else can truly “see” what is going on inside each of us.Allow me to bring to your attention that May is Mental Awareness Month. Consider what you don’t know about a family member or friend who suffered trauma. Give them grace, time and a hand to hold as they work through the tangle of emotional spaghetti. I didn’t know my younger brother, Tony, suffered from PTSD until two years after the tragedy that stole our father and my son, his nephew. Tony’s podcast episode with me is a vulnerable conversation about his personal path through trauma and healing.I learned from FrontEdge Publishing that books have a birthdate. My book's birthdate is May 3, 2021. Pastor Adam Hamilton, senior pastor at The Church of the Resurrection is helping me commemorate the release of Healing a Shattered Soul with a virtually live conversation. It would be great to have you join us.Thank you for joining me on my journey of courageous kindness.Together we are better!•Resources for this episode:“Saving Our Children from Suicide”, Episode 30 with Kevin and Anne TimmonsMidwest Transplant Network - Saving Lives with Dignity and CompassionHCA Midwest - Overland Park Regional Medical CenterUS Department of Veterans Affairs - National Center for PTSD•Find Mindy on Social Media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindyCorporonLLCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindycorporon/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindyCorporonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindycorporon/•This channel is made possible because of listeners just like you. If you would like to support the channel with your tax-deductible contribution on an ongoing basis or through a one-time gift, head over to ExperienceOfTheSoul.com/support.Real Grief - Real Healing is copyright 2021, Mindy Corporon. All Rights Reserved. Our theme music is composed by Dave Kropf and used with permission.The Experience of the Soul Podcast Channel is a production of 818 Studios.

Today is a good day for us to stop and reflect on the pandemic – to consider how we've changed and what is different in our lives. In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton draws our attention to the wisdom that can be found in this type of reflection.

Today is a good day for us to stop and reflect on the pandemic – to consider how we've changed and what is different in our lives. In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton draws our attention to the wisdom that can be found in this type of reflection.

Nick Timmons brought life into the lives of others. His father, Kevin Timmons stated that, “Nick was Peter Pan.”Friends, this is a longer episode than normal, running closer to 50 minutes than 30 minutes. In the event suicide is a trigger for you, please have someone with you during this episode.We discuss the trauma of suicide, mental illness, depression, and anxiety. The grief journey is ongoing and does not take a straight path. In fact, if you don’t know where you are on your own path, listen to Anne Timmons explain to you that “there is no getting around grief - if you don't walk through it, you are stuck."Many people in the Kansas City region know of the restaurants, “Nick and Jake’s”. They serve a great beverage and meal, providing fun for families, singles and those who need many televisions on at one time for that special sporting event.My guests on Episode 30, “Saving our Children from Suicide” are Kevin and Anne Timmons. Kevin co-founded Nick and Jake’s with Doug Watkins and they named it after their boys…Nick and Jake. A self-proclaimed “class clown”, Kevin finds a few opportunities to draw a smile and laugh from both me an Anne even as we are discussing the sorrow of his son’s suicide. While Kevin wanted to “bury himself in his closet and only think about Nick”, Pastor Karen Lampe asked him to open his home to friends grieving their loss of Nick, “a friend who brought light into the lives of others”. Kevin listened and thus began his healing journey.Humor, paying it forward, sharing in a grieving parents’ group, raising funds for mental health awareness, and implementing specialized counselors for their family’s school district are each healing modalities for Kevin and Anne Timmons. Opening Fore the Kids in 2005 and then pivoting significantly in 2017, after Nick took his life, Kevin shares past and present information highlighting the importance of giving back to your community.They are honest and raw about seeing signs of Nick’s depression and not taking steps that might have helped. Anne is clear with us, even her psychology and teaching degrees do not provide her all the knowledge needed to walk her path alone. Using many tools, seeking assistance from professionals, and holding tightly to her faith, Anne tells us her faith has helped her through several significant life disruptions as she has watched “God weave good into a tragedy”.On several occasions, I have stated that there are many ways to find healing…some good and some not. Kevin explains his desire to make changes in his own healing rather than self-medicating with alcohol. He also encourages and supports friendships, stating that we should all “check in with our friends”, if we are the one hurting and when we are part of a supportive team.Listening to this podcast will not be easy. It should not be. Suicide is horrific. For those left behind questioning themselves, a path to self-forgiveness seems necessary. Seek professional assistance if you are working to heal from a similar, tragic situation. Seek professional assistance from resources listed below if you are considering taking your own life or know someone who is.You are valuable. You are wanted on this planet. Stay alive because, “To Live would be an awfully big adventure!” - Robin Williams from the movie “Hook”, when he played Peter Pan - and Kevin Timmons, a grieving and healing father.Friends, together we are better.Seek help. Be the help.•Other Resources:Blue Valley Educational FoundationNick Timmons - obituaryMay is Mental Health Awareness MonthWhat are signs of depression?How are our children truly handling disruption in the home?Pastor Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor of Church of the ResurrectionChildren's Mercy HospitalADHDODD Oppositional Defiant DisorderThe University of Kansas Health System – Marillac CampusCongregational Care Ministry, The Church of the ResurrectionFind Mindy on Social Media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindyCorporonLLCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindycorporon/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindyCorporonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindycorporon/•This channel is made possible because of listeners just like you. If you would like to support the channel with your tax-deductible contribution on an ongoing basis or through a one-time gift, head over to ExperienceOfTheSoul.com/support.Real Grief - Real Healing is copyright 2021, Mindy Corporon. All Rights Reserved. Our theme music is composed by Dave Kropf and used with permission.The Experience of the Soul Podcast Channel is a production of 818 Studios.

Jesus had a particular affinity for children, and in this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shows us how we ought to be serving the children in our communities.

Jesus had a particular affinity for children, and in this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shows us how we ought to be serving the children in our communities.

Who is Jesus? And what does Jesus ask of us? Every story in the Gospel of Mark is intended to answer those two questions. In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the answers to these two questions as found in the story of feeding the multitudes.

Who is Jesus? And what does Jesus ask of us? Every story in the Gospel of Mark is intended to answer those two questions. In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the answers to these two questions as found in the story of feeding the multitudes.

Jesus faced opposition throughout his ministry, even from his own family at times. As we walk with Jesus, we also face opposition from those who don't understand how our faith changes the way we see the world. In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton encourages us to find comfort in this story from the Gospel of Mark.

Jesus faced opposition throughout his ministry, even from his own family at times. As we walk with Jesus, we also face opposition from those who don't understand how our faith changes the way we see the world. In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton encourages us to find comfort in this story from the Gospel of Mark.

Does God cause suffering? If God is all-powerful, why doesn't God stop cancer and illness and pandemics and natural disasters? Wouldn't a good God stop those things? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the relationship between God and the pain we experience in our broken world.

Does God cause suffering? If God is all-powerful, why doesn't God stop cancer and illness and pandemics and natural disasters? Wouldn't a good God stop those things? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the relationship between God and the pain we experience in our broken world.

Does God condemn people to hell? What happens to good people after death? Is there an afterlife? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares how he reads the scriptures that talk about the afterlife – and why he thinks hell is a reflection of the love of God.

Does God condemn people to hell? What happens to good people after death? Is there an afterlife? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares how he reads the scriptures that talk about the afterlife – and why he thinks hell is a reflection of the love of God.

Is the Bible a Magic 8 Ball? Is it a roadmap? A love letter straight from God? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers what the Bible is – and what it's not – and how we ought to use it in our daily lives.

Is the Bible a Magic 8 Ball? Is it a roadmap? A love letter straight from God? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers what the Bible is – and what it's not – and how we ought to use it in our daily lives.

Fr. Edward Looney talks with Pastor Adam Hamilton, author of Faithful: Experiencing Christmas Through the Eyes of St. Joseph.

Do faith and science collide? Or are they mutually compatible? In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton talks to leading scientists who are also hold tightly to Christianity to see how we can reconcile the two.

Do faith and science collide? Or are they mutually compatible? In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton talks to leading scientists who are also hold tightly to Christianity to see how we can reconcile the two.

On this first week of Advent, Pastor Adam Hamilton challenges us to remember that Jesus Christ is our king, no matter who sits on the thrones of the kingdoms of the world.

On this first week of Advent, Pastor Adam Hamilton challenges us to remember that Jesus Christ is our king, no matter who sits on the thrones of the kingdoms of the world.

The act of generosity can help us rediscover happiness and joy. In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares stories about people in our community who have demonstrated uncommon generosity – and about the impact that generosity has had in their lives.

The act of generosity can help us rediscover happiness and joy. In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares stories about people in our community who have demonstrated uncommon generosity – and about the impact that generosity has had in their lives.

This week is election week in the United States, and there is an intense polarization between the people in our two main political parties. How can we see past our parties and remember the humanity of those who believe differently than we do? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares with us some stories and some tips on how to do just that.

This week is election week in the United States, and there is an intense polarization between the people in our two main political parties. How can we see past our parties and remember the humanity of those who believe differently than we do? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares with us some stories and some tips on how to do just that.

As Christians, how should we interact with people of other faith traditions? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton asks us to look for places of agreement even as we have gracious disagreements about our beliefs.

As Christians, how should we interact with people of other faith traditions? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton asks us to look for places of agreement even as we have gracious disagreements about our beliefs.

We're surrounded by conflict – in our nation, in the United Methodist denomination, and in many other places. It seems like we feel it everywhere we turn! In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers how Christ empowers us to find joy in the middle of conflict.

We're surrounded by conflict – in our nation, in the United Methodist denomination, and in many other places. It seems like we feel it everywhere we turn! In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers how Christ empowers us to find joy in the middle of conflict.

How is it possible to find joy in the middle of impossible circumstances? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the life and ministry of Paul and how his letter to the church in Philippi can teach us to find joy no matter our situation.

How is it possible to find joy in the middle of impossible circumstances? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the life and ministry of Paul and how his letter to the church in Philippi can teach us to find joy no matter our situation.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to live as witnesses of God's work in the world. In this message, Pastor Adam Hamilton challenges us to embrace that call.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to live as witnesses of God's work in the world. In this message, Pastor Adam Hamilton challenges us to embrace that call.

How does the Holy Spirit shape our lives? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares what it looks like for us to yield ourselves to the guidance of the Spirit.

How does the Holy Spirit shape our lives? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shares what it looks like for us to yield ourselves to the guidance of the Spirit.

What's the difference between the humble Christian life and the proud Christian life? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers how our motivations impact the morality of our actions.

What's the difference between the humble Christian life and the proud Christian life? In this week's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers how our motivations impact the morality of our actions.

In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he seems to have set an impossible standard for us to live up to. But in today's message, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the heart of Jesus' ethics and how we still ought live by Jesus' standards.

In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he seems to have set an impossible standard for us to live up to. But in today's message, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the heart of Jesus' ethics and how we still ought live by Jesus' standards.

The prophets of ancient Israel helped the Israelites find hope in the middle of the hopelessness of their exile. Pastor Adam Hamilton shows us how their messages can help us find hope today – not that our troubles will cease, but that God is with us today and will one day deliver us.

In his sermon this week, Pastor Adam Hamilton shows us that Jesus wanted us to prioritize people over rules.

In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the story of Mary and Martha as Jesus dined at their house. What can we learn from them about being engaged in our lives while we sit at the feet of Jesus?

At the first supper in the gospel of Luke, Jesus welcomed a woman who was a sinner. In today's sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton asks us to consider where we find ourselves in this story of brokenness and acceptance.

One of the most pressing issues identified by young people as a concern is the question of how we ought to respond to climate change. In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton takes a look at the science of climate change and considers what Jesus might say about our stewardship of our planet.

Merry Christmas! In this Candlelight Christmas Eve sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ and shares why the birth of this child gives him hope even today.

As we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Pastor Adam Hamilton shows us what it means to prepare ourselves and our world for the coming of the Messiah.

Gratitude has the power to change our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton shows us how we can let gratitude make us more content and more generous with our resources.

In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton continues our series on the Ten Commandments by looking at what it means to be honest about our neighbors.

In this sermon, delivered on Mount Sinai in Egypt, Pastor Adam Hamilton challenges us to think about the ways in which we might be stealing from the people and institutions around us.

For many of us, one of the most challenging of the Ten Commandments is the command to observe Sabbath. In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton considers the reasons rest is such an important part of our lives.

What does it mean to treat the name of God as if it is of no signficance? In this sermon, Pastor Adam Hamilton challenges us to live up to the name "Christian."

Pastor Adam Hamilton continues the sermon series "Words of Life" by considering the second of the Ten Commandments: "Do not make an idol for yourself."

In the first message of the series "Words of Life: Reading the Ten Commandments Through the Eyes of Jesus," Pastor Adam Hamilton asks us to confront the other gods we worship in our lives. Even good things can become gods, so we have to be careful to keep those good things subordinated to God.

In response to recent gun violence that claimed the life of one our members, as well as the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Pastor Adam Hamilton preaches on how God grieves in these situations and on how we as Christians ought to respond.

The Power Among You A reflection shared by Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli at Foundry UMC, September 30, 2018, the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. “Activate” series.     Text: James 5:13-20   This past week I spent two days in Kansas at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, a congregation of more than 22,000 people, founded and led by Pastor Adam Hamilton. The church offers a Leadership Institute each year with a variety of workshops and keynotes to provide support and concrete resources for clergy and lay leadership. 1800 folks attended this year’s Institute and I was privileged to be among those offering some teaching. The workshop title I was given was “Spiritual Self-Care in Troubling Times” and the blurb read: “How can pastors and other church leaders navigate the tumultuous waters of culture, especially during times when people—even people who are part of the same congregation—have such strongly divided views?”    These days, on any given week this topic would feel resonant; but this week, for many, has felt like the divides and hostility have gone to new heights (or hit new lows, depending on how you want to look at it).  I have heard and seen folks dealing with anger and trauma, outrage and confusion, numbness and exhaustion at alarming levels. I have been trying to figure out how to deal with my own thoughts and feelings, how to process and discern what I am seeing, in short, how to “navigate the tumultuous waters of culture” as a follower of Jesus.   In this context, it was a privilege—and personally helpful—to try to offer those who attended my workshops some guidance, grounding, and encouragement for the living of these days.  And the primary claim I shared with them and with you today is this: As the church, we have all the resources necessary to navigate the tumultuous waters of culture—in this moment and in any moment!  We have a story that sets our lives in the context of a larger narrative of meaning and purpose.  The story reminds us of history—that along with creativity, beauty, friendship, courage, and love—conflict, division, suffering, and injustice have been around from the beginning.  The story confirms that God has been busy with the work of mending from the beginning and has called folks like us into the work all along the way.  Our grounding story gives us spiritual ancestors and images and words that guide our actions and response—that help us see who we are called to be and what we are called to do.  We have spiritual tools of discernment—prayer, study, holy conversations with others, meditation—that challenge us to see beyond our own noses and to receive deeper insight.    Further, sharing life in faith community—serving alongside others, sharing our resources to support the common work, being there for one another through the ups and downs of life, studying the Bible and other books together, sharing the sacraments, and worshiping together, all these things prepare us to weather all kinds of “tumultuous waters” in life.  Here at Foundry—and in any engaged community of faith—we get to practice things like deep listening, humility, forgiveness, thoughtful and respectful speech—with people who are really different from us. We get to practice how to work through conflicts in healthy ways when we inevitably offend, aggravate, disappoint, or hurt each other.  We also get to practice new skills—perhaps through stepping up to provide leadership for a project or group or through participation on a team, or through trusting others through delegation or stretching our capacity for grace and generosity.   What does any of this have to do with getting through a week like we’ve just experienced?  Well, if we are really attending to our spiritual life in community—life with and for God and others—that will form and strengthen and guide us in our responses to whatever we encounter in life.  Like an athlete trains with discipline in order to have the capacity to perform, so we are encouraged to be disciplined in our spiritual practices so that, in moments of struggle, pain, loss, and disappointment, we will have the capacity to be generous, gracious, loving, wise, patient, sacrificial, vulnerable, brave, and all sorts of other things—in our homes, workplaces, schools, and in the doctor’s office or in traffic or on social media or at the customer service desk.   Throughout this month and our Activate! series, we’ve been studying the short letter of James. James is focused on the ways that our faith takes shape in our works, and specifically, in our relationships with one another. The teachings in this epistle are directed to the church and are all about how to live together without hypocrisy, partiality, oppression, or greed; how to be gentle, respectful, loving, humble, and wise.  Today’s passage is about prayer and about care.  We’re encouraged to pray with one another and for one another in struggle and in joy, to pray with and for those who suffer from physical or spiritual sickness, to strengthen the community through our solidarity and support. There is something powerful about being with our faith community when we’re struggling.  Hearing again the promises of God’s love and presence, being reminded that there is always hope, having another person reach out in love and concern or just sit with us or listen to us, even just being held in the prayers and songs and stories of our faith in worship—all of this helps us “navigate the tumultuous waters of culture” and of life.   Part of today’s text has been taught and understood in ways that have done pretty severe damage to some folks’ faith and health.  The notion that “the prayer of faith will save the sick”—taken out of context and applied to individuals—has led down some very dangerous paths (including rejection of medical treatment).  One of my earliest congregants could never get over how his ardent prayers failed to heal his wife’s cancer.  He never forgave himself for not having enough faith.  This is a whole other topic for a whole other sermon. For now, let me simply say that, while prayer does change lives, we need to be very careful in how we understand its power.   And it is powerful. It may be among the greatest powers in our midst.  Not because it can magically make things happen that we desire, but because it is the place where we connect with God—where God’s power can work in us and on us and ultimately through us. You see, the power among us is God. It is God’s power that wakes us up, that helps us see ourselves honestly, that helps us see the world around us honestly, that gives us courage to do beautiful and hard things, that messes with us until we finally do the thing we need to do to move toward healing and wholeness—in our bodies or in our relationships.  It is God’s power—the power of God’s love and mercy—that changes hearts and minds and lives. It is God’s power that activates in us a desire to serve and to give and risk ourselves for the sake of love and justice.    Our human power can go only so far and our human power gets corrupted again and again.  But drawing close, staying close to God through community and spiritual practices re-forms and strengthens us.  As the late, local theologian Verna Dozier taught, worship (and I would add any shared spiritual practice) is where we arrive all twisted up and where God scoops us up and pats us back into shape. God’s powerful love forms us—if we’re willing to offer ourselves—into a more loving, generous, merciful shape, into the shape that is our truest shape. This kind of formation and re-formation is what the writer of James focuses on—how our personal faith and prayer allows God to shape our actions and our communities to care for one another.   God gives us all we need to navigate the tumultuous waters of culture, all we need to live together in peace, all we need to grow and thrive, all we need to experience the fullness of life.  All we have to do is choose to receive the gifts of God and engage the spiritual practices that put us in the flow of God’s grace. Our choice will have consequences. Legend has it that Rabbi Haim of Lithuania, was granted permission to visit both heaven and hell. The Rabbi enters the gates of Hell, which, he is surprised to find, are exquisitely lovely, as is the lush green landscape that lies beyond them. He could hardly believe the beauty of the place, the sight of the meadows and mountains, the sounds of the birds singing in the trees, the scent of thousands of flowers… And then the tantalizing aroma of a gourmet meal catches his attention. Entering a large dining hall, he sees row after row of tables laden with platters of sumptuous food; yet the people seated around the tables are pale and emaciated, moaning in hunger. Coming closer, he sees that there was something different about these people—they had very large arms, nearly four feet in length. At the end of each arm, they held a fork, but were unable to eat because no one had an elbow. Even though all the food was right in front of them, they couldn’t put the forks into their mouths. The rabbi then went to Heaven, where he encountered the exact same beauty he had witnessed in Hell. Entering the dining hall there, he saw the same scene—including the four-foot arms without elbows—except in contrast to Hell, the people seated at the tables were sitting contentedly, cheerfully talking with each other, as they enjoyed their sumptuous meal. As the rabbi came closer, he was amazed to watch how each person at a table would feed the person sitting across from him. The recipient of this kindness would express gratitude and then return the favor by leaning across the table to feed her friend. The rabbi was determined to go back to Hell so he could share this solution with the poor souls trapped there. Racing into the dining hall, he shouted to the first starving person he saw, “You do not have to go hungry. Use your fork to feed your neighbor, and she will surely return the favor and feed you.”  The angry reply came, “You expect me to feed the detestable person sitting across the table? I would rather starve than give her the pleasure of eating!” It was then that the rabbi understood. Heaven and Hell offer the same circumstances and conditions. The only difference is in the way that people treat each other. In heaven people feed one another. God sets the table before us, gives us all we need, all the resources to navigate this beautiful, broken world. God’s power is among us to form us and guide us to share the feast. May it be so.

Today, we’re kicking off a new podcast feature called “How we work,” where amazing United Methodists share their expertise with YOU! Our first guest is Cathy Bien, Director of Communications at The Church of the Resurrection. You might recognize this as the church planted and led by Pastor Adam Hamilton. Get MONTHLY church marketing tips … Continue reading "Ep. 023: How We Work with Cathy Bien"

George Noory and Pastor Adam Hamilton discuss his theories on fear and why this strong emotion has so much control over our lives. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Pastor Hamilton reflects on the question of whether good preachers are born or made. read more...