Nature of God

Losing Your Mind for God: A Full-Circle Journey to Radio (Steve Lee – 9/22/23 – NCS New Canaan)

September 22, 2023 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

Steve Lee vulnerably shares the amazing faith journey that led to starting Veritas Catholic Network, including the time his wife asked “Have you lost your mind?!”

He talks about his childhood in New Canaan, CT and the impact of growing up in a Christian home watching parents who served others generously but quietly.

Lee explains the years spent as a missionary after college, travelling the United States and the world sharing the Gospel door to door, and how he decided to make the dramatic shift from missionary evangelism to pursuing business school and a Wall Street career.

Steve transparently shares the tensions he felt and some of the difficult situations he faced as a Christian in a Wall Street trading floor environment. He also talks about how it was a period of sharing his faith through actions more than words.

Lee then describes the extraordinary series of events through which God seemed to bring him full-circle back to the evangelistic roots of his youth. They were the incredible steps that led him to make a second dramatic shift from working at a top Wall Street research firm to starting a non-profit Catholic radio station in the NYC area. Steve vulnerably shares how his wife went from wondering if he had lost his mind to being the one to encourage him to step out in faith.

Steve then reminds us of the importance of being prepared to explain and share our Christian faith and the source of our hope–being willing and able courageously to speak up about the reality of Jesus and the truth of the Gospels, always trusting that God is with us. He reminds us that we can all point to Jesus and trust the Holy Spirit to guide us through the next steps.

Journeys of Grief (Lewis Trippett – 6/9/23 – NCS New Canaan)

June 9, 2023 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

Modeling NCS authenticity, transparency and vulnerability, Lewis Trippett courageously shares the grief journey he has experienced since his wife of 42 years went home to Jesus on July 8, 2021.

Using illustrative slides (a link to the slides is provided below), Lewis describes four distinct aspects of his grief journey:

A Physical Journey
An Emotional Journey
A Social Journey
A Spiritual Journey

After describing his wife’s illness and passing, Trippett explains some of the common grief “models” and “stages” and then vulnerably shares how they failed to capture the reality of his pain and experience.

In walking through the four aspects of his grief experience, Lewis explains how every person’s grief experience is different.

In describing the Social Journey, Trippett transparently shares his experience with people who “showed up” and his disappointment with those who were absent. He also authentically offers advice on how to walk with a friend through grief, helpfully providing specific “dos” and “don’ts”.

This is a talk for everyone–those experiencing grief and those who care enough to “show up” for a grieving friend.

SLIDES

Journeys of Grief (Trippett)Download

Everything Matters: 5 Things Worth Fighting For (Allan Houston – 5/26/23 – NCS New Canaan)

June 4, 2023 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

Through transparently sharing the journey of his life, NBA star and Olympic Gold-Medal winner Allan Houston reveals five basic principles that have guided the journey–five things he believes are worth fighting for as we seek to let the glory of God be seen through us daily.

Houston explains that these principles came from his parents and have helped shape not only his basketball career but also his role as a husband and father. He talks about how the five words, revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, reflect lessons learned listening and watching his mother and father.

Faith
Integrity
Sacrifice
Leadership
Legacy

Allan emphasizes that we are in a “spiritual street fight”–a fight for a Kingdom life, for our family, for our children and for righteousness–and these principles provide a strategy for navigating the fight.

He shares the challenges of being a parent in the current culture. In describing the challenge of raising seven children, Houston honors the sacrificial role that his wife has played in holding the family together and helping him grow.

Houston also talks about the importance of remaining sensitive and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit as we engage in this spiritual fight. He stresses the importance of “believing” in times of difficulty and uncertainty because our belief can release the Holy Spirit to guide us through the challenges.

Finally, Allan describes the FISLL Project (FISLL)–a new business and brand to make these principles aspirational and tangible for the next generation by infusing them into aspects of the culture that are impacting that generation–aspects such as technology, fashion, and content.

Walking on [Frozen] Water: Miracles in Maine (Rev. Richard Berry – 4/28/23 – NCS New Canaan)

April 28, 2023 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

When we first heard from Pastor Richard Berry in 2016, he shared miraculous stories of how God–or “Dad”, as he affectionately refers to Him–responded to the heartfelt and desperate cries of a small-town pastor wanting to provide a home for the homeless and food for the hungry in Skowhegan, Maine.

With tremendous humility, Berry explained how his eyes were opened and his heart changed toward the homeless. It was a message of hope. “Dad” is still in the miracle business when his children get on their knees and ask for help.

When he came back (via Zoom) in 2020, Richard shared more stories of hope, human dignity, miracles, joy and self-reflection from the Covid pandemic. By this time, he had published three books chronicling the miracles happening in Maine.

Richard has now written four books and the fifth is scheduled to be published in 2023. In his third visit, he described the extraordinary lengths to which “Dad” will go for one person. Richard explains how he thought he was dying, but it turned out to be an elaborate and amazing ruse from above in order to reach another person with the hope of Jesus.

Berry also describes how “Dad” opened his eyes to miraculous healing. He explains how, after 30 years as a cessationist preaching that God’s miracles stopped nearly two thousand years ago, God used him as an instrument to completely heal a person from cancer.

Why should you listen? For the same reasons you should listen to the earlier talks and might want to read his books: If you want to smile, if you need to laugh, if you are willing to cry, if you are lacking hope, if joy seems to be hiding, or especially if you are questioning your belief in God, Jesus or the role of his Church in our world today.

To contribute to Dad’s homeless shelter in Skowhegan, Maine, click HERE.

Riding the Creative Wave by Faith (Dennis Collins – 4/14/23 – NCS New Canaan)

April 14, 2023 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

Dennis Collins humbly shares the journey that brought him to the New Canaan Society over 20 years ago and then led to him becoming part of the worship band that played each Friday morning for many years.

Dennis also describes the upbringing that provided a rock-solid Christian foundation, how that foundation has helped him navigate the world of entertainment, and how he has tried to provide that foundation for his own children.

Although Dennis almost seems embarrassed when he hears someone list some of the legendary musicians with whom he has performed**, he talks about times when his career provided opportunities to winsomely share his faith and times when he had to gently but confidently defend his faith. He also vulnerably describes his commitment to do the right thing in God’s eyes and how it has required him to turn down certain assignments.

Collins emphasizes the importance of Christians continuing to study and grow in their faith and suggests some of his favorite books and passages of the Bible. He also explains why it is important for our work to be integrated with our faith.

In an extended 15-minute Q&A, Dennis discusses, among many other things, how he has been intentional about drawing boundaries in order to remain connected with his wife and children despite a career in the music and entertainment industry.

**He has recorded and performed with such artists as: Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Smokey Robinson, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, Bonne Raitt, Steely Dan, Alicia Keys, Jackson Brown, Jon Batiste, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Billy Joel, Sting, Ralph MacDonald, Jimmy Buffet, Willie Nelson, Carly Simon, Patti LaBelle, Bette Midler, David Bowie, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Faith Hill, Jewel, Nelly, Ja Rule, Clay Aiken, The Blue Man Group, Lauryn Hill, Moby, Angelique Kidjo, Al Jarreau, Serge Gainsbourg, Patti Austin, Donald Fagen and many others.

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