• To NCS National
  • Find a Chapter
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

NCS New Canaan

Founding Chapter

  • About
    • Our Chapter
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • Our Team
  • Meetings
    • Chapter Meetings
    • Event Calendar
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Audio & Video
    • Speaker Bios
  • Contact
  • Donate

Finding Peace: Christian Mindfulness and the Holy Spirit (Steve Gilbert – 3/3/23 – NCS New Canaan)

March 8, 2023 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment


Steve Gilbert vulnerably shares, from his own experiences as a therapist and a man, about the power of “Christian mindfulness” to help us find peace through an understanding of God’s constant presence through the Holy Spirit.

Gilbert explains that the last three years have been a struggle in his role as a therapist. His struggle has come from watching an increasing number of other people struggle with addiction, depression and relational issues as a result of the pandemic. Steve talks about how this struggle has challenged his faith.

Steve describes the important difference between practicing “mindfulness” and “Christian mindfulness” as a path to lessening anxiety and finding peace. He explains that the practice of “mindfulness” is “just about you” being in the moment, while “Christian mindfulness” includes Jesus and the recognition that the Holy Spirit dwells within us and is with us, always, in the moment.

Gilbert reveals how our prayers are so often misguided in failing to recognize God’s presence with us and in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and he offers how prayers change when we recognize that reality.

Steve describes the difference between “shame” and “guilt” and the power of “shame” to block our ability to be mindful of Christ’s presence, and he goes on to explain how we can break that blockage.

Steve also reveals and explains the frequent lie of “religion” that we can manufacture personal holiness and overcome the temptations of sin through spiritual “self-help” disciplines, which too often create pharisees and legalism.

Gilbert shares how we can overcome the temptations of sin, be transformed “from inside out”, and find peace through “Christian mindfulness”–understanding that God dwells within us always through the Holy Spirit.

Filed Under: Audio & Video, Uncategorized, Video Tagged With: Addiction, Audio & Video, Chapter Friday, Christianity-Theology, Coronavirus, Covid-19, Crisis and Adversity, Dealing with Emotions, Faith, Fear and Worry, Healing, Isolation-Loneliness-Depression, Nature of God, NCS New Canaan, Nuggets, Prayer, Relationships, Sexual Habits and Addictions, Shame-Guilt, Spiritual Warfare, Substance Abuse and Addictions, Transparency and Authenticity

Adventures of a Urogynecologist (Dr. Bob Lobel – 1/6/23 – NCS New Canaan)

January 22, 2023 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment


With incredible courage, humility and vulnerability, Dr. Bob Lobel shares the challenges and pain that can come from “family of origin” problems–in his case never feeling he could meet his father’s expectations.

Bob explains that, despite being seen by others as a hugely successful and confident surgeon, those childhood feelings manifested as intense “shame” that has impacted his marriage, relationships, career and life. He describes it as a “chronic illness” that requires daily “medication”.

Despite growing up in a home devoid of religion or God, Bob talks about the deep faith that has helped him survive horrific tragedies, including the loss of a child to SIDs and his first wife to cancer.

As the founder of the NCS Albany chapter, Bob shares the profound impact NCS has had in his life: his first NCS experience was a Retreat at Mohonk Mountain House, an NCS Retreat at Hershey opened the door to understanding his shame, and an NCS Retreat at the Homestead helped his family heal from the loss of his first wife.

This is an NCS brudder truly taking off his mask in the hope that revealing his pain may help others begin to face and heal from theirs.

Filed Under: Audio & Video, Video Tagged With: Audio & Video, Career and Financial Disappointments and Transitions, Chapter Friday, Crisis and Adversity, Dealing with Emotions, Faith, Healing, Health Challenges and Losses, Marriage, NCS New Canaan, Raising Children, Relationships, Shame-Guilt, Speak Truth, Transparency and Authenticity

Finding Rest for Your Soul (Andrew Palau – 3/18/22 – NCS New Canaan)

March 19, 2022 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

Like a conversation between old friends, Andrew Palau shares his faith journey with remarkable honesty and humility. In fact, it is a conversation between old friends–the Palau family and the New Canaan Society have had a special relationship for over 20 years.

Andrew shares exciting news about the Palau CityFest coming to Southwest Connecticut in 2022 (www.cityfest.org).

He tells about his “wayward” days (as described in his book “The Secret Life of a Fool”) and how his parents never gave up on him. Andrew describes his father’s heartfelt letters and talks and the prayers that came from around the world.

He describes the tortured, sleepless nights wrestling with shame and the direction of his life. He also shares about the trip to Kingston, Jamaica that changed everything–the trip when he met Jesus and Wendy, who became his wife.

Andrew also talks about his father and his legacy and what it has been like to be called to continue that legacy. Those who knew Luis will recognize his uniquely disarming honesty and humility in Andrew.

Finally, Andrew offers a way for us to “find rest for our souls” as he finally did in Jamaica.

Filed Under: Audio & Video, Uncategorized, Video Tagged With: Audio & Video, Calling and Purpose, Career and Financial Disappointments and Transitions, Chapter Friday, Christianity-Theology, Crisis and Adversity, Evangelism, Faith, Father-Son, Fear and Worry, Forgiveness, Great Commission - Make Disciples, Healing, Nature of God, NCS New Canaan, Prayer, Raising Children, Salvation, Shame-Guilt, Substance Abuse and Addictions, Transparency and Authenticity

The Youth Drug Crisis (and the Power of Jesus and Friends) (Panel – 1/21/22 – NCS New Canaan)

January 21, 2022 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

The drug and opioid crisis is ravaging America’s youth. With amazing courage and vulnerability, a panel of NCS brudders share how drug addiction has personally hit them and their family. More importantly, they describe how their faith in Jesus and the prayers and support of friends, particularly NCS brudders, were powerful allies in each of their spiritual battles against darkness and evil.

In the face of societal stigma around addiction, the panelists emphasized the importance, particularly for parents, of admitting the addiction problem and seeking help. They also strongly encouraged family members of addicts to seek their own support.

Doran Wright (NCS New Canaan) shares about the battle he and his wife fought alongside their son Josh, who tragically died of a Fentanyl overdose in 2020. A photo montage of Josh can be seen below.

James Lillis (NCS New Haven) shares about his own uncontrollable addiction and how he was completely and miraculously freed at Teen Challenge after turning his life over to Jesus.

Armen Abrahamian (NCS New Haven) shares with amazing transparency and specificity the long journey he and his wife have been on with their daughter, who thankfully has now been sober for the last few years.

Before the panel share their stories, retired NYS Trooper Greg Porteus (NCS New Canaan) describes a program he is launching to raise awareness about the opioid crisis and equip parents and children to be prepared in advance with “a way out”. He invites all NCS brudders to “Join the Patrol”.

Following the panelists, Rev. Richard Williams (NCS New Canaan), Executive Director of Pivot Ministries (www.pivotministries.org), shares a bit of his own story of addiction and explains the Pivot recovery program available in Bridgeport, CT.

Filed Under: Audio & Video, Uncategorized, Video Tagged With: Addiction, Audio & Video, Chapter Friday, Covid-19, Crisis and Adversity, Energy Groups, Faith, Father-Son, Fear and Worry, Forgiveness, Friendship, Healing, Marriage, Nature of God, NCS New Canaan, Prayer, Raising Children, Right Wrong, Serving Others, Shame-Guilt, Speak Truth, Spiritual Warfare, Substance Abuse and Addictions, Transparency and Authenticity

Let Us Play the Man (Ken Fish – 12/17/21 – NCS New Canaan)

December 17, 2021 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

Ken Fish is not known for mincing words or dumbing down Biblical truth to make it more palatable. He laments that fatherhood is in crisis in our world, and looking to the words of Joab in 2 Samuel 10:12 KJV (“Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God“), he issues an urgent “call to action” for men to “play the man”–or “man-up”–as fathers. We must do it for the sake of our families, our cities and our nation.

Ken shares that, as he travels the world, the #1 prayer request from women in every nation and every country is for God to bring “a Godly man who will lead my household”. He explains ways in which many men are failing to fill the Biblical role of fathers as “priests” of their family and lays out a straightforward Scriptural path to turn things around and “raise a generation of the righteous”:

  • Be of Good Courage.
  • Play the Man.
  • Give Yourself To Others

Ken asserts that the best way for Satan to destroy a country is to destroy families, and the best way to destroy families is to destroy fathers. He also explains why the restoration of righteous fathers is a necessary condition to revival.

Emphasizing that the key to this simple three-point formula is the execution, Fish walks through various Biblical passages that provide guidance on fatherhood and manhood.

You may support Ken’s ministry at this link: https://orbisministries.org/support-orbis/

Filed Under: Audio & Video, Video Tagged With: Audio & Video, Chapter Friday, Christianity-Theology, Cultural Change and Engagement, Divorce, Faith, Father-Son, Great Commandments - Love God - Love Neighbor, Leadership, Live Pure, Marriage, Mentoring and Discipleship, Nature of God, NCS New Canaan, Prayer, Raising Children, Relationships, Right Wrong, Serving Others, Sexual Habits and Addictions, Shame-Guilt, Speak Truth, Spiritual Warfare

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 9
  • Next Page »

Stay Connected

Sign up to receive news and updates about local events and happenings.

Contact Us

NCS New Canaan
 
Paul Michalski
admin@ncsnewcanaan.org

 

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Featured Links

  • About Us
  • Meetings
  • Event Calendar
  • Resources
  • Donate

Recent Posts

  • Against All Odds: Casting Your Nets (Eric Torres – 3/17/23 – NCS New Canaan)
  • Finding Peace: Christian Mindfulness and the Holy Spirit (Steve Gilbert – 3/3/23 – NCS New Canaan)
  • Going from Mess to Mission (Nick Agneto – 2/17/23 – NCS New Canaan)
  • A Tale of Tragedy, Triumph and Changed Lives (Tom Mallon – 1/20/23 – NCS New Canaan)

© 2023 New Canaan Society