Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

  • About
    • Speaking
    • Contact
    • Home
  • Books
    • Love Your Bible
    • Christmas Play
    • Kneeling with Giants
    • Review Crew
  • Library
    • Join
    • Login
  • Blog
  • Lenten Prayer Class log in
    • Lenten Prayer Class Info
    • Class Info: Your First Sermon
      • Your 1st Sermon — Course Login
    • Advent Lectio Divina Class Info!
      • Lectio Divina Class Log In
    • “Pray Like a Reformer” Class Info
      • Pray Like a Reformer Login
  • Christmas Play
  • Love Your Bible
  • Kneeling with Giants
You are here: Home / Archives for Monasticism

How to Really Enjoy Your Summer Vacation: Advice from a Fourth Century Monk

May 13, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Did you get to the end of vacation last year and wonder why you were disappointed? Big expectations of adventure and rest swallowed up by Angry Birds and email? Time think ahead, even though Memorial Day is weeks away. Classes are over for the semester (though a two-week Doctor of Ministry intensive is looming). Time to think about Summer before […]

Filed Under: Monasticism, Prayer, Saints, Theology Tagged With: Accidie, Desert Fathers, Monasticism, Redeeming the time, Rhythm, Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Self-management, St. Anthony, Vacation

Want a Simple, Focused Christian Life? — St. Anthony of Egypt

January 17, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen 1 Comment

Today is the memorial of St. Anthony of Egypt (c. 251-356), aka “Anthony the Great,” the prototypical “desert father.” I wanted to share a story about him that shows his character and priorities. Someone asked Abba Anthony, ‘What must one do in order to please God?’ The old man replied, ‘Pay attention to what I […]

Filed Under: Monasticism, Prayer, Saints, Theology Tagged With: Abba Anthony, Antony the Great, Benedicta Ward, desert father, Desert Fathers, Monasticism, Sayings of the Desert Fathers, St. Anthony

Really?

July 12, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

This was in my in-box just now from the mother house of the Benedictine order. Maybe all that blogging about Benedict’s Rule paid off… Frankly it is a little surreal: I’m being followed by a 1500 year old monastery? If they are willing to read a Presbyterian seminary professor blogging about their remarkable founder they […]

Filed Under: Monasticism Tagged With: Benedict of Nursia, benedictine order, Monasticism, Monte Cassino

Feast Day of St. Benedict of Nursia

July 11, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

I was about to set off to university. My friends and I headed north for a week of camp sponsored by Young Life — it was at the extraordinary Malibu Club on Princess Louisa Inlet in British Columbia. They called the camp “College Prep” and the message was clear: We’d been Christians in high school, […]

Filed Under: Community, Monasticism, Saints Tagged With: Benedict of Nursia, community, Malibu Club, Mission, Monasticism, Prayer, Solitude, Young Life

What Kind of Relationship Defines Community?

June 4, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 3 Comments

The church was spending weeks and weeks on new mission and vision statements — documents intended to guide their life as a community for the next long while. What should define their life together? I talked to them about biblical pictures of the Church. You know them too: we are Christ’s body, as interconnected as […]

Filed Under: Community, Monasticism Tagged With: Benedict of Nursia, community, Monasticism, relationship, Rule of St. Benedict, Silence

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

Recent Posts

  • A Children’s Sermon on Luke 1:26-38 — The Annunciation
  • I’m in a play! “The Memorandum” by Vaclav Havel
  • A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 5:38-48
  • A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 2:13-23 — 1st Sunday in Christmas Season
  • A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 11:2-11 — Advent 3

Search the site

Need a new and manageable way to dig into Scripture?

Find out how it can be a joy again--or maybe for the first time. Love Your Bible: Finding Your Way to the Presence of God with a 12th Century Monk is a modern introduction to an ancient, prayerful, Christian practice called lectio divina. Click the button to subscribe to my weekly(ish) newsletter with all my new articles and announcements. As my way of thanking you, I'll send you the ebook version for free.

Get my book!

Archives

Let’s connect on social media…

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Search the site

  • Community for Mission
  • Letters to a Young Pastor
  • Christianity as a Second Language
  • Role Models for Discipleship

© 2023 garynealhansen.com · Rainmaker Platform