Brent N. Hunter, Interview #144

Name:  Brent N. Hunter


Where you live:  Los Angeles, CA


What you do as a vocation or avocation?  I am an author, visionary entrepreneur, social media pioneer, IT executive and international networker with the goal of increasing international friendship/community, understanding and unity worldwide.


Your two favorite books:  There are so many awesome books!  Among many favorites, The Way of the Wizard by Deepak Chopra and Way of The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman come to my mind first.


Your two favorite songs:  It's impossible to say what two songs are my favorite because I have so many different tastes in music but for the mood I'm in right now, Voices by Dario G and Redemption Song by Moodswings are awesome.


Why you are interested in spirituality?  I feel it is important to deeply understand spirituality to help bring people together during this unique time in history.  It is also important to help facilitate inner peace as well as a connection to the Source.


Your favorite quote:  by Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. 

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves: who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be? 

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world. 

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do. 

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 

As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Your favorite web sites: http://www.klout.com and http://www.empireavenue.com plus many other social networking sites.

Your hero?  President Barack Obama

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?  Mastering the art and science of abundance and manifestation.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?"  Anywhere we are is sacred, as we are divine incarnations of Spirit in human form.  However, a few places I felt or anticipate feeling particularly connected are Mt. Shasta, India, Istanbul, South Africa, Egypt, South and Central America and Sedona.
 

Verity A. Jones, Interview #143

Name: Verity A. Jones
 
Where you live: Indianapolis, Indiana
 
What you do as a vocation or avocation? I am the director of the New Media Project at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (www.NewMediaProjectAtUnion.org). We are exploring how religious leaders and their faith communities can be theologically savvy about technology today. Funded by the Lilly Endowment, the New Media Project is a two-year research and writing endeavor with six thinkers and writers sharing their work as it is compiled. I am an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the former publisher and editor of DisciplesWorld magazine.  I also work closely with younger clergy in the Wabash College Pastoral Leadership Program in Crawfordsville, Indiana. 
 
Your two favorite books: Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of my all time favorite novels.  More recently, I have to admit that I have enjoyed the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling immensely.  My daughter is eleven years old and we both think The Order of the Phoenix is the best in the series. 
 
Your two favorite songs: It's impossible to narrow this down to two, so I'll just mention a couple of songs that have caught my attention again recently: Sweet Honey in the Rock's "Wanting Memories" and Paul Simon's "The Cool, Cool River." 
 
Why you are interested in spirituality? Spirituality is not a thing or an object or a subject in which I can have a distinct interest. Instead, the Spirit of God--the wind, the breath, the ruach, to use a Hebrew word--inhabits my entire being, my life, the world.  To be alive is to be spiritual. 
   
Your favorite quote: Shawshank Redemption (the movie). Closing the film, Red says, "I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope."
 
Your favorite web sites: New Media Project (!), Religion Dispatches (informative), Salt Project (beautiful), the Moth Chase (fun)
 
Your hero? Barack Obama
 
A spiritual lesson you hope to learn? Mindfulness, creativity, courage, peace
 
A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?" A small alcove or chapel within a larger church or cathedral. Stained glass and soaring organ music helps! 

Jason Byassee, Interview #142

Name: Jason Byassee

Where you live: Trick question: for now Durham NC, in 6 days will live in Boone NC, where I’ll pastor Boone United Methodist Church and my wife Jaylynn will pastor Bethelview & Valle Crucis UMC’s.

What you do as a vocation or avocation? I’m a pastor, writer, theologian, dad, slow runner and mediocre basketball player.

Your two favorite books: Maybe the two most influential are Flannery O’Connor’s short stories & Andrew Louth’s beautiful book “Discerning the Mystery.”

Your two favorite songs: Right now anything by Mumford & Sons (especially “Little Lion Man”) and anything by the Avett Brothers (especially “Go to Sleep”). Now this is really cheating: anything out of Taize and any Charles Wesley hymn would also count.

Why you are interested in spirituality? Christians often speak of God finding them rather than the other way around. I can’t remember a time I wasn’t interested in God-with-us, in Israel, Jesus, and church. It’s as though I wasn’t seeking at all, but rather I got found, and couldn’t give it up now if I wanted to.

Your favorite quote: “If you understand it, it is not God,” St. Augustine

Your favorite web sites: Faith & Leadership (www.faithandleadership.com), The New Media Project at Union Seminary (http://blog.newmediaprojectatunion.org/), Theolog, the blog of the Christian Century (http://christiancentury.org/blogs). 

Your hero? Rowan Williams, precisely for refusing to be a hero, and trying to be a saint, and admitting so freely how often he fails, while contemplating God so profoundly.

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn? To be wise. So very different than being smart, it seems to require not only multiple intelligences but also profound love.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?" Mepkin Abbey in the coincidentally named Monck’s Corner SC. Or playing sports with my boys, Jack (8), Sam (6) and Will (3).

    

     

Nicole Neroulias, Interview #141

Name: Nicole Neroulias

Where you live: Seattle, WA

What you do as a vocation
or avocation?

Belief Beat blogger, Religion News Service correspondent,  volunteer
(826 Seattle, among others), globetrotter, musician & mom

Your two favorite books:
At the moment? I keep coming back to David Sheff's "Beautiful Boy" and
Michael Chabon's "The Yiddish Policemen's Union."

Your two favorite songs:
The Beatles "Let It Be" 
and Bon Jovi "Living on a Prayer"

Why you are interested in spirituality?

We are what we believe. Among my own family and friends, there's a
diverse range of religious beliefs, which always makes for interesting
-- if not heated! -- discussions. And obviously, faith plays a major
role in world affairs, for better or worse.

Your favorite quote:
"In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at
heart." --Anne Frank

Your favorite web sites:
Belief Beat, Facebook & Television Without Pity

Your hero?
Working moms

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?"

The beach, with my fingers and toes in the sand, the sun on my face
and the sound of crashing waves in my ear.

Nicole's Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/BeliefBeat

Marcia Z. Nelson, Interview #140

Name:  Marcia Z. Nelson

Where you live: suburban Chicago

What you do as a vocation or avocation? 

Author,  The Gospel According to Oprah&
religion reviews editor, Publishers Weekly;
avocationally: gardener

Your two favorite books: The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman; No Future without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu

Your two favorite songs: Amazing Grace; Let It Be by the Beatles

Why you are interested in spirituality? it keeps me in touch with the better angels of human nature

Your favorite quote: Be still, and know that I am God (Ps 46:10)

Your favorite web sites: Facebook, the New York Times, and ZooBorns

Your hero? Desmond Tutu

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn? shutting up (see favorite quote, above)

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?" my garden (see avocation, above)

Kristina Neuhauser, Interview #139

Name: Dr. Kristina Neuhauser

Where you live: I live between the UK, Hungary, and India. I spend a lot of my time travelling

What you do as a vocation or avocation? 

I am certified Feng Shui Master with the Imperial School of Feng Shui and practice as a Consultant globally. I am also a Psychodrama Therapist and a Motivational Coach and work across Europe helping individuals unlock their true potential. Originally I was a lecturer of English and Russian at University but then in the '80s decided to retrain as a Nutritionist and my husband and I started a nutrition business. We've worked in nutrition for over 25 years now and combine our knowledge of nutrition with psychodrama, motivational coaching and Feng Shui to offer holistic services to clientele across the globe.

Your two favorite books: Currently my two favourite books are "Have you got the guts to be really healthy" by Don Chisholm & "Cleanse & Purify Thyself" by Richard Anderson. Both fantastic reads, giving great insight into how you can lead a healthy life free without the intervention of pharmaceuticals.

Your two favorite songs: Deva Premal - Om Tare Tuttare, Andrea Boccelli - Time to say goodbye

Why you are interested in spirituality? Sprituality is deeply ingrained in my way of life. I was raised of the Christian faith and felt that there was a vast hidden spirituality in my household. After my children were born I decided to delve deeper into the meaning of connectedness and universal consciousness. I explored Buddhism and made a conscious decision to live a more spiritual life and felt great personal rewards. I brought this new sense of connectedness to my family and watched with great pride and a warm heart as my children explored their own sense of self and spirituality. Spirituality is not just an interest for me, it is part of who I am, what I believe and every decision I make.

Your favorite quote: 

 "If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation." Jiddu Krishnamurti

  Your favorite web sites: 

   http://www.thepennyfriends.com/

   http://www.angeltherapy.com/

Your hero?

  Helen Keller. She was born deaf and blind. Instead of fearing her personal challenge, she worked hard and embraced the gifts that came with it. As a result she became an accomplished author and a great spiritual teacher. She showed us all that truly is possible.

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?

To expect less of myself and be patient. These are life-long lessons for a naturally-born overachiever like me.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?"

The Island of Bali, Kerala (India) and Sri Lanka. These are spiritual power houses where I find myself connecting to the locals, travellers and most of all to the breath-taking nature. Otherwise, when I am with my family.

Michael Wenham, Interview #138

Name:  Michael Wenham


Where you live:  Wantage, near Oxford, UK

 
What you do as a vocation or avocation?  
My vocation is to be a limping follower of Jesus Christ; my avocation is writing.
 
Your two favorite books:  
(Excluding the Bible and Shakespeare, as they say on the UK's radio programme, Desert Island Discs) they'd have to be Jane Austen's Collected works (and if pushed Persuasion)  and Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy.
 
Your two favorite songs:  Dove sono from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, and Et in terra pax from Vivaldi's Gloria RV589 - and for light listening I Hope you Dance Lee Ann Womack
 
Why you are interested in spirituality?  I'm not sure I'd quite put it like that! Having ALS (or Motor Neurone Disease) has been an interesting test case for me. Would it disprove the existence of God? That's not been my experience. In fact faith has made more sense and paradoxically more mystery. I have found more richness in life and more depth in friendships. Life seems to be infinitely precious and love infinitely powerful. How can that be if we are just machines, or the products of mere chance? My convictions were first intellectual. Then I had an experience of the Holy Spirit. And now I'm discovering the quiet companionship of Christ in hard times, and he hasn't deserted me. 
 
Your favorite quote:  Way out in front: 'I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, 

nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.' (St Paul, Letter to Romans)

Followed in the 20th century by:

'We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.' (T.S.Eliot, Little Gidding) 

Your favorite web sites:
http://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer.htm

Christian Medical Comment - http://pjsaunders.blogspot.com/

{love} - http://jillmccloghry.blogspot.com/

http://imprintsoflight.wordpress.com/

Your hero? Without doubt Jane, my wife who is quietly inspirational and keeps me alive.

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?  Not to pity myself.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?"

Christ Church, Exmouth, in the UK - an utterly unpretentious chapel where I sense a community of love. 

Michael's site and where he blogs: http://mydonkeybody.blogspot.com/