Well, this is Day 2 of the ICSL (International Centers for Spiritual Living) and UCSL (United Centers for Spiritual Living) combined Leadership Conference. It is sunny out and all I want to do right now is find a nice comfortable chair in the sun. But alas, there isn't one so I thought I would blog instead!
I am attending the Leadership Conference in the capacity of Board of Trustees President of the Oak Park Church of Religious Science. So far I have attended general sessions which are turning out to be workshops on our "stuff" and one break-out session for laity. Not exactly what I came here for. Where is learning how to be a better leader? Getting people involved and enthusiastic about becoming a member of a Center for Spiritual Living? But the main attraction of this Leadership Conference is that it is the first one these two sister organizations have held together.
I did attend the official business meeting of UCSL even though we are an ICSL-member church. It was interesting albeit not very substantive. Mostly budget and operating expenses talk.
Tomorrow and Thursday, we will be getting into the heart of the matter. ICSL has its Annual Congress tomorrow inwhich I am sure there will be heated discussion about the whole subject of integration. (That is: ICSL and UCSL merging into one entity). There are several proposals on the table that will challenge the timing of this merger and other pre-conditions to the merger. I am a delegate at the conference and get one vote on all the motions coming before the group.
Then on to a tour of the UCSL headquarters in Golden and the Wednesday night service at Mile Hi Church (a UCSL mega-church here in Denver).
Thursday will bring an open discussion about integration which is sure to be a lively debate.
We have walked around the surrounding hotel area a little bit. There is not much time between sessions. We hope to do more of that on Friday before we leave.
Stay tuned for updates on the ICSL Congress taking place Wednesday.
Until then,
Namaste
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
February Idea of the Month
This month, we talk about the habit of "thinking less than" of ourselves. We are pretty good at it. Is it because that's what we are used to? Is it because it is the norm of our culture? It is because we've done it all our lives?
Would "thinking greater" of ourselves be such a stretch? Could we give it a try and see what happens? Can we connect with our inner knowing, with our higher self, with God which would lead to thinking greater about ourselves?
This is not an ego thing or a self-centered thing. In fact, it is the opposite. When you connect with the Infinite Greatness of God, you become humble and come to an understanding that "it is the Father within that doeth the work." All goodness, all greatness comes from God.
Share your thoughts.
(You do not need a Google account to comment. And you can post anonymously. Oh, and you may have noticed, we added little voting buttons beneath each post so you can quickly record your reaction. Check away!)
Until next time,
Namaste
Would "thinking greater" of ourselves be such a stretch? Could we give it a try and see what happens? Can we connect with our inner knowing, with our higher self, with God which would lead to thinking greater about ourselves?
This is not an ego thing or a self-centered thing. In fact, it is the opposite. When you connect with the Infinite Greatness of God, you become humble and come to an understanding that "it is the Father within that doeth the work." All goodness, all greatness comes from God.
Share your thoughts.
(You do not need a Google account to comment. And you can post anonymously. Oh, and you may have noticed, we added little voting buttons beneath each post so you can quickly record your reaction. Check away!)
Until next time,
Namaste
Sunday, January 3, 2010
January Idea of the Month
Happy New Year to all.
2010: metaphysically is comprised of the number 2 which represents polarity and balance and 1 which is unity and the zeros are amplifications of the 2 and the 1. The number 10 also means perfection. So this year is a wonderful opportunity to understand our balance and unity within ourselves and with others.
Which brings me to the Jan. newsletter feature article: "I'm OK, You're OK". No, this is not a review of the late 1960's pop psychology book by the same title (although I do have a copy of that book and should read it sometime!).
"I'm OK" is the very important ability to be self-accepting and self-approving which leads to self-worth and self-love. It is a high form of self-contemplation, which, if you have been reading my posts from way-back, is what it all boils down to.
Self-contemplation will determine what you create in your life. What you manifest with your thoughts and feelings. It is the cornerstone according to me and Thomas Troward!
So let's do a little less beating up on ourselves and this change in consciousness will also lead to a better relationship with all others. ("You're OK")
Read the whole article and you will see how this works. Sign up for the newsletter on the right of this page. Then go to the archives for the January issue.
Peace. Peace in your heart and Peace on Earth.
Until next time,
Namaste
2010: metaphysically is comprised of the number 2 which represents polarity and balance and 1 which is unity and the zeros are amplifications of the 2 and the 1. The number 10 also means perfection. So this year is a wonderful opportunity to understand our balance and unity within ourselves and with others.
Which brings me to the Jan. newsletter feature article: "I'm OK, You're OK". No, this is not a review of the late 1960's pop psychology book by the same title (although I do have a copy of that book and should read it sometime!).
"I'm OK" is the very important ability to be self-accepting and self-approving which leads to self-worth and self-love. It is a high form of self-contemplation, which, if you have been reading my posts from way-back, is what it all boils down to.
Self-contemplation will determine what you create in your life. What you manifest with your thoughts and feelings. It is the cornerstone according to me and Thomas Troward!
So let's do a little less beating up on ourselves and this change in consciousness will also lead to a better relationship with all others. ("You're OK")
Read the whole article and you will see how this works. Sign up for the newsletter on the right of this page. Then go to the archives for the January issue.
Peace. Peace in your heart and Peace on Earth.
Until next time,
Namaste
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
December Ideas
In this month's issue of the Conscious Kernels Newsletter, I wrote about Health Prosperity. When we think of prosperity, it always seems to be about money. How much we have. How much we need. How much we want.
Prosperity is more than just that. And Prosperity Consciousness is definitely more than just knowing you have all the money you need.
How is your health? Do you take it for granted? Do you consider it part of your prosperity? As the old saying goes: "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything." Health is part of your prosperity consciousness -- or it should be. How can you enjoy money and all the things money can buy you if you are sick? If you are in pain? If you are worried if you will live another day?
Prosperity begins with gratitude. So the first thing we can all do is be grateful for our health. We can be grateful for the perfect health we are underneath all the other conditions. It is there. We just have to let the Law reveal it.
Enjoy your health. Become conscious of it. How great your lungs breathe. How fantastically your heart beats. How wonderfully your stomach processes food. That is the love of God acting as you.
And that is what prosperity is -- the loving givingness of God to us.
Until next time, Namaste
Prosperity is more than just that. And Prosperity Consciousness is definitely more than just knowing you have all the money you need.
How is your health? Do you take it for granted? Do you consider it part of your prosperity? As the old saying goes: "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything." Health is part of your prosperity consciousness -- or it should be. How can you enjoy money and all the things money can buy you if you are sick? If you are in pain? If you are worried if you will live another day?
Prosperity begins with gratitude. So the first thing we can all do is be grateful for our health. We can be grateful for the perfect health we are underneath all the other conditions. It is there. We just have to let the Law reveal it.
Enjoy your health. Become conscious of it. How great your lungs breathe. How fantastically your heart beats. How wonderfully your stomach processes food. That is the love of God acting as you.
And that is what prosperity is -- the loving givingness of God to us.
Until next time, Namaste
Monday, November 2, 2009
November Idea of the Month
November is associated with Thanksgiving here in the US. And giving thanks to such an important part of spiritual practice. In fact, it is SO important, it could suffice as your whole spiritual practice. It is that important.
In giving thanks, you have to give thanks to someone or something, right? Who or what is that? It would be the Divine Presence. It would be Universal Intelligence. It would be Divine Love. It would be God.
So just by giving thanks, you are acknowledging God in your life. You are acknowledging the Divine Presence -- its very existence and its action in your life.
Build up your thanks-giving muscle every day. A consistent practice of thanksgiving will raise your consciousness of the Divine in your life.
Until next time,
Namaste
In giving thanks, you have to give thanks to someone or something, right? Who or what is that? It would be the Divine Presence. It would be Universal Intelligence. It would be Divine Love. It would be God.
So just by giving thanks, you are acknowledging God in your life. You are acknowledging the Divine Presence -- its very existence and its action in your life.
Build up your thanks-giving muscle every day. A consistent practice of thanksgiving will raise your consciousness of the Divine in your life.
Until next time,
Namaste
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
October Idea of the Month
In both the newsletter feature article (have you subscribed yet?!) and the Idea of the Month on the website (www.consciouskernels.com), we discuss the idea of claiming our good and demanding our good.
Do we have the right to claim our good? Are we in a position to demand our good? Where do we have to be in our self-contemplation to be in a position to claim and demand?
Do we believe it is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom? Or are we on our own, scraping by and fighting for what we can get?
It is all in where you place yourself in the whole scheme of the Universe.
Tell me what you think. Are you able to demand your good?
Until next time,
Namaste
Do we have the right to claim our good? Are we in a position to demand our good? Where do we have to be in our self-contemplation to be in a position to claim and demand?
Do we believe it is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom? Or are we on our own, scraping by and fighting for what we can get?
It is all in where you place yourself in the whole scheme of the Universe.
Tell me what you think. Are you able to demand your good?
Until next time,
Namaste
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
September Idea of the Month
This month in the newsletter and on the website we are talking about FEAR! Maybe I should have saved that topic for the month that contains Halloween!
What are you afraid of? What are you fearful of? Fear is our most constant companion as far as feelings go. It is the most common and the most influential. Practically everything we do or don't do has associated with it any fearful consequences we can think of.
But if you break fear down into its most basic element, fear is only one thing: the belief in the absolute certainty that we are separate and apart from our good.
I'm over here and my good (safety, money, health, relationship, love, happiness, God) is over there, somewhere else.
This could not be further from the Truth. But we believe it anyway.
Think of an example of what you are fearful of and see if it ultimately leads to you believing that you do not have your good, or you are not with your good, or that you can be separate from your good (your good taken away from you). It ends up with that belief.
Now, how do you reduce any fear? Start reaffirming the Truth. You are your good are one. You cannot be separated from it. You cannot be separate of it.
I did not say this was easy. But it is simple when you think about it.
Share your fears. Then turn it around and think of an affirming Truth that will remove the fear or at least make it smaller and weaker.
Until next time,
Namaste
What are you afraid of? What are you fearful of? Fear is our most constant companion as far as feelings go. It is the most common and the most influential. Practically everything we do or don't do has associated with it any fearful consequences we can think of.
But if you break fear down into its most basic element, fear is only one thing: the belief in the absolute certainty that we are separate and apart from our good.
I'm over here and my good (safety, money, health, relationship, love, happiness, God) is over there, somewhere else.
This could not be further from the Truth. But we believe it anyway.
Think of an example of what you are fearful of and see if it ultimately leads to you believing that you do not have your good, or you are not with your good, or that you can be separate from your good (your good taken away from you). It ends up with that belief.
Now, how do you reduce any fear? Start reaffirming the Truth. You are your good are one. You cannot be separated from it. You cannot be separate of it.
I did not say this was easy. But it is simple when you think about it.
Share your fears. Then turn it around and think of an affirming Truth that will remove the fear or at least make it smaller and weaker.
Until next time,
Namaste
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