Read an E-Book Week coming up!

Participate next week in "Read an E-Book Week" by purchasing one or more Conscious Kernels ebooks! Go to www.consciouskernels.com

Yes, a shameless plug! But I couldn't help myself when I saw the Darwin picture promo. E-books ARE the natural evolution of books. They are environmentally conscious too. Yes, it takes electricity from some power source to access and read ebooks, but think of all the resources used to print, bind, distribute, display and visit bookstores to buy paper books. No contest.

This National Week announcement also give me the opportunity to announce that several Conscious Kernels titles are now available in new formats. If you have an iPhone, PalmPilot, Sony e-Book Reader, or another eBook Reader device, you will thrilled to know that you can now get the perfect file format for those readers at the Conscious Kernels store at smashwords.com. That's right! Epub format. LRF format. PBD format. Mobi format.

And to honor Read an E-book Week, you can get these titles at 25% for the duration of that week. Just plug in the coupon code "RAE25" when you buy on smashwords. Note: this offer is only good at the Conscious Kernels Smashwords store and only March 7 - 13, 2010. So go buy a Conscious Kernels ebook and then read it!

Have fun!

March Idea of the Month

So is the Law of Reciprocity (which we discuss in the newsletter and as the Idea of the Month) harsh? Is it tough love? Is it payback?

A law is a law. Do we say that the law of gravity is hard on us? Yes, if you jump off a 10-story building. No, if you do not want to float off into space. In other words, it is our use of a law that makes it good or bad for us. The law just works, at all times in all places.

And laws are here to work for us. The Law of Attraction. The Law of Reciprocity. The Law of Compensation. They are mathematically precise and work the same way for everyone. Laws do not pick and choose when to work or for whom to work.

Do you believe these laws exist? Share your thoughts.

Until next time,
Namaste

Leadership Conference, Part 2

Well, I'm back home in Chicago. Didn't get a chance to blog during the second half of the week in Denver.

The ICSL Congress on Wednesday did not disappoint. There were some ruffling of feathers as predicted. Drawn-out discussions on parliamentary procedures. Proposals voted for and proposals voted down. Hopefully all is now smoothed out for all concerned.

Thursday's open discussion was not really an open discussion. We broke off into smaller groups based on questions posed by the audience. I ended up in a group that discussed the whole "church" label and organizational structure. It was very interesting. Most of the group felt that "church" might not be the best way to describe this movement. (One of the reasons the organization changed its name to Centers for Spiritual Living). We are more of a teaching, a philosophy of life. We considered more educational names like "institute" "center", etc.

I have to admit, when I tell friends or co-workers that I go to "church" or I am President of the Board of Trustees at my "church", I half-feel obligated to follow that up immediately with "but it's not what you think, or it's not your typical church, or it's not your average church." How do you sum that up in a 5-word slogan?

Science of Mind, New Thought, Religious Science are all hard to describe most people. It is not what people grew up on. I hope that changes soon.

In all, the Leadership Conference was an experience that will continue to have an influence on my thinking and how I approach things as I continue to reflect back on it. It is something where the true ramifications may not be known for some time. It will continue to evolve and grow within me.

Next stop: Summer Conference here in Chicago July 26 - 30. I'll need the time to prepare!


Namaste

Here at the Denver Leadership Conference

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

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

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

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