A Course in Miracles At this moment… At this moment, life is happening. At this moment, not the past, not the future but at this very moment. When we stay in the moment all other focuses fade away, we stay in-focus at the same time we are out-of-focus. At this moment, your moment is different than mine but we all are on the same field working with no Ego, no fear, no anger, no pain and no petty issues. At this moment is when Magic happens. For when we are in the moment everything falls into place as actions and questions become clear and obstacles are removed. These difficulties are created and controlled by the Ego. The Ego cannot be part of the moment for in the moment is God. Once we leave the moment we fall prey to the Ego and all the fallible that it entails. Prejudices, wars and power are all part of the Ego. If we are to become one with God we have to practice the focus of the moment. Each moment, is just a simple touch of the infinite and as the ticking of time goes by we must learn to lengthen the moment creating an eventual eternity of one single moment. Then and only then, do we really become one with God. God is the creator of the moment. The moment is his son Jesus. To get to God you must go through Jesus. By focusing on the moment you now focus on Jesus and allow yourself access to God. Each moment extended gets you closer to being one with God. Darkness of thoughts lead to the Ego controlling the person which then leads to creating power and wars issues that ultimately can destroy our world. The Ego is a way-ward thought of the past or future and takes you away from God. By focusing on other things the Ego is allowed to grow and take over causing the person physically, mentally & spiritually to become stressed leading to an unhealthy, diseased and dying person. When we are in the moment we retain health, vitality and access eternal youth. But what is the Ego? The Ego is that which takes you out of the moment, it pulls, tugs, and twinges it way in. Thoughts of what if, why that, why me, if only, are just a small sample of what the Ego likes to play with. As long as you entertain these thoughts the Ego grows and darkens. Ego cannot survive in the light of the moment. As we go about our daily lives we need to be vigilant to what & where our thoughts flow. This requires practice and loving patients with ourselves along with forgiveness of the unintended wander be aware and bring yourself back to the moment. Do not let the Ego take over. We must intentionally go forth with determination and create a moment. At this moment we make a better world. At this moment we smile because we are that much closer to God. Rev. Savrina Griego ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
The Universal Life Church Seminary offers several courses in Metaphysics, which are available through email and offer a degree in metaphysics.
Metaphysics Degree
This is a collection of essays regarding several courses on metaphysics offered through the Universal Life Church. Our metaphysics courses cover a wide variety of topics in metaphysics and each carry with it its own degree.
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Course in Miracles
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Four Gosepls
Final Essay on the Four Gospels Course Rev. Derek Kemp I have found this course very challenging and absorbing to read and study giving me a different perception about the Four Gospels than before. The modern translation supplied with the course opened new points of view in a down-to-earth way making it much more readable than conventional translations, particularly for this type of course. I am not in agreement with everything in the notes but they have been caused me to stop and think more deeply about the gospels. The point has been made that Jesus at times becomes frustrated or angry or even childish. This view is understandable but surely, we are forgetting that the central fact of the Christian faith is that Jesus is both divine as the son of God and also human as the son of humanity - in effect a sort of dual personality which must have been difficult even for him to reconcile from time to time. He did not come straight into the world as a figure from heaven (would he really have been accepted if he had ?- I doubt it!) but was born of a woman in very humble circumstances and lived his life among mankind for about 30 years so that he could experience and understand human problems and failings. At the same time, when he started his ministry, his divine nature enabled him to heal and do other miraculous works, which one might have expected would convince the people that here was someone special. So I feel that the human element is bound to show through when his hearers are being deliberately dense or misunderstanding him. We, as humans, must have been in situations that caused us to be angry or frustrated when people we were talking to refused to understand. As to being childish, the Jews were about to stone him for blasphemy, and to run away until tempers cooled would have been a sensible thing to do. The Pharisees and lawyers were always asking trick questions and producing rather stupid stories to try to trap him but never seem to want to understand his replies. They were the learned section amongst the Jews and should be able to follow his meaning through their own knowledge of scripture. The Pharisees and lawyers were honoured amongst the people by getting the best seats in the church, at dinners and generally being on a higher plane by expecting as of right the salutations of more humble men. They refuse to understand his message because they do not want to change their lifestyle which is so good even under the Romans - though the life offered by Jesus would surely be better. The Jewish faith was protected in the Roman empire and they did not want to change the status quo. In other words, they are more concerned with this world and its benefits (like many people today) than the heavenly world proclaimed by Jesus. They and the leaders of the synagogue wanted to keep in with the Romans and they fear that Jesus' teaching could attract reprisals from Rome. This would upset their lives and create problems they did not want. Can one wonder that Jesus is frustrated and angry on occasions as he would expect the Jewish leaders to be ready for his message and support him, not to cause rebellion against Rome, but to stir up the Jewish faith and the lives of the people to a better understanding of God? I feel that this study has helped to heighten my perception as well as, to some extent, changing it for the better. Rev. Derek Kemp ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Spirit Quest
Final Essay – Spirit Quest – Master of Metaphysics
By Dr. Rev. Nancy Kimes
This study course is a great course for those beginning their path and while serving others through ministerial pursuits. One of the deepest studies in this course is lesson 13, "Your Spiritual Path". Not many know or understand that we choose our parents and our experiences. This understanding is needed to make wiser choices and take responsibility for our selves. If one learns this it can change the course of their life and make giant steps on their spiritual path. Lessons can be learned quicker and bring more awareness to making conscious choices.
One has the opportunity to sense that their thoughts are things and will project what they are thinking outside as well as inside of themselves, emotions such as fear and love. All thoughts stem from one or the other. This is an opportunity to make conscious choices conditioning the mind for a favorable outcome.
The bigger the lesson the stronger the impulse to change patterns that better serve you and prepares you to live a better life. It also helps when interacting with others.
I am not fond of destroying roses while doing the meditations, which are great by the way, so I replaced roses for bubbles or balloons instead.
Also, there is great information on the chakras. It was hard to choose one subject for this essay as all the chapters are "gems" of knowledge. This course helped me solidify my beliefs and create a deeper connection and foundation for those beliefs.
Sometimes, I tend to get somewhat philosophical when talking to someone about spiritual matters. This course helped bring me back to the basics clearly and concisely so those who are beginning their path can ease into this knowledge. The lessons provide stepping stones of beliefs they can grow into. This course will help everyone!
In His service,
Dr. Rev. Nancy Kimes
********************
Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.
As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change.
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
Friday, October 02, 2009
Spirit Quest
Universal Life Church
Spirit Quest - Final Paper
By Rev. Heather L. Boyd
I have given a great deal of thought to exactly what I wanted to express about this course and how it has effected my life, because it has made an effect. I guess the first thing I want to express is my lack of belief in reincarnation. I believe that when you die you go to heaven and all of your loved ones who have passed on before you are there to greet you when you arrive. I look forward to that as there are some people who have passed, both family and friends that I miss greatly. Because of this deeply ingrained belief, I had a difficult time with some of the lessons surrounding this particular topic. I do have to admit though, I did enjoy wondering about the souls around me a trying to guess how old they would be under the guidelines given, "and so and so must be a new soul", etc. Imagination is a fun tool. I know little to nothing about Karma and Chakras and found that these areas interested me. I would like to explore them more. As my grandmother always told me, "the day you stop learning you die".
The central idea of meditation was the most valuable part of the course for me. From this study I learned that I was stuck in a rut. I had a great deal of negative energy in my space and a very negative individual creating more and more negative energy in my space all the time. This course helped me to take a look at my future, from where I was standing at the time, and make a decision to either follow the path already laid out before me or to step off that path into the unknown and see where that takes me.
When I looked down the path I was already traveling, I noticed that the unhappiness and the constant dire struggle I was experiencing probably would not end any time soon. I was a smoker, drank what most people would consider to be too much and over-weight. My husband offered me no support as a spouse; in fact he was more prone to doing a little sabotage. So . . . I stepped off the path.
In June of this year I quit smoking and when that went I noticed I didn't need the alcohol either. I never realized how much time these bad habits consumed. I began eating a more healthy diet and to date have lost 15 pounds. I separated from my oh-so negative husband of seven years and we will be getting a divorce. I am in the process of cleaning my home from top to bottom and redecorating, painting, etc. along the way. I have picked up a new hobby, photography and I have time now to spend with my family. Unfortunately, the isolation in which I lived with my husband has resulted in my not having any close friends, but I am looking to remedy that situation. I have more time to spend with my son, who has an autism disorder, and help him learn the tools he needs to succeed in life. I am relearning the concept of playtime.
I found the meditation, when I could do it, was soothing and created a center within me from which I could objectively proceed back out into the world. I try to meditate now when I can, and plan to do it more often once things become a little less hectic. I am rearranging my bedroom with the goal of creating a corner in my world where I can go to "unplug". This involves painting the walls a nice relaxing color, eliminating clutter, rearranging the furniture to give me space for a new chair. I am planning on getting one of those zero-gravity chairs where I can sit and really relax and listen to my relaxation CDs by candle light. Overall, my outlook on life has changed dramatically. I am happier, I am more positive, I am calmer, I have more time to devote to the things that really matter and I know that I need to make myself one of those things. Here's to the future!
********************
Become ordained with the Universal Life Church, which is free and lasts for life. You can use the Free Online Ordination, button to fill out the form.
Rev. Long, a member of ULC for many year, has created this seminary to help train our ministers. The Seminary also has a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials and free minister training. Those who have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning have enjoyed its ongoing growth and change.
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A Course in Miracles
"Becoming the Channel for the Miracle Maker"
A Final Essay for the Doctor of Metaphysics Course
By Daniel L. Moore
In the beginning, God created the first couple to reflect God's glory. The instructor, guided by "A Course of Miracles," believes that sin came about because the Son of God forgot to laugh. I differ as I am guided by the Holy Scriptures which teaches that sin began in the heart of Lucifer (aka, Satan, the Great Red Dragon, the serpent) who rebelled against God and later came to deceive and destroy humanity.
That said, I do believe in many of the principles found in the course that help a person to go back to the "original design" of God – to reflect Divine Glory. It does require a change of thinking for the Christian. The Apostle Paul often taught the churches that they were to "put off the old man," that is the old way of living in fear, guilt and shame. They were then encouraged to put on the "new man" which is the character and conduct of a follower of Christ. It is a new way of life that is grounded in love and fueled by the Holy Spirit.
In becoming a channel for the "Miracle Maker" (God by way of the Holy Spirit working in each Christian), meditation is a good tool. From the book of Psalms the reader is instructed: "Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah" (Psalms 4:4 NKJV). This puts the focus off of self and then upon God. This allows one to gain closeness to the Divine and seek out God in fellowship. In this process, we learn to let go of selfish desires and replace them with divine desires. In this time of prayer we can grow more in love with God and God's creation. Note the Apostle Paul wrote about proper desire:
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11 NASB).
We are not created to be aimless robots. We are created for purpose and thus we should pursue lives of purpose. Purpose gives direction. It also requires intentionality. If I believe my purpose is to create music that pleases others, then I cannot just sit around wishing. I need to practice and practice and practice. I need to set aside all distractions and focus. This requires attention. A master mechanic becomes one because he or she pays attention – to the big picture and to the small details. The grandeur of majestic buildings, the paintings that catch life with unique expressions, the song with that tune we cannot shake, and the modern gadgets all around us are the results of the wonderful alchemy of purpose, intention, and attention blending together.
God had a vision when God created the universe. As a reflection of Divine glory, we are to be visionary. This means to look forward. The past can be a trap if we allow past mistakes to bury ourselves in guilt. Learn the lessons but forgive the mistakes and sins. Move one!
Channels for God to work miracles through do not work alone. We are "lone rangers" but a body connected to the Head – Jesus Christ. Help is offered, should be requested, and to be taken. Help can come from a friend, a co-worker, a family member, a stranger, and the Holy Spirit. To be created in the image of the Triune God, a community of Three Persons, is to be created into a community of God's family. Our greatest help is God. We sometimes don't like the answers given – but who truly knows best? God.
Miracles can occur when we allow God to work. This requires following God's instructions. I met an evangelist who served as a pastor to "shantytown" in lower Mississippi. His congregation never grew above one hundred. He did many baptisms a year. He would go visiting the people and often would ask those living in the shanties, "Do you want to see miracles in your life?" He would invite them to a Bible study. He told me, "And they saw miracles. When they quit smoking and drinking alcohol, they had a miracle – they had money to pay the rent and electric bill. When they quit doing drugs – another miracle as they could buy groceries! When they cleaned up and applied for jobs – a miracle! They were hired. When they saved money – a miracle! They were able to buy something without stealing from others. We saw miracles all the time!"
The miracles are there. We just need to adjust ourselves to be the channels for God's blessings, pray for help, become more purposeful, and stand back to watch – another miracle!
********************
Become ordained with the Universal Life Church, which is free and lasts for life. You can use the Free Online Ordination, button to fill out the form.
Rev. Long, a member of ULC for many year, has created this seminary to help train our ministers. The Seminary also has a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials and free minister training. Those who have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning have enjoyed its ongoing growth and change.
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
Spiritual Awareness
Master of Spiritual Awareness
Rev Don Eck
I have never been one to be able to relax and meditate without my mind wondering off on some event that took place during the day or the day before. From the Spirit Quest to the Awareness class I have been able to actually finally after years meditate without letting myself be distracted.
By following the outline and lessons in these two classes I have been able to actual begin to become aware of things in my past and present life and how all these events and people have shaped me into the being that I am today.
I am now able to not only feel the energy that the Universe provides us but absorb that energy and gain a positive approach to life in all relationships at home and in business.
In the lesson on Our Need for Energy studying the "Parent", "Child" and "Adult" ego reaffirmed and brought to mind the things I learned years ago in college. This lesson has helped me to become conscious of what's not working and I have been able to make changes in my actions to some of these things. I am still working on some actions but this lesson was real to me and I will continue to work on myself in this area.
From this lesson on it was read, do the assignments, read, do the assignments and read, do the assignments. I have had people that I work with tell me that I have changed in the last few months. They say I am more relaxed and actually giving out lots of positive energy in the workplace.
Thank you for these great courses. Lives do change if one follows the lessons as assigned in each lesson.
Rev. Don Eck
********************
Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.
As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change.
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
Friday, September 25, 2009
Four Gospels
The Four Gospels
Rev. Bradley ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Spirit Quest
Master of Metaphysics
When I started this course I thought wow 30 weeks is a long time, but as each week passed I kept looking forward to the next lesson with excitement. This has been a course that will be with me for years to come. Thank you, Amy for putting together such a valuable course.
I found Lesson 3 Grounding and Center of the Head to be a little slow for me. But with practice I found that this tool works anytime and anywhere. I drive 47 miles to work each day and I would practice grounding myself as I drove the highway. Soon I was finding that I could ground myself anytime I wanted to, releasing negative energy and pulling positive energy from the center of the earth. What energy I learned to pull from the earth.
I would practice bringing up a rose for hours, blowing them up and making a new one. I have learned how to remove negative energy from around me and replace it with a big gold sun. It has really helped me to deal with some very negative things going on in my life and I am sure this will be one of the most valuable tools that I will practice for the rest of my life.
Thank you for lesson 12 – Chakras. I was not familiar with this topic at all. I must have spent days on reading and practicing cleaning out my major chakras.
The chapters on Affirmations and Asking the Right Questions were very enlightening. I had forgotten how important affirmations were. When I had my own Insurance business years ago I had learned about affirmations and over the years I had let them go. Thank you for reminding me how important affirmations are.
I found the lessons on how the spirit communicates through music, numbers and color very interesting and informative.
The most difficult lesson for me was reincarnation. I don't believe in reincarnation. In order to get through this lesson I finally did what you said in the beginning and just worked off the assumption that reincarnation happens and then I was able to come to some understanding with the lesson.
In closing this paper I would just like to say again, thank you, Amy for putting together such a great course.
********************
Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.
As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change.
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
Friday, August 28, 2009
Metaphysics
Essay for Dr of Metaphysics
Rev. Gene Rapalyea
The Disappearance of Metaphysics
Metaphysics, why metaphysics? Metaphysics, the place where the supernatural meets the natural, the spirit meets the physical "the rubber meets the road".
When we were young, in our evolution or personal growth, we look at the world around us and noticed if we did this that would happen. As we grew older we became aware, if we didn't get it, whatever that was, food, shelter, acceptance, or some material satisfier, we had a growing feeling of scarcity which led to physical discomfort, emotional insecurity or even death, this created or was created by the feeling of fear. We began to try to fix the feeling of fear by trying to take, bargain for, and make things. In our quest for things we begin to recognize that there is some sort of set of rules that governs out come. We notice if we do things the "right way" our experience will become more pleasing and that knowledge of what the right way is will help us with the out come desired. This gives rise to the notions of right and wrong, justice, knowledge and ignorance, and beauty and ugliness, (pleasing as opposed to dis-pleasing) esthetics, the rise of the law.
Through our growth we have noticed that there are forces that act on us and our world, which seem to be inexplicable but inevitable. We call these things Gods, God, Goddess, Spirit, the super natural, and fearfully begin to try to relate to, understand and gain further control of our out comes. We devise rites and rituals make sacrifices, to placate and cajole our intent to gain control and get what we desire. If the out come is not as we expect. We are driven to further questioning of what is going on, how do we fit in, and who are we really? Thoughtful introspection and contemplation lead to meditation; now we are beginning to get somewhere. Either little by little or in a flash our consciousness stills and our awareness elevates or we begin to get insight into our true nature and the nature of our world. When we first see the light we are aw-struck but then realize that there is nothing there, but pure potential so we venture back into the recognizable world where we are somebody yet with a new understanding to explore and build on.
In the mean time there is another side of us that claims to be more rational and does not believe in this hocus-pocus, in its quest for who and what. It has devised another way of looking at things based on closely scrutinizing the external world experientially, by experiment and trial and error to find out what, who and how, with the same intention to gain control. This is the method of science.
What it comes down to at the present is both science and the spiritual world have agreed the universe and all that is in it is energy, this includes what we perceive to be material, and that thoughts control what we perceive, feel and manifest in some sort of cyclic fashion. This gives us the simple concept, if we change our thoughts we change our world.
So what is stopping us? Two kinds of thought create feelings and perception that limits or negatively impacts our out comes. One, we think and feel we don't deserve it and the other which is probably an extension of the first, we don't possess the ability or are not good enough. (Who told us so?)
For thousands of years there have been people that have been aware of and possessed this understanding but word of mouth travels slowly and this kind of information scares others that have tried to suppress this understanding. With the rapid and growing dissemination of information in the world this concept and techniques that support and facilitate are beginning to abound. This course was one of many variations on the theme of how to create miracles or manifest what we desire.
Most basically:
1. Get into a meditative state
2. Notice what you desire
3. Notice the nasty little dark voice and feeling that tells you, "You can't".
4. Use a technique to clear and rid yourself of that naysayer.
(There are plenty of different approaches out there. Some seem to work on some things and some work well on others, so I suggest get good arsenal.)
5. Develop a strong intention, visualization (include all the senses) and feeling (emotion, sense of excitement in the present, "already happened".
6. Take action don't just sit and wait. Unless of course that is what is called for.
7. Let it go.
8. Be in the moment and grateful for whatever is there.
9. Repeat the full process as necessary.
At some point we will come to know these things as naturally as riding a bike and the supernatural will becomes natural and metaphysics disappears.
Just imagine? What you would do if there were no limits, challenges or obstacles?
********************
Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the button.
As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change.
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar
Spirituality
"Developing a Spiritual Mentality" A Final Essay for the Master of Spirituality Course By Daniel L. Moore "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13 NASB). The above passage sums up what I learned from this course. It was a challenging course for me. The instructor did an excellent job in separating the spiritual from the natural way of thinking that people often do. In order to minister in the spiritual realm, there needs to be an adjustment in my thinking. The adjustment comes by… First…understanding how human thinks and philosophize. It helps when one ministers to those who are the "just the facts" type of person and those who follow the typical western mindset of thinking. Second…understanding the major persons (Plato, Aristotle, etc) who developed the philosophies. They were products of their time and culture. Knowing these influences help to understand the background of their thinking. Third…moving to understand what God desires us to know. This is a radical transforming action. Man is not God but a creation of God to reflect Divine character. Spiritual learning and growth comes by responding to the circumstances and challenges God allows in our lives. I learned that as I meet each challenge I will have to unlearn something to gain something from God. This is the challenge of spiritual understanding. It is to seek the divine perspective of things. My small human mind may see an issue from a selfish angle. As I adjust, setting aside my prejudices and biases, I am able to gain divine insight. The spiritual mentality comes when I align myself with God's Person and Purposes. When I can humble myself to a position to see as Christ sees, then I am able to obtain the mind of Christ and have a true spiritual mentality. The course has blessed me in many ways. It will challenge every person who enrolls in it. And I believe it will leave the person in a better position with a greater understanding to minister to people. ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)