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Of the 4 gospels, John is by far the most esoteric. Many researchers believe John to be a Gnostic gospel and much closer to the actual teachings of Jesus than the other 3. If tradition is correct and the Gospel of John was written by the “beloved disciple,” then this disciple was likely taught ... Views:707
As we move into the 5th week of Lent, let us “fast” from traditional religious teachings and “feast” on developing our own discernment of Truth. If you find that statement frightening, you are not alone. For thousands of years, humanity has been taught to look to the authorities to learn what ... Views:708
What is salvation? Orthodox Christianity teaches that God required a blood sacrifice in order to forgive us for our sins, thereby granting us eternal life.
Let’s see what Jesus had to say about salvation.
In Luke 19:9, after spending the day listening to Jesus’ teachings, Zacchaeus said: ... Views:660
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully ... Views:1202
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." – Edmund Burke
If you really want to destroy your church quickly, here is the number one rule: zip your lips when you see something wrong.
Got that? Don’t say anything. Don’t speak up. Don’t voice your concerns. ... Views:881
Too many young people think that Bible study is boring and that they have plenty of time to learn and follow the word of God once they are an adult. This is not true, and a lie that Satan uses to stop young people from knowing and loving God. Bible study is exciting because learning and ... Views:1032
"A wise man seeks by music to strengthen the weakness of his soul; the thoughtless one uses it to stifle his fears." ---Confucius
According to Corrine Heline, the ancients understood the power of music and sought to use it to attune to higher realms of consciousness. At one time China closely ... Views:1138
During Jesus' 40 day fast, he successfully struggled with how to begin his ministry in accordance with the Divine Plan. He defeated his personality ego and rejected methods that would have called attention to himself via the ways of the world. While Jesus wrestled with the temptations, the world ... Views:2462
One of the best ways to discover Truth is to commune with nature in all of its forms. To the clairvoyant, the angelic kingdom in nature is glorious beyond words. On this 24th day of Lent, we return to Geoffrey Hodson's clairvoyant viewing of the angelic kingdom as described to his artist friend. ... Views:2578
Throughout the Lenten Devotionals, I have spoken of the “God within us”---the top figure in the Illustration of our Divine Self. Elizabeth Claire Prophet, who designed this illustration, refers to the top figure as the I AM PRESENCE. This concept of I AM is important.
In Exodus 3:13-15, Moses ... Views:796
The 1st day of each season marks one of the four most powerful days of the year. We see evidence of this incoming power at Spring Equinox as we observe nature’s resurrection from what appeared to be death. Tree limbs that looked dead began to sprout new leaves … a tiny flower leaf pushes its way ... Views:1883
"I declare what I have seen in the Father's presence, as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father." (John 8:38)
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of ... Views:755
As Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure from the physical plane, he told them: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he ... Views:646
Destroying a church is easy, particularly if you are in a position of leadership. Simply insist on “my way or the highway.” It’s a very equestrian position: dig in your heels like a mule, and get on your high-horse at the slightest provocation.
If you want to take this position, remember these ... Views:928
Mirrors are useful things. They show us when we need to comb our hair, reveal the ketchup stain just out of sight on our shirt, and help us to get the specks out of our eyes. And because of that last item, if you want to destroy your church, you should never – figuratively speaking – “look in ... Views:1132
One surefire way to destroy your church is to hang a placard around the neck of each person in leadership that says “Do Not Touch!” When you do so, the person becomes exempt from the tap of reproof, relieved from the hand of correction, unaccountable to any accountability.
Congregations ... Views:772
What is really involved in Christian discernment? Is it something mystical? An inner sense? Or is it more practical than that?
Hebrews 5:14 notes that discernment is the ability to recognize good and evil: "Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to ... Views:2165
Why include discussion in a Bible study, small group, or Sunday School class? Why not just lecture, or watch a great preacher or teacher on DVD, then call it quits for the day?
Discussion is an essential part of every Bible study or teaching time for six important reasons:
1. Discussion keeps ... Views:897
Wow, how many times a day does the devil try and steal our Peace and Joy (that is promised to us) through people who are nasty, events that are slow and frustrating, or things just not going our way? These are lures (just like a fisherman would use) to get us to feel offended. I believe it is ... Views:1225
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Indeed, has God said, "You shall not eat from any tree of the garden"?'" - Genesis 3:1
Deception entered the world early ... in the very paradise of the Garden. As the precursor to ... Views:957
The 12th and last quality/power required to achieve Higher Consciousness is LIFE. Life means more than simply existence.
Quoting Fillmore in LET'S KEEP A TRUE LENT: "Life is a phase of Being, the expression of which manifests as animation, activity, and vigor. The consciousness of eternal life ... Views:761
The 11th quality (or power) required for us to achieve higher consciousness is RELEASE. Once more study the illustration of our Divine Self. The bottom figure, depicting you as a human being living on the physical plane, is enfolded in purple light (or energy)---the Purple Transmuting Flame. ... Views:720
The 10th quality required to achieve higher consciousness is ZEAL.
Quoting Fillmore: "Zeal is the affirmative impulse of existence; its command is, 'Go forward!' Zeal is the mighty force that incites all things to action; the eternal urge behind all things. To be without zeal is to be without ... Views:833
The 9th quality required for us to achieve higher consciousness is Law/Order.
Quoting Fillmore: "Divine Law is the logical process by which divine principle, or God, manifests. The inner spirit of the law is the spiritual way of life that Jesus taught and lived. Divine Law is the universal ... Views:803
The 8th quality required for us to achieve higher consciousness is WILL.
Quoting Fillmore: "The will is the executive power of the mind. The commandments of Jesus teach the Father's will. Those who keep them are therefore at one with the will of God.... We can never fully enter into and abide ... Views:732
The 7th quality required in order to achieve higher consciousness is UNDERSTANDING. Study the illustration of our Divine Self. Intellectual understanding takes place within the physical human being (the figure on the bottom). The intellect cannot lead us to ultimate Truth because it is dependent ... Views:783
The 6th quality (or Power) required for us to achieve higher consciousness is IMAGINATION.
The imagination is the cornerstone of our capacity to create. All that is now visible in physicality had its beginning as a mental picture. As we visualize, we create ... we bring into form. Thus, the ... Views:881
The 5th quality required for us to achieve higher consciousness is POWER. We control our thoughts, feelings, and actions by using our innate inner power. God created us in God's image and likeness and gave us dominion over all things on earth. (Genesis 1) As we awaken to God within us, this ... Views:743
The 4th quality required for us to achieve higher consciousness is LOVE. "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, for God is love.... if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.... There is no fear ... Views:610
The 3rd quality required for us to achieve higher consciousness is WISDOM. Wisdom is your ability to discern, evaluate, and make decisions. Every day is judgment day. Heaven and hell are not places we go after death; they are states of mind that we create by the decisions we make in the ... Views:1003
The 2nd quality required for us to attain higher consciousness is STRENGTH. "Strength is the ability to hold fast, endure, stand firm, and stay in integrity." The Old Testament story of Samson (Judges 13:24 - 16:31) is an example of physical force. In contrast Jesus shows us the Way of Strength ... Views:945
The number 12 is one of the most sacred symbols in the Bible because it represents the achievement of wholeness that results in an expansion of consciousness into the higher realms of spirit. As we saw when Jesus' disciples elected Matthias to take Judas' place, it is essential to focus on 12 ... Views:1219
One of the most difficult concepts to grasp is Jesus' teaching: "The kingdom of God is inside of you." For that reason I am posting this Divine Self Illustration ... the most comforting and enlightening depiction of this teaching I have seen.
This all important teaching---that the kingdom of ... Views:1719
Lent began on February 25, 2009 --- Ash Wednesday, so I am getting a late start on these Lenten devotionals
The word "fast" does not simply relate to doing without food. The more spiritually enhancing fast is to put aside the thought patterns that are not beneficial to your well-being. ... Views:1109
Who are we? Jesus responded to the Jews preparing to stone him: "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods?'" John 10:34
Jesus is quoting Psalm 82:6 ... "I say, 'You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you."
"Then God said, 'Let us make humankind in our image, according to ... Views:687
On this 3rd Sunday in Lent, read Luke 7:1-17. Note that one man is healed ... another rises from the dead ... following the spoken word.
Quoting Fillmore: "The science of Spirit is the orderly study of truths formulated in Divine Mind according to the operation of universal law. AN AFFIRMATION ... Views:1076
The law of attraction has received a lot of attention in recent years and many people believe that it is something new or at least “new age”. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Did you know that there are over 200 verses in the bible that support the precepts of the law of attraction and ... Views:867
The story of Daniel in the lions den is truly one of the most pure Christian inspirational stories of all times. His pure love for God truly put his integrity to the ultimate test!
We find the story in chapter six of the book of Daniel. We have all heard the story and there is no need to go ... Views:2619
There are many situations that expose us to hurt and anger on the job. From people getting credit for something we did to someone revealing a secret we shared to our not getting a job we were counting on. While it’s human to become hurt and even angry with those we work with, as Christians we ... Views:683
With the new year fast approaching, now is the time to decide what the year ahead will bring.
By the end of 2009, what will we have accomplished, will we look back and say this was the year i broke through, this was the year i got it figured out. This was the year i realised there's nothing ... Views:1036
Or, for that matter, does God understand what’s going on in the life of a road warrior sales person? Or life on a clanging, banging, push, push, push assembly line? Or on an oil rig? As part of a building crew?
To tell the truth, the God of our Sunday School days kind of comes across as a ... Views:1169
You will never meet a successful person that is a VICTIM and lacks PASSION.
You will never meet a failure who takes RESPONSIBILITY and is PASSIONATE about what he does.
This is not a COINCIDENCE.
Every extremely successful person will always have two outstanding qualities in their ... Views:3606
A ROUGH ROAD AHEAD
The last Sunday of Epiphany is the day we celebrate the Transfiguration of Christ. Epiphany, a sudden sign of understanding, is used to describe this season of the church. In looking closely at the seasonal scriptures you realize we have relived the major events of Jesus’ ... Views:1217
The I AM Cover Story
Even before I had completed my first book, I already knew what I wanted on the cover. I had seen a deep space image captured by the Hubble Telescope, and it utterly mesmerized me. It all happened one day when I walked into the salon where I get my hair cut; there it was, ... Views:1008
Ugh. Why am I told to believe Christ Jesus died for my sins? As if that will help me get to heaven? This dogma doesn’t compute; it needs a major overhaul. A serious piece of information is missing. People who lived centuries before Christ Jesus, walked with God and did just fine, some even ... Views:853
Discussion is vital to Bible studies, small groups, and Sunday school classes. It keeps people attentive and involved, adds insights and wisdom, and helps people turn head knowledge into heart knowledge.
So why does discussion sometimes falter or fail? Why does it sometimes result in more ... Views:960
I hate winter. The frigid temperatures and massive amounts of snow is more than enough, but add to that the damage to the roads. The pot holes get so big and numerous that you can do some serious damage to a vehicle. So why not move to a warmer climate? For several reasons; however, the major ... Views:800
The question I want to ask you today is, "Can We Lose Our Healing?"
I have heard some people say that we cannot "lose" our healing because what God has given He will not take away. Part of this statement is true. God will not take away what He has already given. And God gave us healing on the ... Views:1196
Many of us reach a certain point in our lives and wonder if we’re really doing what we’re meant to be doing in our work lives. We begin to wonder “What’s my mission in life?”
Some are fortunate to discover their mission early and never divert from it. Others seem to wander constantly ... Views:2768
Recession. Layoffs. Foreclosures. These are very stressful times. Yet psychology experts and various studies show that focusing on the negative can lead to health problems as well as emotional problems like depression.
Jesus reminded His followers that worrying is pointless since the Lord ... Views:686