Word was made flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, 

who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

                                                              John 1:1-2, 14

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Prayer for World Peace

I know there is but One Mind, which is the Mind of God, in which all people live and move and have their being.

I know there is a divine pattern for humanity, and within this pattern there is infinite harmony and peace, cooperation, unity, and mutual helpfulness.

I know that the mind of man, being one with the Mind of God, shall discover the method, the way, and the means best fitted to permit the flow of divine Love between individuals and nations.

Thus harmony, peace, cooperation, unity, and mutual helpfulness will be experienced by all.

I know there shall be a free interchange of ideas, of cultures, of spiritual concepts, of ethics, of educational systems, and scientific discoveries—for all good belongs to all alike.

I know that, because the divine Mind has created us all, we are bound together in one infinite and perfect unity.

In bringing about world peace, I know that all people and all nations will remain individual, but unified for the common purpose of promoting peace, happiness, harmony, and prosperity.

I know that deep within every person, the divine pattern of perfect peace is already implanted.

I now declare that in each man and in leaders of thought everywhere, this Divine Pattern moves into action and form, to the end that all nations and all people shall live together in peace, harmony, and prosperity forever.

So it is—Now.

                        Ernest Holmes

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Originally published in Science of Mind magazine, October 1950. 

To read this magazine, go to scienceofmindarchives.org.

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Live your truth

Do not live the truth of others. Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “The Power in you is new in Nature.” Dare to take your own breaths, your own chances, and live your own truth. You have never been here before. And you will never be here again.

                                                                                  Tama J. Kieves

                                 

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Receiving the kingdom

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, 

let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

                                                                                       Hebrews 12:28

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Doing what you love

When you do what you love, your success is inevitable. Every moment you show up with love, you blossom. You use your infinite talents. The winds blow your way. You have the right stuff. It may take time, but you have this time.

                                                                                        Tama J. Kieves

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Anthony of Egypt - First of the Desert Monks

The mind of the soul is strong when the pleasures of the body are weak.

                                                               Matthew 19:21 - (Anthony's motto)

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"If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor." These are the words that stopped the rich kid dead in his tracks. His parents had died, and now all their wealth belongs to him. The much-heralded city of Alexandria offers infinite opportunities for luxurious living. His whole life is ahead of him. He can travel in comfort and see the wonders of the world if he so desires. But he hears the call of God in that very pointed gospel passage. His only travel will be to the desert. His journey of the soul begins by giving his wealth to the poor and leaving his childhood home. His goal is to become a true lover of God -- to give himself entirely to Christ, ever vigilant in resisting the devil. His motto: "The mind of the soul is strong when the pleasures of the body are weak." He nourishes himself on bread and water, fasting altogether every other day and denying himself sleep, preferring to pray through the night.

Anthony (251 - 356), whose life story is told by Athanasius, lives among the tombs, where he is assaulted by wild animals and demons. This is God's way of training him to fight and win spiritual battles like an athlete prevailing in the arena. After a time he leaves the tombs, seeking an even more secluded area, where he remains for twenty years, becoming a celebrity -- a superstar among desert saints. Disciples seek him out, and their encounters with him inspire generations of ascetics.

In one instance when a would-be follower tells him that he has given all his wealth away but for a small amount for necessities, the response is vintage Anthony: "If you want to be a monk, go into the village, buy some meat, cover your naked body with it and come here like that." When the man returns, his body is bloody and torn by wild dogs and vultures. The moral of the story: "Those who renounce the world but want to keep something for themselves are torn in this way by the demons who make war on them."

Anthony's activities intersect with the lives of other well-known figures of the era. During the brutal persecution under Emperor Diocletian in 303, he travels to Rome to minister to the suffering. He is also enmeshed in the theological controversies of the day. Athanasius persuades him to come to Alexandria from his desert hideaway to speak out against Arius, whose views are catching fire. Though he is no theologian, Anthony epitomizes sainthood. His life of self-denial is the support Athanasius most desires. Saint Augustine will later be put to shame by reading Athanasius's story of Anthony.

After his trip to Alexandria, Anthony returns to the desert with two companions who care for him in his final years. Despite all the privations he endures he lives to age one hundred and five, according to Athanasius, having secured the promise that his body will be buried in an unmarked grave. His concerns are not for dogs or vultures. He does not want his bones and remnants of clothing fought over and revered as relics. For him spirituality is self-denial and sacrifice, not saint-worship.

If you enjoyed the above article, take a minute to read about the book that it was adapted from:  Parade of Faith: A Biographical History of the Christian Church by Ruth A. Tucker

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Another Take On Courage

Courage sometimes means doing things that could hurt you. It means choosing the higher good.

And do not kid yourself. You always know what the higher good is. There is never any doubt about that in your heart. So today, look at things through your heart, not through your mind (which always wants to protect you).

What is the highest good right now?

You already know the answer. Just do it.

                                                                                 Neale Donald Walsch

                                                                                 

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Another Take On Courage will be a regular feature of this blog site beginning next week.  It will showcase various acts of courage by both prominent public figures and ordinary individuals.

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Spiritual power at work

Spiritual power is the dynamic of that invisible essence of life, intelligence, and law, which we call God or First Cause.

The conscious use of this power comes from the recognition that it actually exists, really responds to us; that we can directly contact and definitely use it. That there is such an invisible essence of life is evident throughout all nature, the visible side of which but proclaims this invisible essence. Objective nature—our own bodies included—is a phenomenon of the invisible cause which we call Spirit.

Man is an incarnation of this invisible cause, not by choice, but rather by the law of life thus to express. As man touches his own thought, he touches It. He touches It with power, not because he wills this power to be, for this power is and the universal will is of this nature. 

The will of Spirit, or the Universal Will, must be goodness, truth, and beauty. As we imbibe Its nature, we come into Its harmony.  The will of God is peace. Only the finite is confused; the Infinite remains certain of Itself. As we enter the atmosphere of peace, our confusion vanishes. This is not done through objective power, nor by might, but through a realization and an embodiment of that Presence which transcends confusion.

The Spiritual Presence in the universe is real and dynamic. It surrenders Itself to us in such degree as we comply with Its nature. Our consciousness is so at-one with the universal law of cause and effect that when we know confusion, we become confused; when we know peace, we become peaceful.

All have spiritual power, but only a few consciously use it. As time passes, larger numbers of people will come to make conscious use of this power until finally a majority of the [human] race will be guided by that inner inspiration which guides men’s feet aright. Then many of those questions which are now so perplexing in the social and economic order will be permanently answered.

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Excerpted from “The Conscious Use of Spiritual Power” by Ernest Holmes, originally published in Science of Mind magazine, October 1932. 

To read this article in its entirety, visit scienceofmindarchives.org.

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Art of loving

Love is union under the condition of preserving one’s integrity, one’s individuality. Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unites him with others; love makes him overcome the sense of isolation and separateness, yet it permits him to be himself, to retain his integrity. In love the paradox occurs that two beings become one and yet remain two.

                                      Excerpt from The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm

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Forgiveness in everyday life

I sometimes suspect the reason I was put here on earth is to learn and embody the essence of forgiveness.

It is indeed tempting to succumb to anger and wish malice on those who offend us; however, in the end of the day, I would still be fuming mad while the culprit has gone about his usual way unperturbed. I say unperturbed because if he were not, he would never even think of committing such things. My only choice in this matter is to simply forgive that person.

To succeed, I would have to remind myself that I do not want to fill my consciousness with negative thoughts about him and his action. Also, I have to say to myself silently, “Whatever he has done, that’s his problem.”

I learned about this practice when I came across a book by Emmet Fox in which he argued that if you saw a little child unable to reach a high shelf, you wouldn’t condemn him for it, because you know that in due time he would gain the height. 

So it is with spiritual infants — we have to give them time to grow. And for not condemning but instead understanding them, we help them in the process. And by helping them, we free ourselves.

To quote Emmet Fox:

"Setting others free means setting yourself free, because resentment is really a form of attachment. It is a Cosmic Truth that it takes two to make a prisoner; the prisoner and the jailer. When you hold resentment against anyone, you are bound to that person by a cosmic link, a real, though mental chain. You are tied by a cosmic tie to the thing that you hate. You must cut all ties, by a clear and spiritual act of forgiveness. You must loose him and let him go. By forgiveness you set yourself free; you save your soul. And because the law of love works alike for one and all, you help to save his soul, too, making it just so much easier for him to become what he ought to be.”

Perhaps, in one way or another, this is what “letting go and letting God" is all about. Only problem is, although we may have already forgiven the person who had offended us, certainly, angry thoughts would come back to nag at us. In this case, what I would do is say the following silently to myself:

The good in me salutes the good in you. The good in me understands the good in you. Therefore, I forgive you. I bless you. I free you. I understand you and you understand me. I release you to your highest good.

Another that helps is silently saying to myself as I think of the offending party, “Go to God. Go To God.”  I would keep repeating this like a mantra until I have cleansed myself of negative thoughts about that person and what he had done.

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Great Religions Differ Little in Principle

If we were to examine the basic principle of the great religions of the world, we would not find as much difference as might be expected. Each points to one central life from whose self-existence all draw their livingness and without which nothing could exist.

All truth is our truth. No man robs us of our own soul, and our spirit is already one with the eternal Goodness. Everyman’s belief is good so far as it is in line with Reality. We have no controversies with anyone. As we claim freedom, so we extend its privileges to everyone else; we will give and accept on no other terms. We are scientific searchers for that Truth which makes man free, and we know that we have found entrance to It.

The past is behind and whatever doubt it may have held is gone with it. The future is before, bright with prospects; the eternal sun of righteousness is ever ascending, never to descend. Let us look toward the high goal of lasting attainment, fearless and happy. Let us live in the present, looking neither backward in horror, nor forward with apprehension—but looking into the present with joy—“Abiding in Faith.”

                                                                              Ernest Holmes

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While swaying on a hammock

One day, an affluent father took his young son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how peasants endure a life of constant struggle. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a poor family.

When they got back from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" Very good, Dad!" "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Yeah!" "And what did you learn?"

The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden, they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon." 

When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.  His son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!" 

Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude toward life, you've got everything!

You can't buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!

For more inspirational stories, visit OneSmartClick.com

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Imagination

Imagination is your greatest gift from the Universe. Do not be afraid to use it to manifest your inner desires of good.

Imagine yourself as being completely all right at this time. Imagine yourself as Whole, Complete, and Perfect. That is, with nothing to change, nothing to improve.

Purge all thoughts of inadequacies and limitations.

Vanquish any thought about yourself as a mere outsider always looking in.  Imagine your own circle filled with supportive and kindred spirits.  

Imagine your heart as being open again, your life as if it were starting over in the most important ways.

It is said that if you can imagine the ideal condition for yourself and loved ones, then you have just created tomorrow.

In The New York Times article that features Phyllis Diller who recently passed away, it mentions the late comedienne's inroad into show business:

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She started to move toward a career in show business without realizing it. She was poor and unhappy, and she would meet other poor and unhappy women at the Laundromat and regale them with accounts of her home life. She also tried to inject humor into the advertising and publicity copy she wrote. Word spread about Phyllis Diller, and soon she was being asked to give presentations at parties and P.T.A. meetings.  

Her husband thought she should be paid to make people laugh. She lacked the confidence to do it until she read a self-help book, “The Magic of Believing” by Claude M. Bristol. Inspired by its message of empowerment, she began to write her own comedy routines, hired a drama coach to give her more stage presence, and took whatever paid or unpaid performing jobs she could get: at hospitals, women’s clubs, church halls.  

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And the rest was history as they say.  Phyllis Diller, with her new-found set of beliefs drawn from the book “The Magic of Believing” had, in essence, paved her own way towards fame and fortune and thus, opening the door for other female comedians, such as Joan Rivers, Roseanne Barr, Whoopi Goldberg, Ellen DeGeneres, Sandra Bernhard and numerous others.

The book's strongest message: that virtually anything can be yours, and you can be anything, if you are able to develop a 'knowing' about it that you don't ever need to question. 

On Alexander the Great and Napoleon, the author asserts, "They became supermen because they had supernormal beliefs. Your belief about yourself and your place in the world is arguably the major determinant of success."

Moreover, "If you can understand the relationship between the conscious and the subconscious minds," Bristol says, "you will get to the core of belief power. The subconscious constantly works to express our deepest beliefs and desires. It is a faithful servant which renews, guides and inspires, but to get the most from it requires greater respect for and faith in what it can do. Because the subconscious operates in terms of imagery, it is vital that we feed it mental pictures of what we desire. It can then go to work in 'living up to' the image placed before it, by giving us intuitions about what to do, where to go, who to meet."

Consciousness, Creativity and the Brain

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Suggested read:  

On Wings of Sound

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Sharing with ABC Wednesday

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RX for Cancer Survivors: Healthy diet and exercise

Steamed fish and green salad

The American Cancer Society urges cancer survivors to exercise more and improve their diets to help prevent the disease from coming back.  The society recommends the following:

Achieve and Maintain a Healthy Weight

Extra weight is linked to increased risk of the cancer coming back and decreased survival rates among breast, prostate, and colorectal (colon) cancer survivors, and possibly others.  Being overweight is a risk factor for these 3 cancers (and others), and many people with cancer are over­weight at the time of diagnosis. For these survivors, setting lifelong goals to achieve and maintain a healthy weight are among the most important health-related goals that can be set.

Healthy ways to control weight include:

- Limiting high-calorie foods

- Drinking fewer beverages high in fat and/or added sugar

- Eating more low-calorie foods like vegetables and fruits

- Adding more physical activity throughout the day

Be Active on a Regular Basis

Many studies have shown that being physically active has a tremendous impact on quality of life of cancer survivors. Now, studies have demonstrated that physical activity after cancer diagnosis is also associated with a lower  risk of the cancer coming back and improved overall survival among multiple cancer survivor groups, including breast, colon, prostate, and ovarian cancer.

Among breast cancer survivors, a recent analysis showed that getting exercise after diagnosis was associated with a 34% lower risk of breast cancer deaths, a 41% lower risk of dying from all causes, and a 24% lower risk of breast cancer recurrence. Among colon cancer survivors, studies suggest exercise cuts deaths from colon cancer and all causes, and cuts the risk of the cancer coming back by up to 50%.

Our recommendations, and those of the American College of Sports Medicine, encourage survivors to aim to exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, and to include strength training exercises at least 2 days per week.  For survivors who have not been previously active, gradually working up to these recommendations is the way to go. 

Fill your plate with vegetables, fruits, and whole grains

Recent reviews suggest that food choices may affect risk for recurrence and overall survival among survivors. The majority of these studies have focused on breast cancer, but more evidence has also emerged for colon and prostate cancer survivors. 

Similar to what we've seen for cancer prevention, it looks like it's the overall dietary pattern that is important for cancer survivorship -it's not one food, or even one food group, that makes the difference.  It's likely the combination of many different nutrients coming from many different foods --working together -- that offers the best protection. 

Studies suggest that the best protection comes from a diet that:

- Is high in fruits, vegetables and, whole grains

- Includes more fish and poultry instead of red and processed meats

- Includes low fat instead of full-fat dairy products

- Includes nuts and olive oil instead of less healthy sources of fat, such as butter or trans fats found in many processed snack foods

The bottom line

Do we have all the answers related to nutrition, physical activity, and cancer survivorship? No. But do we have enough information and evidence to recommend that anyone who's been diagnosed with cancer should strive to be at a healthy weight, live a physically active lifestyle, and add more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to their meals and snacks?  Absolutely.  It's an important message that I'm sharing with everyone I know who has been diagnosed with any kind of cancer.  

Read more here.

Tropical fruit platter

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Food Trip Friday

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