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Created by:
Divine Spirit, Creator, Comforter, Greatest Friend
Amen.
Interfaith Spirit Quest
The following embedded DocStoc document entitled "Attitude Shifters: 7 Steps to Create New Mindsets and Habits" was prepared by Ameet Desai, a Financial Consultant.
Attitude Shifters is a bottom line, practical, short and sweet article that shows us how to change our minds and our habits.
After you view this article - view some of the other articles Ameet Desai has written on DocStoc.
Press 'full screen' on the upper right hand corner of the document if the print is too small to read.
What I'm about to propose may surprise you, but could it be possible that Jesus intended for us to be each others savior? Let's have a look at a few of the Be-atitudes and see if we can discover the brilliance of Jesus' thinking back when he gave this momentous sermon.
The Beatitudes were designed to strengthen the positive qualities of our character. This important sermon given by Jesus as recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible, is not designed to make us sad; but to show us our humanity, to give us hope and to create long lasting, abundant joy and happiness.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven - Being 'poor in spirit' actually indicates an awareness of ones inner spiritual condition. A person who is 'poor in spirit' is still seeking the rewards of truth and is teachable. New truth is learned by seeking individuals on a regular basis. The opposite trait would refer to a person who has an attitude of superior knowledge and exclusiveness. Those who know some things, know that they know almost nothing, they are humble. You can be a savior in the sense that you can come alongside this person to offer encouragement and to share your learned experiences of truth.Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted - The heart of one who mourns is tender and we can all empathize and sympathize with the mourning soul. It's OK to mourn, to cry, to feel; for to do so is to be human. We can be a savior, Jesus with skin-on, by being sensitive and responding to the needs of our brothers and sisters in a kind, compassionate, comforting and caring way.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth - To be meek is to show patience and restraint, humility and gentleness. The unwavering faith of the meek is rewarded with divine guidance. These are difficult qualities to master. We can be a savior to our brothers and sisters by not testing each others patience, by not provoking one another; and by showing grace and compassion when called for. In this way, we build these qualities in each other.
From the Bible - Matthew 5
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
God We Love You
Our Body needs material nourishment every day.
Our Mind craves new information and knowledge every day.
Our Soul longs for spiritual fulfillment every day.
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So we….
Thank You Lord, for the good food we enjoy.
Thank You for the driven souls who inspire us with new food for our minds.
...and Thank You Lord for filling that part of our being
that can only be filled by You.
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God we love You. Teach us to love each other as You love us.
God...we love You.
Amen
Whether we realize it or not, or care to admit it, Jesus transformed our world 2,000 years ago and it seems like we enjoyed the transformation so much that we pressed the pause button on the DVR. But as anyone with a DVR knows, you can only keep the pause on for so long before the program starts running again on its own. (A DVR is a Digital Video Recorder, an electronic VCR like box you can get from the cable TV company that allows you to record, rewind, restart, fast forward and pause TV programs.) So while the world is moving forward, many are being left behind as they cling to the former ways of ages past. The world will move forward with or without you. Certainly we must glean the wisdom of ages past, but the challenge is to make it relevant in the modern world.
In our individuality, we are each a fascinating, beautiful, unique personality. We all do things differently, and I think that's what we really love about ourselves. The human is quite the adaptable creature, if we put our minds to it, we can do almost anything! In our uniqueness, there is this longing to freely express who we are. Take these chains off-a-me man! Let me be who I am. Love me for who I am. Be free. Let me live and love to my full potential. Let me be like Jesus. Let me love like Jesus. Let me help others to see like Jesus. Let me be a good example for my kids and my grannykins and for the generations to come.
Collectively, we are feeling and saying the same things. But we live in a fear-based society, we practice in our fear-based religions, we worry about everything and we take everything so seriously sometimes. We believe that if people don't do things in a particular way, then we're ready to damn 'em all to a hell that doesn't event exist. God doesn't hate anyone, God has no enemies. Jesus came to reveal God's love - not to be murdered. He was killed because we didn't like the message. Would we do it any differently today? I don't think so. We're in the same boat we were in 6,000 years ago and the same predicament we were in 2,000 years ago. Just like the Jews 2,000 years ago, many Christians are still waiting for the warrior on the big white horse to come and eliminate all our enemies. Who are my enemies? I have none. There are people who do things I don't like - happens every day - but they just don't know any better, and neither do I sometimes : )
The purpose of life is to develop a well-balanced, beautiful, majestic personality reflecting the image of God. We were created in that image and it is that potentiality that God is desirous we work toward. We cannot do that by insulting, hurting, killing or damning to hell everyone we don't like.
It's truly amazing and inspiring to see all the movements taking place within Christianity in this early part of the 21st century. Here are a few movements that appear poised to transform our society in this 21st century through the timeless teachings of Jesus:
1. Christian Universalism
One Christian organization that is thinking and trying to present a positive and modern type of Christian spirituality is The Christian Universalist Association (CUA). The CUA believes that every person is the beloved divine offspring of God and all are being raised up from imperfection to maturity - in the fullness of our potentiality.
2. The Emergent Christian Church
Then there is the Emerging Church, which I describe as the free and unique expression of each Jesus touched individual re-imagining and reforming outdated ways of thinking and creating a new and refreshing expression of church, of worship, of spirituality for the 21st century. The new Christian no longer fits into the old wineskin. Here's an interesting article from Christianity Today on the Emergent Church - it's called "Five Streams of the Emerging Church".
3. Integral Life Institute - The Future of Christianity
Jesus transformed our world - and continues to transform those of us today who still seek him. The future potential of Christianity is not talked about too much, we seem to spend a lot of time talking about the past. How does a Christian revitalize and practice their faith in this modern world? These are the questions I am asking and so are these people. From the Integral Life Institute, here is a short teaser video about the "Future of Christianity", a new vision of Christianity taught by Thomas Keating and Ken Wilber.
There are new ways of thinking and they are all being made manifest, conforming to our beautiful uniqueness and integrating our desire for free expression and thought. Jesus said we would go on to do even greater things than he, while this is difficult to imagine, tis already true. It is recorded that Jesus came as the Son of God to establish God's Kingdom on earth and he succeeded - this is not something we can repeat, true; but we can master The Ways of bringing the people of the world, his children, to his feet as he came to ours. By loving others as Jesus loved, by listening to that truth-detecting Holy Spirit within, we can awaken the entire world to the knowledge and awareness of the living, loving God of all.
Patrick Swayze was born August 18, 1952 and died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 57 on Monday, September 14, 2009. Patrick was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was well known and loved for his role as a romantic leading man, and ghost, in the movie…. 'Ghost'. May his soul be at peace in leaving his earthly life this time around.
In the movie 'Ghost', Patrick plays the part of Sam Wheat, a man who dies at the hands of a mugger while trying to protect himself and his girlfriend Molly Jensen (played by Demi Moore) while the two of them are walking home from a night at the theatre. In the movie, after Sam (Patrick Swayze) dies, he chooses not to follow the bright white lights calling him home to heaven until he knows that his sweetheart is safe.
In the movie, leaving this earth as a good person is represented or portrayed as very bright, twinkling lights coming from the heavens, pulling, drawing the dead person heavenward. This pulling, or drawing, appears as a choice. Leaving the earth as a bad person is represented or portrayed as black shadows and smoke, pulling or drawing the evil person toward hell apparently. This appears to be a consequence. Fascinating stuff!
Is there life after death? If so, do we know what it's really like? Well, many people who have had near death experiences have confirmed the bright light theory, along with a sense of peace and joy. So at the very least, we can know that we probably need not fear death. Fortunately, I haven't heard too many reports of the dark shadows experience. I think this is just something perpetuated by fear-based religions.
I liken death to the following:
Our present state of understanding is so limited so that when we do enter the next life, a download of new information and a renewal of the mind takes place in addition to the gift of a new body. This renewal of the mind is like an 80 year old person who attended college at 18, graduated, lived life, and at 80 years old goes back to college for an earthly renewal of the mind. 60 years have passed since he was last in school and there's a lot that's happened since then. Put another way, it's like we've been sleeping through this life and now we finally wake up to a new world of wonder and awe where there is so much to learn. Our old ways of thinking are shed like the skin on a snake!
While we now occupy a body of material flesh, when we die we obtain a new form and live on a new level of spiritual existence.
The essential difference between the universe energy system and human beings is that the energy system continues on and does not choose to do so, it just does. Human beings determine their own destiny. As human beings in the material flesh, we live and we die, but our spirit personality lives on; determining along the way how it will proceed (or not) in the after physical-death realm of existence.
Death is only the beginning of our adventure.
It's simple really. You live. You die. You go on if you choose to. God has given you this gift of life and the gift of free will. I don't believe any person would choose not to go on – but in the event they do, then it's apparent to me that they will just simply cease to exist – that spark of life within them is simply dissolved into the consciousness of the universe.
Who doesn't love adventure and excitement? Who would pass up the opportunity to experience God's super plan of boundless opportunity, infinite treasure and extraordinary adventure?
Whosoever will may enter. This is God's will.
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For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.
I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it.
Audrey Hepburn
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