August 23, 2011

Metaphors and candy wrappers

            Adorn my kitchen floor.

Blood soaked words lay

            Wounded and worn.

Who walks there?  Who

            Moves among my pain?

Move deftly, as the prey spied

            From the sky by the hungry

Hawk.

           

April 20, 2011 - Relationship Repair

In time, the river widens

In time, the waters deepen

In time, the current quickens

In time, crossing becomes impossible

 

 

Take a moment today and invest in a damaged or broken relationship - before it is too late.

Seven Principles of the Truly Spiritual Person - Introduction (draft)

Seven Principles of the Truly Spiritual Person

Introduction (draft)

For the purpose of full disclosure, I share with you now that I am a Christian.  What that means for me, however, is far from being symbiotic with what is taught and promoted in many Christian churches in America today. 

I do try to follow what I believe are the true teachings of Jesus Christ.  In that sense, I am a Christian – A follower of Christ.

How Jesus is defined; who Jesus was; what Jesus said and did; what the core message of Jesus was or is; in these, in whole or in part, is where I find some disagreement.  Some of these disagreements are considered major.

I am writing this book to share openly what I believe are truths, some absolute and some malleable within limited parameters.  For more than three decades I have pondered and searched for a truth that felt right.  Yes, I said felt right.  With zero doubt and one-hundred percent confidence (I will explain deeper in later chapters), I believe when your heart sincerely seeks truth, your instincts should be trusted.  Therefore, you will feel it; you will sense the truth when you discover it, or find the entry point to its path. 

God gave us this ability.  God’s desire is for us to search.   Many, however, have discarded this ability and chosen instead the ease of being fed by others week in and week out.  As a social gathering of like-minded persons, Church is fine.  In my many years of attending churches, pastoring, leading in several capacities, and struggling to apply what I will finally lay out in this book, I have yet to find a church, or church group, who seeks to discover and share a deeper meaning than what their doctrines lay out (which differ greatly from denomination to denomination).  This has always confounded me.  At times, this common attribute has flat out confused and frustrated me.

Through the years, I have entered into personal study, entered into Bible College, served in leadership with many churches, lead studies of varying topics, and so on.  Additionally, I have explored principals in the work place with those who were under my charge (I will share more on this later in the book).  I have raised three amazing children, all of which have my complete heart and love, each teaching me life lessons no other could have taught me.  I am married to the woman of my dreams, who supports my craziness and walks with me unconditionally on this journey. 

I do not want to make this my biography.  I will say my life has been enormously full, colorful, and memorable.  To a large degree, my life has been defined and driven by a search for truth. 

I have found there to be seven primary principles a truly spiritual person lives by.  These principles will vary in degree of intensity and impact, but each is held by truly spiritual persons.  Some strive to maintain them, while others live them effortlessly, knowing no other way of life.  Each of these, and every degree in between, is changing the world around them, mostly with no realization.  They do not look back on what they have changed, who they have changed, or why; they simply live each day with these seven principles guiding their lives. 

This is not how many claiming Christianity live.  Over the years I have found the opposite to be true.  There is little social change between the churched population and non-churched population.  Divorce rates, affairs, adultery (infidelity or cheating; in essence lying about it.  (More about adultery is found later)), abuse, envy, gossip, and more, run at nearly the same levels within each group. 

To be clear, I do not believe any of this behavior should be judged – by anyone.  Each person has his or her own path in life to walk.  We each are blessed with imperfections.  And, we should walk hand in hand with others on their journey of growth – not condemn them.  My point of contention is the hypocrisy.  The one group Jesus consistently had issue with, whether you look in today’s bible, or the excluded gospels, was the religious leaders of the day who claimed to be righteous but were spiritually empty inside.

It is my deep hope and desire that by writing this book, some eyes will be opened and lives will be changed; even if just one.  The world is full of people who expend a lifetime’s gift of energy on judging and condemning others, rather than taking the much easier and more fulfilling road towards their own spiritual growth and enlightenment.

My truth; the truth I choose, is that this can and will change, making the world we live in a more enlightened, peaceful, and beautiful place for all.

April 19, 2011

In the process of seeking your own completeness, give thought to how you may help in completing others.

February 1, 2011

My spirit continues to journey and discover. What I find is continually new and enlightening. My shields are down and I am becoming more and more open to the cultural of a multi-dimensional existence.

January 31, 2011

There is wisdom to be found in the path freely taken. With ease of movement comes the clarity of mind to absorb those things along our path. My encouragement to you is to seek the path for your own life which give you the most peace. Travel that one and find more than you imagine.

January 30, 2011

I just finished reading, "Soul-Hearted Partnership" by Debra L.Reble. This book is amazing and I recommend it for all persons in relationships or wanting to be in a relationship.

There are two sections to this book; "Soul-hearted relationship with yourself, and soul-hearted relationship with another. I consider myself to be fairly competent concerning relationships. I have read many books on the subject, attending several seminars, been through an extensive course, had my own ups and downs in relationships, counseled many successfully in this area, and am continually open to growing.

In this book, came upon some new things that really encouraged me to move even a step or two beyond what I already know. My current relationship with my wife, Gina, is a very good one. We are spiritually connected and the depths of our connection are unlike anything I have ever experienced or imagined. Yet, I feel as though I am now at a new beginning.

I will now begin efforts to become even more transparent with my own life where Gina is concerned. I will share more with her. There are many feelings and issues I still keep locked deep within me that would be better let out. I will now put my trust in her and release them using methods I learned from this book.

Truth be told, I am a bit afraid, but have the confidence that all will be well. I will let you know