
Spiritual
Growth Books:
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald
Chambers.
Two of my clients in the same week brought me the same book
and pointed out that it was telling them the same things I had been teaching
them and myself. The book was My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald
Chambers. The more I consider this book, the more I would like people
that read the bible to read My Utmost for His Highest first. That
way they would start with a higher perspective when reading the bible and be
better prepared to keep the bible in a healthier spiritual context.
The Bible by various authors at the level
they were at, at that time.
The current bibles contain a full range of the levels of man and
the levels of That Which Is. Like a Rorschach ink blot test, the bible
reflects where you are on your spiritual path. The bible has been
mistranslated, misunderstood, and politically truncated by the priest class.
In my own experience I have found that key parts of it are mistranslated
and misunderstood. The Ten Commandments are a key source of our past
judgmental thinking. I found that from the Holy Spirit that they can be
transformed into really deep ways on how to have a closer walk with God.
That walk leads to forgiving, loving, understanding and merciful
thinking. If you are interested in what I found, my electronic book The
Secrets Steps to Recovery includes a chapter on the ten ways to That
Which Is. The computer bible I prefer to use is DOS Online
Bible & at WIN
Online Bible these links will get you a free bible for Windows or DOS.
The price of admission is free, but the value is way beyond that.
This version comes with the original Greek and Hebrew words in their
original font and with Strong's translation of each word, plus more
notes than you will read in any reasonable time. I have found that
inviting the Holy Spirit to assist me in understanding has been of way beyond
value.******
A Course in Miracles by JC.
This book is poetry with large portions written in iambic pentameter. It is
also often misunderstood. It can be an attraction off the
spiritual path to intellectuals that use it to judge themselves and others.
For that matter the bible can have the same effect when used by the ego.
[Ego = Edging god out] The course is really an exercise in
spiritual psychology of the path of forgiveness. It both makes the ego
more obvious and can be used to bring about a transformation of the ego.
It only does this when it is the intention of the student of the course
is to transform their ego. Their ego is safe to cause them more misery,
if it is not their intention to let JC assist in the transformation of their
ego. The book is divided into three parts; text, workbook; and a manual
for teachers. That is significant. Since there is a manual for
teachers, there are teachers. The teachers can put the Course in
practical terms and relate it to life here. One could choose to ask the
Holy Spirit of the Course "Who is my teacher?" Do not be
surprised if heaven and earth move to answer that question, when you get the
courage to ask, and open your mind like a parachute.
The “Text” did not make sense to me, until I was ready.
I recommend reading the “Manual for Teachers” next, to just understand the role
of teachers. I did not read the “Manual for Teachers” until I had worked
through a third of the “Workbook for Students”. From this “Manual for
Teachers”, I realized that there are teachers of the generic course in
miracles. I had the good sense to ask the Holy Spirit who my teacher was,
and shortly found him, then the next…
A spiritual life is meaningless unless anyone is willing to
do the necessary work. That is why the “Workbook for Students” is so
necessary when anyone is ready to do the work. Before starting your work,
it is very helpful to remember that everything you are learning, applies to
everyone else. ******
Introduction to a Course in Miracles.
It says: "This booklet presents a brief overview of
"A Course in Miracles", seeking to capture the entire phenomenon of
the Course through the following sections: What is "A Course in
Miracles"?; The Story of "A Course in Miracles; The Teaching of
"A Course in Miracles"; Quotations From "A Course in
Miracles"; Questions About "A Course in Miracles"; The Impact of
"A Course in Miracles"" This booklet would be most useful
for anyone interested in the Course because it gives perspective and captures
"the entire phenomenon of the Course". By some miracle it is in
alignment with the Course. Wish I had read it before the book. It could be used
to give you valuable perspectives that help you keep what you are reading in
context. *******
There is also a valuable supplement to the course in Supplements to a Course in Miracles : Psychotherapy : The Song
of Prayer.
When you are a therapist or a client of a therapist or in a
relationship, this supplement can be a pearl of great price. It also
gives great perspective, short and sweet. ******
Conversations with God, an uncommon dialogue, Book One by Neale Donald Walsch [and God].
The truth is what is true for you so far.
Like with Job, your conversation starts where you are and takes you as
high as you intend to go. This series of books could expand what is true
for you. It is your choice when you are ready to enter into your own conversations
with God. This series of three books can facilitate your own
conversation. *******
*******
Friendship
With God is from the continuing conversations Mr. Walsch is having. *******
Powers of the Mind by Adam Smith.
Now out of print, but Amazon.Com now has used copies!
What Adam gives us is more information to improve our perspective on our
own spiritual journey.
I would have called Adam Smith's book, "The Mind
Game", since, "The Master Game", has been written. Adam
has gained much perspective in his search for enlightenment. He has
learned much about our minds and has enlightened us in the process.
Adam has tried a lot and met many in the mind game. Adam has
remained a skeptic, looking for objectivity while he has gone full circle on
his search.
Adam has found that things happen, that are not part of what
we normally expect. Our mind can effect our body, like remissions and
stigmatic bleeding. [pg. 15 & 16] Placebos work, and work best when
they are two, taste bitter, and are large and purple or brown or small and
bright red or yellow. They also work better, when given as an injection,
not by a doctor, and are told what it does. [pg. 17 & 18] Naming the
challenge helps, like with Rumpelstiltskin, it can go poof. [pg. 19] I
note that the part the mind that does it with placebos, is not any different
than what does it with active pills or injections. In the case of active
ingredients, the mind sees the physical results, and also responds to these
results.
Adam had his peak experience at UCLA, in an exploration of
inner space, by using a trigger placebo pill, to make the unconscious
conscious. Adam saw a giant spider with his mother's face, that ate him,
and he had a flow of feelings that resolved his relationship issues with his
mother. [pg. 27& 28] Next time Adam's experience from LSD was one he
could only try and explain. He started laughing and went through a breath
taking kaleidoscope display to a more real purple universe, with the frequency
of laughter, which went throughout all universes. [pg. 29] On pg. 32,
Adam quotes from the medical school text "The Pharmacological Basis of
Therapeutics" by Goodman and Gilman, on mind expanding drugs. These
drugs are distinguished by "their capacity to induce or compel states of
altered perceptions, thought and feeling, that are not (or cannot be)
experienced except in dreams, or at times of religious exaltation."
To me it is amazing that doctors did not "get it" that this is
no different from some in "mentally ill" and spiritual states.
******
Is That You, Lord?: Practical Methods for Learning Spiritual
Discernment by Roberta Rogers (Bobbie).
One of the most valuable skills we can learn is to discern
what is guidance from our lord most high within and what is
not, that is what is from our own ego. One way to learn this skill is to
be around someone who has experienced some of this skill. Another way is
to read something from someone who has some level of experiencing this skill. That
is why I am recommending this book by someone I met, "Is That You,
Lord?: Practical Methods for Learning Spiritual Discernment" Her
book is written in practical, everyday terms. That is why it is so
valuable. Bobbie writes with honesty and writes of many of her
experiences and the experiences of those she knows. You will be able to
relate to the subject of discernment with discernment because of Bobbie's
contribution. ******
Ancient Secret of the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH by Peter
Kelder.
Another valuable set of skills we can learn are to find our
fountain of youth within, our lord most high within.
There is another book from our bookstore that I am suggesting will be a
blessing. I will be a blessing when you intend to find your lord most
high within. I will be a blessing in disguise when you only want to find
your youth. This short book has changed the lives of many. Perhaps
you might be interested in joining them. ******
Boundaries: When To Say Yes, How to Say No by
Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Our spiritual growth depends on us learning more about
boundaries. God had good boundaries by levels of spirit. We need to
learn how to have good boundaries. The above book
by two Christian authors is really a help. That's right, Christian with a
capital C. I know, it is rare, but good to see. *******
Wrestling with the Prophets by Matthew Fox I
really know that this quote can help heal us: "One thing I learned
from it is that the Native American people believe God does
not make evil spirits; we humans do, and our human institutions do.
Moreover, the only avenue by which an evil spirit can enter the human
heart is through fear... Fundamentalism, which is spreading
through all religions --- Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and certainly Christianity
--- is all about fear. Courage is at the heart of fighting the
fear." And from the Bible, "Perfect love casts out all
fear." On the back cover of the book it says "FOX SPEAKS OUT
FOR A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AND A MOVEMENT AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL RELIGION TOWARDS
AN AUTHENTIC CONNECTION WITH THE DIVINE." Amen. *******
******* Love It, Read It, Do It, Be Full of Care.
****** Love It, Read It, Do It, Be More Careful.
***** Not on my List to Read Yet.
**** Not a Candidate to Read.
*** Cry for Recovery Work.
** Cry for Help.
* Scream for Help.
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16APR12