James King

The Peacemakers Challenge...

2011-08-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been misunderstood?

Have you ever been at odds with someone?

Ever have a disagreement that led to conflict that never got resolved?

If you are alive and breathing it is highly likely that you have been in a conflict with someone else at sometime or another. Conflict is actually a normal and natural experience with human beings. It is almost impossible to keep it from happening. Our phrasing, tone of voice, forgetfulness, assumptions, presumptions, are just a few reasons for conflict. There are many human failings that we can blame or point out and I'm sure you have had some unique experiences of your own.

The major reason we create conflict is because most people are unconscious about what they do, say and think much of the time.

If you really want to be a peacemaker and reduce conflict in the world then you will want to make it a priority in your life. It will have to become more than just a nice thought in your mind. You may not be able to create world peace by yourself but you can make a difference in your sphere of influence. Your slice of the world is connected to every other part and is affected by what you choose to do.

You are a very powerful and influential being who DOES make a difference.

It matters when you choose to forgive instead of holding grudges. It matters when you resolve conflict with others. You are the answer to peace in the world by taking responsiblilty with everyone you deal with on a daily basis. Your seemingly small piece may be exactly what is needed to add to the overall energy and reach a critical mass and create more "heaven on earth".

I invite you to make a pledge to God and to yourself to be available as a peacemaker.

That means you resolve every conflict that you can whenever it arises. It means that peace is important in your life and you are willing to face conflict and find a way to reconcile with others. As soon as you can - do it before it festers and grows into something that becomes a karmic situation that will arise in another way, shape or form to be faced again and again.

Whether it is someone close such as a family member or someone in line at the grocery store - be the healer and let compassion and humility flow through you. It not only feels good inside you but it is a wonderful suprise for the person that you are peacemaking with!

Not everyone may respond positively but they won't soon forget a person who truly forgives and endeavors to make peace with them.

In the past we have given lip service to the peace process but now it is time to actually put our hearts and our energies toward peace on earth.

Consider yourself challeged to BE the peacemaker that you know YOU can BE..

In peace....

James

What About One Wayism?

2010-07-07T18:43:00.001-07:00

If any of the words of Jesus have been greatly misunderstood then this is the one sentence. “I am the way, the truth and the light.” Jesus taught in parables and euphemisms which were stories and allegories of spiritual truth. When Jesus spoke - many times he was speaking from the perspective of the 'I AM' (Christ mind) which is more of the thought of BEING rather than DOING.

'I am the way' is his way of saying the spiritual path (way) is within him just as it is IN each one of us. Jesus was sharing universal principles as “the Christ” which are NOT about an exclusive religion, but rather the availability of this Christ Presence to all. The teaching of Jesus was from a universal perspective and was being directed at a culture that lived at that time.

His words were not meant to be taken as only ONE WAY of believing but as a particular focus that would assist people in having a loving and inspired relationship with God. The 'narrow way' Jesus talked about was the idea of having a single(narrowed) focus and a single minded intent to know and experience the Divine.

God so loves all of us that God gives and keeps on giving with great mercy and compassion until the soul is able to receive the love that is freely given. The Divine meets with us where we are at in any given moment. God can use a hundred different ways to bring us 'back to the Father's house' which is the inner abiding presence of God. The Apostle Paul said, “Don't you know that your body IS the temple of the living God!” Collective humanity was meant to be the house of the ever abiding Divine Presence.

The way home is the INNER WAY.

Why is Their Such Religious Confusion?

2010-07-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

Originally there was not a bible like we have today. The bible is a collections of stories and letters written by PEOPLE. There were never chapter and verse divisions like we have now. It was never meant to be a rule book or a code of conduct book. We don't even know for sure who wrote much of it. It is a book of opinions and experiences of many different people. This is why there is so many different interpretations of the bible and differing opinions of various spiritual communities and denominations.

The bible points us TO the truth which is its real purpose!I have a love and respect for the bible and it is a great blessing in my life but I really wish we could stop wounding people with our dogmatic interpretations of it. When people quote chapter and verse to prove someone else wrong it is important to remember that it is not necessarily the truth they are proving but merely THEIR interpretation of what they think the bible is saying. Our interpretations many times are based on our culture and our western approach to the bible.

The bible originated in an eastern culture which must be taken into consideration when we endeavor to interpret it. Christianity has become very westernized through the centuries and misunderstanding about it abounds. Can we simply have a rational conversation about the bible without using it as a point of contention? Can we find a way to communicate with each other in a respectful and loving manner? Jesus said to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “You are only interested in the outside of the cup but are inwardly dead(separated).” This is a warning to us about what happens when we claim exclusive right to truth. These two sects were battling each other back then claiming to have THE TRUTH and kept putting people into spiritual bondage with their petty rules and dogmatic teaching which held no life giving power in them.

We can better assist each other through humility and understanding which is the ground from which we can experience the truth of Jesus teachings. Our 'rightness' can block our awareness of the beauty of the Christ Spirit. This can become the 'arrogance of our spiritual ignorance'.

Where is the Kingdom of Heaven & What is Hell?

2010-07-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

The bible says “the Kingdom is not meat and drink (material) but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” These are all inner qualities of someone in touch with God. Heaven is a spiritual dimension that we all have access to. Jesus said it is WITHIN you which is where we must look to discover those attributes. Jesus prayed that “the kingdom would come in earth as it is in heaven.” God is doing an INSIDE JOB which is the only real way to bring about transformation. First the inner and then the outer.

What is Hell?

The Hebrew word for hell in the OT is 'Sheol' which means a grave.

In the NT the Greek word for hell is 'Hades' which means an unseen place.

Another Greek word for hell fire is 'Ghenna' which was a literal garbage dump that surrounded the city in those days where a continual fire was burning to rid them of garbage and waste. Also the maggots continually fed on the trash (”the worm dieth not”).

As you can see none of these places are afterlife realities where folk are burned forever.

How can you burn a spirit anyway?

What is meant by the word Salvation?

2010-07-07T18:34:00.000-07:00

If you believe that Jesus is the Savior then Jesus is the savior of all and the condemner of none. The disciples were commissioned to share this Good News of the HAPPY God and teach the forgiveness of sins rather than the blaming & accusing of so called "sinners" and holding them to their errors. The word sin is an old english word and simply means to “miss the mark” and we have all missed it. Sin is a mistake and thankfully Jesus taught us, it is finished, done, over with, now stop talking about your ability to make mistakes and receive “God's grace that is sufficient for you.”

The word salvation means wholeness and wellness and is an ongoing process of a deepening, meaningful relationship with the divine. We do not teach sin consciousness. We speak often about God consciousness (awareness). If you tell a child he/she is stupid then that is the behavior they will demonstrate. If you tell them of their positive attributes then THAT is what they will tend to demonstrate. I believe the same principle applies to adults on the spiritual path too.

The Power of Truth

2010-07-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

Jesus said, “We would know the truth and the truth would make us free.” From this statement we understand that whatever else truth is it is really about FREEDOM. Jesus made the statement “I am the truth” so therefore truth is not the telling of words but the demonstration of truth through ones actions and lifestyle.

In other words he was saying we must BE the truth rather than argue intellectually about who is doctrinally right and who is wrong ABOUT the truth. True belief is more about an ongoing encounter with the Divine and then naturally living out from that experience. It is as natural as a child expressing joy and loving kindness through a close relationship with his or her parents.

So we conclude that truth is BEING rather than simply speaking about truth and if you are intimately acquainted with the truth then you are being made free. This is different than religious dogma that is mere mental concepts that have no freeing power to them. Truth is demonstration and action. Freedom is the result of truth that is experiential rather than mental assent. Truth is powerful.

Doctrinal Statement Not Required

2010-07-07T12:06:00.000-07:00

First - We believe that God is love and is actively loving, accepting and forgiving of all. Jesus said, “They will know you are my disciples(disciplined ones) because of the demonstration of your love” Jesus never once mentioned anything about having the proper doctrinal statement. He said, “Love God and love your neighbor as you love yourself and on this hang all the law”(all rules).

Any doctrine(core teaching basis) other than love creates separation and is in opposition to the prayer Jesus told his disciples to pray. “I pray that you would all be one even as the Father and I are one.” Love is not really about having the proper mental precepts - it is simply a manifestation of an intimate relationship with God that is birthed through the closeness & nearness of the presence of God within.

I suppose if I must confess to a doctrinal statement it would have to be the BE-attitudes which are purported to be from the mouth of Jesus and are not someone else's interpretation of what they THINK he taught. We are all made in the image of this One Spirit (love) and are all children of the same One Spirit (love). When we live from Love we are expressing God. There is One God with many differing expressions and approaches. God is spirit and is everywhere present and IN ALL which makes sense - since we are all children of God.

My definition of all is that all means all.

Setting The World Free!

2010-05-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

Many people today do not understand their feelings and emotions and therefore misinterpret what life is saying to them. Bryon Katie who wrote the book, "Loving What Is" says, reality is much kinder than our beliefs about it." Reality is what it is in each moment and we must learn to see it with fresh eyes. Sometimes when we view life from a past hurt we are looking from a perspective that may be angry or bitter which is a harsh look at reality. This creates a sense of separateness from the world and the people around us. Many interpret this as lonliness and a feeling of being cut off from others.

When you feel lonely or isolated it is very easy to blame others when they leave you. We tend to think that every time someone leaves us it is because we are unworthy in some way. The truth is that there are always people coming and going in your life and it is a natural happening. We live in a temporary world and nothing ever stays the same for very long.

What we really need is an inner healing of our attachment to negative emotions. We need to wean ourselves from that false sense of ourselves that we create as a reaction to the world. The world is as it is. If I want to participate with the world in a healthy way I have to set it free. Until I do that I will always be a slave to my negative feelings.

You may have many disagreements with what is going on in the world and may want to affect it in a positive way. If you do you must set the world free! Once you give the responsibility back to everyone else for their part in the co-creation of the way the world operates - you will be free too! I have no power over how other people think, speak or act. I have no power over what people think of me either. So I let the world think what it wants and I will do the same!

I no longer have any control of your good or bad opinion of me. The only opinion that really matters to me is - my opinon of me. So, what do I choose to think and believe about myself?

"Today, I set the world free to be whatever it is and I also set myself free to be the person I have chosen to be - for now."

Enjoy the freedom,

James

The Cosmic Joke!

2009-12-06T16:28:00.000-08:00

Are you getting the cosmic joke yet? That life is more like a comedy and is really quite funny. Nothing lasts for very long and everything is temporary. What is up one day is down the next. What is all the rage today will be sold in the garage sale of tomorrow.

The supermodel that graces the front pages of Vanity Fair will eventually get hungry and begin eating again. After that she will get a face lift to try and recapture her beauty and then we will see her on a rerun of "where are they now".

Nothing is really all that serious when you understand the truth about existence. Some people spend their whole life scraping and clawing their way to the top of the heap, and then they die. This is the joke that the ego plays upon itself over and over never seeming to get it.

When you know the truth you can settle in and just enjoy each moment for whatever it brings. Life is not a competition but simply a walk in the garden of earth to taste of its fruit and experience the variety of experiences that are here.

This is the ride of your life and there is so much to experience. Take time to laugh and have some fun along the way. Happy people make the planet more enjoyable and peaceful too!

Now that you get the cosmic joke, share a smile with somebody. . :> )

In joy,

James

Peace On Earth?

2009-08-10T16:29:00.000-07:00

At the end of almost every Unity service the song, "Let There be Peace on Earth" is sung. Some people see it as a nice idea but unrealistic in practice. Others have tried to make it happen but gave up after much work and a lot of futile effort. A few active folks are still out there talking about peace, peace peace but are only seeing disharmony and a lack of peace in the world. The second part of the song says, "Let it begin with me" and that is the real answer. Peace in the world has to start within me. If I am not a peace filled person then whatever I do comes from a non-peaceful place.

So my first job is to make peace with myself and all I am or think that I am. Peace is a resonance that already exists as a calm spot in the center of our being. Peace is not really created as much as it is allowed. If I am continually arguing with people about becoming peaceful than I am not really at peace. For instance, I know people who are anti-war and have chosen to be that way pretty much for the right reasons. They can give you all the statistics about why there should not be war in the world and would be right. I also believe it would be great if we as a society could move beyond having to war and fight in the world. But, trying to combat war does not help the world very much and can actually polarize people.

Once you say I am against something there will be someone who will stand up and say that they are for it. In that moment you have just created an opponent and you may have opened the door for someone who was not very vocal to become an activist against your desire for a peaceful. world!

You might say, "well then what is the use in standing against anything" and I would say, "don't be against anything, be for something"! Maybe, there is another way to approach the peace process that can really make a difference and reduce the need for war in the world. Peace is a result of being at peace with yourself, your family, your neighbor, your community and so on. We must first embrace the unhealed parts of ourselves that are unacknowledged and hidden from our awareness. The unhealed parts of me can become a projection onto those outside of me and make them our enemies. They become the scapegoat for our lack of inner harmony and wholeness that is being suppressed. I invite you to become an inner activist who watches your thoughts like a hawk so that you are not taken over by mental warring and strife.

This is how peace on earth begins with me, and you!

Peace,

James

The All Good!

2009-08-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

It has always been interesting to me to see how different people define what has been commonly referred to as God. The word God comes from the root word good which I believe is the true nature of this Divine Presence. By looking at the world we see that positive growth and expansion is the order of the natural world. The world appears to have a positive bent to it and life is ever evolving in so many ways. I understand where some people might have difficulty believing that there is an ultimate good because of the suffering or abuse that took place in their lives. They might view the world through the lens of suspicion or fearfulness which to them would make the world feel unsafe and a bit scary at times.

Now, if you take a couple deep breaths and relax your mind and body you may notice that there is a calm spot in the midst of you. If you let go of all thought for just a brief moment you will find there is something other than the thinking mind inside you. It is the essence of your being and it is the sense of aliveness itself. You are alive and you exist. (If you are reading this you can't deny that)

Whatever you think you are, you exist right here and right now. There are many activities that we can involve ourselves with while we are in existence.

Would you say breathing is a positive thing? Do you enjoy eating? Do you laugh at funny jokes? Do you like it when people around you are friendly to you? Have you ever watched a sunrise or sunset and been awe inspired? What am I getting at? All these things are positive and reveal a kind of goodness that expresses itself in the human being as an ability to choose a positive experience. Most people would rather experience pleasure over pain, obviously. In fact we go to great lengths to run from pain and avoid discomfort. Unless you have sadistic tendencies (which are not natural) you are most likely an individual that enjoys a life of goodness, good things and good people! Do you really prefer to have negative experiences, hurtful things and negative people around you?

I believe we can literally create our own hell or our own heaven right now, here on earth by what we choose to think, experience, feel and believe. I have also come to the conclusion that there is a positive and loving intelligence that is at the base of all life. This energy is not a gray haired man in the sky somewhere with a long white beard that looks like Charlton Heston, but is an all encompassing spiritual presence that expresses through all living things as existence itself.

I like to refer to this force as the All Good! In fact I look for it in everyone and in everything, everywhere I go. I constantly see glimpses of it in smiling babies, friendly people and quacking ducks that live in our lake. It is what shines through the sunlight during the day and is the very air I breathe. It is the the sweet juice in watermelon and oranges. It is the very ground we walk upon each day that supports us and holds us up. It is also the gravity that keeps me from flying off the planet.

The All Good is with you and me right now. Take a breath and discover it for yourself as the silent witness to all of life. Don't take my word for it. Experience it for yourself.

Why not?

You may say, "James what about evil and negativity that go on in the world, should we deny it?" No, but we should understand that what we define as negative is not the whole picture but only a piece or a part of life. Life is positive even though it contains what we define as negative elements in it. For instance, if you decide you want to bake a cake then you will need some sweet substances and some bitter substances. When you mix them all together you will have good tasting cake if you do it right. Without the bitter elements it would not be cake. All ingredients are needed in order to have a cake that is worth eating. In my reality cake is a good thing (when eaten in moderation)!

Life overall is positive when we understand the mechanics of it. By learning the proper mix of all the ingredients I believe we can have a good life that is worth living. It is the proper blending and processing of our experiences that can give us great wisdom and understanding. This is what creates a more exciting and fulfilling experience of life. The All Good is the spirit of life that keeps your heart pumping and the body activated. It is the Divine Mind that takes care of the big things, like making sure the Universe functions properly. It also feeds the birds and waters the plants according to its own plan which is working really well and keeps everything in balance! You and I have access to this greater intelligence through our desires, prayers and how we choose to perceive it. We are all generously given the gift of life to learn, grow and to fully experience it all. Even the so called negative parts have a purpose when seen from the All Good perspective...

Enjoy your slice...

James

Welcome!

2009-07-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog. I am happy to be able to share some of my thoughts with you through this medium. There is never enough time on a Sunday morning to talk about everything I would like to discuss so blogging is another way to share some more inspiration, opinions, and some information that you may enjoy.

Our spiritual community is a great place to find a loving environment to connect with like minded people who want a deeper, open minded and more relevant discussion about the spiritual life. I feel we are living at a time where lots of people have tried just about everything to find happiness and meaning in their lives. Because of this many folks are now ready for something that really works and is truly transformative.

The Unity teachings though simple, have the capacity to do just that. Unity is based on universal principles that are positive, practical and challenge us to discover our true nature. Because we start from the goodness of God and the good that already exists in people we make a quantam leap away from the guilt and shame that are espoused by some belief systems.

At the same time we respect the beliefs that others have while refusing to argue over our differences. I have learned to just let people be unless they are ready to look within and consider something more. If they don't ask with an open heart then trying to persuade them of your truth is unproductive. I would much rather spend my time focusing on the people who have that inner desire for Divine awareness and really want to grow.

2 great qualities that are are necessary are curiousity and humility. We must be curious enough to ask the questions and then have the humility to look at a variety of possible solutions and even then to simply be okay with not knowing. True knowledge comes to people who don't already have it figured out in their heads. If your head is already full of ideas it will be harder to catch the spirit of truth.

Jesus said, "when the spirit of truth comes it will guide you into all truth." Truth is a spiritual energy that is awakened within you when you are ready for it. You might ask, "how will I know when this happens?" When you are curious enough and quiet enough to go beyond your own mental preconceptions then you can finally hear the inner voice of spirit speaking up inside you.

You become familiar with it over time and sometimes through a little trial and error. Once you catch it then the true nature of reality begins to unfold and you have a front row seat. That is when you are truly enrolled in spiritual awakening 101 class. Everything in your life becomes a spiritual lesson and a pointer to the truth. In fact, God is suddenly everywhere and everything contains meaning. This leads to an ever evolving inner navigating system that seems to know exactly what you need when you need it.

As you learn to trust your inner guidance system then it gets really interesting.

Your picture of life becomes more holistic and more expanded and you now know and realize that there are NO accidents and you cannot miss what you really need to experience. It just shows up as "what is" and urges you to get the message that it holds for you!

More later...

James