Challenging The Grace to Believe

Posted on March 25, 2023 by mike

hand in hand

I have been on this journey of grace long enough to have deconstructed all of my previous indoctrinations and form a belief founded on genuine divine encounters with serious meditation and contemplation. As much as I dislike making that claim due to the pompous nature it portrays, I know of no other manner presently to introduce the material which follows.

In the previous posting where I spoke about the grace to believe I indicated that having beliefs of any sort are neither right or wrong but merely evolving as we enter into our high calling. Recognizing that all beliefs are inherently weak because we create them to enable us to navigate through the struggles of life grace fills in the places we can’t anticipate or refuse to consider vital.

I am often pressed about what I do believe. This is a difficult position to be place in each time it arises simply because I recognize how those who are asking are seriously searching for answers to the questions in their lives which their current belief patterns can’t resolve. It is also challenging because anything I offer has been processed in my life through the events in my life and may not directly apply to them at this time. So typically, I just offer snippets which are designed to provoke thought and permit them to continue the process of inquiry with me as they so desire keeping in mind the old adage, “A teacher will appear when needed.”

What follows are snippets to my beliefs. I assure you that you will be challenged by what at first glance may be called heretical teachings. This does not bother me in the least. Heretic simply means a person who doesn’t espouse or follow the approved narrative. If this doesn’t describe Jesus, then why shouldn’t I receive the same level of honor. Buckle up. It’s about to get real.

1. The Omni God

Start with the beginning. Who is God? God is Love. Everything flows from this and this alone. Grace is the power of this love. When you declare how God is omnipotent, all-powerful, you are expressing the wonder and magnitude of His grace. When you declare God to be omnipresent, all-present, you cast down the vain thoughts of how God is up there, out there away from your daily activities and trials. And when you declare God to be omniscient, all-knowing, you accept how God being with you daily knows everything about what you face, and because of His love, deeply desires to help you. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” is absolute truth. Meditate on this until your knower can’t argue anymore.

2. The Habitation of God

God inhabits all of His creation. It is His word which brought it forth and it is His word which sustains it and keeps it. There is not one thing visible or invisible which is not a creation of His word. Accept that you are also a component of His creation. Wherever the word resides, the Creator abides. There has NEVER been a moment in the entire scope and passage of creation where the Creator, The Ground of All Being has not dwelt therein. The same yesterday, today and forevermore.

3. Oneness

As Jesus is one with the Father, so are you. You don’t suddenly become one with the Father by some confession. You have always been one. If you can’t fathom this possibility, see item 2.

4. Christ is not Jesus’s last name

Jesus is first and foremost a man. He was conceived, born, lived and died as a mortal. He experienced all the trials, tribulations, joys and pleasures open to mankind. He is no different from you and me. He ate and drank, had to relieve himself afterwards, and then went to bed only to arise and begin it all over again. The Christ is the revealed power from God which resides within. The Christ expresses the will of the Father for humanity. You are every much the Christ as Jesus is.

5. Jesus did not come to be a sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus stated quite clearly that he did not come to abolish the Law but to complete it. When He proclaimed at the cross that it was finished, the Law was completed in Him. The Law clearly states that the sacrifice for sins is made through a goat on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a yearly ritual conducted by the high priest in the fall. Jesus was crucified and died on the eve of the Passover; a yearly spring festival described in the Law. As the Lamb of God, Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial requirement specified in the Law. As the Passover sacrifice Jesus came to give us life and that life more abundantly just as the lamb had for the Hebrew children on the last night in the land of Egypt.

6. The second coming of Christ is you.

Many believe that Jesus will return one day. If they mean the man, this is highly circumspect. If they mean The Christ, He has been returning at every birth upon this planet. Regrettably, the majority of people on this planet cannot fathom this. The Jews were expecting a warrior king for their messiah when Jesus arrived. Today the religious world is looking for the same thing. Since He never changes why do we think he will come as something different from what he has already displayed? We grapple with the Holy Spirit coming upon all humanity while believing in a warrior god of our own imagination. It’s time to go within to our Self to see anew what it means to be You.

7. The Ten Commandments have been taught wrong

Jesus proclaimed a kingdom of God principle which many overlook. He stated that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. The first words given to Moses which established the corpus of The Law in Jewish history are a directive toward humanity to right the misfortunes cast upon humanity by Adam and the woman. The transgression of the woman stemmed from her desire. The result for following her desire was the expulsion of both her and Adam from the garden. When the Ten Words are read in reverse order, they fully explain the journey which occurs when inordinate desires are followed. The remaining 603 laws are simply an extension of the ten when viewed in this manner.

8. Eternal Torment is a projection of an inflated ego.

If you think that you or someone you know will spend the entire span of eternity being tormented because of some transgression which occurred, then you have control issues! Are your parents still beating you because you spilled milk as a child? If they are then they have control issues too! What about “God is Love” and “the same yesterday, today and forevermore” that you do not understand?

9. But the bible says…

Reading and writing is a luxury which the people of the bible longed for. What is commonplace for us today was a great rarity during the time of Jesus and Paul. Jesus would say, “You have heard it said…but I tell you…” simply because the people couldn’t read let alone even write. The greatest mystery of Jesus today is what he wrote in the dirt with the woman caught in adultery. The writer of this incident didn’t reveal it probably because he couldn’t read it and subsequently couldn’t convey it to the scribe who wrote the story he told it to. If you are compelled to accept only a literal interpretation of the bible, you are setting yourself up for trouble. Grace, here more than anywhere else in life, is what you have to employ to define what your actions will be as declared in this book.

10. The Enemy is your projection not something from God.

Jesus said that we are to love our enemy. God loves our enemy just as much as us. God doesn’t have enemies. God does have a satan which looks like you and me, but He never made the satan or the devil. If you want to dispute this with the story of a fallen angel, then read the book of Enoch where the story originally came from. If you still feel compelled to stick with this because of a revelation someone said they had then you need to look at their projection and ask where they a copying it from to take credit for it. The simplest way to refute this is simple to ask, “Does God see them as an enemy?”

11. All religion today is simply a rehash of someone else’s thoughts trying to understand the mystery of God in their life.

Welcome to the journey. They didn’t have the answer then just as you don’t today. Handle their revelation lightly as you cling tightly to what the Father unveils to you. There is freedom in the kingdom of God to allow you to explore the goodness it offers. When you feel constrained and limited in your walk it simply means that you’re following the traditions of man. Turn back within and rely on Self to move you back onto the path of your high calling.

This list is not exhaustive by any stretch. I’m fairly certain many of you will be challenged by what I have conveyed. The last thing I am asking you is to believe what I have expressed. These are beliefs I have because of the life I have experienced. They are not carved in stone but are composed on a heart which relishes the Presence of what I Am is offering. Grace wafts throughout undergirding them with the Love of The Ground of All Being. Since God is no respecter of person you have the same luxury to explore your beliefs as I do. You have nothing to lose except your shackles and prison clothes.

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Let me level with you.

Posted on July 7, 2017 by mike

We don’t see eye to eye. We’re not even on the same page.

Does that frighten you? Are you fearful that by reading this you’re getting into something you hadn’t bargained for? Have you decided to back off just for the sake of being sure nothing will cause you any harm?

Or do you feel intimidated? Is there something that you lack and are afraid to admit it? Or do you feel vindicated now that I’ve finally admitted how there is a difference between us? Or do you feel relieved now that you don’t have to continue with the charade?

Let me level with you. We’re all on different levels or at various stages. Equality just ain’t happening, now or any time soon.

Your worldview might be at, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” while mine is at, “In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God and the word was God…” Your worldview might be, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…” while mine is, “…the kingdom of God is within you…”

On the surface, it might appear that we’re speaking the same thing, yet you know we aren’t. It is this knowing which is producing in you one of two emotions: envy or contempt. You either want to be like me, or wish that I would hurry up and be like you. Yeah, sure, you’ll continue to love me, but it’s such an ordeal at times. More often than not, the ordeal, not the love, takes the decisive, primary role of considering how we’ll deal with each other.

Wisdom, or the lack thereof, makes one haughty, prideful, egotistical, maniacal in-your-face-fist-pumping-I-told-you-so rude. So, the choice is to not pursue wisdom or hide behind the façade of humility while patiently waiting for the line to catch up with you knowing they have no intention of even moving in your direction.

Development in any discipline requires sacrifice. Your commitment of time to master the discipline is the obvious sacrifice. The hidden sacrifice is the loss of community or station. We each orbit in a sphere of like-mindedness, a body of fellowship which adheres to similar beliefs and viewpoints.

A new discipline, a new thought, a new paradigm acts like an asteroid impact to the communal body; shattering long held alignments and fracturing tectonic plates of similarity causing enormously wild gyrations in emotions and responses. Sometimes fragments fall away from the impact left to navigate their own gravitational orbit; other fragments often just fall apart, scattered about on the celestial winds, wispy dust particles from a bygone era.

Grace is a cosmic force greater than an asteroid, more powerful than any black hole. It shatters everything it touches, realigns all chaotic structures and propels hearts at breakneck speed towards the all-consuming vastness of unrequited love. When grace grabs wisdom by the jugular and transfers it’s egoic pulse with the harmony of a universal commitment to the highest union, the trappings of superiority, the last vestiges of one-upmanship dissipate into the ether of the one-man-ship.

My plateau may very well be your peak. It is, plateau or peak, however, our journey, not a destination. While the vista might appeal to a part of us, it will change only when we decide to move on. Movement is neither forward or backward in a journey, it is merely momentum towards the destination. Wisdom is neither forward or backward, it is merely the path. Grace is the illumination of the path on the journey along many levels, over many peaks, across vast chasms of uncertainty and perilous heights of doubt. We’re all on the same path, we’re not all on the same level.

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Purpose

Posted on January 3, 2017 by mike

Many of you who meander through here might just be wondering what is the purpose of all of this. Me too. That probably wasn’t the response that you were looking for; not a real confidence builder, right? I mean let’s face it, time is limited and you can’t spend all day looking at information that doesn’t have some meaning behind it or will be able to enrich your life in some manner. I know I can’t. Yet, somehow, purpose is only found in what you’re looking for – not what you’re looking at.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no special literary genius or someone who has the pulse of the masses, able to sway their thoughts and opinions on matters of relevance. No, I’m just like you in many ways but not in many others. Let me give you some history of how a normal guy became someone looking for something specific.

In the spring of 1994 the life of my family turned upside down, inside out, stretched butt first through a knot hole, or any other metaphor that can possibly describe the effect of sh*t hitting the fan. My youngest daughter was born paralyzed from the neck down, unable to breath or move on her own. We spent the first six months of her life in the hospital, trying to determine the reason and stabilize her to bring her home.

Doctors, being the natural pessimistic sort who seem at times more concerned about protecting their practice than make a flippant boast which could be seen as a promise, told us that in cases like this (a funny expression now, since they had never seen anything like this) the patient doesn’t typically live past the age of two. The lungs are more susceptible to pneumonia, limbs become dis-jointed because of their weight and need to be amputated which can lead to infections… yada, yada. The grim reaper was definitely outclassed by these heralds of doom and gloom on that day.

Well, fast forward to today. Like training a puppy not to pee in the house, we have had occasion to rub the doctor’s smell center in the crap that spewed from their pie hole that day. We did it with dignity though – they after all are on the same journey we all are. None of the things they prophesied came to pass and our daughter, while still in the same medical condition lives at home with us and we, along with a cadre of nurses and health care aficionados, keep her living and moving through the life of a vibrant young woman with the same hopes and dreams just like any other woman of her age.

In the course of living this life and its demands we did what everyone else has done at one time or another: We cried out for purpose, meaning, help, answers, relief, peace, and life. We sought God.

Situations like ours truly make you aware that there is not a damn thing you can do…ever. We looked for the one thing that only one person could provide: A miracle. You don’t have to have a belief in God to believe in miracles – just look at our political arena to understand this. Our world was in chaos and only a word filled with hope could transform it to its intended design. We developed faith, fostered it, nurtured it, always under the hope of a miracle coming any moment.

We latched onto anyone and anything that supported our view for the miraculous. Suddenly, we were surrounded by people seeking their own miracle, each of us flailing in the sea of chaos trying to keep our head… (drowning is not an apt metaphor here because sanity is more desirable than trying to breath). We all pitched shrines to miracles we never saw but heard about all in the name of stirring our faith, as if our faith ever was in danger of burning in the pot of unreconciled despair. Our belief in a miracle working God took us far and wide, into relationships and out of relationship all in order to grab our intended hope. Yet…

Grace came. No, we arrived at grace. Wearied, battered by prolonged unfulfilled hope, we reached the shores to the last vestiges of a lost realm. No one truly knew what it looked like – still don’t – but it began a process of clearing the debris of thoughts, deep, almost hidden thoughts that were never to be spoken in mixed company or in family gatherings. We began to breath with ease an air distinct yet familiar, until …It sucker punched us!

Structures began to wobble and relationships, once thought to be everlasting, became one of the “this (fill in the blank) is the last thing I’ll ever believe…” kind of ships that pass in the dark soul of the night, ever vigilant for icebergs or cold shoulders. Suddenly, vast communities spawned by the hot inflation of the dogma and doctrine of mankind were pricked by the pierced message of a supernatural love that a kind man extended to all through a last shuddering breath. All, and also nothing, in the same moment. Faith and hope; life and death. Purpose, where purpose shouldn’t be – no it can’t be found, today even as then.

This is the journey I’m on. I know not the destination since apparently, I have already arrived. However, I keep traveling, looking at the sights with new lenses which often appear to be kaleidoscopic in nature. I find myself these days sometimes waxing poetics more than waxing the car; and seem to be immersed in the maps of others who have taken this same journey trying to recognize the ancient landmarks along a “civilized” contour.

Consider this the journal of my path towards a hope I still intend to possess, yet now, without the intentionality of a purpose devoid of process. After all, isn’t your purpose a process … a process of discovery.

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Biblical Echoes of Inner Qualities: Walking in Light, Passion, and Darkness

Posted on November 25, 2025 by mike

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As Christians, we often turn to Scripture for guidance on living a life that honors God, but ancient wisdom from other traditions can sometimes illuminate biblical truths in fresh ways. Imagine explaining the “three gunas”—qualities of nature from an Eastern text like the Bhagavad Gita—to someone rooted solely in the Bible. These aren’t foreign ideas; they mirror biblical principles of purity (light), restless ambition (passion), and laziness or ignorance (darkness). In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul describes the fruits of the Spirit as love, joy, and self-control—pure qualities leading to godly living. Contrast this with the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, like strife and envy, which stir up unrest, or Ephesians 5:11’s call to expose deeds of darkness. By relating these gunas to Bible teachings, we see how our inner qualities shape faith, daily habits, and acts of service, all under God’s grace that renews our minds (Romans 12:2).

Mapping Inner Qualities to Biblical Living

The first quality, purity or goodness (sattva), aligns with walking in the light as in 1 John 1:7, where fellowship with God brings clarity and peace. Think of it as the gentle fruits of the Spirit guiding choices—like eating wholesome food that nourishes the body as a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), or worshiping with a sincere heart, free from showiness (Matthew 6:5-6). Passion or activity (rajas) echoes zeal without wisdom, like the Pharisees’ outward righteousness in Matthew 23:23-24, driven by ambition but missing mercy—perhaps overworking without Sabbath rest (Exodus 20:8-10) or giving to gain praise (Matthew 6:2). Finally, ignorance or inertia (tamas) reflects the sluggard’s laziness in Proverbs 6:6-11, or spiritual blindness from hardened hearts (Ephesians 4:18), leading to harmful habits like neglecting prayer or hoarding instead of generous giving (Luke 12:15-21).

Applying These Qualities to Faith and Daily Choices

Scripture urges us to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5), much like discerning these qualities in our faith practices. Pure faith seeks God quietly, like Mary’s contemplative heart (Luke 10:38-42); passionate faith might chase signs without depth (John 6:26-27); dark faith ignores God’s call, like the foolish virgins unprepared (Matthew 25:1-13). In food, choose what builds up, avoiding gluttony (Proverbs 23:20-21); in discipline, pursue self-control through grace (Titus 2:11-12); in charity, give cheerfully without strings (2 Corinthians 9:7). Grace, as God’s empowering love, helps shift from darkness to light, transforming ignorance into wisdom without condemnation [see Sin as Ignorance: Redefining Tradition’s Labels].

Grace as the Transforming Force

Ultimately, these qualities remind us that growth comes through Christ’s renewal, not striving—echoing Romans 8:6’s mind set on the Spirit bringing life and peace. By meditating on Scripture, we cultivate purity, aligning with God’s universal love beyond cultural bounds [see God’s Universal Revelation: No Exclusive Claims].

Fruits of Eternal Light

 

 

Reference Books

The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault

The Gospel of Inclusion by Bishop Carlton Pearson

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Worship Without Walls: Grace in Exchange-Free Living

Posted on November 24, 2025 by mike

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True worship transcends rituals, embracing oneness beyond reciprocity. Synthesizing grace as non-exchange and a song critiquing dogma, we find liberation in eternal unity. Fresh insight highlights communion through meditation, where life becomes worship, free from leadership egos.

Analyzing the Core Messages

“No One To Give and Take” views grace beyond economies, eliminating “other” in oneness. “Living God’s Dream” shares a song embracing new truths over dogma. Together, they advocate worship as abundant living, dissolving separations.

Synthesizing Oneness and Authentic Worship

Grace reveals eternal soul-identity, turning actions into worship without exchanges [see Every Thought and Action: An Act of Worship]. Meditation fosters this, communing anywhere [see Communion Beyond Church Walls: Personal Paths to the Divine]. Fresh insight: blend mythic archetypes with psychological depths for ego dissolution.

Fresh Insights: Liberation in Daily Sacredness

This promotes viewing death as transition, reducing fear through understanding [Death is simply a transition for our soul to return back to the home we have in God]. Universal revelations enhance this, honoring all paths in grace’s flow [see God’s Universal Revelation: No Exclusive Claims].

Worship Unbound

Reference Books

Maps of Meaning by Jordan Peterson
I See Satan Fall Like Lightning by Rene Girard
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

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Levels of Grace: From Judgment to Unity

Posted on November 23, 2025 by mike

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Worldviews evolve through grace’s realignment, contrasting skewed justice with restorative forgiveness. Synthesizing insights on understanding levels, “Killer Grace” as flawed reprieve, and Kingdom Grace’s wholeness, we see a progression toward oneness. Fresh insight adds that grace transcends levels by revealing universal revelations, where no culture monopolizes truth, fostering empathy beyond ego hierarchies.

Analyzing the Core Messages

“Let me level with you.” discusses differing worldviews and developmental stages, where grace shatters egos for union. “Killer Grace – No Not Awesome” critiques justice protecting the guilty, teasing true grace. “A World of Grace” contrasts this with Kingdom forgiveness and restoration. Collectively, they emphasize grace’s evolution from punitive to inclusive, dissolving superiority.

Synthesizing Judgment and Forgiveness in Grace’s Flow

Grace navigates levels by transforming judgment into compassion, as in the prodigal’s return without exchange [There was no economy of exchange made through Jesus’s death on the cross]. Meditation aids this, communing beyond churches for personal revelation [see Communion Beyond Church Walls: Personal Paths to the Divine]. Fresh insight: integrate Eastern karma with Western mercy, viewing “sin” as ignorance, not enemy-making [God did not create the devil or satan, but humanity did].

Fresh Insights: Universal Empathy in Spiritual Growth

This synthesis promotes radical optimism, where diverse revelations bridge divides, reducing miracle dependency through understanding [see God’s Universal Revelation: No Exclusive Claims]. Ego hierarchies fade, revealing shared sonship and worship in all actions [see Sons of God: Jesus and I in Shared Divinity].

Grace’s Higher Calling

Reference Books

The Gospel of Inclusion by Bishop Carlton Pearson
The Bhagavad Gita by Stephen Mitchell

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Discovering Purpose Through Inner Identity

Posted on November 22, 2025 by mike

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In the midst of life’s trials and questions, purpose and identity intertwine as gateways to grace’s transformative power. Synthesizing reflections on seeking meaning amid crisis and probing our true self beyond roles, we uncover a path where grace reveals our eternal essence, guiding us from weariness to awakened oneness. This blend invites us to embrace the journey as revelation, adding fresh insight that purpose isn’t a destination but a fractal unfolding of divine light within, free from dogmatic exchanges.

Analyzing the Core Messages

The post “Purpose” explores a personal crisis leading to exhaustion in faith pursuits, where grace emerges as the clearing force for true discovery, emphasizing process over fixed goals. Complementing this, “Who Am I?” delves into identity as the eternal soul-fractal of God, challenging ego labels and affirming oneness with the Divine. Together, they highlight grace’s role in shifting from external seeking to internal realization, dissolving illusions of separation.

Synthesizing Purpose and Identity in Grace

Grace acts as the bridge, illuminating purpose through soul-identity awareness. In crises, like family hardships, we learn that true purpose lies in communing with God via meditation, where the kingdom within reveals our Christ-nature [see Communing with God: The Power of Meditation in This Life]. Fresh insight from beliefs: since there’s no sacrificial economy on the cross, purpose becomes living in present oneness, not earning salvation—ignorance gives way to light, turning daily acts into worship [see Every Thought and Action: An Act of Worship].

Fresh Insights: Fractal Unfolding in Daily Life

Building on this, view purpose as a cyclical dance of revelation, where meditation decreases expectancy on miracles, fostering radical optimism [Greater levels of understanding through meditation decrease our expectancy on divine miracles]. This synthesis encourages blending Eastern union with Western grace, empowering compassionate living without enemies, just ignorant children awakening together [God has no enemies, just ignorant children].

Purpose Unveiled

Reference Books

The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhans Yogananda

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Sin as Ignorance: Redefining Tradition’s Labels

Posted on November 21, 2025 by mike

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What tradition labels as sin, I view as ignorance of our true Christ identity. This reframes flaws not as moral failings but as unawareness, where grace enlightens rather than condemns. It shifts spirituality from judgment to compassion, aligning with mystical reinterpretations that emphasize growth over punishment. My journey through critical texts has illuminated this, moving beyond literalism to a grace-centered understanding.

Challenging Conventional Definitions of Sin

Sin isn’t inherent evil but a veil of ignorance obscuring our divine nature. Traditional views often impose guilt, but grace reveals it as temporary, without need for atonement economies [There was no economy of exchange made through Jesus’s death on the cross]. This belief draws from Gnostic and Eastern perspectives, seeing errors as learning opportunities.

The Path to Overcoming Ignorance Through Awareness

Meditation and self-inquiry dissolve this veil, awakening the Christ within [see Perfect – Just Ignorant]. Grace facilitates gently, transforming patterns without shame [The grace of God is not a blindfold for a transgression committed, but a power to display His love for our ignorant actions]. Daily practices like reflection build this awareness, fostering inner peace.

Cultivating Compassion and Healing Communities

This redefinition promotes empathetic societies, where understanding replaces condemnation, echoing God’s enemy-less love [God has no enemies, just ignorant children]. It leads to holistic healing, grounded in unity.

Reference Books

Falling Upwards by Richard Rohr
Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault

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Awakening to Grace: Dispelling Illusions Through Inner Light

Posted on November 20, 2025 by mike

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In reflecting on the journey of spiritual awakening, I’ve drawn from profound realizations that challenge traditional dogmas and invite a deeper communion with the Divine. Grace emerges not as a transactional force but as the illuminating power of God’s love, revealing our inherent oneness and dispelling the shadows of ego-driven illusions. By synthesizing insights on redefining beliefs, returning home through meditation, and rejecting concepts like the “dark night of the soul,” we uncover a path where inner light triumphs, fostering unity and transcendent peace amid life’s complexities.

Challenging Illusions and Embracing Oneness

Traditional views often portray grace as a cover for sin or a sacrificial exchange, but true grace awakens us to our fractal soul essence, where God resides eternally within [see Challenging The Grace to Believe]. This counters notions of separation or enemies, affirming that all are ignorant children of the Divine, with no devil but human projections. Meditation becomes the key to this revelation, dissolving ego veils that mimic darkness—illusions like the “dark night” that stem from mind battles, not soul truth [see The Dark Night of The…]. By turning inward, we realize the Christ within, shared equally as in Jesus, blending Eastern yoga’s union with Western mysticism for a holistic awakening.

The Practice of Meditation as Homecoming

Meditation isn’t mere relaxation; it’s a sacred return to our divine home, where grace flows unbound, attuning us to the light that banishes illusory shadows [see Meditation: Coming Home to Grace]. Practical steps—finding stillness, releasing thoughts, and listening for the whisper—echo perennial wisdom, reducing reliance on miracles while amplifying inner realization. This synthesis invites us to question inherited doctrines, viewing “sin” as ignorance of our eternal oneness, and grace as the gentle power that enlightens without judgment. In daily life, this manifests as mindful acts, transforming routines into worship and fostering compassion across cultural revelations.

Fresh Insights: Synthesis for Deeper Unity

Building on these, fresh insight reveals grace as the bridge for East-West synthesis, where Yogananda’s teachings on Jesus’ silent years in India align with Rohr’s universal Christ, promoting radical optimism amid deconstruction. This not only dispels ego illusions but empowers a cyclical dance of revelation, where personal growth mirrors humanity’s collective awakening, free from exclusive claims.

Light of Eternal Grace

Reference Books

The Yoga of Jesus by Paramhans Yogananda
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhans Yogananda

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God’s Universal Revelation: No Exclusive Claims

Posted on November 19, 2025 by mike

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I hold firmly that God has revealed Himself throughout humanity across all ages, with no single culture or tradition claiming exclusivity. This belief opens the door to grace’s boundless inclusivity, celebrating diverse spiritual expressions as interconnected threads in a grand, unified narrative. It challenges dogmatic monopolies, encouraging a synthesis of global wisdom that enriches our understanding of the Divine. My eclectic explorations have shown this to be a path of unity, where grace bridges divides and reveals shared truths beyond cultural boundaries.

The Breadth of Divine Revelation Across Time and Cultures

God’s presence echoes universally, from ancient scriptures to contemporary insights, without favoritism toward any group. This counters exclusive claims, affirming that revelations in myths, philosophies, and sacred texts all point to the same eternal light. Grace acts as the unifying force, weaving these diverse strands into a cohesive whole, much like the oneness emphasized in Eastern and Western traditions alike.

Integrating Global Spiritual Paths for Deeper Insight

To embrace this, explore varied teachings—such as the Bhagavad Gita’s wisdom alongside Gospel narratives—allowing grace to highlight common themes of love and transcendence. Meditation facilitates this integration, fostering empathy and dissolving barriers of separation. It’s a journey that promotes humility, recognizing that no one path holds all answers, but together they illuminate the Divine’s all-encompassing nature [see Communing with God: The Power of Meditation in This Life].

Fostering Unity and Empathy Through Inclusive Faith

This perspective builds bridges in a divided world, cultivating global compassion and peace. By honoring all revelations, grace guides us toward a spirituality of inclusion, where personal growth aligns with collective harmony and radical acceptance.

Revelations Unbound

Reference Books

The Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley
Thou Art That by Joseph Campbell
Paths to God – Living the Bhagavad Gita by Ram Dass
The Gospel of Inclusion by Bishop Carlton Pearson

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Communion Beyond Church Walls: Personal Paths to the Divine

Posted on November 18, 2025 by mike

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My conviction is that communion with God need not be confined to church gatherings; it thrives in personal, solitary moments anywhere. This liberates grace from institutional structures, honoring individual journeys over collective norms. It challenges ego-centric leadership models, promoting authentic encounters that reflect diverse spiritual expressions. Through my explorations, this belief has brought freedom, emphasizing heart-centered connection over formalized rituals.

Challenging Institutional Boundaries

Church often prioritizes group dynamics, but true communion is internal, accessible in nature, home, or silence. Grace flows unbound here, unmediated by hierarchies that feed egos rather than souls [The leadership paradigm of the local church has more to do with feeding the ego of the leaders]. This view aligns with perennial wisdom, seeing God in all.

Exploring Personal and Everyday Communion Practices

Try meditative walks or journaling prayers—these become sacred without walls. Grace nurtures this intimacy, revealing divine presence in mundane settings [see Communing with God: The Power of Meditation in This Life]. It encourages blending traditions, like Eastern contemplation with Western insights, for a holistic path.

The Freedom and Inclusivity of Solitary Paths

This approach deepens authenticity, fostering empathy and reducing judgment. Beliefs of others aren’t yardsticks; grace guides personal revelation, creating inclusive spirituality that honors all as vital to the Divine [The beliefs of other people are not my yardstick to my relationship with God].

Reference Books

What the Mystics Know by Richard Rohr
The Perennial Tradition by Norman D. Livergood
The Science of Religion by Paramhans Yogananda

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Communing with God: The Power of Meditation in This Life

Posted on November 17, 2025 by mike

hand in hand
I firmly believe I can commune with God in this life through meditation, accessing divine presence without awaiting death or miracles. This practice opens floodgates of grace, fostering direct union and transcending traditional dependencies. It aligns with mystical paths that emphasize inner revelation over external rituals, transforming spirituality into an accessible, everyday reality. My journey through various authors has shown meditation as a bridge to oneness, reducing reliance on healings while deepening awareness.

The Foundations of Meditation as Communion

Meditation is attunement to the Divine within, a still point where God’s voice emerges. It’s not escapism but engagement, drawing from Eastern yoga and Western contemplation to reveal grace’s power . This belief counters views of God as distant, affirming His immanence in all [God has never been up there, out there, but always down here, in ALL].

Practical Techniques for Daily Communion

Start with breath focus: Inhale peace, exhale distractions. Visualize light enveloping you, inviting grace to dissolve ego illusions [see The Dark Night of The…]. Consistency—10-20 minutes daily—builds this connection, leading to profound insights and emotional resilience. Grace gently guides, turning sessions into sacred dialogues that inform life decisions.

Transformative Effects on Spiritual and Personal Growth

This communion shifts paradigms, viewing challenges as growth opportunities and fostering compassion. It echoes the kingdom within, where greater understanding diminishes expectancy on miracles [Greater levels of understanding through meditation decrease our expectancy on divine miracles].

Reference Books

The Wisdom Way of Knowing by Cynthia Bourgeault
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhans Yogananda
Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza

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Every Thought and Action: An Act of Worship

Posted on November 16, 2025 by mike

hand in hand
Central to my spiritual beliefs is the idea that all our actions and thoughts serve as worship to the Creator. This perspective elevates the everyday into the realm of the sacred, where grace infuses even the simplest moments with divine purpose. It moves worship beyond formal rituals, transforming life itself into a continuous offering of love and presence. Drawing from a blend of mystical insights, this belief has brought me immense freedom, allowing me to see the divine in the ordinary without the constraints of traditional structures.

Redefining Worship in Everyday Life

Worship isn’t just about Sunday services or scripted prayers; it’s the ongoing conversation between our inner world and the Divine. Every thought, from fleeting inspirations to deep reflections, becomes a form of praise when viewed through the lens of grace. This counters the separation often imposed by religious traditions, emphasizing instead a holistic union where actions like cooking a meal or solving a problem mirror the Creator’s creativity. Grace acts as the transformative force here, turning moments of ignorance or distraction into opportunities for redirection and deeper awareness [see Perfect – Just Ignorant].

Integrating Sacred Awareness into Daily Routines

Practically, this means cultivating mindfulness in all activities—whether crafting wood pieces that echo natural beauty or engaging in thoughtful conversations . By infusing intent, grace sustains this practice, helping dissolve ego-driven barriers and fostering a sense of joy and purpose. It’s a radical shift toward optimism, where life becomes an altar of continuous worship, free from the need for external validation . Meditation plays a key role, attuning us to this inner rhythm and allowing grace to reveal the sacred in the mundane [see The Soul’s Fractal Essence: A Mirror of Divine Light].

The Liberating Impact of Grace-Filled Worship

Embracing this belief liberates us from compartmentalized spirituality, promoting a unified existence where every aspect contributes to God’s grand symphony. It encourages compassion, unity, and a deeper appreciation for the divine dance of life, leading to profound personal and communal peace.

Whispers of Worship

Reference Books

Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr
The Yoga of Jesus by Paramhans Yogananda
The Soul of a Tree by George Nakashima
Radical Optimism by Beatrice Bruteau

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