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Fear Week on YouTube

3/15/2012

Last night I noticed a post on Google+ from a person who was expressing her most horrific personal fears via a YouTube link. I won't identify that person, but when I watched her video I thought it was meant to be a joke. Her fear was so outlandish that I commented: "Yes, I understand. My greatest fear is walking along a sandy beach beneath swaying palm trees with the surf gently rushing to shore, then being hit and killed by a meteor."

As I scrolled down Google+ I saw more fear videos, one after another. Finally I realized that YouTube had set up some kind of "FEAR WEEK," encouraging people to post videos about their greatest fears. I listened to a few and found those people were serious about all kinds of things that suddenly didn't seem so funny. So I went back and deleted the joking comment I had made earlier.

Wow! All of those fears were real to the person who posted a video. It reminded me that A Course in Miracles teaches there is only the choice we can each make—choosing Love or fear. We choose between them in each moment. Because the ego and this world seem to be so real, we generally choose fear over Love.

The #1 Best Fear Video, of those I watched, is from a woman who feared what would happen if she gave up all fear. What a wonderful segue into the Course. I tried to post a comment but the site kept saying "Error, try again." Here's what I wanted to say to her:

Someone said that if you're looking for the Light, there's no point to digging around in the dark. Fear Week seems to be doing a lot of digging. Let's hope our fears can ultimately all be replaced with Love.

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Faith or Coincidence?

3/15/2012

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A few days ago I wrote "Learning About Faith." I found that having faith is a choice we make, just as so many things in the Course point out that it's up to us to choose between alternatives -- God and Love or ego and fear, for example. In my case I had to also choose between Faith and coincidence.

Here's what's happened...

In recent weeks I have enjoyed a freelance writing assignment that asks me to read and review over a dozen books, all with a scientific basis and spiritual overtones. These are not to be found among the raft of self-help books that clog up the retail bookseller shelves. These books address Compassion, Happiness, Mindful Loving and many similar topics in profound depth. They all have a great deal in common with what the Course teaches.

One might say, "Well, Allan, good for you. What a coincidence." But I've chosen to believe this assignment is part of what the Holy Spirit is setting up for me to help me grow toward living full-time in my Right Mind. I have Faith that is so. I simply cannot express in words the appreciation, and the feeling of being Loved that this assignment gives me. Not for its worldly benefits of making money, or even for the vast new learning I am enjoying from reading and reviewing these books. The appreciation I have is in giving Thanks to the Holy Spirit for guiding me in this way. For giving me so many new, insightful views into what the Course is teaching me. For answering my strident prayers to get help in finding my Right Mind.

I would never had known most of these dozen or so books but for this assignment. I would never have had the opportunity to see the fundamental teachings of the Course elucidated in so many different ways. Thank you Father for your help in leading me another step down the path toward You.

Chapter 21: REASON AND PERCEPTION, Section II. The Responsibility for Sight says that:

I am responsible for what I see.
I choose the feelings I experience, and I decide upon the goal I would achieve.
And everything that seems to happen to me I ask for, and receive as I have asked.

It is impossible the Son of God be merely driven by events outside of him. It is impossible that happenings that come to him were not his choice. His power of decision is the determiner of every situation in which he seems to find himself by chance or accident. No accident nor chance is possible within the universe as God created it, outside of which is nothing. Suffer, and you decided sin was your goal. Be happy, and you gave the power of decision to Him Who must decide for God for you. This is the little gift you offer to the Holy Spirit, and even this He gives to you to give yourself. For by this gift is given you the power to release your savior, that he may give salvation unto you.

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ACIM Resources to Share

3/14/2012

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Today I was doing some research on "happiness" in connection with a book review I have been asked to write. I came across this entry at Wikipedia after a journey of dozens of clicks. Quoting a few lines from that article (emphasis is mine):

A person who studies metaphysics is called a metaphysicist or a metaphysician. The metaphysician attempts to clarify the fundamental notions by which people understand the world, e.g., existence, objects and their properties, space and time, cause and effect, and possibility. A central branch of metaphysics is ontology, the investigation into the basic categories of being and how they relate to each other. Another central branch of metaphysics is cosmology, the study of the totality of all phenomena within the universe.

I had to laugh out loud for a moment when I read the definition of cosmology: study of the totality of all phenomena within the universe. Now that's a tall order that ought to keep egos busy until the end of life as we know it. It reminds me again that we are so totally tied up in our ego-based world of form that we believe we can find answers to fundamental questions by studying the universe. Presumably, according to this definition, cosmology would not stop studying the universe until it had teased apart every detail of life at the sub-microscopic level (viruses, bacteria, etc.) -- and at the quantum physics level -- yet still would not stop searching until the inner workings of black holes, formation of galaxies and even alternative universes proposed by string theory were all understood. Not satisfied with all of that, metaphysicians apparently also study possibilities. I think that alone would be enough to occupy all mankind for eternity!

The Good News

Lately though, it seems we've been focusing more and more attention on what is real, and that's good news for the planet.

I'm talking about the incredible reach ACIM has developed since its first printing in three volumes of 5,000 copies. Today people across the globe are spending their time learning about God, the Holy Spirit, Forgiveness and Love -- learning what is True and Real, while also beginning to realize that this world of form is nothing more than a playground for the ego-in-hiding from God. While I would not demean anyone for seeking answers about the physical universe and everything in it, nor attempt to correct it, I am very happy to see that ACIM is taking hold and spawning a whole new generation of people across the globe who seek better answers than our egos have been able to deliver.

Last night I listened to Kenneth Bok's interview with Efrat Sar-Shalom Hanegbi, the woman who made major contributions to the translation of ACIM into Hebrew. A few weeks ago Kenneth interviewed Chiao lin Cabanne who led the Course's translation into Chinese. ACIM is now available in 19 languages. It's available on-line and fully searchable, and even as an Android phone app. As an eBook, A Course in Miracles is Kindle- and Nook-ready, and will soon be available in the Google Books format.

MiracleShare.org is a Facebook-like gathering place for all students of the Course. Google+ also has attracted ACIM students from around the world. You can find many of them by searching for "A Course in Miracles" when you're logged into your Google+ account. Facebook, too, will reveal many ACIM resources.

So...with so many of us beginning to look within to find Love, Joy and God, I'd like to share the resources I've discovered that support and help me in my journey and learning "how to change my mind" instead of "trying to change the world." This list can never be complete but, for now, this is what I have. If anyone reading this has other good resources, I'd be truly grateful if you'd add them in the "comments" field that's part of this blog. Finally, I extend my apologies if I've missed posting your blog, your site or your favorite resources.

Foundation for Inner Peace The official ACIM portal
Foundation for A Course in Miracles Founded by Gloria and Kenneth Wapnick, perhaps the greatest Teachers of God on Earth. Subscribe to Ken's videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/FndtnACIM
Miracle Share "Miracle Share is a loving space where students of the Course can connect, grow, discuss the Course, and learn from one another.
"The Plain Language A Course in Miracles Mentor Liz Cronkhite has translated the Course into modern, plain English; provides an excellent newsletter each week, individual counseling and telephone study groups.
ACIM Mentor/4 Habits for Inner Peace Here you can listen to Liz's podcast about her book, or buy her book "Four Habits for Inner Peace."
ACIM Gather A gathering place for ACIM students that provides a Lesson Calendar and many audio recordings from ACIM teachers. Be sure to check out their "Links" page for many more links to ACIM resources.
Miracle Distribution Center "...a worldwide educational, networking and contact center for A Course in Miracles. We publish The Holy Encounter magazine and offer many other free services to help students of A Course in Miracles connect with others and integrate the Course's principles into their daily lives.
"Forays in Forgiveness Susan Dugan's blog and the site for interviews, classes, book reviews and many resources for ACIM students.
A Course in Miracles Explained Kenneth Bok's excellent site provides a list of "top 10" books for ACIM students, recordings of interviews, a YouTube channel and much more.
A Course in Miracles with Amy Torres Amy offers help in many aspects of ACIM, especially in her "Working the Workbook" -- a class that helps one stay on track with each daily Workbook assignment.

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