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Recent events in our world suggest that we must attack, because we have been attacked. We must erect barriers, fences, barbed wired and call in the armed forces in a show of overwhelming force. Of course, some of this is required and necessary, but what we cannot overlook is how the recent happenings in the dream projection reveal the diabolical work of the ego. The ego relishes the drama and the intense emotions of fear, guilt, and blame that we now can see. The Holy Spirit gently reminds us to choose Again. Any form of an attack thought is a call for love. As miracle workers we are called to bring the light and forgiveness to all calls for love. My talk we expand upon these ideas that touch on all aspects of our perceptional lives gently reminding us to go within and forgive. 26 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Dear Miracle Workers,
In 2002 Catch Me If You Can, a film by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, was released. The movie was based on a real life con artist who was expert at outsmarting law enforcement. The ego is much like our protagonist in this movie. The ego seeks to constantly play the con game with us through a multitude of deceptions. These deceptions seem so real! We experience an argument in one of our relationships. We turn on the news and our sacred democratic institutions seem to be under assault. We experience people dying due to a once in a century pandemic. The ego/con is serving up the drama of deception. How do we know?
A Course in Miracles tells us "I must have decided wrongly, because I am not at peace." (OrEd.Tx.5.96) We can tell when we are upset, sad, anxious or any of the myriad ways of not being at peace. Jesus challenges us to out the con of this thought system by observing our reactions to all external stimuli! This is simple but not easy for most of us. We know on some level this is a con that we are perpetuating on ourselves, "The secret of salvation is but this: that you are doing this unto yourself." (OrEd.Tx.27.86) This is an amazing insight, but it's difficult to understand when we are in the middle of the ego con. What to do then?
Well, we ask for help in exposing the ego's cons. We ask Jesus for the miracle with great desire or as much desire as possible. As we do this more and more, we begin to see the cons faster and heal them more quickly. A Course in Miracles reminds us what Jesus would have us do, "He bids you bring each terrible effect to Him that you may look together on its foolish cause and laugh with Him a while." (OrEd.Tx.27.85) Join with Jesus by laughing at the con with him and you will experience the miracle and the love of God.
(originally published in Miracles Weekly #269, Jan. 14, 2021)
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This past week we were challenged by the image of sisters, brothers, and others, storming the USA Capital building in Washington, DC. Armed force had to be used to turn back the people. Violence erupted and some people appear to have died. One woman was apparently shot and killed inside the Capital building itself. Surely we all want to be a healing influence in this situation. The Song of Prayer says, "You first forgive, then pray, and you are healed." (So.3.IV.4.1) Forgiveness is always the first step - but I see that many have formed strong, special hate relationships that they are very invested in. People will challenge their special love relationships much easier than the special hate ones. I know we all want to be part of this healing, then it is time to do the unthinkable, forgive the unforgivable, and then start trusting the world. "The teachers of God have trust in the world, because they have learned it is not governed by the laws the world made up." (OrEd.Mn.4.3)
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Many people appear to be looking for ways to escape from the challenges of life - as if life itself was a problem. Life is a gift, an enormous treasure, and a big work responsibility. There is a quote usually attributed to Abraham Lincoln, although he probably never said it, "Folks are about as happy as they have made their minds up to be." How true. Let's make up our minds to be happy this new year. What I know is we will never be happy if we are not fulfilling our function given us by Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit doesn't give us the function of escaping physical life since physical life isn't a problem. Holy Spirit has big plans for us. He wants us to be leaders. "Let us together follow in this way that truth points out to us. And let us be the leaders of our many brothers who are seeking for the way but find it not." (WkBk.SpTp361.2) This is not escape. This is work responsibility accepted.
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I realize that there are many distortions associated with the celebration of Christmas which have been introduced over the past 2000 years. The holiday has been commercialized by becoming a secular and capitalist holiday. Another valid critique is how the true message of Jesus' teaching was lost by many folks who couldn't understand it and became afraid. His life and teachings became mythological and less spiritually authentic. My Christmas' message will be about how we can apply the essence of Jesus' teachings from A Course in Miracles and experience the Holy Instant. The Holy Instant provides us with the true meaning of Christmas which is being in a state of peace with all of our brothers and sisters. Please join me and my fellow brothers and sisters at this Sunday's gathering and experience the true meaning of Christmas.
While every ACIM student will probably agree that the Course is all about healing, there are vast differences on whether the Miracles student believes that we COULD – or even SHOULD – expect this healing to manifest physically in our bodies, or in the bodies of others. Various teachers have dug proverbial trenches into the ground about this discussion with dogmatic proclamations. Where a student stands on this issue has defined many things about them: favorite Course authors, favorite ACIM organizations, and even which Course edition they study.
While I definitely have my own opinions about this (you all probably know what they are) I recognize that our community is broad, and we ALL are ACIM students regardless. There is a place for all ACIM students, and all approaches, in the "big tent" that is the Community Miracles Center. The seven, long term, ACIM students who make up the CMC Board of Directors do not all agree on this – yet we all agree in our love of the Course and in our dedication to the Community Miracles Center.
I am the coach of the CMC Healing Team and we DO celebrate and acknowledge when healing manifests in physical form. "WooHoo!" However all healing is worth celebrating and the psychological healing from fear to peace is always worth achieving, and always worth celebrating as well. In this holiday season of 2020 let us put our theological differences aside and acknowledge that we are all Miracles students and with cooperation we can accomplish so much more. "My own injunction, 'Do this in remembrance of me' is the request for cooperation from miracle workers." (OrEd.Tx.3.10)
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #266, Dec. 16 2020)
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We are in the midst of the Jewish Festival of Lights - Chanukah. Sunday will be day 3 of the 8 day celebration. Chanukah is a wonderful holiday to mesh with the ACIM teaching. The story always relates the miracle of how after reclaiming the Temple the Temple's menorah lamp burned for 8 days even though there was only 1 days worth of fuel oil. Looking out at the world it can seem as if many peoples' - and perhaps our own - fuel oil is running low. The light can seem to be flickering. However our steady light can shine into the lamps of others and ignite their eternally burning flame illuminating and thus reclaiming their Temples. Hallelujah! "The power of one mind can shine into another, because all the lamps of God were lit by the same spark. It is everywhere, and it is eternal." (OrEd.Tx.9.91)
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #265, Dec. 9 2020)
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #265, Dec. 9 2020)
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Thanksgiving has always been a time to focus on gratitude, abundance, and joy. That begins a Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Holiday Season which also has a foundation in abundance and joy. This year (2020) we face challenges that we have not had before. Many usual abundant celebrations seem restricted, less, or fragmented ... that seems to speak of lack. Yet it is still the ACIM student's challenge to understand that perceptions of lack are "faulty" or broken. Abundance or wholeness is the only ground of being that is a reflection of eternal truth. "42. Wholeness is the perceptual content of miracles. It thus corrects or atones for the faulty perception of lack anywhere." (OrEd.Tx.1.61) Let's look at some practical ways to see wholeness and abundance in the midst of a holiday season challenging us with lack, loss, and fragmentation. Let's manifest abundance miracles instead.
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #264, Dec. 3 2020)
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A Course in Miracles teaches us many things including that we always have a decision to choose the miracle. This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving which is a holiday that reminds us of the virtue of gratitude. Aspiring to live by virtues brings us closer to the ultimate virtue of true love. My talk will be about how living a virtuous life can inspire us and propel us to a miraculous life! Please come and share your virtue!!
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I realized recently that my main job, while functioning in my role as miracle teacher and healer, was to keep students trusting in the process, to keep them engaged. Some students drop out of dedication to the ACIM discipline at the exact moment when they should actually be increasing their engagement time and practice dedication. Some form of fear gets the better of them (literally). However we all have to be "... willing to follow the Holy Spirit through seeming terror .... You are severely tempted to abandon Him at the outside ring of fear, but He would lead you safely through and far beyond." (OrEd.Tx.18.87) There is a ring of fear or fire at the foundation of the world illusion. As we approach our center we have to pass through it. Keep trusting both your own path and instill that trust in the people you influence.
Rev. Tony Ponticello
Rev. Peter Graham
Deb Canja
Rev. Joanie Schaeffer-Goss
Rev. Paula Carpe
Rev. Kim Wilson
