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Most people recognize this oft repeated phrase as from The Lord’s Prayer. Many ACIM students want to separate earth and Heaven with a gulf so great it can never be bridged. Yet that famous phrase from The Lord’s Prayer is in ACIM too, and not just in a reference to the Bible or even the Lord’s Prayer directly. "The Holy Spirit is the way in which God's Will can be done on earth as it is in Heaven." (OrEd.Tx.5.26) Actually ACIM talks several times about the separation between earth and Heaven disappearing. "'Heaven and earth shall pass away' simply means that they will not continue to exist as separate states." (OrEd.Tx.1.34) "It is His holiness that lights up Heaven and that brings to earth the pure reflection of the light above, wherein are earth and Heaven joined as one." (OrEd.WkBk.182.4) Join Rev. Tony Sunday as he brings earth and Heaven closer together for all of us. 25 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Dear Miracle Workers,
As of Tuesday, July 20 we entered a section of the Workbook that said the minimum amount of quiet time after reading the lesson needs to be 15 minutes. It’s in the introduction to Review VI, "Besides the time you give morning and evening, which should not be less than 15 minutes …” (OrEd.WkBk.RvVI.1). I read that this morning and said, “Oh crap!” I have made a commitment this year to up my game and truly do the lessons to the best of my ability the way they are put forth. There is no reason why I could not give 15 minutes – so I did. It helped that I had a lesson partner keeping me accountable as well.
I have never been much of a meditator and was always glad that ACIM didn’t seem to have a focus on meditation. In fact – it seems to say it wasn’t necessary in a couple of places. "Nor is a lifetime of contemplation and long periods of meditation aimed at detachment from the body necessary." (OrEd.Tx.18.56) The rest of that passage talks about how tedious and time consuming these meditations could be. That was certainly my experience.
Still, I couldn’t get past today’s instruction and how clearly stated it was. I certainly don’t want to reinforce an idea that I do not have enough time by choosing to NOT do the 15 minutes asked. If my belief is that I do not have enough time then I will continue to manifest a life experience where I don’t have enough time. I’ve done enough of that in my life and I am willing to let it go. I do have enough time. I have an abundance of time. How are you all doing with your lesson practice?
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #296, Jul. 20 2021)
Dear Miracle Workers,
As a boy growing up in New Jersey, we would often travel to the shore for vacations. On some of these visits we would see large flats boats that would be in the inlets of bays, or in the ocean itself. They had a large vacuum that went down to the water’s bottom, and you could see tons of sand being deposited into the well of these boats. They were dredge boats. This was done to deepen the harbor and also to provide sand for the ever-diminishing beaches. I've realized that some miracles are like this.
I am not talking here about our run of the mill type miracles we may need for: traffic, the grocery line, or an annoying co-worker. I know ACIM states, "There is no order of difficulty in miracles. One is not ‘harder’ or ‘bigger’ than another." (FIP:1:I:1-2 ) While this is true, my lived experience is that sometimes we experience persons, situations or events that require us to do a deep dive into our minds to dredge for the miracle: the loss of loved one, partner, relationship, job, or a major health crises. Recently, I have encountered allegations made against me at work based on a colleagues attempt to infer my motivation related to a conflict there. After a long period of struggle, a deep dredge, I am seeing the miracle for myself. The light at the end of the tunnel approaches but I must still forgive this person.
"But the dark journey is not the way of God's son. Walk in light and do not see the dark companions, for they are not fit companions for the Son of God, who was created of light and in light." (FIP:11:III:4:5-6) By doing the work of forgiveness we can get down in the muck of our minds and dredge for the miracle.
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #293, Jun. 30 2021)
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I hear many ACIM students arguing for their limitations. They are quick to say how they are not “there” yet. (Never quite sure where “there” is since we are all always here and now.) Healing and salvation keep getting put off into an imagined future. In short, the students lack confidence because they don’t see that they have mastered miracle working yet. "Confidence cannot develop fully until mastery has been accomplished." (OrEd.Tx.2.104) These students keep waiting for outer manifestations, and they don’t find them – or not enough of them. Since the inner is the cause for the outer, healing manifestations and mastery have to begin at the level of cause – the mind. The mind is the kingdom we rule, so let’s start ruling! Let’s decry that we will start collecting and focusing on all the perceptions which show us our mastery of miracles, and not collect and focus on perceptions which reinforce a separate and weak ego self. "... however much I seem to be impelled by outside happenings. I choose to see what I would look upon, and this I see and only this.” (OrEd.WkBk.335.1) We can choose to see our mastery of miracles and thus we can be confident. 24 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Dear Miracle Workers,
A common belief among most New Thought practitioners is that the essential key to health maintenance is affirmative prayer. This is believed to be the most direct way of manifesting the desired outcome. Denial prayer, on the other hand, (for some) is not considered an essential step in the process. Emma Curtis Hopkins, the founder of New Thought, taught her students the importance of denying the truth of the belief - accepted by the human mind - which gave rise to whatever untoward condition presented itself in the body. It is the denial of whatever thought caused the condition to manifest in form.
A Course in Miracles speaks of this in the teaching "Healing as Release from Fear": "The sole responsibility of the miracle worker is to accept the Atonement for himself. This means that he recognizes that mind is the only creative level and that its errors are healed by the Atonement. Once he accepts this, his mind can only heal. By denying his mind any destructive potential and reinstating its purely constructive powers, he has placed himself in a position where he can undo the level confusion of others. The message he then gives to others is the truth that their minds are similarly constructive and that their miscreations cannot hurt them. By affirming this, the miracle worker releases the mind from over-evaluating its own learning device (the body) and restores the mind to its true position as the learner." (OrEd.Tx.2.65)
As a professional practitioner, I use proven spiritual practices such as Affirmative Denial prayer to correct misbeliefs, manifest miracles and heal. Most important of all I’m open and receptive to hear God’s Divine Guidance.
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #295, Jul. 13 2021)
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I (Rev.Tony) have been an ACIM student since 1980, and an extremely dedicated one since 1981. Many people talk about how they threw the book in the trash, or against the wall … but I never had those experiences. Once I accepted the Course as my spiritual path in 1981 I never rejected it or moved away from it. That is not to say that I didn’t have “bad” or fearful times. I DID!! But I never gave up the Course when those were happening. I used the Course to help me through them. "You will need [the Workbook lesson ideas] most in situations which appear to be upsetting, rather than in those which already seem to be calm and quiet." (OrEd.WkBk.Rv1.4) I stayed the Course – and that has made all the difference. 22 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Dear Miracle Workers,
A difficult challenge of being a miracle worker is the lack of support one gets for thinking differently. The world can deal harshly with the innocent, guiltless, free thinking miracle workers, “… for is it not a well-known fact the world deals harshly with defenseless innocence?" (OrEd.Tx.31.46)
Often times the world does not support the guidance one receives. Sometimes the guidance is in direct opposition to what touted world authorities are advising. This can thrust miracle workers into conflict, opposition, and even embarrassment. "... what he hears [from Holy Spirit] may indeed be quite startling. It may also seem to be quite irrelevant to the presented problem as he perceives it, and may, in fact, confront him with a situation that appears to be very embarrassing." (OrEd.Mn.21.5) I find students read this teaching without truly taking it in. What is says is that guidance from the Holy Spirit might seem startling, irrelevant, and embarrassing! People who like to simplify ACIM with platitudes like “The guidance from the Holy Spirit will always feel peaceful” tend to dismiss this teaching from the Manual believing that it must have been meant for someone else – not them.
ACIM tells us that guidance from Holy Spirit may actually lead us to terror. "Yet God can bring you there if you are willing to follow the Holy Spirit through seeming terror, trusting Him not to abandon you and leave you there." (OrEd.Tx.18.87) “Seeming terror” certainly isn’t peaceful so to say Holy Spirit’s Voice can be discerned by the peace it gives you is misleading. Learning to distinguish the Holy Spirit’s Voice from the ego is an on-going challenge. Our traditional Christian friends call this “discernment.” If we are going to deal with the challenges of being a miracle worker then discernment will be our greatest achievement.
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #294, Jul. 6 2021)
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There are situations in our lives when the miracles seem to come to us easily and without much effort. Other times the pain and suffering that we experience takes a long time to process and the miracle can seem to take forever. At these times, we will be asked to have faith and be patient. The faith we need to have is in the eternal and not the ephemeral. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. 26 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Dear Miracle Workers,
I shared these thoughts with my Healing Team this morning and I’ve received the guidance that they deserve a large audience. I want to talk about sparrows and eagles. ACIM has two references to sparrows and eagles that are books apart – literally. One is in the Text and the other is in the Manual. However, they both illuminate the same teaching
In the Text we have this, "Ask not the sparrow how the eagle soars, for those with little wings have not accepted for themselves the power to share with you." (OrEd.Tx.20.31) This is an actual metaphor!! No one really believes that anyone is going up to birds and asking them for flying instruction (lol). Don't ask sparrows, those who fly low to the ground and in short bursts, how the eagle soars so high in the sky in long extended glides. The sparrow doesn't know. The sparrow will not be able to give you any important information about this.
What’s the practical application? Don't ask healing advice from those who have not manifested any healing. They don't know! The second sparrow / eagle teaching in the Manual says, "Who would attempt to fly with the tiny wings of a sparrow when the mighty power of an eagle has been given him?" (OrEd.Mn.4.4) Okay, so why be content with low to the ground short spurts of flying when you can ("Thank you" The Steve Miller Band) "Fly Like an Eagle?" (We need to sing that song at the Sunday Gathering!)
Healing is flying like an eagle. Accepting sickness and death as inevitable is flying like a sparrow. Really – is there truly any choice here?
"I want to fly like an eagle -
To the sea -
Fly like an eagle -
Let my spirit carry me."
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #292, Jun. 24 2021)
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For as long as I can remember there has been a discussion in the ACIM Community about how much, if any, we should involve the appearance of the body in our healing practice. For some any mention of the body, or any worldly form at all, brings up a “knee jerk” response about how ACIM isn’t being understood if the body or these forms enter in the discussion at all. Still we are left with many, many passages which actually do talk about body healing and to interpret all of these as literary metaphor doesn’t seem right either. Then there are passages like this too, "The happy dream about him (our brother) takes the form of the appearance of his perfect health, his perfect freedom from all forms of lack, and safety from disaster of all kinds." (OrEd.Tx.30.90) Manifesting the happy dream about our brothers, sisters, and others sure seems to mean that their bodies and the forms of their lives will appear to be healthy and abundant. If you complete the previous quotation the appearance of health and its association with a miracles is even more pronounced. "The miracle is proof he is not bound by loss or suffering in any form because it can so easily be changed." (OrEd.Tx.30.90) Are we denying miracles by moving our focus too far away from form? 31 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Dear Miracle Workers
Always wanted to be special to momma. Wanted to make her smile. Wanted her to like my friends, my interests in life. I wanted her to fawn over me and lush, on and on, about how much she loves every little thing about me. Uhhh????? Duhhhh???? I’d say somebody who wants all that specialness from another has an itsy-bitsy problem with wanting to be extra special!
A Course of Love (ACOL) states, “All the maladies of the current time as well as those of history would give way to love without the interference of all that would make special.” (ACOL.C.15.1) ALL maladies are kept around because I want to be special to momma and to make her special to me?
It wasn’t just a special love affair with me and momma. There was a special hate affair, too. She was my reason for anything going wrong in my life. A Course in Miracles (ACIM) tells us, “Be not afraid to look upon the special hate relationship, for freedom lies in looking at it.” (OrEd.Tx.16.30) Life remained miserable with striving to keep up the barrier to love I wallowed in. I looked at this hate and found freedom therein.
I have joy today. ACIM states, “Your task is not to seek for love but merely to seek and find all of the barriers within yourself which you have built against it.”(OrEd.Tx.16.35) I found a barrier against love within this special love and special hate relationship. I look at the hate and make no attempt to hide it. The barrier is down. Today I feel a connection with momma that is beyond words and explanation. The connection feels honest, humble, and satisfying. I am feeling love. Now, why was I brow-beating my own momma with a special hate relationship???
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #290, Jun. 8 2021)
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In the Workbook we are taught that miracles are like water that falls from Heaven transforming the dry and dusty world into a lush world of green vibrant life. "Now the world is green. And everywhere the signs of life spring up to show that what is born can never die, for what has life has immortality." (OrEd.WkBk.SpTp341.5) Signs of life are springing up in my home city of San Francisco too. Today I received a public service announcement saying that next Tuesday June 15 most of the pandemic restrictions on masks and social distancing will finally be lifted in San Francisco. "WooHoo!!" I am acknowledging this as miracle rain from Heaven bringing new life, energy, and abundance to the struggling hotel and restaurant business which employs so many. Maybe it’s finally time for the new Roaring 20’s! 25 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE
Dear Miracle Workers,
There is a popular Psalm passage that reads, “This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps.118.24) Psalms is a book in the Old Testament. The psalms are not merely spiritual poems. They are the lyrics to ancient Jewish songs that were sung at sacred religious rites. They date between the 9th and 5th centuries BC. They have been around a long time. Now, in the 21st century AD, the musical background has been lost but the words remain in the Biblical book of Psalms.
ACIM would not teach that the Lord, or God, made time. Saying that the Lord made the day is not absolutely ACIM consistent. However the Course also teaches that the Holy Spirit has a better use for everything the ego made, which includes time – so in spirit the lyric above from Psalm 118 is still a great thing to align with. Plus it gives a bridge to connect ACIM students with our more traditional Christian friends.
This is the day that the Holy Spirit will use us to heal and to bring joy and celebration to all our sisters, brothers, and others. ACIM encourages us to meet every day in a pure energy of rejoicing and celebration. "Why are you not rejoicing? You are free of pain and sickness, misery and loss, and all effects of hatred and attack. No more is pain your friend and guilt your god, and you should welcome the effects of love." (OrEd.Tx.29.12) In order to truly rejoice as the Psalm passage tells us to do, we must also embrace the guarantee of healing that ACIM gives us. I have done that. Is this the day that you will also? Healing is that effect of Divine love in this world.
(originally appeared in Miracles Weekly #290, Jun. 8 2021)
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Sunday we will celebrate my physical birthday. Monday will be June 7 and the day that I (Rev. Tony) celebrate my birthday. It’s the date on my birth certificate! Have a piece of birthday cake ready (really) and we’ll all eat one together after the Gathering. A couple of years ago I stopped counting the years. I am an eternal, infinite creation of Spirit. At our wonderful live, virtual event last weekend I still heard some of our speakers talk about the inevitable debilitating aging and death process. I heard, "As I get older I find I can’t do what I used to be able to do anymore.” I heard, “Every body dies.” I reject these “mad" beliefs. I will not be “mad / crazy” this birthday. "Is it not madness to think of life as being born, aging, losing vitality, and dying in the end?" (OrEd.Mn.27.1) These are thoughts and thoughts can be changed. I like to say, “Every day I am getting younger, better looking and richer!” Get that piece of cake and join me. 26 min. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE