Heroes: A Tribute to John Lewis and Elijah Cummings, by Olivia Kinzler

It's a valuable and important practice to study the people who we admire, the people who are doing the kind of good in the world we want to be aligned with, and to try to make choices in the way they do, or to act in they way they do, until it becomes normal for us to do the same.

Here’s an example of how to use our heroes, let’s call them role models, to guide us. And I invite you to do this with me now.

Ask yourself…who are my heroes? Or if you prefer, ask yourself, who inspires you, or has inspired you. Who have I been moved by to live more authentically?

Then think of something you’re facing in your life and

And then ask yourself, how would these people respond?

To see this week's tribute to John Lewis and Elijah Cummings, by Olivia Kinzler, click here.

Continue Reading...

A Bigger Universe, A Greater God – Dr. Chris Michaels

Our message today is brought to us by someone who has been one of our favorite speakers.  Since he moved to the east coast, we haven’t seen him as much as we would like.  Thanks to the miracle of the internet, we can present again Dr. Chris Michaels.

For those of you who have not met Dr. Chris yet, he  is a national speaker and author. He founded the Center for Spiritual Living in Kansas City, Missouri in 1990 and has served as Spiritual Director for over twenty years. As an educator and counselor, he has helped thousands of people understand the basic spiritual principles that govern our lives. With over two decades of study into the spiritual nature of life, Dr. Chris is a leading authority on the new spirituality movement. He is the author of Your Soul’s Assignment and his new book, The Power of You, available at bookstores nationwide or on amazon.com.

Along with speaking engagements at conferences, churches, and special events nationwide, Dr. Chris was a guest on Martha Stewart Living heard on SIRIUS satellite radio. His weekly radio show, "Healing Your Life" With Dr. Chris Michaels, is offered via podcast at www.itunes.com. In 2013 over 105,000 people downloaded his spiritual lessons from 95 different countries around the world. View his website at chrismichaels.net.

Dr. Chris’s topic is,  A Bigger Universe, A Greater God

To view this week's message on YouTube, click here.

Continue Reading...

Prayer as a Pathway to Peace

Today's message is brought to us from Kingston, Jamaica, by Rev. John Scott. The Temple Of Light Church of Religious Science is primarily a teaching Institution, teaching people about themselves, their relationship to God, to their fellowmen and to the Universe in which they live.

The teaching is called “Science of Mind” and is basically the practice in this century, of what Jesus taught in the first century. Jesus taught Healing. Science of Mind is the practice of Healing of Mind, Body, and Affairs.

To see today's video on YouTube, click here.

From Rev. Scott's website:

“Science of Mind deals with Universal Principles which apply to all people, at all times, in all places.” It presents definite, specific ideas that may be used and demonstrated by anyone. This practical philosophy has helped all those who have practiced its principles, to live healthy, peaceful, successful, and happier lives.

As stated by the founder of Religious Science, Dr. Ernest Holmes,”There is a Power for good in the Universe greater than we are. It is available to us all and we can use it “Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured”

Continue Reading...

You Have a Spiritual Remote Control, Please Use It

James Trapp is an inspirational speaker and strategic advisor to individuals and organizations on enlightened leadership.

He is currently the Senior Minister of Worship at Spiritual Life Center in Sacramento, California. James is also President of Star Human Capital, a consulting firm dedicated to applying universal spiritual principles to inspire and instruct others to create their best lives and strategically improve their organizations.

To see this week's video on YouTube, click here.

He is former CEO of Unity Worldwide Ministries, the international association for Unity communities dedicated to creating positive paths for spiritual living. James is an active participant in cultivating a global community and fostering mutual understanding and respect amongst religious traditions of the world and has participated in the Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Barcelona, Spain, and Melbourne, Australia.

He also served as senior minister at Unity on the Bay in Miami, Florida—a dynamic and diverse spiritual community in South Florida.

As a speaker and new thought leader, he shares his message of respect and appreciation of and harmony with others in the global community. He has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences, meetings, and events.

In addition to being an ordained Unity minister, James has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Princeton University and a JD Degree from the University of Florida. He studied at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, where he enhanced his proficiency for practicing and teaching Mindfulness Meditation.

He is the author of Take Back Your Future: How to Get Unstuck and Create the Life You Want, Love, and Deserve.

He is inspired by his son, Jaelan Mandela Trapp, who is currently a Junior at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Continue Reading...

What is Prayer? with Dr. Edward Viljoen

In my opinion, it’s an important subject to add to the conversation that is taking place around the world about social and racial equity, inclusion, and justice.

To me. It’s appropriate to talk about, or restart, or depend our prayer practice right now, when many of us are sheltering in place. While we are sheltered in place, one of the things we can contribute is our prayer work. This is not the time for less spiritual practice, but for more.

I think of it like this, for those of us who can, we ought to be speaking our word of prayer, for those who are in the front lines, who are in vulnerable populations, who must work and are exposed to danger, and those who would love to work, but cannot, and those whose family and finances are impacted by the pandemic, and those who are not able to pay their rent this month, and those whose are shelterless, and for those who are working for much needed social change, and for those who are frightened,

The list is long... There is enough need, enough requests, enough opportunities for us to be in prayer 24/7/365 –

Indeed – the Bible says we ought to pray without ceasing, and that was before the internet and social media, before the massive information overload that has become part of our reality.

Someone one said “I don’t know what to pray about.”

The teacher answered, read the news – then you’ll know.
This month, we are talking about prayer.


To view this video on YouTube, click here.

Blessings,

Edward Viljoen


Photo by Ester Marie Doysabas on Unsplash


 

Continue Reading...

A Conversation About Race Sunday, June 28, 2020 Virtual Service

This Sunday's message is a conversation about race between professional prayer practitioner, Lawrence Edwards, and Dr. Edward Viljoen.  If you'd like to see the video on YouTube, click this link.

Music Attribution Virtual Sunday Service June 28, 2020

Opening Song
Amen Alleluia by Gary Lynn Floyd
www.garylynnfloyd.com
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/vocal/bass

Song Into Prayer
I Rest by Linda Webb-Khakaba
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/vocal

Pretalk Song
Be the Light by Emily Lois
www.emilyloisband.net
Emily Lois – guitar/voca

Offering Song
I Don’t Need to Know by Daniel Nahmod
www.danielnahmod.com
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/vocal

Closing Song
I Am So Blessed by Rickie Byars
www.rickiebyars.org
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/vocal

Continue Reading...

June 21, 2020 Virtual Service Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

Hello. My name is Edward Viljoen. I am a white American born and raised in South Africa, a country where racism was institutionalized in an unjust system of apartheid. I have seen what systemic racism does to a people and a nation. It rips us apart! That is why I join my voice to the chorus being heard around the world. BLACK LIVES MATTER! And not only do they matter, they are sacred.

Centers for Spiritual Living has a vision of a world that works for everyone. The purpose of a vision is to inspire us to move beyond the way things are. Right now, we have the opportunity to embrace an important and compelling conversation about moving beyond the way things are, the end of racism in our world. So, I stand with all spiritual, religious and secular groups that are working toward racial equality.

And I affirm again, BLACK LIVES MATTER. They are sacred and holy.

Today's virtual services includes a video tribute to father's in our community.  Happy Fathers Day.

Continue Reading...

What does it mean to have the color skin that you have?

Our recommended book for June is Radical Acceptance, and our focus for June is “I clearly see the path to waking up!”

When we selected this theme a year ago, we did not know how appropriate it would be to what is happening in our nation. A tremendous waking up is happening. 

All over the world people of different cultures, races, genders, and nationalities, are waking up to a sensitive and intense conversation about race. In today's message I explore the questions, what does it mean to be white, and what does it mean to be heterosexual.


My blessings to you,

Edward Viljoen

 

Opening Song
A New Beginning by Linda Webb-Khakaba
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocals
Antonio Aversano – percussion


Song Into Prayer
Safe Passage by Claire Victor
Claire Victor, Linda Conner – vocals
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocal


Pretalk Song
Lean Into Me by Stefan Mitchell and Jonathan Kingham
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocals
Antonio Aversano – shaker/cajon


Offering Song
Who by Jan Garratt & JD Martin
Jan Garratt & JD Martin – performers


Lean Into Me by Stefan Mitchell and JoNathan Kingham
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocals
Antonio Aversano – shaker/cajon


Closing Song
Let There Be Peace On Earth by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller
Christopher Fritzsche – guitar/bass/vocal





Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash

Continue Reading...