28 May
Jesus says, “And what I say to you I say to all: Stay Awake!” (Mark 13:37)
Generosity is the word that best describes multi-millionaire Oprah Winfrey. She is recognized globally as both a philanthropist as well as a great humanitarian. She has touched the lives of millions through her television program, magazine, satellite radio program, YouTube channel, and now more recently her online spiritual program. Yet in spite of her positive image she is currently under attack by many Christians for her recent web class that took a deep look at Eckhart Tole’s new book: A New Earth – Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. The audience for this unprecedented online global class of awakening zoomed to over 2 million people and many more will be exposed to this enlightening teaching in the summer class that is scheduled to begin this June. What is it about the New Earth webcast that has so many Christians upset?
Jesus says, “And what I say to you I say to all: Stay Awake!” (Mark 13:37) Jesus warns of false prophets that can mislead you and asks that you stay awake or remain vigilant in your faith. A commercial is circulating around the internet raising the concern that Oprah is a false prophet who is teaching new age doctrine that misleads and confuses Christians. It also raises the concern that Oprah has denied that Jesus is the only way to God. There is no question that Oprah believes that there are multiple ways of being in the world and acknowledges there are multiple religions, religious beliefs, and non-religious beliefs that all have the power to reveal the omniscient presence of God. Both Eckhart and Oprah are offering you an opportunity to expand your awareness into a greater consciousness, but does this more expanded perspective represent a false teaching or does it simply represent another opportunity to understand the infinite depth of what Jesus teaches? How can Oprah and this controversial new program help you deepen your understanding of the teaching of Jesus Christ?
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15 May
Jesus says, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”(Matthew 7:12)
The was a time long long ago when the entire world was connected as one giant land mass known as Pangea. Jehane Noujaim dreamed that the entire world would once again be united in a virtual land mass, which she called Pangea Day. Last November in the blog post entitled Transformation we all discussed her vision as well as her provocative movie Control Room, which earned her the Ted Prize and an opportunity to share her wish with the world. Jehane’s wish was there would be a day devoted to bringing the world together using the media of film, in the hopes that people around the world might begin to understand that regardless of our different cultures and religious beliefs we are all more alike than we are different. Last Saturday, May 10th 2008, her wish came true and her dream of Pangea Day became a reality. The films shown around the world reflect the full range of human emotion revealing the common glue that holds us all together in an invisible bond of love. (Please visit www.pangeaday.org to see this amazing array of movies). Karen Armstrong was a speaker at Pangea Day who also has a very big wish for the world. Karen is a world renown theologian who has studied in depth the common thread of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, and how faith shapes world history and is a force that drives current events. She has written over 20 books on the subject and perhaps even more interestingly, she was a nun for seven years before she left her convent to become the recognized author that she is today.
Jesus says, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”(Matthew 7:12) Karen’s wish is that people around the world, regardless of religious or non-religious beliefs, embrace what she calls the Charter of Compassion built on the principle of the Golden rule – do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In her extensive study she has discovered that at the core of every religion is the fundamental principle of the golden rule, but she also recognized that religion has been hijacked and used throughout the world as a platform for extremism, judgment, and violence. The pervasive idea is that Religion is about belief, but Karen recognized that the original meaning of belief was to love or hold dear not the generally accepted idea that belief means to adhere to a set of principles or doctrine. Karen asks, “If religion is not about believing, what is it about?” What is religion really about and how can this question provide you with an even deeper understanding of the teaching of Jesus?
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7 May
Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (John 8:51)
It is hard to imagine the destruction left in the wake of the cyclone that slammed into the coast of Burma several days ago. The death toll has climbed to an estimated 22,000 with over 41,000 people missing who are believed to be dead. The global community is in the process of mobilizing to send much needed food, supplies, and water, but conditions on the ground as well as the Burma military resistance to foreign aid has stymied efforts to get aid to the most devastated areas. The impact on the global food supply is unknown at this time, but it is anticipated that it will have severe impact on the global shortage of rice and other produce. It is easy to be overwhelmed by such heartbreaking news. The sudden death of someone you love is simply devastating and people throughout Burma are experiencing a profound heartbreak beyond all concept of heartbreak. Yet, in the midst of the unbelievable devastation, you are given a rare opportunity to see that which is eternal – eternal life.
Some Jewish men ask Jesus, “Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets who died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answers, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” To this they ask, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus replies, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:52-58) Everyone who is born into this world lives for a time and dies. Death is an uncomfortable subject that is often avoided, but meeting death has the power to awaken your consciousness to eternal life. What did Jesus mean when he says ‘before Abraham was, I am’? How can the heartbreak of this unfathomable devastation in Burma help you to understand the teaching of Jesus on an even deeper level?
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