text:
Wetland losses and their progressive conversion to open water around producing oil and gas fields in the Gulf Coast region have been attributed to a variety of natural and anthropogenic processes. Three large, mature hydrocarbon fields in coastal southeast Texas were examined to evaluate competing hypotheses of wetland losses and to characterize subaerial and submerged surfaces near reactivated faults and zones of subsidence. Topographic and bathymetric profiles at the Port Neches, Clam Lake, and Caplen Fields and shallow cores at the Port Neches and Caplen Fields provide a basis for distinguishing between (1) extensive land-surface subsidence without significant subaqueous erosion, and (2) localized minor subsidence near faults accompanied by extensive subaqueous erosion. Subaqueous erosion results from submergence of wetlands, current and wave excavation of surface sediments and organic detritus, and exportation of the eroded sediments through adjacent water bodies with swift currents such as navigation channels.
Geologic settings and responses to induced subsidence and fault reactivation are different at each field site. Detailed stratigraphic correlations of sediment cores show that at Port Neches, subsidence of 35 to 90 cm and minor marsh erosion (20 to 35 cm) created more than 15 million m3 of accommodation space in a nearly circular pattern over the field. At Caplen the marsh surface subsided only about 4 cm, but the surface eroded 30 to 40 cm vertically, creating about 3.5 million m3 of accommodation space. The breakup of wetlands and their conversion to open water appears to be in an initial stage at the Clam Lake Field. At Clam Lake, minor subsidence along a fault is submerging the marsh plants that will weaken and eventually die either as a result of water logging or salt-water intrusion.
The different surficial responses and wetland losses at each field are also related to the primary type and rate of hydrocarbon production. The greatest land-surface subsidence occurred at the Port Neches Field where a large volume of gas was produced rapidly. At the Caplen Field, both oil and gas were produced in significant quantities and there was a period of accelerated gas production. The wetland loss, which coincided with the rapid production phase, was controlled by fault reactivation and subsequent marsh erosion. Oil was the primary hydrocarbon produced at the Clam Lake Field where a reactivated fault is responsible for the observed wetland loss. Results from this study show that although the absolute magnitude of induced subsidence may be less than 1 m, even a minor reduction in land elevation is sufficient to initiate marsh degradation that quickly results in major wetland losses.


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BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - The following is a commentary blog from FOX6 Sports Director Rick Karle:
Maybe it's because I'm in the midst of seeing my son learning to drive. Maybe it's because, like the Lutzenkirchens, I am the father of a son who has a younger sister. Maybe it's because as I get older, I know those in my life become more precious. Maybe it's all of the above.
I was preparing to write a blog today about how fleeting life can be, but Abby Lutzenkirchen has done it for me. Her open letter to family, friends and fans only days after losing her brother, Abby, a soccer player at the University of Alabama, has offered up what I can only describe as a one-of-a-kind tribute to Philip.
I hope you take time to give us your thoughts and feedback on the MyFoxAL Facebook page, and feel free to share Abby's letter with others. Have a safe holiday weekend!
Copyright 2014 WBRC. All rights reserved.
The following is an open letter from Abby Lutzenkirchen:
To everyone and anyone who knew my brother:
You always hear and see other people suffering from the death of a family member, but you never think it would happen to you. But, now at age 20, I am having to watch my closest loved ones mourn the death of my beautiful brother and my family's pride and joy.
No one ever gives you a handbook to guide you through the process of grieving and I have been experiencing that firsthand within the past few days. It is easy to be angry, to get mad and yell. It is easy to cry your eyes out and collapse to the floor. And it is especially easy to question everything that God has done in this life that we live. And while I am feeling all of these emotions, the easiest thing for me to do is to let anyone and everyone who knew, or has been touched by my brother:
Philip and I had a very special relationship being that I was his only little sister. He actually had me as "Baby Sister Abigail" in his phone. Philip was my hero: my knight in shining armor. He was iron man to me, and I made sure that everyone around me knew that I worshiped the ground that he walked on. What made our bond stronger within the past few years is the decision of me to play soccer at Alabama while he was still playing at Auburn. He never lets me forget that I chose to be a "Bammer" but made sure that he was ALWAYS my No. 1 fan, whether he was at my game or not.
However, Philip always said that I was the most athletic in the family -- which his friends would all affirm is a true statement (I promise I'm not making this up). Philip will never know how much that meant to me when he said that. But, it wasn't Philip's athletic accolades that made me look up to him: it was his smile. My brother's smile could light up a room. It was his charisma, his love for our dogs, his big bear hugs, and his playful way of picking on me. It was his unconditional love for his family. It was the little notes he would leave for me in my room whenever he came home. It was the way I could always count on him to watch a Disney movie with me. It was the way he danced with us in the car, and his silly Snapchats of him singing my favorite Usher songs.
Philip was like the typical over-protective big brother, scaring every (and any) boy that I even attempted to bring around my family. But, what Philip never knew was that I always looked for someone with the same qualities as him, and I will always continue to do that throughout the next stage in my life. There was no one better than that big lug of a brother I had. We never had a dull moment together. When Philip was around, our family never stopped laughing and we always felt so loved because Philip made sure he went above and beyond for us. Philip would have made the perfect husband, dad, and uncle -- and it pains my family that we will never get to experience the rest of our lives with one of our absolute favorite people. I am forever grateful for being born into this amazing family and by having someone as amazing as Philip to look up to.
Philip was larger than life and seeing how this community had reached out to us in his passing has just reassured my family that Philip was a true and genuine man. He loved his friends like family, and they have become family to us. We hope that this family bond we have created with you all will never go away. I am blessed to know that even though my big brother is gone, I still have big brothers all around me through his friends.
Philip let God shine through every single move he made whether it was scoring touchdowns, walking on campus, attending FCA, or his frequent tweeting brigades that thousands of people saw. I cannot express the love he had for every single Auburn fan he met, and for all the amazing people who helped him along the way. Philip always told me that "football was what he did, but it wasn't who he was." If I can be half of the person and Christian that my brother was, I know that I will live a life that he would be proud of.
I know this letter isn't much, and I haven't even written a smidge of the things that I want to say about Philip, but I just wanted to thank each and every single person who has reached out to our family in these past days. We are going to need the prayers and support from you all now more than ever. We are so incredibly touched by the stories we have heard about Philip, and are humbled by the impact Philip has made on so many of you all's lives.
War Eagle. Forever 43. Forever my big brother.

subset: commoncrawl


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Shopping Spree Raises Money for Senior Center
The Quesnel Lions Club in British Columbia, Canada was looking for ways to raise money for a senior center, after a poll indicated that senior housing was most needed in the community. The Lions decided to hold a raffle, with two winners receiving a three- or five-minute shopping spree at the local grocery store.
Watch the video above to learn more about the project.
What are some of the needs of your community? How do your community service projects address those needs?


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Pacific Regency Hotel Suites, Kuala Lumpur
Pacific Regency Hotel Suites,
a 5 star hotel located at Jalan Punchak, Off Jalan P.Ramlee.
With central location, spacious rooms (bigger than most KL hotels) and large windows with the views of the KL Tower,
the Pacific Regency is a favorite among foreign travelers.
Here are a list of what they provide in the hotel :
Complimentary usage of Wireless Broadband in all rooms
Laundry and dry-cleaning services
Self-service Launderette
Baby-sitting facility (prior reservation required)
Fully equipped Fitness Center
24-hours security and reception services
Telephone lines with IDD facilities
Business Center with Broadband Internet Access
Function / Meeting room facilities
Fine Thai Restaurant
Complimentary reserved car park lots
Mini Mart
Hair Saloon
Rooftop Swimming Pool
Trip Advisor winner for year 2012!
Click here to read more on the reviews.
Did I mention it is really close to Suria KLCC?
Its a 15 minute walk to Suria KLCC if you don't feel like taking a taxi.
For all your shoppers out there, this is your next hotel to book!
Meitzeu and I did some quick shopping and also a quick snap of us
before heading back to the hotel.
Here's what they provide for the room :
24-hour Room Service
Broadband Internet connectivity
DVD player
Full-size refrigerator
Iron and ironing board
Kitchenette with crockery and cutlery
Electronic personal safe
Laundry and dry cleaning service
Lounge Area with Sofa
Marble counter tops/vanities
Separate shower stall & bathtub
Tea/Coffee Making Facilities
TV with 11 Satellite and 6 local Channels
Two dual-line phones with IDD and voicemail
Everything you need is right in this huge closet.
There's one place which really caught my attention which is Cristallo, a fine-dining restaurant which is at Level 34.
Hidden behind a mirrored glass sliding door and I seriously thought it was just an empty space.
Hidden behind a mirrored glass sliding door and I seriously thought it was just an empty space.
Operating hours :
Weekdays : 12.00pm to 3.00pm
Sunday - Thursday : 6.00pm to 1.00am.
Friday, Saturday and Eve of Public Holiday : 6.00pm to 3.00am.
Dine in and enjoy the view of the sunset and also the beautiful view of the town at night.
If you feel like having something different, you can check out Soi23 Fine Thai Restaurant which is on Level 23.
They have a variety of food choices in their menu.
They have a variety of food choices in their menu.
Operating hours :
7.00am - 11.00pm daily.
One thing I must say is that The Briyani Set was simply UH-MAY-ZING!
Its worth every single cent spent for this meal.
Its worth every single cent spent for this meal.
Vietnamese style Mango and Salmon Wrap
(Meitzeu had this and it was really good!)
(This deserves another award from me)
Pineapple Fried Rice
(The most tastiest Cheesecake I have ever had)
(The most tastiest Cheesecake I have ever had)
(Its a little like Meringue topped with Fresh Cream and Fruits and Mango Syrup)
(Its a little like Meringue topped with Fresh Cream and Fruits and Mango Syrup)
We met up with Paniz Amani, the Marketing Communications Executive
who is in charge of showing us around. Really friendly and down-to-earth lady!
Paniz brought us up to the rooftop to check out their swimming pool and also the famous Luna Chill Out Bar.
Who wouldn't like to chill on the rooftop with an amazing view of the sky and the moon?
Operating Hours :
Monday - Thursday : 11.00am to 1.00am.
Friday, Saturday and Eve of Public Holidays : 11.00am to 3.00am.
Sunday and Public Holidays : 11.00am to 1.00am.
Night view of the pool and bar
What a view!
The best thing about waking up in a 5 star hotel is having their breakfast.
I am a morning person so I always look forward to breakfast.
Hash Brown and some Baked Beans with a cup of nice coffee.
A photo of myself before heading out!
*Click for better view*
Here's a list of how you can get to the hotel :
Not forgetting,
public transportation nearby the hotel is the Bukit Nanas Monorail (750 m) which is only 10 minutes walk.
*Click for better view*
*Click for better view*
For more photos , click here!
(Photo credits to Meitzeu)
(Info credits to Jom Jalan & Meitzeu)
Overall, I must say I am very happy with our stay with PRHS.
Awesome hospitality and very friendly staffs as well.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Pacific Regency Hotel for providing us a great place to stay!
We had such a great stay with you guys. Definitely will be back again for more in the future!
We had such a great stay with you guys. Definitely will be back again for more in the future!
Address :
Pacific Regency Hotel Suites Reservation
KH Tower, Jalan Punchak, +603 2332 7740
Off Jalan P.Ramlee, +603 2031 7318
50250 Kuala Lumpur,
Tel: +603 2332 7777
Fax: +603 2031 2492
E-mail: email@example.com
Website : http://www.pacific-regency.com/
Reservation :
+603 2332 7740
+603 2031 7318
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Reservation Hours :
Monday - Friday : 8.00am till 7.00pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday : 9.00am till 5.00pm
After Hours Tel : 603-2332 7777


text:
When it comes to design, I have a constant need to switch things up all the time. The current design of Baby D's room is very simple-white walls with bright blue aquarium and animal prints from the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Since art prints can be pricey I busted out the mod podge and created some fresh new wall art to change up Baby D's room. This project was inspired from a Pinterest print that I fell head over heels IN LOVE with. Here's my Pinspiration:
I've actually been meaning to do this for awhile now and am so happy I finally got around to it! I plan on doing a series of inspirational quotes on canvas for Baby D's room as a reminder of how much he means to us. Here's a tutorial of my "You Are My Sunshine" mod podge wall art:
- Canvas
- Black Vinyl Letter Stickers
- Mod Podge (Original Matte)
- Sponge Brush
- Pattern/Printed Paper of your Choice
- Yellow Cardstock
- Grey Cardstock
- Scissors
- Black Sharpie
1. Place your patterned paper on top of the canvas and cut accordingly to the canvas size.
2. Stick vinyl stickers onto the patterned paper. "You Are My Sunshine" :)
3. Trace or freehand a cloud using the grey cardstock. Trace or freehand a sun out of the yellow cardstock (don't make fun of me. I pick up my drawing skills from my two year old)
4. Cut out your cloud and sun. Glue to the top of the patterned paper with a think layer of mod podge.
Add a happy face on your sun and cloud if you please :)
5. Apply a think layer of mod podge to the canvas AND to the back of the patterned paper. Stick together and remove any air bubbles by running a credit card on the surface to make completely flat.
6. Apply a thick layer of mod podge to the front of the paper to seal everything in. Let the canvas dry for 15-20 minutes then apply a second coat of mod podge. Be sure to mod podge the sides of the canvas as well. Don't worry if it looks a little streaky and white, it will dry clear.
7. Once completely dry, hang to perfection!
Loved how it turned out, minus the minor air bubbles. I recommend smoothing out with a credit card several times before sealing the top. Mod podge wall art is such a simple and creative way to update your space!


text:
April 15th through April 30th
|SHELIA (Sheliaz_CTK) McCall's 7556 modified
|SHELIA (Sheliaz_CTK) McCall's 7556 modified
Faye - Second Version of Butterick 6425
Since the pattern was still out and this was such a quick top to make, I decided to make a second version. I purchased this knit I know not when or where (I usually remember). I made a top from it several years ago that's still in my closet and I still have enough left for a third top.
I did go up a size on this version for a little more ease in the bust area. I used a neckband finish again and also shortened the pattern because I did not want the tunic length. I highly recommend this pattern if you are looking to give the cold shoulder design a try. Two tops in one weekend was a sewing win for me even though they are the same style. Hope I'll be able to get at least two more done during the course of the work week.
PLEASE EMAIL All finished top photos to as an ATTACHMENT to: fayedoll(at)cox(dot)netEmail Subject Line: TOPS THAT POP
that's awesome Faye! You never can have enough taps, even if they are from the same pattern! Great job!ReplyDelete
Thank you Myra. I really like thie pattern.Delete
Thank you Linda!Delete
I love seeing the tops as you post. I'm amazed at how fast you all sew! I liked your pink top, but I'm loving this one. Myra and Sheila did impressive jobs also. I finished one on Saturday and wore it that night! I just have to stop sewing long enough to get pictures.ReplyDelete
Can not wait to see your new top Rose!!!Delete
Great looking top Faye! Love that fabric.ReplyDelete
Thank you Catherine!Delete
Thank you. I saw your top this morning Summer. Email me your photos so I can get you posted too!Delete
I consider to purchase a top pattern. Thank you for the informative post.ReplyDelete
You are more than welcome! Hope you enjoy the pattern when you get it!Delete
Beautiful fabric and style Faye!
Sheila, you are gonna have a workout top for everyday of the month at the rate you are going. ..and sassy too,LOVE 'EM!
Hope you catch it at the next sale!Delete
Thank you Tomasa. Summers almost here and I am in desperate need of tops.Delete
...this seemingly simple "just chose nine patterns and make them up in a year" challenge has proven rather difficult for me to ...


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On my trip to Ohio Caverns, I heard an interesting comment from the guide. She said that a cave is a natural passage underground with an opening to the surface, whereas a cavern is an underground passage closed off from the surface, which has to be artificially opened.
Is that an official definition?


text:
Skip to Main Content
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About Us
How Do I
Our Departments
Prince George's County
Planning Department
Community Planning
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Community Plans
Westphalia Sector Implementation
Westphalia Sector Implementation
The Westphalia Sector is approximately 6,000 acres and is situated between the Capital Beltway, Ritchie Marlboro Road, and MD 4 (Pennsylvania Avenue). The 2007 Westphalia Approved Sector Plan and Sectional Map Amendment (2007 Westphalia Sector Plan) sets policies to guide future development within the Westphalia Sector. The plan envisions a unified, well-planned community anchored by a high-density, transit - and pedestrian-oriented urban town center with a mix of high density residential, mixed commercial and office centers, a retail/lifestyle center, and a future transit location. Upon completion of build-out, Westphalia is estimated to have:
A population of 45,000
11 new public facilities such as schools, police, and fire stations
1,850 acres of parks and trails
Boundaries of the 2007 Westphalia Sector Plan Area
2007 Westphalia Sector Plan
Existing Communities
Current Development
Get Involved
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Contact Information
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text:
Popular Now
Popular Now
Popular Now
Popular Now
01803 865913
+44 1803 865913
By: Chris Maser and Okechukwu Ukaga
'What about the twenty-first century? Will we finally accept our responsibilities as guardians of planet Earth, the biological living trust, for the beneficiaries, the children of today, tomorrow, and beyond? Or, will it too be a century of lethal, economic struggle among the polarized positions of the supremely dysfunctional among us? Are they - once again - to be allowed to determine the legacy we, as a society, as a nation, bequeath those who follow us? The choice is ours, the adults of the world.
How shall we choose?' So writes Chris Maser in this compelling study of three interactive spheres of the ecosystem: atmosphere (air), litho-hydrosphere (rock that comprises the restless continents and the water that surrounds them), and biosphere (all life sandwiched in between). Rich in detail and insightful analogies, "Earth in Our Care" addresses key issues including land-use policies, ecological restoration, forest management, local living, and sustainability thinking. Exploring our interconnectedness with the Earth, Maser examines today's problems and, more importantly, provides solutions for the future.
Chris Maser is a supreme storyteller and Earth in Our Care is a compelling account highlighting the importance of understanding functional ecosystems in the twenty-first century. Using vivid examples of nature's blueprint. Maser clearly shows that the integrity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems depends upon healthy individual parts working in concert. This excellent book is a crucial addition to the burgeoning field of conservation biology and a requisite tool for all resource managers. - Reese Halter, television host and founder of the International Conservation Institute, Global Forest Science"
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text:
Originally founded jointly by the Taurian Concordat and the Magistracy of Canopus just prior to the Reunification War, Herotitus became one of the earliest and greatest examples of Canopian-Taurian cooperation in history, a quaint agrarian idyll of minimal industrial capacity or military value. After the Star League's fall, the Taurian, Canopian, and Capellan governments all claimed Herotitus for themselves, but the planet's utter lack of military resources spared it the worst of the Succession Wars. Its proximity to several larger states also kept piracy to a minimum, preserving the planet from damage beyond that of the occasional raid.
At the close of the thirtieth century, the New Hedons, a philosophical dissident sect from the Taurian Concordat, landed on Herotitus and quickly dominated the local economic and political landscape through sheer numbers and the allure of their simple "eat, drink, and be merry†philosophy. Over the next fifty years, the New Hedons transformed Herotitus from a simple agro world into a center for a host of thriving pleasure industries rivaled only by those of the Magistracy of Canopus itself. The draw of its many resorts and casinos, catering to every sensual pleasure imaginable, brought with it an economic boom and increased trade between the planet and the neighboring states.
Although the pleasure industry remains strong and viable in the cities, however, the culture of the New Hedonists has recently begun to decline as a more puritanical Christian fundamentalism has taken root among the outlying farming communities and is even now working its way into the cities. The recent election of Allison Carver, a devout Catholic, to the planetary presidency, has worried many of the planet's New Hedonist leadership so much that many are openly wondering if the movement will have to find a new home elsewhere — a prospect that has many locals in both the government and the entertainment industry worried.
Having gone out of its way to avoid significant military presence ever since its founding — despite brief periods of occupation by foreign neighbors — Herotitus' status as a center for trade and recreation has made it a natural draw for mercenaries and potential employers alike. Thanks to its central location between five major states (three Great Houses and two large Periphery realms), its policy of openness to all visitors, and its liberal laws since the early part of the century, Herotitus has become a convenient waystation for travelers, traders, and Periphery-based mercenaries.
As a result, the world has undergone a massive population boom over the last four decades, with the latest census figures — taken in 3065 — finding nearly 17 million people now living in the scattered cities and towns across the planet, a far cry from the 240,000 estimated in 3025. (Local fundamentalist officials are quick to point out that in the 3020s, next to no formal system for measuring the population existed on Herotitus, leading to such gross errors that it crippled the planetary tax base. To the fundamentalists, this served as yet another proof that the New Hedonist party, for the sake of the economy as well as the souls of the people, should abandon its "inherently flawed†philosophies.)
New Hedon, the capital city, forms the informal center of this world's unofficial mercenary trade, with hotels, casinos, conference centers, and even the local HPG station all possible venues for mercenaries and employer representatives to meet. The planetary spaceport, located in the heart of the city, is not equipped for military traffic, however. Thus, mercenaries with heavy equipment — including BattleMechs — must keep such gear stowed during their stay in New Hedon and make use of the city's high-priced local transportation.
In the suburbs of Myrmos, on the outskirts of New Hedon, there are some informal training centers available to military personnel and mercenaries, which rely on antiquated simulator pods. These facilities — colloquially dubbed "the Arcade†— form the core of an unofficial school and exposition center for professional soldiers, and it is often here that prospective employers gauge the abilities of any local talent. Occasional simulator duels are even fought in Myrmos, giving rise to a feeble secondary gambling and gaming economy tailored to combat aficionados. Additionally, many mercenary commanders on Herotitus are known to scope Myrmos and its Arcade for new recruits.
Close to half the mercenary trade conducted on Herotitus occurs in New Hedon and Myrmos, with the rest taking place in the handful of smaller cities scattered across the planet. Ironically, though no shortage of trained warriors pass through the spaceports and cities of this world, a large percentage of the mercenaries recruited here tend to fill supporting roles in their new commands. Indeed, a recent MRBC study revealed that medical and technical specialists hired on Herotitus tend to be among the best in the industry.
System Info:
- System Name: Herotitus
- Coordinates: 59.13, -433.75
- Star Type: G3IV
- Position in System: 2
- Time to Jump Point: 8.52 days
- Recharging Station: Nadir
- ComStar Facility Class: B
- Population: 16
- Percentage and Level of Native Life: 20% Reptile
System Owner Eras:
System Occupation Dates:
|Occupation Date:
|Periphery (Other)
Inhabited System(s) within 2 jumps:
Planet has description information.
Planet has one of more factories.
Used as a location in the following Novels:
|# of Chapters:
|Star Lord
Limited Availability


text:
Events for May 4, 2018
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Tuesday & Fridays: 10:00am - 12:00pm Interested in starting a secure career that can earn up to $44,760 in the first year alone? AIT is the perfect starting point for you to have the future that you have always dreamed of. We will be hosting …Find out more »


text:
The GOP has cut about $600 million in funds for the Center for Disease Control since 2010, but Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) thinks the real disease is political correctness. The Republicans in Congress did however, ultimately approve $88 million in funding to fight the Ebola virus requested by the White House.
With regards to President Obama sending 3,000 troops to Africa to head off the Ebola virus the Congressman told Fox News that, "The military is not trained to go catch Ebola and die," and that, "political correctness is going to get people killed in all of these areas."
The President ordered the troops to help end the spread of the disease by opening 17 treatment facilities mostly concentrated in the impoverished country of Liberia. There the US military will lead a command center and international relief efforts training up to 500 Liberian health workers a week.
President Obama contends there is no imminent threat to America from Ebola and that any cases that arise could be isolated quickly, but Gohmert says the answer is to end travel between the US and African countries where the disease is prevalent. The rightwing media has even exploited the epidemic to suggest that "Ebola people" could be sneaking across the southern border even though the CDC says there is no evidence that is happening.
"We could have Ebola people coming across the border right now." – Laura Ingraham
The CDC did warn back in 2013 that the cuts levied by sequestration would prompt a, "reduced ability to ensure global disease protection." Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-California) suggested that the budget cuts were shortsighted and harmful in the effort to control such outbreaks. He said, "These kinds of situations expose the fact that we've been cutting way too much in areas that aren't as visible and it's until things like this happen that we start to realize that we shouldn't have cut those things, and I blame that a lot on my Republican colleagues," he said.
- "They constantly just grind down and grind down and grind down to make it look like we can't move forward unless we make these cuts and $50 million here, $500 million there to a county our size and a country that most of the world is depending on to show them how to get things done right – it's those kinds of cuts that start to expose themselves when we have situations like this,"
He says the answer lies in properly educating the public and ensuring health officials are prepared to deal with any cases that might arise in the US. One such case has surfaced in Dallas, Texas where a Liberian national who was visiting family had not been properly quarantined. The hospital contended that they had not known the man had traveled from Liberia due to a flaw in their electronic records that did not immediately show his travel history. The hospital had sent the man home and it was later discovered that he had been in contact with up to 100 people. Several close family members are being asked to stay at home until mid October and a few schools attended by the children saw increased absences based on fears by their parents.
The President of Liberia criticized the man who left the country after coming into contact with the disease calling it, "unpardonable." She told the Canadian public news CBC. "With the U.S. doing so much to help us fight Ebola, and again one of our compatriots didn't take due care, and so, he's gone there and … put some Americans in a state of fear, and put them at some risk, and so I feel very saddened by that and very angry with him, to tell you the truth."
The worst symptoms most Americans will experience from Ebola is fear and it is unfortunately that a lot of that anxiety will come from our own elected officials. For the most part parties on all sides of the epidemic are doing what they can to bring the situation under control, and the least our members of Congress can do is listen to our health professionals and fund the necessary agencies that will ensure America's preparedness.
Follow me on Twitter at @joethepleb.


text: Here's the list for March: Autocomplete with math symbols. [launch codename "Blackboard", project codename "Suggest"] When we process queries to return predictions in autocomplete, we generally normalize them to match more relevant predictions in our database. This change incorporates several characters that were previously normalized: "+", "-", "*", "/", "^", "(", ")", and "=". This should make it easier to search for popular equations, for example [e = mc2] or [y = mx+b]. Improvements to handling of symbols for indexing. [launch codename "Deep Maroon"] We generally ignore punctuation symbols in queries. Based on analysis of our query stream, we've now started to index the following heavily used symbols: "%", "$", "\", ".", "@", "#", and "+". We'll continue to index more symbols as usage warrants. Better scoring of news groupings. [launch codename "avenger_2"] News results on Google are organized into groups that are about the same story. We have scoring systems to determine the ordering of these groups for a given query. This subtle change slightly improves our scoring system, leading to better ranking of news clusters. Sitelinks data refresh. [launch codename "Saralee-76"] Sitelinks (the links that appear beneath some search results and link deeper into the respective site) are generated in part by an offline process that analyzes site structure and other data to determine the most relevant links to show users. We've recently updated the data through our offline process. These updates happen frequently (on the order of weeks). Improvements to autocomplete backends, coverage. [launch codename "sovereign", project codename "Suggest"] We've consolidated systems and reduced the number of backend calls required to prepare autocomplete predictions for your query. The result is more efficient CPU usage and more comprehensive predictions. Better handling of password changes. Our general approach is that when you change passwords, you'll be signed out from your account on all machines. This change ensures that changing your password more consistently signs your account out of Search, everywhere. Better indexing of profile pages. [launch codename "Prof-2"] This change improves the comprehensiveness of public profile pages in our index from more than two-hundred social sites. UI refresh for News Universal. [launch codename "Cosmos Newsy", project codename "Cosmos"] We've refreshed the design of News Universal results by providing more results from the top cluster, unifying the UI treatment of clusters of different sizes, adding a larger font for the top article, adding larger images (from licensed sources), and adding author information. Improvements to results for navigational queries. [launch codename "IceMan5"] A "navigational query" is a search where it looks like the user is looking to navigate to a particular website, such as [New York Times] or [wikipedia.org]. While these searches may seem straightforward, there are still challenges to serving the best results. For example, what if the user doesn't actually know the right URL? What if the URL they're searching for seems to be a parked domain (with no content)? This change improves results for this kind of search. High-quality sites algorithm data update and freshness improvements. [launch codename "mm", project codename "Panda"] Like many of the changes we make, aspects of our high-quality sites algorithm depend on processing that's done offline and pushed on a periodic cycle. In the past month, we've pushed updated data for "Panda," as we mentioned in a recent tweet. We've also made improvements to keep our database fresher overall. Live results for UEFA Champions League and KHL. We've added live-updating snippets in our search results for the KHL (Russian Hockey League) and UEFA Champions League, including scores and schedules. Now you can find live results from a variety of sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL and others. Tennis search feature. [launch codename "DoubleFault"] We've introduced a new search feature to provide realtime tennis scores at the top of the search results page. Try [maria sharapova] or [sony ericsson open]. More relevant image search results. [launch codename "Lice"] This change tunes signals we use related to landing page quality for images. This makes it more likely that you'll find highly relevant images, even if those images are on pages that are lower quality. Fresher image predictions in all languages. [launch codename "imagine2", project codename "Suggest"] We recently rolled out a change to surface more relevant image search predictions in autocomplete in English. This improvement extends the update to all languages. SafeSearch algorithm tuning. [launch codenames "Fiorentini", "SuperDyn"; project codename "SafeSearch"] This month we rolled out a couple of changes to our SafeSearch algorithm. We've updated our classifier to make it smarter and more precise, and we've found new ways to make adult content less likely to appear when a user isn't looking for it Tweaks to handling of anchor text. [launch codename "PC"] This month we turned off a classifier related to anchor text (the visible text appearing in links). Our experimental data suggested that other methods of anchor processing had greater success, so turning off this component made our scoring cleaner and more robust. Simplification to Images Universal codebase. [launch codename "Galactic Center"] We've made some improvements to simplify our codebase for Images Universal and to better utilize improvements in our general web ranking to also provide better image results. Better application ranking and UI on mobile. When you search for apps on your phone, you'll now see richer results with app icons, star ratings, prices, and download buttons arranged to fit well on smaller screens. You'll also see more relevant ranking of mobile applications based on your device platform, for example Android or iOS. Improvements to freshness in Video Universal. [launch codename "graphite", project codename "Freshness"] We've improved the freshness of video results to better detect stale videos and return fresh content. Fewer undesired synonyms. [project codename "Synonyms"] When you search on Google, we often identify other search terms that might have the same meaning as what you entered in the box (synonyms) and surface results for those terms as well when it might be helpful. This month we tweaked a classifier to prevent unhelpful synonyms from being introduced as content in the results set. Better handling of queries with both navigational and local intent. [launch codename "ShieldsUp"] Some queries have both local intent and are very navigational (directed towards a particular website). This change improves the balance of results we show, and helps ensure you'll find highly relevant navigational results or local results towards the top of the page as appropriate for your query. Improvements to freshness. [launch codename "Abacus", project codename "Freshness"] We launched an improvement to freshness late last year that was very helpful, but it cost significant machine resources. At the time we decided to roll out the change only for news-related traffic. This month we rolled it out for all queries. Improvements to processing for detection of site quality. [launch codename "Curlup"] We've made some improvements to a longstanding system we have to detect site quality. This improvement allows us to get greater confidence in our classifications. Better interpretation and use of anchor text. We've improved systems we use to interpret and use anchor text, and determine how relevant a given anchor might be for a given query and website. Better local results and sources in Google News. [launch codename "barefoot", project codename "news search"] We're deprecating a signal we had to help people find content from their local country, and we're building similar logic into other signals we use. The result is more locally relevant Google News results and higher quality sources. Deprecating signal related to ranking in a news cluster. [launch codename "decaffeination", project codename "news search"] We're deprecating a signal that's no longer improving relevance in Google News. The signal was originally developed to help people find higher quality articles on Google News. (Note: Despite the launch codename, this project has nothing to do with Caffeine, our update to indexing in 2010). Fewer "sibling" synonyms. [launch codename "Gemini", project codename "Synonyms"] One of the main signals we look at to identify synonyms is context. For example, if the word "cat" often appears next to the term "pet" and "furry," and so does the word "kitten", our algorithms may guess that "cat" and "kitten" have similar meanings. The problem is that sometimes this method will introduce "synonyms" that actually are different entities in the same category. To continue the example, dogs are also "furry pets" -- so sometimes "dog" may be incorrectly introduced as a synonym for "cat". We've been working for some time to appropriately ferret out these "sibling" synonyms, and our latest system is more maintainable, updatable, debuggable, and extensible to other systems. Better synonym accuracy and performance. [project codename "Synonyms"] We've made further improvements to our synonyms system by eliminating duplicate logic. We've also found ways to more accurately identify appropriate synonyms in cases where there are multiple synonym candidates with different contexts. Retrieval system tuning. [launch codename "emonga", project codename "Optionalization"] We've improved systems that identify terms in a query which are not necessarily required to retrieve relevant documents. This will make results more faithful to the original query. Less aggressive synonyms. [launch codename "zilong", project codename "Synonyms"] We've heard feedback from users that sometimes our algorithms are too aggressive at incorporating search results for other terms. The underlying cause is often our synonym system, which will include results for other terms in many cases. This change makes our synonym system less aggressive in the way it incorporates results for other query terms, putting greater weight on the original user query. Update to systems relying on geographic data. [launch codename "Maestro, Maitre"] We have a number of signals that rely on geographic data (similar to the data we surface in Google Earth and Maps). This change updates some of the geographic data we're using. Improvements to name detection. [launch codename "edge", project codename "NameDetector"] We've improved a system for detecting names, particularly for celebrity names. Updates to personalization signals. [project codename "PSearch"] This change updates signals used to personalize search results. Improvements to Image Search relevance. [launch codename "sib"] We've updated signals to better promote reasonably sized images on high-quality landing pages. Remove deprecated signal from site relevance signals. [launch codename "Freedom"] We've removed a deprecated product-focused signal from a site-understanding algorithm. More precise detection of old pages. [launch codename "oldn23", project codename "Freshness"] This change improves detection of stale pages in our index by relying on more relevant signals. As a result, fewer stale pages are shown to users. Tweaks to language detection in autocomplete. [launch codename "Dejavu", project codename "Suggest"] In general, autocomplete relies on the display language to determine what language predictions to show. For most languages, we also try to detect the user query language by analyzing the script, and this change extends that behavior to Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese and Korean. The net effect is that when users forget to turn off their IMEs, they'll still get English predictions if they start typing English terms. Improvements in date detection for blog/forum pages. [launch codename "fibyen", project codename "Dates"] This change improves the algorithm that determines dates for blog and forum pages. More predictions in autocomplete by live rewriting of query prefixes. [launch codename "Lombart", project codename "Suggest"] In this change we're rewriting partial queries on the fly to retrieve more potential matching predictions for the user query. We use synonyms and other features to get the best overall match. Rewritten prefixes can include term re-orderings, term additions, term removals and more. Expanded sitelinks on mobile. We've launched our expanded sitelinks feature for mobile browsers, providing better organization and presentation of sitelinks in search results. More accurate short answers. [project codename "Porky Pig"] We've updated the sources behind our short answers feature to rely on data from Freebase. This improves accuracy and makes it easier to fix bugs. Migration of video advanced search backends. We've migrated some backends used in video advanced search to our main search infrastructure. +1 button in search for more countries and domains. This month we've internationalized the +1 button on the search results page to additional languages and domains. The +1 button in search makes it easy to share recommendations with the world right from your search results. As we said in our initial blog post, the beauty of +1's is their relevance—you get the right recommendations (because they come from people who matter to you), at the right time (when you are actually looking for information about that topic) and in the right format (your search results). Local result UI refresh on tablet. We've updated the user interface of local results on tablets to make them more compact and easier to scan. Thats abt it, wanna know your thoughts, i am curious about the following impacts : " Tweaks to handling of anchor text. [launch codename "PC"] This month we turned off a classifier related to anchor text (the visible text appearing in links). Our experimental data suggested that other methods of anchor processing had greater success, so turning off this component made our scoring cleaner and more robust. " AND " Improvements to processing for detection of site quality. [launch codename "Curlup"] We've made some improvements to a longstanding system we have to detect site quality. This improvement allows us to get greater confidence in our classifications. "


text:
A Course In Miracles: Truth or Cult? A Student Responds...
Can You Really Ever Know "Truth?"
(And now, it is December 27, 2013. The comments still trickle in. Thanks again for the ongoing interest and please keep the comments coming. It helps me to reorganize my thinking and to update any of my own ignorances!!)
(June 17, 2012: I've been going over all the comments here at this post and am gratified to know that I achieved my goal, that is, in bringing attention to ACIM in a way that helps present a lot of different views. If you're reading this for the first time, please leave a new comment sharing your perspective. If you have returned, leave a new comment as well. The doors remain open.)
The following quote comes from a recent news release announcing:
"A Course In Miracles is an effect of supra-consciousness, that is, with Jesus Christ as its true Causation. The acceptance or admission that A Course In Miracles originated from an absolutely unearthly source, while it appears simple, is the single most difficult barrier to enlightenment the immature consciousness faces. No matter how overwhelmingly predominant the evidence, both in method of origination and in content that this is indeed so, the assertion is finally inevitably an act of faith [Bold added by this post author]. You must remember that human conceptual consciousness is explicitly formulated in a self-perpetuating structure of thought that denies singularity. Nothing could be more devastating to the dualistic mind construct, that is limited perceptual reality, than the realization that A Course in Miracles is indeed not of this world* but actually Truth speaking to falsity. In other words God-man speaking to man."
I studied the Course for a number of years and I will admit, there's a lot of good stuff in it. But is it Truth with a capital 'T'? As the bold portion proclaims, ultimately it is an act of faith. And therein lies the challenge. Every religion or religious movement will tell its followers that it requires an act of supreme faith in order to "get" what the movement is saying or teaching. Now for the blasphemy. Everything in the Course--EVERYTHING--has come directly from the human mind. Remember this: Any so-called Truth being presented by one of us humans must of necessity filter through our brain and our mind. It will always be colored by our experience and our perspective. It will be affected by our culture and our beliefs. There's no way around that. It cannot come to you in pure form.
So, to take something on faith requires giving up rational thought. Sometimes that's all we have to determine the validity of a teaching, be it religious, philosophical, or even scientific. Let the Course teach you what you want. Just be willing to keep an open mind. As with any teaching, take what resonates with you and discard the rest. Keep your mind intact by being its owner. Don't let outsiders control you. And they will try. You don't have to take that on faith.
The Old Philosopher said, "Those who think they know, know nothing; those who know they know nothing, really know." And that's the truth.
* Please take all so-called 'channeled' material with a grain of salt. Just because you're dead doesn't mean you're wise. Simply a reminder. But then, you knew that, right?
Think freedom, think choice, think for yourself...
Your Spiritually Progressive Connection to the World...
- New Thought - Spirit Feast - Richard Kent Matthews
Spiritually progressive, free thinking news, articles, power links, videos, podcasts, and more. Come often and enjoy!
Comments - Please be respectful...
my brother and girlfriend are totally intrigued by this book and what it states. However he has gone the total opposite direction with totally abandoning his whole family and their thoughts. I am glad he found something, but why the abandonment? His thinking and writings are hateful....This is supposed to bring peace, not hate!!!
I came to know God and to want only God's Love prior to doing the Course. In an instant, I spontaneously went Home. It was indescribable. There was no form, no memory -- no perception of anything, it was as if everything was innately Provided. There was only Pure Love, Absolute Completion. I was as I always have been: Fully Satisfied in and of My Self. The state of perfection was obscured again when ego apparently kicked back in. The Course has helped me recognize why that happens, and to ask for the Holy Spirit's Help as needed. The Holy Spirit always has one answer - look beyond the confusion of perception to the Source of Creation, look within to the eternal extension of God's Love. Without ego and its belief in separation, I am an extension of God's Love, which is known experientially as Perfection, in and of Itself.
I believe that acim and cwg are not of humans, because they are too accomplished, (particularly the blank verse of the former.) However, they can't both be right. After giving the matter much thought, I have come to the conclusion that all channelled works have one thing in common-the authors want humans to behave considerably better than they are currently behaving. Not a bad idea!
The whole point of the course's theology and practice (forgiveness, atonement) and Buddhist practice (sutras, koans, etc) are that NONE of it is the Truth. It can't be -- these are all just mechanisms that are used to bring the mind to a direct experience of the truth. I remember being bothered and unable to relate to a specific set of concepts from the Course and ... Ken Wapnick said just to use whatever concept was more helpful. I 'got' his point (and understood that he wasn't advocating watering down the course). Similarly, when the late zen master, John Daido Loori of zen mountain monastery, emphasized that when the historical Buddha experienced enlightenment & then thought of what to do to guide others to the same, he developed the teachings solely as a means -- and that to take any of it as truth would be incorrect. The old 'raft to get to the other shore' metaphor --they're both just rafts & once u get to the shore, the raft has nothing to do with the shore. Do these paths require faith? Only some initial faith in that these mechanisms are viable for enlightenment. Then milestone experiences along the way directly confirm the viability of the mechanism. One good thing about zen is the reliance on enlightened zen teachers to help avoid a student's misinterpretation of early milestone experiences which can cause delay (read '3 Pillars of Zen' for some good information on this). With the Course, one can see if the path of having everything reinterpreted through the non-ego part of the mind (and the use of the mechanism of 'forgiving' everything + everyone that has been given its purpose for ego goals) provides experiential milestones. I don't know if anyone has experienced enlightenment with the course whereas zen has a good track record. The course's use of forgiveness is non-trivial and is not what is meant in the standard sense. It emphasizes that this mechanism yields a gentler and non-scary path to realization of the truth. But the bottom line: all of these things are mechanisms. Forgiveness isn't true. Channeling isn't true. The 4 noble truths and the 8-fold path of zen aren't true. The sutras and the course theology aren't true. But ... they are meant to be powerful mechanisms to lead the mind to truth. I'm still weighing the course's viability b/c I doubt everything but ... it's pretty powerful in day-to-day interactions when my skepticism takes a back seat.
The only difference between a religion, a sect, and a cult is the number of people who have been deceived by it into abandoning reality and reason in favor of myth and superstition. Schucman and ACIM are obvious frauds.
Today, reading this blog, I'm excited to hear the various understandings of the many who've had experience with studying ACIM. I've been following this material for over 20 years now, and still don't KNOW and understand all the teaching has to offer. I've also studied the Bible, native american teachings and eastern teachings of Krisnamurti and Tao.
This week I'm going to hear a presentation given by Marianne Williamson. I'm wanting to ask a question of her...and still pondering what or if I am to ask her something. I've been meditating and asking for guidance so that whatever is to be asked does not come from only my ego.
Blessings to all who are on their path...tompahma...woman who walks with the apples
Wow! All I can say is you all must be doing some mean fry daddies. Get a load of this: reality just might be.....REALITY!
One can only know truth - because there is nothing else to know and be known. Ever.
The term knowing in this sense is a nonseparate term. There is no gap between the knower and the known - and what may have seemed a self is a part of the expression by which Idea is self-aware.
But what is generally defined and believed and identified and mutually validated as knowledge is a distorting filter by which one seems not to know. A model of self and reality definition that is taken as reality itself.
The truth must be the truth of you. Your truth is a unique integral signature vibration within All that Is - or you would not be!
A true alignment is not to any notion of 'truth' but a living guidance that is of a wholeness, of a oneness, of a unifying and integrating intent.
To re evaluate what is being chosen and experienced here... in this room, in this place, so as to discern the meaninglessness that robs us of our appreciation and gratitude and stop choosing it.
The Calling to and from our Spirit - from our true alignment with All That Is - is of opening and embracing the moment we are living - all of it!
Concepts of truth seek to coerce life to fit them. There's no sharing in that. If A Course in Miracles resonates with the knowing in your heart then you will let it serve the nativity and growing of the knowing in your awareness. But without true alignment - even Scriptures become a weapon. It's up to you. It's always up to you.
You are the truth you seek - but will never find alone, unshared.
I love the Course - but that love is the love that also lives this day.
It is (for each) all about You. Only about You.
While You believe you are a mentality - you pretend to be tiny - in which to play out in the idea of separation from Source. Any true or awake communication addresses your knowing and not y0ur thinking - even if it gives you something to ponder.
The truth of your joy, your enlivening, your overflowing, your enthusiasm and heartfelt connection - these are energetic tangibles that automatically share. They don't need a label saying 'I am happy' to communicate truly. True happiness has forgot to define itself and is simply one with. This knowing transcends the world while blessing it.
To receive this of another is to be reMinded. To seek it for oneself is to be self-blinded.
Coming 'back' into our Right Mind is not the making real of 'wrong-mindedness' so as to then adjust it.. But is the prodigal rewakening of what is always true from an illusory journey.
Why is the absolute truth so hard to get down on paper?
Because truth is ultimately subjective....and free will is rampant
Sometimes I wonder if the Course really wants our pure, unadulterated freedom or just wants people to be stuck in another mindset / belief system that will take the real me away from me (not the ego or unreal falsely identified me). Kind of like invasion of the body snatchers, where I become part of some hive mind (a.k.a."Holy Spirit"). Then I wonder again if it's just my ego talking and I'm just really afraid to "go for God." However, word of caution: Jiddu Krishnamurti once said that EVERY system of thought (religious/spiritual/what have you), no matter how beautifully poetic or how true will NOT ultimately free you because it is still based in thought. This is because not until truth (whatever that is) is actually EXPERIENCED will you know it ("know" as in Gnosis or {spiritual} knowledge in the Course). Ironically the Course addresses all this and more and says precisely that. That a universal theology is impossible, but "a universal experience {of "God"} is not only possible but necessary." And as to the Krishnamurti statement, we know about the Course's teaching on content vs. form, so it's got that covered too. There is also talk about true freedom and true justice in there and it's got all the bases covered.....which ultimately creeps me out. Why? because it seems to anticipate answer every question in there somewhere and never be wrong, as far as the overall logic of ITS "thought system."
However, I have found a number of contradictions in the Course which I have explained in detail in my own blog on hubpages entitled: "My Love / Hate Relationship with a Course in Miracles" (under: http://hubpages.com/@woodyganesh).
I have come to the conclusion that the Course is one of three things:
1- the Course was dictated to Helen by a very wise, higher dimensional being far beyond in wisdom to anyone living on earth at this time (And, yes, it could actually be the spirit/soul of Jesus, since one cannot rule out any possibility in the universe).
2-Helen was a mentally disturbed split personality that had to convince herself that there was "something" - some system of belief or thought - to hang onto to help her through her miserable life better.
3-It was some kind of mind control project by the MK Ultra which sent the message into Helen's brain via Skull to Brain Technology in order to get people hooked into cult thinking in order to circumvent and short circuit people from finding true spiritual realization, (feed them LSD instead - remember the original dictation occurred between 1965 and 1972 exactly from the beginning of the hippie movement until its end), and find one's own unique (NOT special!) true and sweet Self without drugs.
*personally I tend to vascillate between possibility #1 and possibility #2 sometimes in very short spans of time. One minute I can hate the whole Course and just throw it out of my mind and my life (and across the room) and then I can see the other side of it which is that it is TRUE; TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH on every page. Ultimately however, I feel that I will NEVER become enlightened (or God realized by reading the Course itself - not even close. Why? Because it's "just a book" (I tell myself) and truth MUST be experienced.
Ahhhh, but that's what the workbook is for! (See, it's got every base covered! Damned thing!)
Ive read the Course many times for over ten years, and have still not found it's definition of "capital t" Truth. Nor have I experienced a trancendent, ultimate reality that would establish this world as an illusion. Am I doing something wrong here? Anymore, the Course just sounds like pretty poetry and sophistry, though I have become increasingly aware of it's semblance to various no-self teachings.
Where can one that actually searches for miracles go? I've read a lot of stuff recently and this seems to be so nice. Just as I type this, I got to the point where it says that it takes but an instant (in eternity). Well... here's the problem. If this was the real deal, I'd say that after a year people should start to do miracles. If I type "miracle proof a course in miracles" on google I find no answers. Yet we know of this to be possible since Joao de Deus and different masters treat AIDS, cancer and all the nasty stuff in under a few sessions. I mean... Can you imagine cutting into flesh and people not screaming and also blood not coming out? Can you imagine seeing a cancer dissapear in under 3 minutes? Probably not. Yet it exists and proof of it is on youtube.
The problem is...I believe there are ways and that it should be available to us as well, but it seems that they are hidden under a great pile of lies. And i don't really like this. An instant in eternity. That could either be an instant or a lifetime or few lifetimes or hundreds. People like Baird T. Spalding seem to have been able to teleport in under 2-3 years of staying with Masters and even in my country we have a Master that while being in jail he attended his mother's funeral and returned to the cell in the same day traveling a distance of hundreds of kilometers in but a couple of hours. Now this is proof. If someone has any proof regarding the results of this course, please post them here. If not... it's just a bunch of pretty words arranged in the form of a promise.
I mean the title of the book is: "A course in miracles". I sure would like to see one and I especially hope that I'm not right when I say that it's just a pretty promise.
Once we recognize that our thoughts (self-created illusions) affect how we experience our reality, then we can understand that relying on them for a joyful, peaceful existence is limited. I suppose there has to be a level of 'faith' in accepting we are created beyond just a physical form. I think the purpose of the mind/heart is to be the vessel for divine knowingness...if and when we surrender to that which is greater than a worldly self, and remain open to greater awareness.
the whole idea that the course was inspired by Jesus through the writer of the course being true from the metaphysical perspective is different from the tradition perspective. From the metaphysical perspective, if one says that something spiritual happened to them, that is taken as an experience from the persons perspective. All experience has no need be proven or justified according to this way of seeing. There is no objective truth to be proven. The claim that a voice told her a message and the messenger being Jesus doesn't need to justified because, to the metaphysicist, the difference between her and Jesus are illusionary. I guess I should say someone who believes in oneness because not all metaphysical thinkers believe in perfect oneness. But you get my point. That is what someone who is not used to this way of thinking would completely disregard this book. And of course even when this is accepted, the journey to one's true nature can feel like a battle at first. and I am currently in that mode. Where I have moments inspired by the holy spirit or love and others where my ego does the thinking. It is what we all must face and that is apart of the healing process. I am more aware than ever in my life how much I for so long had and have such an urge to punish. to punish myself and others. It is the punisher mentality that seems to be so deep in the unconcious reflecting self hatred and guilt. God show me who I really am, I want to awaken, I deserve love, I love the whole world and all its beings, we are innocent, let me put my defenses down, be strong in my defenselessness, and surrend to the perfect love that we are...
Hello Everyone,
I did a google search for ACIM and "cult" appeared in the top 5 results. Just FYI.
This is a fabulous discussion. Thank you Richard for staying involved. Here are my 2 cents:
I have tried many religions and where I'm at now is being a Possibilian. Google that. It is fantastic. Why someone didn't think of it before is beyond me. It is so simple and scientific and gratifying, for Atheists to Believers.
I love the ideas I am learning from ACIM. They fit for me, as a psychotherapist and a seeker. What seems to be an issue here is that they were channeled. Oh gee. We all know how any crazy person can claim that they got the Truth through Revelation. So should we give the ideas a chance, or just move on to someone more sane?
A person who seems sane to me is Alan Watts.
He spent his life looking at all of this and landed with Zen. If you want to spend 20 minutes with his ideas, read this little gem he wrote at the end of his life: The Way of Zen.
I got it on Amazon on read it on the plane. It was like, yeah. OK. This guy has figured it out. You don't have to believe anything or deal with what is truth.
I would just like to throw that into the discussion. I do very much value my exposure to ACIM. What I retain from it is
1) It is all about love.
2) We are all One.
How can you go wrong with those ideas?
I'm reading the course for the third time. I read it first in my twenties, again in my mid-thirties and now my mid-fifties. Each time I get a deeper understanding. Concepts build from the context of life experiences. I find the course helps me in grabbing the deeper meanings of other sources and authors as well (Krishnamurti, Depak Chopra, Neal Walsh, Richard Ruiz, etc). Raised a Catholic, I rejected long ago the teachings, but I can see truth underneath the clutter. I can read novels, see movies, hear songs and see truth in them. I'll probably read the course again in my seventies and eighties and see a wider and deeper context in the amazing creation around me.
Hi RichardSpeaks, I have enjoyed reading all of the posts in here. I have not read ACIM, I have never heard of it before. I picked up a copy of the book "May Cause Miracles" because I saw they were promoting the book locally, I opened it and it constantly makes reference to ACIM, it seems that I would need to read ACIM in order to understand this book... I googled search it and voilá, I found this hub and a very interesting conversation about Truth, and love, and ego, and so many wonderful posts. It kind of remind me of Kabbalah and the vase, and the light, and the ego once again. Thank you for such a great input, I am happy. All of these somehow makes me feel content. I send many blessings to all. :)
the simple truth is that we were created perfect, with out sin by a loving Father who loves His creations. We should love each other because that is what we deserve. Sin was an isnsane idea that died long ago. All there is, is Love. That's the Course. And this is from a Student of the Course for the last 23 years, and a Catholic my whole life. I accept forgiveness for myself and offer it to my brother, because in the end there is only Love. Peace be with you all.
Great hub, Richard!
Having been born and raised Catholic I have that experiential relationship with it that has led me to a number of opinions. Some reglions 'evolve' over time into beuracracies that are then more concerned with the perpetuation of their organization and its dogma than the spiritual growth of their members (parishoners). If they (the ones who have the knowledge) can mold the minds of the flock then the flock will be better off, right? I broke up with them long ago when in a pre-nuptual meeting the priest told me I'd be having as many children as 'God gives me'. We could not see eye to eye on that one so I married elsewhere. God did give me children, thankfully, but I didn't end up needing a dormitory to house them all. At that age I rejected that type of coersion instinctively seeing it as ridiculous; as ridiculous as telling me what books I can and cannot read.
Which brings me to the CIM; a unique set of readings that are an amazing gift. I tried reading them when I was in my twenties but laid them down; I wasn't ready. I was led back to them via a path of other books by Eckert Tolle and Marianne Williamson. I'm thankful every day that I have found them. We all think we have a free will and that we 'decide' what we will do and think until we discover what these books contain. You might not be any better off than one of Skinner's rats before that, at least that's my opinion; you do as you've been conditioned to do. If one has a devotional to share or if they are a 'medium' that can be a wonderful thing but if they tell you this is "THE" way or the only way then I'm walking the other way.
Before Christianity was called Christianity, before the Roman Empire embraced it, it was called 'The Way'. Maybe we're all just finally getting back to 'the Way'. What I see in that time is people with a whole new way of thinking where they embrace love as a way of life and that everyone matters equally. Are we there yet? That of course is a rhetorical question. There isn't much, if anything, in the Course that wouldn't transform the world if it could be widely understood and adopted. So, whether it came from the mind of man or it's the voice of God doesn't matter to me much. The insights that Christ, Buda, and others have had are known by you at your highest spiritual level. Call it faith, knowledge or truth; does it matter. Maybe it does to the ego. The content of the CIM will continue to stand on its own while the content of other 'knowledge', Mein Kampf' for example have died.
I'm still just a beginner in the CIM and thankful that I've been exposed to what I have so far. The ego will try to analyze what God is and does and why and if he enjoys watching us in pain, etc. It can't be known on a logical level. All one can do is embrace the journey and if you see what these books tell you to see (and not see) your life may well be a miracle.
what a great thread. Thank you for making this available.
I think everyone has given much thought and sincere contemplation.
Just last night was my ACIM group here in NC. I am a certified medium, whatever that means. All I know is that yes, since I was a child I can discern voices.So I come at it from the same as well as different perspective as the comments above. I know one must have discernment and I have honed that to a level that I physically know something is true for me. When I hear TRUTH and truth really has no opposite, I can feel it in my very being just like when I can tell if a message from Spirit is from my filter, or not authentic or genuine. This I know IS TRUTH...we are all ONE, we are all connected, you need do nothing, you are whole perfect and complete.The underlying structure of the world is almost frighteningly perfect, its our artificial ideas and ego based living that makes it looks so horrid. In actuality everything is moving in a perfect way, its our vision that skews it.Like wearing glasses not of your own prescription.So what does one do...take off the glasses.
For my birthday this year I received a devotional from my co--worker who is an enthusiastic Christian. The devotional was written by a woman who used what she thought were God's words coming through her in meditation and written in first person as if by Jesus. You know, when you talk to God and he answers in that quiet voice. I thought then that there is no difference between this devotional and the course workbook. After all aren't the words manifesting from God Jesus through the individual? So why would her devotional be accepted by the Christian church and not the Course? Because the author is a proclaimed Christian. Why are C.S. Lewis's and J.R.R. tolkein's wizards accepted but not Harry Potter characters? Because the authors were Christian. Man made religion. Man made rules. Listen to His voice. Trust Him. We look to things outside us to help us, like the course or bible teachings but if we quiet down we can hear the truth in that quiet voice. Good luck brothers!
By what fruits will ACIM be known. The world is full of beauty, love. It is not ones mind that holds one back, but rather, ones heart. For one that has a wonderful loving relationship with her Loving Father, I have only one thing to say about ACIM. Every WORD FEEDS THE EGO even when denying the One who created it all.
God is LOVE. Love WINS
We all return home eventually.
Why all the angst? If it brings you peace, then it is of God. If it brings you pain, seek another path. All this talk of being "right" or "wrong" is simply the ego.
Franco-why do you feel it necessary to believe that "god doesn't know what we are going thru?" Maybe "god" is an abusive energy or just an energy that enjoys the "show" he created when he supposedly created us...god is EVERYTHING, whatever we consider "good" or "bad," I don't believe words have any meaning to this "god thing."
"Any so-called Truth being presented by one of us humans must of necessity filter through our brain and our mind. It will always be colored by our experience and our perspective. It will be affected by our culture and our beliefs. There's no way around that. It cannot come to you in pure form." Who says there's 'no way around that'? This thought would also occlude the reliablity of "The" Bible, of course, and I don't mind that, but if someone successfully hears and successfully scribes, who is anyone to dare say " It cannot be done"? It has certainly been done to my satisfaction in the case of a A Course in Miracles. I recently read from a R.C. priest that the ACIM Jesus "doesn't like the crucifixion". Duh! Can you blame Him?
To: Richard Speaks
I must first tell you that I was curious to know if there was anything online about ACIM and did a search. Of all the sites that came up on my screen I randomly chose your site. (no regrets) I rather like the way you respond to each post/blog that is entered in a fashion that reflects the teachings of ACIM. I also noted that you did not respond negatively towards a couple posts/blogs that clearly showed in their comments that they had not comprehended or read thuroughly(spelling) ACIM before making their comments.
I picked up ACIM about 30 years ago. The time you take it is voluntary. The span of years that I have had this course in no way makes me an expert. It truly is something I have had to put down and walk away from for a short time and then return to it. It has been the basis of my core beliefs. I am number 5 out of 12 children not born into or raised in a religion. For the first time in my life I was asked what I believe in a catholic church by a priest in front of several people at an evening group in an archdiocese. This was my first time going to this fellowship that was supposed to be focused on people effected by other people that have aids or they themselves have aids.
When the priest asked me to share my beliefs, I said I was not prepared to do this. He said, "it's okay, go ahead". As if on queue, my voice became strong clear and with conviction about principles of miracles.
I do suspect that these idea's may not be consistent with catholism ideas (tho no one ever said this to me). I was told by this priest when I said I would be interested in reading about catholism that he had some literature he would give me. This was 4 weeks ago and i have left messages over a dozen times and have not heard from him. I am having 2nd thoughts about returning to this place, since it seems to me that what is in need is a miracle to help those afflicted. I don't know that I would really have to be physically present to practice ACIM principles. I would like to check back at this site and read your response. Thank you for your time on this. AL
What I find particularly interesting is, that of all the religious beliefs I have studied only ACIM explains why God is not a participant in what occurs here on earth. Every belief that I ever studied has God interacting with us in some way. ACIM teaches us that he does not interact and therefore can explain why we suffer. I never could buy the idea that a loving God would put his children in danger of any kind. My mother was filled with love and she was better than the God I learned about through Catholicism. If my mother could be unconditionally loving, then why couldn't God be at least as good a being as she was. ACIM answers that. He doesn't even know we are experiencing this dream. I don't know if ACIM is correct or not. All I know is it makes far more sense than anything I have ever read before. Yes, it is based on faith but isn't all religious dogma?
Well Richard, she held some of the same views so you'd better be careful or the channeled woo woo might come to you you! :)
Thanks for speaking on this topic Richard.
I support ACIM and the most fascinating aspect of this book, in my opinion, is the author. Helen Schucman was an agnostic and did not agree with what she wrote or the messages she was receiving. She hid her scribing from her family and close friends and requested her participation not be revealed until after she died.
An agnostic. How clever!
Glad to find this page. I can only handle about 5
To the writer...
Something struck me from your very first line.
(I studied the Course for a number of years)
It is my experience that the course initially IS to be studied
(the application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge)
However, after the study is where, in my perception, we loose our way. What the course reminds us of is that the EXPERIENCE of remembering can only come through PRACTICE. Herein lies the TRUTH.
So in MY experience... the TRUTH is EASILY understood through the verification process of PRACTICE which creates EXPERIENCE. As the saying goes... (practice what you preach) which we KNOW that many of us do not. Which is why some may still be unable to DECLARE what they KNOW to be true... because they have yet to practice allowing for the experience.
The course, although not all choose to, can be Verified. This is done by choice of creation and the subsequent response. This WILL lead to (those moments of clarity... becoming longer and clearer)... resulting in the Knowing of... based upon the experience of.
YES... we can KNOW... for IF truth IS... we merely need to match that energy to BE that energy.
There is NEVER fault with ANY material which is to be studied... the fault is only in OUR verification process of that material which many still believe that the mere study can give.
FAITH is unnecessary AND inappropriate when truth has been verified. Therefore the course does not ask nor require our faith, it REQUIRES our practice... upon this alone can it be verified.
To the students...
ACIM is a self study course...this is key to its practice.
To the writer... I do not wish to project a conclusion on you, but something struck me from your very first line.
(I studied the Course for a number of years)
It is my experience that the course initially IS to be studied
(the application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge)
However, after the study is where, in my perception, we loose our way. What the course reminds us of is that the EXPERIENCE of remembering can only come through PRACTICE. Herein lies the TRUTH.
So in MY experience... the TRUTH is EASILY understood through the verification process of PRACTICE which creates EXPERIENCE. As the saying goes... (practice what you preach) which we KNOW that many of us do not. Which is why some may still be unable to DECLARE what they KNOW to be true... because they have yet to practice allowing for the experience.
The course, although not all choose to, can be Verified. This is done by choice of creation and the subsequent response. This WILL lead to (those moments of clarity... becoming longer and clearer)... resulting in the Knowing of... based upon the experience of.
YES... we can KNOW... for IF truth IS... we merely need to match that energy to BE that energy.
There is NEVER fault with ANY material which is to be studied... the fault is only in OUR verification process of that material which many still believe that the mere study can give.
FAITH is unnecessary AND inappropriate when truth has been verified. Therefore the course does not ask nor require our faith, it REQUIRES our practice... upon this alone can it be verified.
Cult Cult Cult clear cut and decisive-but you have to have enough experience
Tony - how can you tell how much pain I've experienced by one post? Trust me, I have had pain and still have pain everyday of my life. I'm just not sure if you're judging me because I am enjoying and having some positive reaction to a book I'm reading or you don't like my post.
You just haven't had enough pain, yet.
I've just discovered and started reading ACIM and already am thrilled. It's explaining so much about life and why I am how I am. I believe as I go through the book I will become a better person. I'm also glad I found this blog.
Speaking from my own mystical experiences, from studying The Course in Miracles, and applying the teachings in my own personal life, I know its the greatest path for me... I never needed to belong, to a church or religious group..I studied this Course on my own for a year..Its not intended to be a religion, but it is the advanced teachings of Jesus.. Its about having a personal Relationship with God, and healing and forgiving our relationships with Jesus as our teacher, and others. Its universal in application, and its all about learning to think with The Mind of God, and listening to the Wisdom given as to how to truly love unconditionally, the way God intended! Thank you for a wonderful hub....
Was ACIM truly dictated How would we know? Does Gary Renard have a handle on the truth of the universe How would we know. Right, it all comes down to faith and for the logical mind that is hard to come by. We all want to believe in a soul but how do we know? Spirit? How do we know? Could be wishful thinking because the ego does not want to think of extinction. How do we know?
Hello Richard and everyone ~ I just got to this site due to "Super Soul Sunday" today on Oprahs Own channel.
The first few posts here were very interesting from 2 years ago. Now if I can, allow me to fast rewind/forward respond and bring to light some of the new info fom Kirk Cameron having done Monumental ~ the movie.
Cameron's movie shows the history of why we ended up with rebellion to England and at what cost that was to many Christians and the King of Englands fight to "keep the church lid on truth and what is cannonical".
I once traveled to Israel and saw the 'effects' of fights which were seated in "believe our way so we can change, control or annihilate you".
Has it not always been the way?
The fight for power and control of others has and will always be an evil most people have to overcome. Modern day bullys or even Fox's Book of Martyrs has some very good examples of ego, pride, fearful fight for control and jealousies wrapped in anger. Whether it was Nero, Hitler, the Crusaders, people of power at the Salem witch trials, modern day fights over Issac and Ishmael 'birthrights in Gods eyes' or even sellers of books which claim to have the only "truth" everyone needs.
Truth will always be an issue and source of contention as long as we (singularly, few or majority) judge with our personal scepter and take our eyes off The God of Abraham Issac and Jacob. It is not about the book we ascribe to or the building we attend but the relationship we nurture. Each religion (including ACIM) has bits of truth but there is only one universal truth.
There is none righteous, no, not one lest they come through "the way, the truth, the life'. He is the 'door' by which all persons come to the Father.
Be blessed in your search!
onespiritedangel, Sorry to hear of your bad experience with a self-diluted nut. When it comes to the Bible there are a lot of them out their. The Bible can be a wonderful help and comfort but most teachers are so wrapped up in their own brand of teaching that they can't see the truth of the book. Each writer of each book in the Bible is presenting God as he came to him. God has dealt with people in difference ways at difference times. Poor translations are much of the problem. If you study the Bible without preconceived ideas you can know the truth. Try St. John first, he wrote to make the way plain. Gary Amirault has a lot more along this same line. To me ACIM is just a copy of Bible ideas by some man.
the truth is in you
My experience with ACIM has been a complete nightmare. I sought the help of a hypnotherapist online to address past childhood abuse. The man I ended up with was a "God Nazi," who referred to himself as "one of God's teachers" of ACIM and promised me he had something faster and better than hypnotherapy. He was verbally and emotionally abusive and a complete liar. He told me he had temporary special priveledge from God to do whatever it took to get everyone to see "the truth." He was responsible "for the salvation of the universe." Another line he often used was, "once I admitted I was a liar, I was no longer a liar." I still have nightmares about him coming after me. I have done a lot of research on ACIM since then, and found a site, forum.rickross.com to discover that ACIM is a cult. There is a training site in WI that churns out very abusive "teachers of God." I just finished reading, "Awake Among The Sleeping," a work of fiction based on the real life experience of one of the "teachers" from that program who "woke up" after his wife committed suicide from being brainwashed by these people. The author is Ian Blair Hamilton. You will never convince me that ACIM came from Jesus. Another author, Bruce Fraser Macdonald, claims it was authored by Simon Magus, a magician who lived the same time as Jesus. Cult brainwashing is on the rise as people become more and more spiritually desperate due to present day stressors. Read "Mind Programming" by Eldon Taylor. It's just amazing what humans will do in the name of "God."
As with all knowledge ... eat the chicken, leave the bones.
Hello. I have found myself 'dipping' back and forth with this course, not indulging. The course flat out states in its preamble it is not about the God in the Bible. Taken straight off their page, "the God of the Course is not the God of formal religion, and certainly not the God of the Bible. In truth, our Source is beyond all concepts and anthropomorphisms, and has nothing in common with the biblical God who has all the attributes of special love (a God who has a chosen people) and special hate (a God of punishment) that are associated with the ego thought system." But then consorts that these are the words of Jesus spoken through an atheist? This makes no sense whatsoever. Much discussion above concerning churches and religion. There is a way first off. And this is prime importance, "Do you know what you believe?!" SERIOUSLY. Or is one looking for something to believe in? I did some very serious soul searching, so this must be stated. God did come to me and spoke in a silent language which sound ' mysterious' but is not how it was. Mainly, wisdom imparted and much more comprehension to all matters, including that of my profession that otherwise was not known. I had no attributed any of this to "jesus", but will say to be honest this started out 'thinking as if" atheist, and using in-depth research came to believe very powerfully in and of and with God. How could God know me? The only conclusion, through Jesus like the course writes, although I do not know what "Jesus" the course is referring to. As far as churches go, I can approach the course the same way as with ACIM, take what works and throw out the rest. However, there is a church amongst many that do not cling to politicking , accusing, condemning, judging, or forced doctrine. It is between God and Jesus, just like ACIM...but that is where it ends. Point being,'how well does one know God (in a spiritual sense), or is one searching without knowing?". Knowing God did not take a year, nor did it take that long for miracles to occur in my life. It took 2 months without picking up a book. (Footnote: I will add, that 30 years ago I was placed in a situation to save two lives in the ocean, and it was an absolute miracle I was even there that day...with all cards normally against that possibility. Yes, the man and son would have died within one minute (according to the medics)..had I not been there and called two others over to help. Want to see a miracle? Save a living creature from near death or strive to...the rewards come. Meditation is what I see ACIM being, so whatever can work for somewhere..fine...caution.
I've been studying the Course for over a year.It has helped me let go of a lot of anger and think more positively.My biggest problem with traditional christianity is that there are so many branches of it.How is one supposed to pick from being a Catholic,Protestant, Baptist, Seventh day Adventist etc?
i just wanted to mention after reading all your thoughts which is quite interesting.
note 1 thing alot of you have sencerity for christ which is good, the second coming of him will not be like the first, he will be coming to cause peace,
will we all be able to accept the king, Jeovah has appointed.
God has many aspects, wisdom, power.. but he is love
Hi , Thank you Tony for your insight and comments on Richard's Blog.
It was like reading my own experience in the path of awakening .
I always communicated , from a young age with a source , studied the Bible , and always argued with
Teachers or pastors , and remember well I wanted to separate the Bible in two and only keep the Teachings of
Jesus , mainly the Love messages. Since the last twenty years , if I asked for a answer , it is always given me by all sorts of
means, ( opening a book somewhere or someone telling me , even by songs, documentaries or movies ) All the teachings have Thruth within them
,sometimes I could read over them and grasp it not, till I was ready to understand or it was given again in another form. Sai Baba tought me a lot, to open my mind and respect all teachings and people and the ACIM helping me further to see and experience the One- or Is ness. Now the time for argueing is ended , to each their own believes on their paths, they will all lead to the same destination, I believe.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts,
LOVE & LIGHT for All,
I come from a very different place to many here on how ACIM came to me and I hope that this is helpful to all who read or dont read ACIM.
I have never praticed Religion or Spirituality....My Bible reading consisted of a few pages which brought me to a conclusion that there were two Gods being spoken of.
I decided that If God were Loving He would show me
If He were not Loving...........I wanted no part of Him
I didn't know If there was a God.......But realised the only way to know would be to be shown. That was around 1996
Through life lessons I slowly grew to realise the importance of Love...........and had to learn what Love was not also.
In 2003 during an intense Expereince of Love I remembered Self .........My only words at the time for this were "We are all One and there is only Love" .....Everything Exists in thought............Nothing I had expereinced "here" was real.........It was nothing.
And in its place ............Everything..beyond words.
So a year later a friend of my mums recognised what i was trying to speak of............and gifted me ACIM.
In it is described the Expereince that I had (Have as its Eternal) perfectly..........not on one page but on just about all of them ........I call it source signiture.
If you read the Forgotten song, that is what I (I being ALL) Expereinced.......
Now you may think that as this was how I came to ACIM that I would tell you all to read ACIM ..........IT IS THE KEY ETC ETC
Firstly i do recognise many of the lessons in ACIM as the changes of mind i had during my apparent life here.
Yes it is the clearest form of teaching I have seen
There are many forms of this course is absolutely true
My way was in fact through life, songs and films........it held all the lessons within it and i can point to many of these that helped me to make the change of mind.....
Also the Bible says exactly the same thing as ACIM...........BUT you have to go back to the original "root" meanings of the original words used as these were mistranslated and misintepreted. It is easy for me as I know what I look for.....
If you listen to the teachings of Church doctrine you are misled .........Investigate the Bible......look into those things that dont make sense and you will see a very different Bible to that which Religions have taught.
It is a book of Love.
Then there is Buddhism...........The Dharma has "source signiture"
The OT has Source signiture
Horus has Source Signiture
Bahai has Source Signiture
Hindu Upnishads has Source signiture
You see when the Bible says Jesus had great understanding of the Scriptures it means ALL scriptures ........ Jesus would speak as confidently about Buddhist teachings as he would about Mosaic etc etc because when taken back to the original meaning they all say the SAME thing :)
And if his audience was not Religious he would speak in parables............always teaching Love via forgivness
Always teaching to look only at the Truth in the other
Always teaching to look past the flesh to the Truth.....
Truth is, Jesus gave us a simple message which is enough
Love all as self
Judge not
And you will note that while he began His ministry preaching and debating..........He concluded it "Forgiving" and doing nothing else.....
As for my intense moment of Love which lifted me into the Awareness of CHRIST SELF AND THEN TO LOOK UPON AND BECOME ONE IN GOD.............It was Love, Love bourne through Forgivness seeing another as my Self.
A Course in Miracles says that if you cease judgement.... It is the end of the ego
That is correct
That was my way
For a little time
Who cares what the Catholic Church thinks. They do not tolerate anything that does not add to their coffers or their political influence. This is an institution that protects child molesting priests, child abusing nuns, discriminates against gays, and oppresses women. The Catholic Church has no moral credibility from which to criticize alternative beliefs.
I have got to post what I said on FB! I really do get the grief with this idea or knowledge. I used to take it seriously and now I laugh at them because it is funy how they will come right at you and attack you without ever realizing the research put behind that statement. The first hing that they say is that I have not read the Bible and then the False teachings. What a ploy and it is a very good one because look at all the religiouns and they fight with one another...just like the song says One Tin Soldier Rides Away.
Long Time no hear Richard. Yes Faith as is taught by the church is outside of oneself, while Faith that Jesus was teaching was that which comes from WITHIN oneself. Now most Westernized churches don't teach that because if they did there would be no need for churches. They wouldn't have the power and a need to control the people.