A Curious Thing

It is a curious thing; typically the first person to offer financial advice, often unsolicited, is someone who has never had any real finances to speak of. Relationship advice, typically someone who has never been in a real one or had a successful one is the first to step up. On a different level we all know the house painter, who does very nice work, but whose house always seems to be in need of paint. The obese/smoker doctor, the mechanic whose wife’s car is always in need of some kind of repair are almost cliché. One group is quick to comment on areas they have either no real experience or success in, the other, though quite knowledgeable and possibly accomplished have failed to practice what they know so well in their own lives.

Spiritually we must seek out those who have demonstrated that which we desire in our lives: peace, serenity, respect, life success, etc and ask them the questions on our heart, becoming willing to follow direction. To have a spiritual awakening we must be honest with ourselves about everything in our lives, open-minded to learn and experience new ways of thinking and be willing to change. For in truth we all reap as we have sown. 

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

The Sharpest Instrument

When Living on the Spiritual Basis one of the hardest tasks in life is to not answer the unasked question. To illustrate: I had been working spiritually with a young man for some years and though he sought answers and asked the right questions, he was blocked from writing the answers on his heart. On the surface his life appeared well put together, successful provider, caring family man, giving attentive friend, of service to his community, friends, even strangers. His laugh quick and genuine, handshake firm, but he had a secret that in the end cost him nearly everything. I knew of his secret for many years, had I broached the subject with him, unbidden, we would have had a conversation that at first blush would have appeared positive but in reality would have marked the end of our relationship. How do I know? Bitter experience. So I waited. Answering only the questions asked, regularly biting back words, being circumspect to the best of my ability, praying regularly for him and his loved ones and asking in meditation for direction, hopeful for the day when he would step from ship to shore. It took him ten years and the fulfillment of the lesson: the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self is pain. I’m grateful it only took ten, for most unfortunately never disembark. What this man discovered is that he had the answers he needed all along, having asked most of the right questions along the way, all that was required was a commitment to follow through and truly do the work, thus transforming theory (mind) into belief (heart).  It has been said “when the heart speaks the heart listens” so do as this man finally did, take the things you “know” and put them to work in your life.  

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

  

A Simpler Level, Our Happy Destiny

If you are struggling with forming a conception of God, a simple way to begin is by setting aside any prejudice, animosity or preconceived notions concerning God and religion, and begin anew at a simpler level: that God is loving, intelligent and available. Loving: all are connected in spirit, no one favored over another, for if in fact God played favorites we would not live in a universe but a chaos. Intelligent: the creator of the universe is the epitome of intelligence. Available: if our prayers have no purchase, God unavailable to His creation, His children, we would be little more than animals and though all creatures great and small are noble, we alone posses the intuition to question. The Lion and Gazelle both graceful and a wonder in their own right never question their place in creation, only Mankind questions.

Additionally we must strife to be open minded and stay teachable. The surest way to shut oneself off from the sunlight of the spirit is to believe that there is nothing left to learn or because of fear we chose not to freely give of what we have learned, denying God, no crowing roosters required.

Finally, honesty. Be honest with the world but of much greater importance is being honest with ones self. When troubled or confused we ask for guidance in prayer and meditation, never allowing secrets to be the hidden driver behind our fears. We unburden ourselves of our secrets, and if we don’t know how, again we seek guidance in prayer and the answers will come if we are willing. By doing these simple, but not easy things we will begin to see God everywhere we turn, for Happy Destiny is not a destination, it is all around us now.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Pure Of Heart And The Pebbles Path

The concept of a pure heart can be troubling, unless we possess the spiritual key. Once a heart has been touched by loss, sin, suffering of any kind, is it possible for that heart to ever truly be pure again? Some misguided souls would have us believe that it can't be, fortunately for “His” children, which in truth is all of us, this belief is false. Living on the Spiritual Basis we have learned that everything and everyone is connected. Every choice, decision and action having significance, from the seemingly mundane to the monumental, affecting not only ourselves but the entire world in the same manner as a pebble dropped in a pond.

When a pebble is dropped into a still pond the surface ripples emanate out in all directions, rebounding to eventually touch every shore. But what of the unseen ripples? As the pebble slips from sight, it’s journey continuing to the bed of the pond, it sends out unseen waves touching every aspect and every creature in and of the pond.

To be pure in heart is to know the pebbles path, aware of our true relationship with “Our Father." This new awareness, this filter for the issues of our heart, when intelligently used blesses us and all our brothers and sisters, for we now “see God” in everything and everyone, our true connection in Spirit revealed, saluting our innate spirituality, regardless of station or circumstances. Our pebble is our consciousness falling through an eternal, infinite pool, touching all and being touched by all, the pool nothing less than God's love and knowledge, purity personified. Our raised awareness cleansing us, renewing us as we travel through eternity hand in hand with our Father.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Mercy, Cloudy Days And Dragons

Being merciful toward others is laudable, but what of the mercy we fail to show ourselves? Do you mentally (or worse, out loud) chastise yourself when a mistake is made or when some negative or objectionable thought floats through your mind? We all make mistakes and curious thoughts float up in everyone’s consciousness, so we must put away the mental cat of nine tails and demonstrate mercy in our own house (consciousness). God, Our Father, wants all His children to be: happy, joyous and free. So we stop berating ourselves and thank God that by knowing Him better we can learn from our mistakes and when those curious negative thoughts seem to appear from nowhere we can turn to Him in prayer, ask if there is anything to be learned (sometimes there is, but not always, often a cloudy day is just a cloudy day) and move on. Under no pretense do we engage in a hunt for the cause of the thought, attempting to root out it’s location in the psyche. To do so only opens us to the deadly trap of morbid reflection and in the ancient cartographer’s lexicon, there be dragons. If there is something to be known or learned, God will make it abundantly clear, so ask Him; but don’t go looking for dragons.

 ©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

True Mercy In Action

To show mercy to those in pain, whether physical or emotional, is of course a quality to be cultivated. But how merciful are our thoughts? It is the secret place the Great Teacher is really speaking too with the lesson: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 7:1-5). To help but hold contempt in our heart for anyone, demonstrates having missed the point entirely. Having embraced Living on the Spiritual Basis does not mean we ignore the contemptible acts of others, but we must not confuse the act with the actor. In truth we recognize them, praying for the individuals consciousness to be raised and in meditation seek to improve conditions. Their acts will be addressed by the proper appointed secular authority if applicable and spiritually we are all ultimately responsible for our own demonstration, reaping what we have sown. A more seductive form of contempt is when we decide that anyone is beyond the pale, incapable of growth or spiritual understanding for any reason. The most spiritually handicapped individual’s life will improve when we shine the sunlight of the spirit, to the best of our ability at the time, on them. Sometimes the change in condition will be obvious, often however it will not be and that is none of our business anyway. What matters is our demonstration, for by our action we have raised not only our consciousness and the consciousness of those around us, but the entire world.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

What Does It Mean To Be Righteous?

Righteous. This word has been married with “self” so often that if someone is righteous it has a seemingly negative connotation, which could not be further from the truth. Since placing our feet on the path, wholeheartedly committed to Living on the Spiritual Basis; to become a righteous person means we are not only living by right conduct but embracing right thinking. Right thinking, now there is a loaded term. Right thinking; spiritually, means keeping an open mind, remaining teachable, refusing to accept negative thoughts or conditions as God‘s will, to truly practice patience, tolerance, kindliness and love in every area of life. Now, do not misunderstand, righteous does not mean we become servile or scraping, on the contrary. Our lives, the true demonstration of the path, will naturally attract inquiry from those seeking a better way of living but we do steer clear of argument and debate with those just seeking confrontation, avoiding the trap of being labeled: self-righteous. We stand firmly for our beliefs and will witness to them whenever or wherever it will serve any good.

To sum up: to be righteous means our conduct is right, that we are maintaining an open mind, are willing to learn and will honestly share our heartfelt beliefs whenever it will serve any good purpose.
So being righteous is a desired state of being, free of the concerns of self.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Meek As Moses?

It is difficult for me to think of Moses and not picture in my minds eye Charlton Heston standing with arms raised, staff in hand, robes flowing, hair and beard blowing in the wind exhorting the Red Sea to part. Not exactly the secular definition of meek. Yet Moses is the epitome of Meek. To be meek spiritually means we have abandoned our old ways of thinking and living and have placed our feet solidly on the path of enlightenment, embracing Living on the Spiritual Basis. In this light we pray we stay the course, one day at a time, so in time we truly become “as meek as Moses.”

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Feldercarb!

The meek shall inherit the earth. To be meek, spiritually, is to be so raised in consciousness that we are open to God, demonstrating faith without reservation, convinced that His will for us is always joyous and positive, having ceased “outlining” how we think God should act in our lives. We have, in truth, completely placed our will and our lives in His hands, withholding nothing. Unfortunately there really isn’t a word that accurately reflects this. Meek comes close, but I can’t help seeing a mouse in my minds eye as a representation of meek or Barney Fife as the human analog. Perhaps we should change meek to feldercarb. Blessed are the feldercarb: for they shall inherit the earth. Or not, well, sleep on it. FELDERCARBS OF THE WORLD UNITE! Sorry.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

The Meek, Inherit?

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5) well now, on the surface this seems to make little sense. We all know or have have known “meek” individuals and blessed isn‘t the first thing that comes to mind. So, once again we face a spiritual conundrum. The statement is either true or it isn’t, and if it isn’t, what else is false and how in the world are we supposed to figure it out. In much the same way as “poor in spirit” is misunderstood, so is the term meek spiritually. Meek, before God, means simply to be humble and compliant to the path of spiritual enlightenment, nothing more. When the Rich Young Man (who had great possessions) sought out the rabbi Jesus, Jesus did not berate or condemn him. He merely pointed out that he would have to leave his “possessions” (preconceived ideas and beliefs) behind if he were to follow the teacher. Upon placing our feet on the path of enlightenment we have to “cease fighting everything and everyone” and strive to be “meek as Moses” to be successful. Simple but not easy, a price has to be paid and that price is the surrendering of self. Now we have the key: Spiritually to be meek is to be wholly committed to Living on the Spiritual Basis and through our actions demonstrating the love, power and guidance of God, blessings in demonstration, our inheritance realized.

©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Mourning Becomes Destructive

Mourning to excess is destructive. Many have stopped living themselves when a loved one has passed, literally hoping for their own end so they can “join” with them on the “other side.” When we have committed ourselves to living on the Spiritual Basis, death and all suffering come into true focus. Nothing truly dies. The flesh will fail for this is the nature of flesh, but the spark of the Divine; the ineffable power at the heart of everything that stands outside of time and our synthetic understanding of the universe, was never born and can never die. Mourn those who have passed beyond our limited sight by celebrating their life, this lesson learned, comforted in the knowledge of their translation from flesh back to true self, unbound and unencumbered by physical limitations.

 Death provides a clear ending point, but what of the sneaky things we mourn? Lamenting lost or missed opportunities, those “if I only would have” moments when we fantasize what our lives would have been like if we had acted or chosen differently. “If I was only (fill in the blank) years younger“, “If I didn’t have kids” (this doesn’t mean we don’t love our children or in any way wish they were gone). “What if” moments, we all have them, so when they come, let them pass with little notice, like a small wave lapping our feet at the waters edge. Do not under any circumstance comment out loud or engage in conversation regarding them. For if we do, what began as a seemingly benign chat will devolve into morbid reflection, pulling us out of the moment and into a destructive contemplation of the past. Profit from your experiences, use them as teaching instruments for you and more importantly others, but do not dwell on them, for any reason. “We do not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it” for one of life’s great truths is that “Pain is the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self.” 
©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

The Rich Young Man Anchored By His Possessions

Have you inventoried your “great possessions”? We all have them and until we identify them and understand their roots they may act as invisible anchors, slowing our progress. Does this mean we have to strip away and discard all we own (physically and mentally) to grow spiritually? No, but we must discard our attachments. There is nothing spiritually hindering in possessions, unless we define ourselves by our possessions. We are not the house we live in or derive any real status (positive or negative) from its physical location. We are not the car we drive, wristwatch we wear or any other material possession for these things are all passing, mere ornaments of living, gifts to enjoy but of little spiritual value, destructive if they lull us into a false sense of  perceived entitlement.

As hindering as these may be they pale in significance when weighed against our mental possessions which plant the deepest and heaviest anchors. Once we close our mind to any new thinking or concept, in any area of life, we throw out another anchor, for nothing slows, even stops our spiritual growth quicker than a closed mind. To hold that any group or people are either favored by God or despised, plants another anchor. To place anyone or anything on a pedestal, a sacred cow, another anchor. To refuse to recognize the inherent dignity of anyone, regardless of their station, another anchor, there are many more. We are spiritual beings, the power that is within us, moves us is beyond measure; it is no less than the creative life force that animates the mayfly and powers the stars. As great as this power is, we can set enough anchors to slow our growth to the point of it being imperceptible. We must begin cutting away the anchors slowing our progress, for if we don’t, our fate will be the same as the Rich Young Man, who failed to demonstrate and …went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:22)
©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

The Poor In Spirit, Blessed? The Set Aside Prayer

 There is probably no more misunderstood passage in the Sermon on the Mount than “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). We all have known or know those who are “poor spirited” and blessed usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, when really considering this passage for the first time it is difficult not to think of those times when we have felt poor spirited; somewhat perplexing to the notion that if this is “blessed”, what is heaven really like? The “poor in spirit” Jesus refers too has nothing to do with being poor spirited. Being poor in spirit means we have let go of our preconceptions and self will. There is a prayer known as the set-aside or lay-aside prayer that speaks to this state of consciousness. There are a number of variations, this is one of the simplest forms: Dear God, please help me to set aside everything I think I know about you and this world, so I may have an open mind and a new experience. Please help me to see your Truth, Amen. Surrendering to win, setting aside our preconceived ideas and sacred cows. If we can achieve this raised state of consciousness,  remaining open minded and willing to learn, to change and honestly address our defects as well as our assets of character in their proper light, we would truly be “poor in spirit” and the kingdom of heaven ours. 




©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

  

Blessed

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:1-12 KJV)

Blessed. All are equal in God’s eyes, what determines our demonstration is practicing the within, without. To believe in the word but fail to live by the word leads to suffering. When we fail to stand for what’s in our heart, the truth as we have come to know it, we will be reminded later by spiritual discomfort. It typically happens when we are afraid we are going to offend someone or fear coming across as some kind of “Holy Roller.” This discomfort is always self inflicted, God doesn’t do it. So, just for today, by His love and guidance, choose to stand for the truth, and those times when we have feet of clay, His love, guidance and unconditional forgiveness will set our feet back on the path, removing our pain, for we are all truly blessed.
©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

The Original Self Help Guide

You could “Burn all the books, for the answers are all here.” The books written on how to become a different person, to change, to grow, to alter ones life could fill a library. The Sermon On The Mount has been with us for 2000 years, yet how few really study it. Living on the Spiritual Basis studying this codification leads to the easier softer way, everything else a variation on its themes. Haven’t read the Sermon in a while? What a gorgeous day to revisit it.


Matthew 5-7:27 (King James Version)
Matthew 5

 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
 21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
 33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
 38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 6
 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
 11 Give us this day our daily bread.
 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 7
 1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
 12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

And when He ended, the people were astonished, for He taught as someone having the authority of these words, not merely as a teacher.



 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Flat Earth and Miracles

MIRACLE n. 1. An act or event that seems to transcend or contradict all known natural or scientific laws and is usually thought to be supernatural in origin. 2. Any wonderful or amazing thing, fact, or event; a wonder.

God does not break cosmic law. The laws of retribution, unintended consequence, reaping and sowing,  attraction, intention, gravity, like begets like and others are never broken or contradicted. Our limited (human) ability to comprehend may leave us with the impression that miracles seemingly break these laws, but this is false. What happens is that by raising ones consciousness a higher law is tapped, transcending the lower. In the secular sense think of it as appealing a judgment from a lower court to a higher, if a judgment is reversed, the reversal is based on some missed, overlooked or ignored precedent, not a rewriting of the code (at least that is how it is supposed to work). Secular appeals progress through a system, ultimately arriving at the court of final appeal, the Supreme Court. Supreme Court decisions, since it is populated by humans who can be and often are contradictory in their actions and thinking, can be arbitrary in interpreting secular law, God however is many things, but never arbitrary. Cosmic law is applied equally, for God does not, cannot play favorites, His Love abundant and equally weighed to all His children.

 Not long ago, the accepted orthodoxy was that the earth was flat, the center of the universe and anyone who disagreed branded a heretic, suffering greatly for voicing a dissenting view. Curious isn’t how we continue to believe that we have the answers, the laws of the universe understood, truly Man's hubris on parade. Years from now our future selves will look back on this time in much the same way we look back on those who once held the earth was flat, with the same incredulity.

Without miracles, our appeal to higher law, how could there be faith? By performing  miracles God demonstrates a level of love and law that here to fore had not been known. Miracles can, have and do happen, a higher law beyond our limited understanding accessed. What is required of us to raise our consciousness? Heartfelt prayer and patience. Don’t think so? How’s that whole flat earth thing working out?
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Casting Our Burdens, A Prayer

Casting our burdens is at the heart of Living on the Spiritual Basis. Having learned and embraced the truth that God is the only real power, the one true source; our Spirit, the Spark of the Divine within having always been, our true self immortal, the truth now evident that we are spiritual beings experiencing the human condition, not limited humans in search of the divine. We have come to realize time and material possessions are illusions, which often burden us with fear, leading us to desperation as we lose focus of the truth and drift into morbid reflection.

The Prayer:

Just for today, I will cast the burdens that creep into my consciousness, whether they are worldly or personal, on to God’s infinite shoulders and Practice the Presence of God in every area of my life to the best of my ability, One Day at a Time, ad infinitum. Amen.
 ©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

There Be Dragons

On the old maps when the mapmaker reached the end of what was known they would often write in the margin “There Be Dragons” to denote the unknown along the edges of the known, fear inculcated as fact. Being a metaphysician, I find that margin note quite appropriate when embarking on any attempt to teach spiritual truth and principles. With over 1000 different Christian Churches, Islam with over a billion followers and radical disagreement among its adherents to the interpretation of the prophet’s words, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and God only knows how many other religions big and small believing in all manner of things, many of whom claiming they are the only, one true path or church, the appearance of dragons on this subject is guaranteed.  

So, in order to continue, I need to fly my flag: I am a First Century or red letter Christian. In many bibles the words attributed to Jesus are in red, so my faith begins with those words, everything else filtered through them. I do not believe there is a need for anyone to “interpret” the Christ teaching for us since we are asked by the Great Carpenter to read with inner light, the spark of the Divine that is within all, regardless of station in life or current circumstances. Of course we should stay open to all teachers; the mistake is when we make them “sacred cows”, placed on a metaphysical pedestal, beyond question or error. As the Buddha teaches: “Embrace nothing: If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha... Only live your life as it is, Not bound to anything.”
     
To be very clear: we will have many teachers in the course of our existence. We learn from them, but always hold to the truth that in God’s eyes all are equal, student and teacher, and when you are called on to teach, and you will be, rejoice. All that is required to become enlightened is an open mind and heart, coupled with a willingness to serve a greater destiny than our limited (secular) imaginations can conceive. So, listen to opposing viewpoints and engage in constructive dialog where appropriate (be very wary of dragons here and never argue with a closed mind, leave them gently with a silent prayer, for this is how we kill the Buddha) and filter everything through Spiritual Truth, as you understand it. If you’re not quite sure what your spiritual truth is, I’m sure there is a book around here somewhere with some red words in it, as fine a place to start as can be found. Checking my six for dragons.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

ILL Health, As A Way Of Life

Emotion is your friend. Get overly emotional about everything. Be outraged not only at perceived slights directed at you but at everyone else as well, even strangers.

Drink lots of caffeine and energy drinks. So what if it makes it hard to sleep. Sleep and rest are overrated anyway. Besides you’ll get plenty of sleep when your dead.

Eat anything that is quick and easy. Food is food and time is precious. What is more important, eating or working, texting, blogging, chatting, reality TV, online poker, partying etc? The body may be a temple, but it is your temple so decorate it anyway you want.

Vitamins are expensive, and some say they really don’t work anyway, so they must be a waste of money.

Stay busy. Even when “relaxing” do something you deem constructive, like texting, chatting, Facebook, etc. God forbid you take any real down time.

Avoid prayer and meditation, religiously.

Never walk if you can ride.

You will always have time to exercise later, when you have more time.

When you do get sick, make sure you research the condition at length. Speak of your malady with everyone (make sure you rehearse your speech, don’t want to leave anything out) and listen intently when they in turn share their experiences, especially the negative ones to see how they may apply to you.

Never follow a Doctor’s advice completely, it’s your body and who knows better what’s good for it than you.

And never, ever, turn to God in anything.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

 

Recipe For Failure

Be sanctimonious. Pride yourself on being the perpetual devil’s advocate; always pointing out why something will never work, reveling in the potential pitfalls. Be sure to inject yourself into every conversation, whether invited or not, because you are providing an invaluable service. Develop your genius for predicting the worst at every turn. Have no real focus in life. Spend your time gossiping whether in person or by endless blogging and texting about meaningless things, never missing an opportunity to point out the negative. Check your Facebook page religiously, wherever you are, driving, at work, etc because your comments are needed. Watch reality TV religiously and become emotionally involved with the fake narrative. Trust in blind luck, every failure affirming the belief that life really is a crap shoot, and you just are unlucky. Always think of yourself first and never be of service to anyone unless there is something in it for you. And by all means never step out in faith, or trust in God and never ask for His help and guidance.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Recipe For Unhappiness

Reflect morbidly. Worry about everything. Tell yourself that time is running out and you aren’t getting any younger. Rehash the memories of all those times you zigged when you should have zagged. Visualize all the people who have ever mistreated you and relive the experience. Worry about your health. Go online and search medical databases to diagnose any ache or pain you have and what it might be a symptom of. Money? Have some? Will it be enough, will it last, what if some crook in a suit finds a way to steal it? Don’t have much? How will you get more? What if you don’t? Whatever your financial condition, dwell on all the possible negative outcomes. In short, think about yourself, relentlessly. Do not let any thoughts of God or good dissuade you from your mission and you are sure to be successful at being unhappy.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved 

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Settled Science And Sacred Cows

             Have you an open mind?  In the course of teaching metaphysics this question is often met with incredulity, a brusque “of course.” It is in the secret place of our heart where this query truly lurks. On important social issues, we must spend equal time studying both sides, to the point that we can intelligently argue either side if we wish to be truly informed. If we choose not to do this out of laziness we then form our opinions based on emotion and snippets of unverified information gleaned from a variety of sources lacking any systematic or logical course of study.

         In the 1970’s I was a member of the Futurist Society. Futurists predict the future based on what is deemed the best verifiable evidence extrapolated logically. I accepted their pronouncements at face value, since they had studied and researched the issues (I believed) at depth. I looked forward to the arrival of each issue for one particular writer whose articles were always well written and interesting. The new issue arrived and I attempted to read some of the other articles first, a little delayed gratification, but soon turned to my favorite author. With a smile on my face I began reading. When finished I felt unsettled. I couldn’t put my finger on it but something was lurking in the back of my mind. So after about a week I went to the library to do some research. Firing up the microfiche (remember microfiche and cabinets filled with microfilm) I located the statistics I was looking for and there was the problem. The author had reversed the stats that supported his position! I felt relieved and a little proud. I reasoned that some underling had provided the stats to the author incorrectly and a correction would be forth coming. The next issue arrived however and nothing was mentioned. I surmised that by the time he became aware it was too late for this issue but would certainly be in the next. Well, he did address it in the next issue. The response was one of the most over the top, vitriolic pieces of junk I, to this day, have ever read. Not only did he defend his position and facts, anyone who disagreed with him was an idiot! I was left stunned and breathless. I rechecked the stats to see if I misread them. Nope. A sacred cow died that day.

        Spiritually, sacred cows are everywhere. Many are inherited, some have quietly strolled in and we have not bothered to do the work to turn them out, usually because if we do we are afraid of what we will find when they are gone, since sacred cows are notoriously poor house keepers. Living on the Spiritual Basis we must not be afraid to ask questions and seek the truth, since: the truth will set you free. Trust, but verify.

        I didn’t renew my membership in the Futurists Society. Looking back, one of their predictions for 2000 (then 25 years in the future) was, that if we didn’t act immediately the world was about to be plunged into a new ice age, one that we instigated. Beyond doubt. Settled science. All the top climatologists said so. Hmmm...
 ©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

God Doesn’t Take Plastic

God is never unfair. If we have been busy living life secularly, believing in God but doing little to demonstrate that belief, is it really any surprise when we fail to demonstrate spiritually? Once again, reaping and sowing in action. No real crop (practicing prayer and meditation, being of service) was ever planted and now winter (trouble) has arrived and the cupboard is bear. Since the Universe isn’t a fast food restaurant, where if you have a credit card you can get your food on the promise of future payment, God doesn’t take plastic. The promise of prayer and good works tomorrow is meaningless towards our demonstration today. Faith without works is dead. So start today to plant the crop you wish to harvest, to stock your cupboard for the inevitable winter days that come for all. To be clear: We cannot live off of yesterdays work, for in truth what our cupboard is stocked with is the reality of our relationship with and to God, that by doing HIS work well TODAY, all our future needs will be met.

So, just for today Practice the Presence of God in every area of life. Salute the spark of the Divine in all you meet. Forgive. Spend a few minutes each day in prayer and meditation. Carry the Good News on your face so that any who hunger can be filled. By planting and nurturing this crop, we will never hunger, our cupboard always full, our good works the demonstration of the Power within.
 ©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

God's Handwork

God doesn’t break cosmic law, to do so would establish favoritism. No one stands above another before God, all being loved equally. Most of us, unfortunately, go through life by self propulsion until some hardship befalls. Being nominal believers we turn to prayer in desperation and fear, asking for help. Now if we are loved by God, a love even greater than a parent has for their child, why does God seemingly not answer or as many have said “God answers all prayers, just sometimes the answer is no?”

Consider the fast food restaurant. We pull up to the speaker/microphone, place our order, drive up to the window and get our food. Oh wait, that’s right; we have to pay for the food before it is handed to us. What happens if we lack sufficient funds? No food, we go hungry. The person holding our order may love us and want with all their heart to give us the food since clearly we are hungry, in need of relief, but they cannot. To do so would be unfair to everyone else; other customers, fellow employees, the restaurant owner, share holders and the community at large would suffer, because if we get free food, why shouldn’t everyone? Providing something for nothing, based only on emotion, inevitably leads to anarchy, suffering and lack immanent.

God never says “no” but He never will or even can answer a prayer that will give prosperity to one if it brings poverty to another, peace to one by causing turmoil to another. To do so breaks cosmic law, and since He is the author of the law, He never breaks it. All prayers are answered in the positive, but often because we have certain expectations, based in self, we are unable to see God’s hand at work.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Doc Holiday, Prayer And Meditation

To recognize failure intelligently is the first step toward building success.
We all fail, often. Do we profit from the experience or reflect morbidly on it?

Recognize success with thanksgiving, and build more success on that.
Giving thanks for success and asking the same for all, guarantees further success for all, if they are willing.

We can have anything in life that we really want, but we must be prepared to take the responsibilities that go with it.
Why do so many fail to demonstrate? God knows if we are prepared and He will never bring anything into our life that will overwhelm or harm us.

God is ready the moment we are.
We ready ourselves through consistent scientific prayer and meditation. Who would try to run a marathon without training or fly a plane with no instruction, yet spiritually many, if not most expect God to deliver just because they asked, essentially asking to win the marathon and promising to train afterwards. To be clear: God can and does provide miracles without pre-requisite, such is Grace, our responsibility once we become aware is to Practice the Presence of God, to consistently train ourselves to be of service, not only to God, but to our fellows as well.

God always knows the answer.
What more do we need to know?

The biggest fool of all is the man who bothers about outer things and neglects his own consciousness.If you have no time for prayer and meditation, you will have lots of time for sickness and trouble.
Toward the end of the movie Tombstone, Doc Holliday is receiving last rites from a Catholic priest as Wyatt Earp walks in. Doc comments to Wyatt “I was just investigating the mysteries of the Church of Rome. It appears my hypocrisies know no bounds.” Hypocrisy had little to do with it. We all chose the course of our lives, many putting off to tomorrow their “investigation.”  For Doc Holliday, at least in this movie, better late than never but since most of us cannot rely on cards and a quick gun hand for our source and security, ultimately failing Doc in the end as well, we chose the sure bet today, to Practice the Presence of God daily through prayer, meditation and service.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Keys To The Car

So many times in life we have thought we were ready only to find that a little, or a lot, more seasoning was needed. Typically this discovery happened after we were up to our necks. No? How about that position you thought you were ready for, so many want the title “Boss” until they get it. Or that home improvement project that looked so easy on TV. Not to mention, but I suppose I am, all those times when we were teenagers, convinced we were ready to be grown up, “responsible.” When our children go through those years all we can do is suggest they slow down and enjoy the time, since once you become “responsible” that horse has left the barn and will never return. They will probably listen as well as we did at that age.

Spiritually it is impossible to demonstrate beyond our understanding. Many have tried and great has been their fall. Conversely as you grow in spiritual understanding new horizons and opportunities naturally unfold. God, “Our Father” waits in readiness for our advancement. Truly the keys to the kingdom are in our hands, the timing ours. As we grow day by day in understanding by Practicing the Presence of God, raising our consciousness one day at a time, we embrace the Truth of Being; that we are timeless children of the Great Creative Lifeforce; connected to all, God immanent. So, just for today, pray gently and meditate on God’s love and guidance and if your teenager asks for the keys to the car try not to dwell on what you did in your parent’s car as soon as you were out of sight.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Rhetorical Sledge Hammers

Do you know anyone who has “tried every thing” but has failed to demonstrate much success in life? Some of the obvious “every things” are: “I’ve tried every diet but nothing works for me”, “I exercise but nothing seems to happen”, “I just don’t have the time to (fill in the blank)” all of which are nonsense since even though a diet’s food regimen may be unrealistic, every diet works if it is adhered to and I don’t care what the ads say, 20 minutes a day 3 times a week is not going to give you ripped abs and we always find the time for the things we really want to do. Picture a perpetual bricklayer toiling to build a wall and then tearing it down at the end of each day, working very hard but in the end accomplishing nothing. The previous examples may be troublesome but they only set the tone for the truly destructive. “I have read the Bible but how do I know who wrote it and besides it’s contradictory”, “I’ve prayed but nothing happens, so either God is punishing me, doesn‘t care or isn‘t there” are rhetorical death traps, entire crews of perpetual bricklayers at work.

 “Faith without work is dead.” By inviting God in and then slamming the door in His face, dialing His number and hanging up as soon as the connection is made, is it any wonder so many fail to demonstrate? Surrender the yeah buts, the you don’t understands, the shoulda, coulda, wouldas, the contempt prior to investigation and all the other bulwarks of self centered fear that justifies in our consciousness using those rhetorical sledgehammer to tear down our work. Pick up the bricklayers trowel and build a relationship with God and when you find the sledge hammer in your hand, drop it immediately and reaffirm God’s love and light by practicing the Presence of God where the fear is. Soon a wonderful spiritual structure will take shape to sustain you, the sledge hammer all but forgotten.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Our Duty

“If you have no time for prayer and meditation, you will have lots of time for sickness and trouble.” Pretty much sums it up. Our duty, now that we have placed our feet on the path of Living on the Spiritual Basis, is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us. We do this by whole heartedly out picturing our belief in God’s perfect love and guidance in every area of our existence, holding to the bedrock truth that God will not, cannot, ask us to do anything beyond our present reach, to sacrifice our integrity, our spiritual growth or cause us pain and suffering of any kind. “We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn’t do it.”  We hold to God‘s love, and though trembling, stand; demonstrating the truth of being, fulfilling our duty.
 ©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Yankee Fans And Sacred Cows

Sacred cows, pretty much everyone has some, the obvious ones being sports teams, political parties and religion. Ever try to talk to a Yankee’s fan about the Red Sox, a liberal about conservatives or a Lutheran about Catholics? Of course the reverse is true in all examples as well, little chance of concord being achieved in any case. A “die hard” fan or true believer is not interested in anything that does not agree with their “belief.” Recently there was a newspaper story of two baseball fans converging in a bar. Their “conversation” ending in a knifing and death, two lives forever changed over meaningless sacred cows. Is it any wonder that many wars have started over little more? Millions if not billions of lives, since man began keeping score, have been sacrificed at the alter of one sacred cow or another. Write this on your heart in bold letters: NO SACRED COWS. Clearly, there is nothing wrong with rooting for a team, holding political beliefs or belonging to a religion. The error comes when we let emotions over run our common sense, objectifying those we disagree with. To be clear: common sense, when one is Living on the Spiritual Basis, is the knowledge that the only sacred thing is our relationship with God. So root for your team, participate in the political process as much or as little as suits you and by all means practice your religion but never lose sight of the truly sacred: the love of “Our Father” for all His children, even if we believe they root for the wrong team. Go USC.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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Hot And Thirsty

Remember the scene in the old westerns where the tired, dusty and thirsty cowboy rides in, dismounts his horse and walks over to the pump by the water trough? He sticks his head under the spout, grabs the handle and starts pumping. For the first few pumps nothing happens, it is only after priming the pump, acting seemingly without demonstrating any real result for a time, that the water finally appears and his thirst is quenched. What if he had stopped pumping after one or two strokes? He would have remained thirsty and hot for he lost faith that his actions would demonstrate the desired result.

Faith: n. 1) Belief without evidence. 2) Confidence, trust. 3) Belief in God.

Faith, believing without seemingly hard evidence, trusting what cannot be measured or explained in secular terms. On the back of a dollar bill it reads “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Writing it or saying it out loud does not make it so any more than sitting in a parking space provides a car. Only by quietly walking in faith, often trembling, do we demonstrate our trust in God. So work quietly but steadily; never struggle for struggle guarantees failure in our prayer life. We quietly demonstrate faith through our actions, for has it not been said that actions speak louder than words? We walk through life acting as though we believe, priming the pump, for in so doing we are demonstrating true faith and in due course the water will flow, our spiritual thirst quenched.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Smiling At The Prophets Of Doom And Gloom

Mankind’s history is replete with dozens upon dozens of boom and bust cycles. Additionally, there have been prophets of doom and gloom stating with absolute certainty the world was ending soon and we 1) are without hope and there is nothing we can do about it, or 2) we better all pull together to save ourselves before it is too late. These joyless individuals have been around since man first started keeping records. The one thing they all have in common is their perfect batting average: 0. Every single one has been wrong, the world hasn‘t ended, their dire predictions not with standing. Today’s doom and gloomers are as wrong as those who stood in the center of Rome prophesying the end of days 2000 years ago. How do I know? I believe in God. As the Lord's Prayer states so clearly, He is “Our Father.” Would you allow your children to be exterminated if it was in your power to avoid it? So, just for today, when we feel the sadness and fear the secular world dishes out unremittingly we turn to the truth: We are all children of God, and God has all power, bringing only good, that negative conditions are but passing illusions that dissolve when the shutters of fear and doubt are thrown open and the sunlight of the Spirit streams in. Just for today, when the next “expert” delivers solemnly the latest prophecy of doom, we can smile because we really do believe in God.

©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Oh, Not Again!

We all know someone who never misses an opportunity to retell their story of some past injustice, real or imagined. If they are close to us (family), we have heard the story so many times that we know it by heart, resisting the temptation (hopefully) to finish it for them. The tale explains why they haven’t or can’t and never will demonstrate over or put behind them some incident in their lives, always finishing the tale with a note of triumph and justification in their voice. Unfortunately many choose to hold on to past injustices and hurts to the point of shutting themselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. If we are to be free we must set free all who have harmed us, leaving their final disposition to their demonstration before God, getting us out of the retribution business. To be clear: there are those who have committed grievous acts beyond the pale, they will reap as they have sown, but harboring hurt and hate in our heart stunts our growth and limits our demonstrations, forgiving does not mean forgetting. Our job, since embarking on Living on the Spiritual Basis, is to forgive so that we and the whole Human race improves, but it is does not mean we have to place ourselves in a position to be harmed again.

So we forgive all who have harmed us, setting them and ourselves free, but we don’t have to go to lunch with them. If for some reason they do appear in our life or they are someone whom because of family or some other reason we will have to face, ask in prayer to be shown the way of patience, kindness, tolerance and love toward this individual and to be kept safe and free of new resentments in their presence. By saluting the Presence of God within them and releasing them you will be amazed by the results. To state the Great Teaching once again: simple but not easy, a price has to be paid and that price is the surrendering of self.  
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Beyond The Flesh

Do you know of anyone who heard the Gettysburg Address in person? How about Washington crossing the Delaware? No? Of course not. The flesh we inhabit will one day fail. No amount of money, resources, exercise or just plain old “good living” will alter that. This truth raises an eternal question, are we this body or something more? Living on the Spiritual Basis the answer is clear: We are Spiritual beings experiencing the human condition, not Human beings in search of the spiritual. The spark of consciousness that is unique in us is timeless, was never born and will never die; has always been and will always be.

We raise our consciousness through prayer and meditation, in so doing we effect  permanent change beyond the vagaries of this flesh, secular living and thinking. So our job, the only real task in this life, is too practice the Presence of God every day in every area, with everyone, to fully forgive all who have trespassed against us, to hold fast to the truth that the only aspect of this life that translates beyond the flesh is our raised consciousness and the only universal measurement of our time in this flesh is: how much love did we give away, unconditionally.  
 ©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Spiritual Caution Tape And Morbid Reflection

Remember reaping and sowing? What we dwell upon is out pictured in our lives. When morbid reflection raises its head and we allow it to remain in our consciousness (“sowing” the negative thoughts with feeling), we reap the harvest of self centered fear, shutting the door on the sunlight of the spirit, causing us needless wear and tear. When we find ourselves drifting into morbid (negative) thinking we must stop immediately and “quarantine” the trouble by refusing to consider it and invoke, through prayer, the Presence of God, substituting God for the trouble in our minds eye. By doing this consistently we break the habit of focusing on the trouble (sowing negativity) and replace it with the habit of recognizing God (sowing truth) where the trouble seems to be. By refocusing we reap peace of mind instead of fear, serenity over confusion. Remember, everything we consider becomes imbued with power in our life, for good or ill, so get out the mental caution tape and immediately tape off destructive thinking, quarantining it with prayer, placing it in God's hands.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Half Measures

Spiritual half measures avail us nothing. Not a little, not some, zero. Having entered into a secular endeavor half halfheartedly, what was the outcome? Any unfinished “projects” lying around the house, buried in the back of a closet? Exercise equipment serving as a clothes rack or taking up space in the garage, perhaps a shelf full of dusty self help/diet books? On the secular plane we can go to work half halfheartedly and still draw a paycheck, at least for a time. A poorly built house is still built, a badly painted room still painted. Our spiritual life however requires total commitment, half measures resulting not only in our failure to demonstrate but instilling the false belief that we tried and God didn’t deliver, probably because we really are unworthy or God is just too busy with important things. Nonsense. NONSENSE. God is source, “Our Father" in every sense. We are His children, children of the miraculous and all the gifts and blessings that relationship represents are ours for the asking but we must ask without reservation, standing firm in faith, consistent in our prayers, meditations and actions, for spiritually, half measures truly avail us nothing.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

An Affirmation

Having placed our feet upon the path, embracing the Spiritual Basis of Living, we have come to know that God is in fact the only power. We now feel His power flow through us, the true meaning of serenity has begun to take hold in our hearts and peace is our companion. Our Great Hope and Desire is to bring the Good News to all, so that they may be finally and forever free of the selfish desires that have kept us in bondage, so that all become fully realized in Spirit, accepting the gifts that are ours by right of our divine heritage. Today we know the Omnipresence of God is working through us, guiding us without error to the undreamt of tomorrow, the Lord’s Prayer the outline, the road map, as we trudge the road of happy destiny. Amen.
©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson

Unasked Questions And Temptation

The Lord’s Prayer suggests that we can be lead into temptation, so the question is: Would God lead us into temptation? Having been taught and shown again and again that God is the giver of only good; God’s love for us greater than our love of our children, how could He? Since Living on the Spiritual Basis removes gray areas and contradictions from life, what does this clause really mean?

Living on the spiritual basis the temptations of lying, cheating, stealing, etc have become obvious, the price paid in serenity if we transgress clear. Having demonstrated over these base  temptations new temptations arise from spiritual pride. The natural desire is to bring the good news we have learned to those still suffering, a noble desire to be sure, but fraught with this new form of temptation. Write this upon your heart in capital letters: DO NOT ANSWER THE UNASKED QUESTION.

This is the temptation we are asking God in the Great Prayer to lead us away from. When speaking about spiritual principles we must ask ourselves if we are engaging in attraction or promotion. We will attract those who are ready to learn from our actions, our demonstration of Living on the Spiritual Basis. If we have to sell it, promote it; convince others that they should want what we have, than there is something wrong with our spiritual house. Attraction is the true path; promotion opens the door to the temptations of self glory, self aggrandizement, a sense of superiority and infallibility which are all aspects of spiritual pride. When we consider how many evils have been and are perpetrated by those promoting their beliefs to the extreme, the clause “lead us not into temptation” becomes crystal clear. We must remain ever diligent, and though it may break our heart, we never enter unbidden into another’s spiritual house.

 To be clear, the converse is true as well. When someone asks, we must be willing to stand and be counted in the face of any perceived earthly consequence, personal or otherwise, the temptation of self centered fear denied, whenever or wherever we are presented with an opportunity to share the Good News, for we have been put to the question and faith requires we must not shrink. 
 ©Vincent Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

The Secret, Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Heart’s Desire, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key, NOTW, Addicts Today, Chopra, Alanon, Healing Path Recovery, Sobriety Mentor, Sobertec, Marianne Williamson