Bigger Than You Think

Sunday October 5, 2014

Wage theft.

According to an article I read online, “wage theft is defined as an employer not paying workers money that they’ve clearly earned. Paying less than the legal minimum wage, not compensating employees for the full number of hours they worked and not paying overtime are all forms of wage theft.” The article goes on to say that in the State of Kentucky, total annual wage theft is more than all other theft in the State, combined.

According to research from a Dutch newspaper, Sochi’s cost will total more than every previous Winter Olympics combined.

FTC's fines on weight loss claims total more than all other categories combined, Center for Responsible Nutrition database shows.

Here’s one more: God is bigger than all the problems in the world combined (Yes, even yours!)

God is a big God, bigger than we can imagine.

Have you ever had one of those golden days when everything seems perfect? Everything works to your advantage – every traffic light is green, something you especially need is on sale, or the answer to some important question asked of you immediately comes to mind.

Every day can be a golden day when we are living it through the Divine Presence within. Just as Jesus discovered the innate Divine power within him and recognized His oneness with God, we, too, share that key to all good things.

Our inner Divinity is the key, for through the Divine spirit within, all things are possible. And like Jesus, we share the strength of faith to meet each day with great expectations of good.

You will find that you love living within your own body and mind keeping company with the Christ within.

We are told to choose our friends wisely because we will be known 'by the company we keep.' Or, consider this, 'With friends like that, who needs enemies.' Choosing good company is important; especially, with those who radiate optimism, harmony and enthusiasm-choosing good company is good for the body, mind, spirit, and a peaceful life.

With the foregoing in mind, what kind of company are You to You? Because, after all, You spend your entire life in your own company.

I just began reading a book titled, The Big God Theory: A Layman's Journey in the American Christian Church by Kevin Robinson.

One of the things Robinson writes about – and probably all of us here can relate – is his growing disenchantment with American Christianity after he discovered that his denomination believed in too small of a, and a generally punishing, God. Once he made that observation he says he began to look around and saw the same to be true in mainstream Christianity. He also observed, or I should say that it became his opinion, that American Christianity has very little to do with living the teachings of Jesus. His observation was that his fellow Christians were motivated more by fear than either Love or the desire to become more loving.

In the book he recounts an experiment taken on by a man named Jacob Glass: “As an experiment I decided to take on a challenge suggested by a New Thought teacher named Jacob Glass. In his lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression, his study of New Thought led him to incorporate the “creation” idea into a daily spiritual practice aimed at creating a better (less anxious and stressful) day for himself. Since his emotional struggles were the result of fearful thinking, he determined to begin each day by focusing his thoughts and attention on positive uplifting things. He did this by writing down several brief “lists” while he drank his morning coffee: five things he was thankful for, five things he “got right” (or at least did better) the day before, and five things he was “intending” to enjoy and celebrate during the course of the day ahead. Jacob’s theory was that if New Thought ideas were truly based on Jesus’ teachings, then by setting his morning “intentions” on gratitude and God’s grace first thing, it (the “cause”) should positively impact (the “effect”) his whole day. He said it worked wonders, but cynic that I have become in my old age (Kevin Robinson is 63), I had to try it myself. Wow! Who knew that God was bigger than all my negativity?”

Robinson is a right brained person (creating lists is so very left-brained) so he began writing short essays covering the topics of the lists. He concludes the section I just read saying, “The more consistently I have trained my mind to remain focused more on grace and less on everything that is not exactly like I might have thought it “should” be, the more satisfying and joyful my days have become. Not later, not pie-in-the-sky, but right now. God is Bigger.”

Are you are your own best friend or your own worst enemy? Look in the mirror and ask You if You like your own company-it's an Important question!

Are You good company with Yourself? What does that 'Silent Voice' in the back of your mind have to say about YOU?

As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I realize more every day the presence of God surrounding me and within me.

I achieved this, in part, by having some sort of daily routine. Last week I suggested to you to be connected with something that calls you higher and that it didn’t matter who it came from. Here’s another option, a practice from Jacob Glass through Kevin Robinson.

George Bernard Shaw said, “Youth is wasted on the young.” I don’t care that I didn’t understand the great freedom that comes with awareness of God's presence when I was young. I am blessed to have experienced it. If your inner voice is telling you that you’ve wasted too much time, that you’re too old to make a change now, baloney!

If you’re hanging around with that kind of inner company, ignore them! Do whatever you have to do to experience the satisfaction and joy of becoming aware of God’s presence. One day of that outweighs a lifetime of unawareness.

Here’s another option on how to open that awareness, say, "Thank You, God" for each blessing you have received. If you do that you’ll hardly have time for any “small thinking.” Giving thanks for just a few blessings is a great way to realize your constant connection with God. In the Christ presence, we can relax and enjoy the day. Your “God-good” awaits you. Go forth eagerly to greet it and accept it now! …Go get it!

Honoring our Church Founders

Sunday, September 14, 2014

          We’re here today to honor Harriet Spangler, the last living founding member of what is now Unity Church of Anderson, and to honor, too, those who were present and became members when we officially became a church in 1977.

          What we are really here to talk about is a love story. A love story that began in the hearts of a handful of people: Harriet Spangler, Kathryn and Gib Gentry, JR Shirey, and others of the original group.

          They first met in Gib and Kathryn’s basement 52 years ago in the fall of 1962.

Let me read to you from a presentation given on Sunday, August 8^th, 1998 by Harriet Spangler. It was Groundbreaking Day for this very sanctuary in which you find yourself today.

          “…We outgrew Kathryn’s basement and moved on to ours (Spangler’s). Then we outgrew ours and we moved to Muncie to Thelma Johnson’s home. Not for long; we had to find a bigger place than a home. We went to the basement of the Grace Lutheran Church in Muncie, Then Kathryn found a building in Yorktown! She was so thrilled that she went right out and had a huge sign painted “Unity of Yorktown.”! 

          I think this is about the time Janice Garrison found what she’d been looking for. Janice, would you like to come up and tell us about the day you first drove by that building with that sign on it?

          (TELL JANICE’S STORY)

          Back to Harriet’s written account, “She (Kathryn) took pictures of it (the sign) and sent one to World Unity in Lee’s Summit (Missouri). They immediately let us know that we could not do that because it was not legal; we had to go through certain channels. Of course, the sign was removed until the legal formalities were made. At that time, we became really legal as a Unity Church (1977). …We outgrew the Yorktown building in a year and were off to the City Building in Anderson.”

          Pat McCoy cannot be with us today and she did want to have some input so we recorded this story. It’s difficult to hear in some spots, so I’ve transcribed it and you can read along on our projector screen.

          (PLAY PAT’S SOUND FILE)

          Again, from Harriet’s account, “From the City Building, we went to a building in North Anderson. Virginia Clement was our minister and we moved to this building which was the first time that we were in a bona fide church building.

You know, it took Moses forty years to get his children across the wilderness, to the Promised Land. It took me forty years to get my thought-children across the desert of my mind.... and it will soon be forty years that all of this began in the basement of Gib and Kathryn's home. Kathryn was the power behind the scenes… she built fires under us to get us to be a part of something that meant much to the enrichment of our lives!”

Kathryn built fires under us… it sounds like Kathryn was a great motivator. Apparently she also knows how to entice people.

(HARRIET TELLS HAIR STORY)

(DORIES TELLS HER STORIES)

In those early days that initial group had an affirmation and held to it faithfully, accepting it to be true even if it hadn’t yet manifest itself in form. Their affirmation was this, “We place ourselves and all our affairs, lovingly in the Hands of the Father, with a childlike trust, knowing that everything for our highest good will come to us. It was one of Charles Fillmore's affirmations and we thought it would be something-we could use. We know… that God is in this situation working in us and through us to bring about something for the good of all!”

... Our dream come true and an answered prayer for all of us who [worked] for so long to keep things going, telling ourselves that the appearances of failing-to-succeed were not the true story. With God all things are possible.

This day is a new start. ... a new beginning and it will take all of us to make an unwavering attempt to finish what we have started…

We believe in the future of this Church! We are grateful to be a part of something so worthwhile. Yes, this is an answered prayer!”

 I believe in the present of this church.

Because of love and vision and perseverance, it is here.

I believe in the future of this church to continue to welcome all who find a spiritual home here for their soul, be it weary or joyful.

I’d like to invite Harriet, Dorie, and Edie to come forward and receive a small token of our gratitude for the love you held so dearly in your hearts, for the actions you took in your living that this sweet church may be a reality today.

          (THEY COME FORWARD AND RECEIVE A MUM)

Thank you Kathryn and Gib, thank you JR Shirey, and many others who may not be here iN physical form today, but certainly are here blessing us today.

This concludes our service. We’ll now take an offering to support our ministry.

2014 Annual Picnic

        Sunday, September 28, 2014

          Here are the headlines from various Friday papers:

1.     The Gulf News (United Arab Emarites): “2,917 Ebola deaths in West Africa”

2.     Muncie Star Press: “AG hounds school, city embezzlers”

3.     The Buffalo News: “Armed more, but not to the hilt”

4.     The nambian: “Telecom fails to pay salaries” and “Clients panic as Standard Bank system crashes”

5.     The Times of London: “Avenge my Father, says daughter of aid worker”

Now here’s the headline that should be in every paper reporting difficult times: No matter what outer appearances look like God is with you.

 We can never make an outer solid foundation in our lives living life through only the material world: things, circumstances, conditions. God is with you. No matter how big a crisis may loom in your outer life, no matter how bad the diagnosis from the doctor, God is with you.

God is a God of miracles.

God is a God of better-than-expected outcomes.

God is a God of the HIGHER working of the law of life.

When we do turn to the awareness of the HIGHER power of God, we are in tune, again, with “miracles” that can occur in and through our lives.

Newspapers and all varieties of media are information sources to which most of us are connected to on a daily basis. What we need is a HIGHER information source especially during times of human difficulty. We need something to hold onto when we see pictures and images like the beheadings performed by ISIS, and again this past Friday in an incident in Oklahoma. We need to make a spiritual connection so that we can stay in contact with the truth of God.

What do you spend more time with on a daily basis, worldly media… or maintaining your awareness of your connection with God?

We have the capability to remain aware of our connection with God and that automatically gives us all the capacity that we will ever need to, shall I say, “Flatten out the trials and tribulations in our lives.” Remaining aware of our connection with God will unlock undreamed-of possibilities to implement “miracle” help in our lives and in the lives of others.

A woman who had recently faced great difficulty in her personal life was asked this question, "How do you hold on? What do you do?"

If you want information that is beyond the physical world of turmoil, turn to the Bible. If you want information that is not bad news, but good news, turn to the Bible… if you find that calls you higher.

Turn to A Course In Miracles if you find that calls you higher.

Turn to the Daily Word if you find that calls you higher.

Turn to Guideposts Magazine.

Turn to Science of Mind Magazine.

Turn to the works of Abraham-Hicks. Turn to Unity books.

Turn to the words and ideas you hear here on Sunday’s.

Turn to Rumi.

Turn to Wayne Dyer.

Turn to Joel Osteen.

Turn to whomever or whatever calls you higher and brings you peace (Note: “checking out” might bring you seeming peace in the moment but that doesn’t qualify as “going higher”).

I believe that God doesn’t care what form you use to open the door to peace because God (peace) is always with you. The outer forms are just doorways to the inner release of God.

When it seems there is none to be found anywhere, God will give you great comfort. You will become aware of something that is beyond disorder confined to time and space. You'll become aware of something that will give you courage because it is eternal Truth. You’ll become aware of something that is for you personally, for your own personal life, in a very specific way. Awareness of the Presence of God will give you this.

A woman by the name of Julie Bradshaw of South Carolina tells the story what happened to her after making a commitment to connect with the Presence of God within her.

She had been participating in an on-line dating service and contacted a man whose profile interested her. His response to her, she said, “… was somewhat brusque.” Because he didn’t return her interest she chose to send him an angry and accusatory reply.

Shortly afterwards she told her dearest friend who rebuked her asking why she routinely gets so angry when she doesn’t like someone’s response.

Julie was initially taken aback but thinking it over realized, “This particular behavior pattern had been an integral social skill set for her.” She also realized she neither knew the origin of the pattern, nor could she stop it.

Julie says she prayed to the Holy Spirit for an answer to why this negative knee-jerk pattern had such control over her. A few days later she received her answer. She said while running errands she became aware of an inner voice that said, “Beloved, do you not realize that you and this young man are playing the same game? He was afraid you were not really interested in him and he backed away. You were afraid he was not really interested in you and you attacked. You were playing the same game in different ways.”

Then she has this realization that she learned to be aggressive playing Monopoly. Her mother had taught her to play with an aggressive, take-no-prisoners approach. When she wanted to play Monopoly with other kids and they didn’t want to play with her (because she sucked all the fun out of the game) she would become aggressive and attack them verbally because they backed away withdrawing their energy from her. Julie, then, adopted this as her way to deal with all of life!

God, she said, had led her to a whole new way of looking at a situation that had brought her pain in the past.

She slowly began to heal. She understood that she no longer needed to attack as a defense. When she felt the urge to attack she was able to step back and modify her thinking which then modified her behavior in a true and lasting way. She was able to stop herself before she could be hurtful toward someone else.

Let me read to you the final paragraph from the book from which this story comes. The Book is “When God Spoke To Me.”

“This experience opened the door to allow God’s Voice (as she calls it) to be an integral part of my life. I may have sometimes been shown a piece of myself I’d never seen clearly before, and have sometimes had to face aspects of myself that weren’t serving me, but my life is now enriched by the presence of God’s Voice (you could also call this ‘inspiration’) on a continual basis. I feel blessed to know this source of Love and guiding compassion accompanies me on every step of my path through life, and is ready to offer me advice whenever I want it. I need only ask.

Julie Bradshaw’s story validates the headline I suggested be run in every paper reporting difficult times: No matter what outer appearances look like (or have been) God is with you. And as Julie says, all we need do is ask.

So I suggest you consider spending quiet time connecting with and communing in the peace God each day instead of oh-my-goshing-ain’t-it-awfuling about world events.

2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us, “Our inner nature is being renewed every day.”

Let us let our inner nature be one of peace rather than attack. Let us let peace be what is renewed in us every day.

God bless you and thank you for being here today.