Hard Selling God

Some time ago I had a conversation (a berating more accurately) with an adamant “my way or the highway” Christian. You have probably met one, within the first few minutes of conversation they ask if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and if you don’t answer to their satisfaction the hard sell begins. They matter-of-factually state that if you don’t buy their particular brand of belief you are doomed for all eternity and it is their job to save you. Considering there are tens of thousands of Religious Denominations worldwide, I find it difficult (okay, impossible) to believe there is only one true path, enlightenment packaged one size fits all.

We have all fallen into the cross hairs of an aggressive salesman, how did you enjoy the experience? Even if you purchased what they were selling, how did you feel? Would you then go out of your way to recommend or continue a relationship with this person? You may have even bought what they were selling just to get away from them.

Having turned my will and life over to the care of God many years ago, I have never seen the spiritual “hard sell” approach work in the long run. Though I applaud their passion and commitment, their approach truly does more harm than good. To be clear: To have a spiritual awakening the desire must come from within. The best sermons delivered quietly by our actions, an attraction to those seeking freedom from the bondage of self, our lives a demonstration of the Word. So, stand firm in faith and never shrink from flying your flag of belief, but do so with love, a smile, the Word emanating from a gentle heart, considering how you would want to be approached if the roles were reversed, leaving the hard sell to used car salesmen. Oh, and in my case as a Christian, though you may disagree, I believe the realm of Heaven is roomy, all inclusive, never exclusive or forbidding, open to all who earnestly seek.
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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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Freedom In Spirit

Often, we fail to measure the words we employ or take the time to consider their ultimate impact, the unintended consequences. You have probably experienced the sick feeling when you have said something, you would give anything to have back; unfortunately, we cannot un-ring a bell. Conversely there are the times when we have failed to speak up and then rehearse what we wish we should have said, extending the discomfort of our inaction.

Words carry impact, reverberating with life far beyond the moment of their utterance. Fierce resentments have been born from seemingly casual remarks, birthed seemingly from something we felt was innocuous. Fortunately, the converse is true as well, our words have the power to provide hope, healing and solace far beyond our limited understanding.

Having chosen to live on a new basis, the Spiritual Basis, we speak from the heart, delivering the truth to the best of our current understanding, but always wrapping it in love. The goal is to always be of service, to stand for truth, to help and never harm, while realizing we all fall far short of perfection in speech, this lack of perfection humbling, leading ultimately to growth and greater understanding, for such is the path of Freedom In Spirit.
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Analysis Versus Action

A centipede was quite happy,
Until a frog in fun
Said, “Pray, which leg comes after which?”
This raised her mind to such a pitch,
She lay distracted in the ditch,
Considering how to run.

Living on the Spiritual Basis requires us to avoid over analyzing our beliefs, but live them while avoiding debate or arguing with anyone about them. We allow our actions to speak for our beliefs for no one is ever moved far spiritually by words alone. We convince others when we walk the way we talk, our actions speaking in ways words never can.

“There is a place for analysis, but it is apt to be quite fatal in prayer and meditation. Do not dissect the love of God, but feel it. Do not dissect Divine Intelligence, but realize it. Do not wonder how God can possibly solve this problem, but just watch Him do it in His own way-and He will if you give Him a chance.” Emmet Fox.

The principles of attraction not promotion, demonstration over intention, action over analysis are at the core of this new basis for living, the Spiritual Basis, and by practicing them we avoid the centipede’s fate of paralysis from analysis.

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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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Today’s Headline (again): WE ARE DOOMED!

I comment on this Emmet Fox teaching a couple times every year, for it is always applicable in my life, the teaching timeless. I began following politics in 1968 and came of age politically during the election of 1972. Since then one truth has become abundantly clear: regardless of who wins the other side is always incredulous their candidate or issue lost, claiming all manner of reasons why, adding for effect the dire consequences to come from the electorate’s poor decision. Today, Living on the Spiritual Basis places secular issues and concerns in their proper perspective; politicians come and go, those in power today will not be forever and regardless of how we may feel about them, history demonstrates there really is nothing new under the sun.

To wit: The Captain Is On The Bridge
“The world is not going to the dogs. The human race is not doomed. Civilization is not going to crash. The captain is on the bridge. Humanity is going through a difficult time, but humanity has gone through difficulties many times before in its long history, and has always come through, strengthened and purified.

Do not worry yourself about the universe collapsing. It is not going to collapse, and anyway that question is none of your business. The captain is on the bridge. If the survival of humanity depended upon you or me, it would be a poor lookout for the Great Enterprise, would it not?

The captain is on the bridge. God is still in business. All that you have to do is to realize the Presence of God where trouble seems to be, to do your nearest duty to the very best of your ability; and to keep an even mind until the storm is over.” 

Emmet Fox wrote the above during the great economic depression of the 1930’s as war clouds were gathering over Europe and Asia, the precursor to WW 2 and the American heartland was gripped in a Black Blizzard, the greatest ecological disaster in this country’s history, as dust storms destroyed crops and displaced millions from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

The overriding truth is simply this: God has always been and will always be; our job to keep an even mind and proper perspective while remembering there will always be someone reminding us the sky is falling, again.
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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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Vintage D.T.Y.T.S.

A while back an individual posted online that I needed medical help, based solely on my blog picture viewed on their mobile device. Pretty insightful. So, I immediately headed to the ER for help. The staff was waiting for me (since the government now reads all posts and follows everyone with drones) and I was rushed into a state-of-the-art diagnostic suite where I was subjected to a battery of tests of which I just received the results, in a tweet, on Snapchat, Instagram and Pinterest.

The Prognosis: first, I am terminal. It has been determined I am going to die, they just don’t know when or of what, but it is a certainty. Bummer. However, there was good news, my levels of D.T.Y.T.S. are all exceedingly high for a man my vintage. (You know, D.T.Y.T.S.: Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously).

So, a prescription was forwarded, by e-mail of course, that I just filled at Walmart. The directions read: Laugh at yourself daily, for you are the funniest person you know. Every time you walk into a room and forget why you are there, laugh. When the coffee cup, eyeglass, car keys gremlin moves them from the last place you are certain you left them, laugh. When you find yourself at the grocery store opening the glass doors in the frozen food section to “see” what is on the shelves, laugh. When you find yourself waiting for the light to change at a stop sign, laugh. And most importantly laugh when some know nothing self-important chucklehead chooses to point out your shortcomings and character defects uninvited. And then say a silent prayer for them.
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Today’s Gift and The Presence

When we find ourselves drifting out of the present moment, dwelling either in the past or projecting into the future, we open the door to morbid reflection. When thinking about the past what usually surfaces? Is it the overwhelming number of times when things went well, when we did the right thing or the times when we were less than our best, made a mistake or were treated poorly? When considering the future do we ponder along the lines of how great life will be, or do we drift into negative projections? Living on the Spiritual Basis alters our focus so instead of seeing only the carnal and secular, the finite, our vision is lengthened and broadened as we have begun to comprehend the infinite.

But Fear is a powerful adversary, forever trying to steer us from the light, with morbid reflection one of its’ favorite tools. When we reflect morbidly on the past depression becomes our traveling companion while reflecting morbidly into the future, we invite anxiety along for the ride. When used constructively our past is an asset, becoming a resource for instruction for those seeking a way out of the Fear driven life, demonstrating what life was like before and after choosing to Live on the Spiritual Basis. Our future is a promise, chapters unwritten, our lives the paper, faith the ink, the pen in our hand guided by a Power Greater Than Ourselves, if we but ask. God does not dictate the script, for of all creation we alone have free will in Spirit, so remember, He is a gentleman and will only be our partner if we ask. So:

The only time we can stand in the presence of God, the only time we can be present for God, the only time God can act in our lives is in the present moment. Living on the Spiritual Basis we now have a history of God’s love and direction in our lives, the past an asset, the future a promise, today the gift.

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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved
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Living The Consecrated Life

When we turn our will and life over to the care of God, we embark on living a consecrated life. Having taken this path by choice, our job now is to see the Presence of God everywhere, in everything and everyone, expressing our current understanding of spiritual principles to the best of our ability. Remember, we are forever growing and learning, and this new way of living is Simple but not easy, a price has to be paid and that price is the surrender of self. The equation is straightforward: the more time we spend thinking about ourselves, the less comfortable we become, opening the door to restlessness, irritability and discontentment. Conversely, the more time we spend focusing on the Presence of God, practicing the principles we have come to know and believe the more comfortable, at peace we become. Living this consecrated life is the true path of serenity, providing the peace of heart and mind we all truly crave.

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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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Optimism Requires Commitment

“Cheap optimism is never spiritual.” We should never be satisfied or resign ourselves to live with anything less than the full expression of God’s love in our life. Never settle for any condition in your life that expresses lack or limitation. Divine Life wants all to be happy, joyous and free, so be honest about your circumstances, freedom from the bondage of self comes when we wholeheartedly, without reservation, believe God not only will, but wants to provide for our needs, His love all encompassing. By practicing the Presence of God and Divine Healing through prayer, meditation and selfless service, in our lives daily, remarkable things happen, amazing and unforeseen avenues of source and support appear, regardless of the secular condition of the world about us and we shall know peace and begin to comprehend serenity.
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The Universe Moved

Do you pray expecting to receive or with trepidation? When we pray with doubt, believing secretly in our heart of hearts that God is too busy or we are insignificant or since our hands are not perfectly clean our prayers will not be answered, we are praying with two minds, wanting our prayer answered but not believing it will be. Is it then any surprise we fail to demonstrate?
No one among us is perfect, yet none of us are insignificant to God, remember, time is a human construct that has no bearing on God, and He is never too busy for His children. We live in a state of grace, His love unconditional, we place arbitrary conditions on His love and availability out of fear. Please do not misunderstand, fear is a powerful, relentless, pitiless foe. Consider: Media in all forms bombards us daily with stories of doom and gloom. Coming economic disaster, sickness and disease ever lurking, wars and rumors of war abound, terror attacks, global climactic failure imminent, the end is nigh unless we act, or we are doomed even if we do! Is it really any wonder fear-based thinking is so hard to displace?

Keep in mind we live in eternity NOW, this flesh, even the stars finite; our consciousness, our soul, eternal.  Passing conditions are just that, passing. It is vital we turn our consciousness, gently through prayer and meditation, away from the negative and to the love and guidance of the Miraculous. In so doing, not only does our life improve, but the whole world as well, volcanoes, recessions/depressions, war, comet/asteroid strikes, extinctions, terrorism, pandemics and global climatic changes all placed in their proper perspective.

So we take whatever secular actions are indicated, but then we place all our fears, great and small in His hands and pray expecting God to act, for nothing so moves the universe as a heartfelt prayer.
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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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Saint Peter Cried

We lay “claim” to things daily, usually without a thought. Whenever we start a statement with “My”, we claim ownership. Having ruminated on this over the years, I think I am finally getting it. Although I may have a headache or a flair up of arthritis, do I really want to “own” them? No. I want them to go away. Nevertheless, when I refer to them as “My” I assert ownership. Today instead of commenting on or talking about the negative things in “My” life I take whatever secular action is indicated, aspirin, heating pad, ice pack etc. followed by a short prayer thanking God for knowing Him better. Today I claim all the gifts and blessings God has not only for me but for you as well, that all I desire in “My” life comes to you as well. Years ago, I came upon this piece on blessings which touched me deeply:

A man found himself standing at the gates to heaven. He was upset and relieved at the same time. Upset that he passed but relieved he was standing at the Gates of Heaven. Saint Peter greeted him and motioned for him to come forward. As he walked through the gates, he was struck speechless by the beauty and peace that greeted him. Saint Peter ushered him around showing him the wonders of Heaven. In turn, they came upon a rather plain looking building, its plainness a stark contrast compared to the beauty of all the others. Turning to Saint Peter he asked, “What is that building?” Saint Peter replied, “All of Heaven is open to you but I beseech you to leave this structure be.” The man nodded, for who would question a Saint? But try as he might he could not get that one building out of his mind and after a time asked, “You said all of Heaven is open to me, so if I wished to visit any building I could?” With a look of resignation, Saint Peter nodded for he knew of which building the man was thinking. As they walked, Saint Peter waited for the request which always followed. Soon the man turned to him and said, “I would like to go back to the plain building.” With sadness and a pass of his hand Saint Peter deposited them on the doorstep. “I urge you again not to go in” but he would not be swayed. As the doors opened the man was greeted with row upon row of seeming endless shelves on which rested exquisite boxes each inscribed with a name. He turned, excited, to Saint Peter and asked if there was a box with his name on it. Saint Peter replied yes but again urged him to leave the building. Undeterred the man ran down the aisles until he found the box with his name on it. As he took it down from the shelf, he turned to see tears in Saint Peter’s eyes, but he could not stop himself, so he removed the lid. As he looked in the box his heart fell for the box contained all the blessings God had gifted him that had been left unclaimed. He then knew and they wept together.

In prayer claim all of God’s blessings today and if you don’t know what they are, ask and He will make them plain for you and countless others.


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© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved

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