When you die, it might be like changing channels.

Imagination will continue to do what it has always

been doing–popping new images upon the screen.

Some traditions believe that there’s a complex

process of reliving karma when you die so that as

person can learn what this lifetime was about and

prepare to make a new soul bargain for the next

lifetime.

The moment of death is described as having your

life flash before you, not at lightening speed as

experienced by people when they’re drowning, but

slowly and with full understanding of every choice

one has made since birth.

If you are conditioned to think in terms of heaven

and hell, going to one or the other will be your

experience. The creative machinery of consciousness

will produce the experience of that other place,

while to someone who has led the same life under no

such belief system, these images might appear to be

a blissful dream or a reliving of collective fantasies

(life a fairy tale), or the unspooling of themes from

childhood.

But if you go to another world after death, that world

will be in you as much as this one is. Does that mean

heaven and hell are not real? Look out the window at

a tree. It has no reality except as a specific

space-time event being actualized out of the infinite

potential of the field. Therefore, it’s only fair to

say that heaven and hell are just as real as that tree,

and just as unreal.

The absolute break between life and death is an illusion.

What bothers people about losing the body is that it seems

like a terrible break or interruption. This interruption

is imagined as going into the void; it is total personal

extinction. Yet that perspective, which arouses huge fears,

is limited to the ego.

   +  Adapted from The Book of Secrets,
+ by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2004).

To fall in love,

To laugh until it hurts your stomach,

To find mails by the thousands when you return from a vacation,

To go for a vacation to some pretty place,

To listen to your favorite song in the radio,

To go to bed and to listen while it rains outside,

To leave the shower and find that the towel is warm,

To clear your last exam,

To receive a call from someone, you don't see a lot, but you want to,

To find money in a pant that you haven"t used since last year,

To laugh at yourself looking at mirror, making faces,

Calls at midnight that last for hours,

To laugh without a reason,

To accidentally hear somebody say something good about you,

To wake up and realize it is still possible to sleep for a couple of hours,

To hear a song that makes you remember a special person,

To be part of a team,

To watch the sunset from the hill top,

To make new friends,

To feel butterflies in the stomach every time that you see that person,

To pass time with your best friends,

To see people that you like, feeling happy,

See an old friend again and to feel that the things have not changed,

To take an evening walk along the beach,

To have somebody tell you that he/she loves you.

To laugh .........laugh. ........and laugh ......
remembering stupid things done with stupid friends,

These are the best moments of life....


- - By Charlie Chaplin

 
Freedom is what you do
with what's been done to you.

   ~ Jean-Paul Sartre ~

Evil is born in the gap. The gap isn’t anyone’s
private possession. The gap contains collective
responses and collective themes. When an entire
society accepts the theme of “the outsiders” who
cause all the trouble, then evil has everyone for
a father and mother.

Yet in every case of mass evil, there were thousands
of people who didn’t identify with the collective
impulse – they resisted, escaped, hid, and tried
to save others. It’s individual choice that
determines whether you latch on to the collective
theme and agree to play it out.

The second question, “How could innocent people
become the victims of atrocities?” is more difficult,
because almost everyone’s mind is already closed.
The questioner doesn’t want a new answer. There is
too much righteous anger, too much certainty that
God turned his back, that no one wanted to risk
their own lives to stop the enormous evil being
done to others.

As long as I am overcome by anguish or righteous
anger or horror, my ability to choose has been
shut down. What I should be free to choose is
purification, a return to innocence made possible
by the shock of what happens when innocence isn’t
nurtured.

You and I are responsible for our participation in
the elements of evil even though we don’t act out
those elements on a mass scale. Believing in them
keeps our participation going. So it’s our duty to
stop believing in “harmless” anger, jealously, and
judgment of others.

Is there some mystical reason why an innocent person
becomes the target of evil? Of course not. People who
talk about the karma of victims as if some hidden fate
is bringing down a rain of destruction are speaking
from ignorance.

When an entire society engages in mass evil, outer
chaos reflects inner turmoil. The shadow has erupted
on a mass scale. When this happens, innocent victims
are caught in the storm, not because they have some
hidden karma but because the storm is so overwhelming
that it engulfs everyone. 

.. Adapted from The Book of Secrets, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2004).

Seven blunders of the world that lead to violence:
wealth without work,
pleasure without conscience,
knowledge without character,
commerce without morality,
science without humanity,
worship without sacrifice,
politics without principle.

-- Mahatma Gandhi 

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

.. Made popular by the movie, “Four Weddings and a Funeral” 

.. by W.H. Auden 
 

He will cover you with his feathers and
under his wings you will find refuge ... 

~ Psalm 91:4 ~

Life is filled with many uncertainties. You never know when
something unexpected is going to happen. You have no idea
when the next disaster will strike. In a world filled with
hate and terrorism, none of us has a clue when the next
horrible atrocity will take place. So what do we do when we
can't be sure of our circumstances?
We take shelter under the wing of the One who is above all
circumstances! We take assurance in our Father who has promised
to bring us to himself no matter what may happen today ...
in our world ... and to our bodies. Our lives are hidden with our
Father because we've been joined to Christ. He is our Refuge! 

His wings are our shelter!

PRAYER:
Father, what words can I offer that are sufficient to thank and
praise you for your deliverance that is greater than death? 

You are the Alpha and the Omega. You are the God who was 

and is and is to come. 

You are my Abba Father, who has adopted me and made
me your own. I place my trust, my hope, and future in you and
I will not be afraid. I find my refuge under your wings!
All praise to you in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds,
I will see it and remember the everlasting
covenant between God and all living
creatures of every kind on the earth"
~ Genesis 9:16 ~

   I don't know about you, but I'm a very visual
person. I truly appreciate the way God made
the world with all its variety, color, and rich
diversity. I am thankful for the way he used
certain key images in our world to remind us of
his daily provision and eternal grace. The beauty
of a rainbow is not just in its wonderful colors
or in the aroma of fresh rain, but in the promise
that our God has chosen to link himself to our
destiny and to involve himself in our world!

PRAYER:
Almighty God, thank you for making your great
promises when we had no right to expect them,
much less to demand them. Thank you for attaching
those promises to things in my everyday world so
that I can be reminded of your constant and watchful care.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.

Hurt isolates us. 

When you suffer, you suffer privately,
no matter how close someone else may be to you.
Some people react to this isolation by becoming 

even more alone. 

They nurse their grievances in silence.
They gain a sense of strength from toughing it out alone.

Other people react in the opposite way, wanting to pull
as many people into their suffering as possible.

Both tactics defy the first law of healing, which is
that it must occur within yourself. This isn’t the same
as going it alone or toughing it out. That’s the ego’s
interpretation, and if you look a bit deeper, you’ll find
that what’s really going on is resistance. The ego is
saying, I don’t deserve to have this happen. I’m going
to sit tight until someone notices and takes pity on me.

We all have ego reactions, and they must be overcome.
If you face them for what they are, temporary energies
that block your true self, you will realize that calling
on your true self–the soul, higher consciousness, deeper
awareness–will begin to move these obstacles out of the way.

When you gain access to your true self, even a little bit,
you will feel connected once again.

Of course other people can be a comfort and a help along
the way. As you reconnect with yourself, you will reconnect
with other people spontaneously since they are a mirror of
your self.
 

But depending on others to solve your problems never works,
because even though you may feel connected to them,
you are really reaching out as one ego to another.

Healing doesn’t take place at the level of ego, however,
and no matter how much sympathy and agreement you are
surrounded by, no matter how many people tell you that
you are right, you haven’t removed the blocks that keep
new life from rushing in to heal you.

*..  Peace Is the Way, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2005) ..*

A virgin shall be with child,
and bring forth a son,
and His name will be called
Emmanuel - Meaning God is with us.

~ See Matthew 1: 23 ~
 

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
Strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
But do not show love to my family,
I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen,
Baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
Preparing gourmet meals,
Arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,
But do not show love to my family,
I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen,
Carol in the nursing home
And give all that I have to charity,
But do not show love to my family,
It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels
And crocheted snowflakes,
Attend a myriad of holiday parties
And sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss 

The husband or wife.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has
Coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way,
But is thankful they are there to be in the way

Love doesn't give only to those who 

Are able to give in return, 

But rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes 

All things, endures all things.
Love never fails.

Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost,
Golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of Love will endure.

*. by Author Unknown .*

He is the First and Last,
The Beginning and the End!

He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager
of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be ...
unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!
The world can't understand him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him, 

and The leaders can't ignore Him.
Herod couldn't kill Him, The Pharisees couldn't confuse
Him, and The people couldn't hold Him!
Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him, and "Oprah" can't explain
Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.

His ways are right,
His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me.
He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and He is my peace!
He is my Joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and He rules my life!

I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,
the power of the powerful,
the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of
leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and is to come.
And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.

His goal is a relationship with ME!
He will never leave me,
Never forsake me,
Never mislead me,
Never forget me,
Never overlook me and
Never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
  When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody everywhere, every time, and every way.

He is God, He is faithful. I am His, and He is mine!

My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.
So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...

He said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side,
and that means all is well with my soul.
 
Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!
Hugs & Blessing 

  + By Marti

Clearly Jeanne desperately wants her husband
to say “I love you” at times, yet she forces
herself not to ask. She therefore pushes
herself further into self-doubt, by forbidding
herself to ask for what she wants.

This self-denial is a result of shame,
an emotion closely connected to deservedness.
You need to realize that asking to be loved
is not only not shameful, it’s exactly what
one should do to get love. Shame tells us
that love is a small, precious commodity
that we have to beg for. But love is abundant,
and asking for it only reflects that you
already perceive it to be yours.

Whenever Alan says that he loves her,
Jeanne also needs to trust his assurance,
and if this proves difficult, she should
resist the temptation to ask for more
reassurance on the spot – it will be more
productive to work on how she can learn 
to trust.

Here the story comes to a parting between
psychology and spirituality. In psychological
terms Jeanne’s lack of self-worth is abound
up in dark memories from her past.
As a small girl she was imprinted with
experiences that told her she wasn’t good
enough – we all have similarly painful
memories. Years later these were transferred
to looks, age, and sexual desirability.

Jeanne would never accept herself as long as
she was attracted to men who she believed
were more desirable that she, because any
comparison would put her in the shade.
Being with Alan was a “solution” born out of
past conditioning that had to fall away.

“I think it’s a good idea for you to work
through personal issues,” I told Jeanne,
“but lasting a solution to whether you are
deserving or not will only come spiritually.

The spiritual answer to any problem is
immediate. It’s our own perception that is
slow to catch on. God’s ability to love us
is limited only by our ability to receive
that love here and now.

* Adapted from The Path to Love,
by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 1997)

People who are disconnected from themselves 

will be as baffled by the afterlife as they are 

by the present. For them, cause and effect aren’t 
clear. Feelings of being alienated, alone, victimized, 
tossed around by fate, out of control, or abused 

by authority clash with one another.

In this fog of confusion they can not take 

responsibility for their own motivations and 

desires, and the afterlife may frighten or 

baffle them.

Being disconnected is an illusion from the soul’s 

perspective. And however long it may take, 

understanding, symbolized by light, begins to dawn. 

In clarity you realize that “I am” is your basis, not 

the things you did. You no longer identify with being a 

certain person; you now identify with being conscious, 

and what fills your mind is fresh possibilities.
The karma you brought into the last lifetime has been 

exhausted, and fresh seeds of karma are ready 

to sprout. Being reborn enters your mind gradually.

For a long period (speaking objectively) you 

experience bliss; you have gained pure being, 

which brings its own fulfillment regardless of 

any karma, good or bad.

You find yourself in the same gap as the one
between two thoughts, only this time you are
aware of uncountable possibilities from which
to choose. You will witness as the dream of a
new identity begins to clothe you, and you will
fall into your next life in complete surrender
to past actions that you still know almost
nothing about.

But all of us can take a more active role in 

how we reincarnate. The elaborate rituals in 

the Tibetan Book of the Dead are designed to 

make freedom of choice real, to bring 

the person fully aware into the gap so that 

karma can be shaped, controlled, or 

even fully resolved.

.. Adapted from Life After Death: The Burden of Proof, 
.. by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2006).