The King's Guide is written to help men investigate certain spiritual truths, without accepting metaphysical abstractions. One important factor for men to consider is that a man's life is now. Life is rich with experiences to enjoy. Life is not in the past, and it's not in the future. Life is now. This is the self-evident truth. Men should be mindful of this.
Why? Because, before you know it, life passes you by. Ten years have got behind you, and now what? The truth about life is that it's happening right now. Seems a bit simple to say, "Life is now." Yet it's liberating to realize this simple truth. Being free -- physically, mentally, spiritually -- rests upon fully knowing that life is happening right now. This is it. Make no mistake where you are. The Routine Unfortunately, all to often, men find ourselves living from one situation to the next, always looking for that happy state being. We're always struggling to move away from fear and trouble, and towards the things that make us happy. I am guilty of this. For example, I have a routine of getting up, kissing the wife (often more than just that), and getting dressed. I notice my jeans are dirty. I need a new pair. But they might not fit like I want. So, I make coffee. Cream smells bad. I need to go to the store and pick some up. Making lunches for the kids, I notice they need more veggies in their diet. Grab veggies from the store. Put together some breakfast, gluten-free, paleo. We need more groceries. I confirm cash in pocket. Kiss and hug everyone at the breakfast table. Confirm weather conditions. Check the kids are wearing the right clothes. My jacket looks old, and I think about buying a new jacket. What about saving for vacation? Where would we go. And what about work today. Got to check my email on my phone. And on, and on, and on it goes. Augh! Is this what life is all about? Might there be more to life than this monotonous movement through one situation to the next? From feeling this to feeling that? Yes. Of course. Yet, men get unknowingly caught and swept in the river current of the mundane -- sometimes for years. What should we do? Some unfortunately turn to religion or other man-made spiritual dogma. Some turn inwards and focus on breath, physical body movement, emptying and quieting the mind, or repeating self-affirming phrases. Nice remedies for sure. But where is the abundance? Where's the life-sustaining power? Might there be a way to experience (on a daily basis) joy, unconditional love, and meaningful compassion? How do I make sure I'm not actually missing a universe of energy and possibilities? Mindfulness Might there be something about being mindful? Mindfulness is about being aware. Having a state of mind that is clear and undistracted by the commotion of the day and without regard to whether something is making you happy or not. It's not simply thinking with your eyes closed and breathing from your gut energies. It's about being in thought. I think of it has being in spirit. In spirt. Inspired. In Spirit To be in spirit, to be mindful, aware of life that is around you, and you in it, is an active task. It takes some guidance, or at least some practice, before becoming a powerful habit. Mindfulness is a part of the Buddhist doctrine. Many Buddhist texts are repetitive and, frankly for me, quite boring to read. However, when compared with the words, the truths, the heavenly promises written in other texts, the difference is remarkable and unmistakable. Being in spirit, being mindful, being aware of your consciousness is a simple internal thing yet phenomenal in its external manifestation. Where's the Power? There's actually power in being mindful, spiritually mindful. Real power -- manifested in your physical life experiences. Texts refer to this as fruit -- fruit of the spirit. Your mind can free you from suffering, fear, doubts and worries. The Buddha taught that one responds to suffering with mindfulness. True. But where's the power? That's what many men desire. To be mindful, aware, to contemplate and presently enjoy my endless life experiences as they happen requires me to believe. To believe. Believing is action, both mental and physical action. To be mindful, I don't have to physically remove myself from the world; I don't have to close my eyes; I don't have to empty my mind; I don't have to move, stretch, or sit in a physically challenging positions for extended periods of time; I don't need incense, silk clothing, or verbal digressive repetitions. My consciousness is not dependent upon feelings, which come and go like the pleasant or unpleasant winds. My abundant life is not dependent upon moods, for attitudes change like the playful overhead clouds. Love is not dependent upon the five senses, for my physical body is limited. Mindfulness, awareness, consciousness is believing. Mindfulness is not passive. It's active. It's an active experience of your present life, without any doubt, worry or fear. When I am mindful, I am not trying to run from fear, or move towards happiness. When I am aware, spiritually mindful, I am fully aware of the reality of life. Believing is neither being lost in thought, nor is it an attempt to remove everything but thought. Pay Attention There's a children's song that we sing in our family fellowship that we have every Sunday morning with our friends. The words of the song are, "God has something to say to you. God has something to say. Listen. Listen. Pay close attention. God has something to say." It's a reminder for us, including children, to pay attention to what's going on in your life. God is there. God is saying something to you. In everything, God. If I'm not mindful, I might miss it. I might miss it all. Men, we might miss what God, this unlimited power of the universe, is saying to us. We ought to consider and be mindful not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. The things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are boundless and everlasting (2 Corinthians 4:18) Conclusion I encourage men to be mindful. Mindfulness is about actively experiencing your life. It not about emptying your mind, but filling it with truths that manifest themselves in phenomenal ways that result in love, joy, and peace. These fruits of the spirit originate in your mind, come from your heart, and are self-evident in your work. Read more about how your spirt makes your work fruitful. When I look at the stars in the night sky, I am amazed of how much we're uncertain.
96% is Unknown Physicists say the observable universe makes up only 4% of the entire universe. That includes all of the stars, galaxies, clouds, planets, comets, dust, etc. The rest - 96% of the universe - is called dark matter and dark energy. Invisible stuff. Unseen. We're uncertain of what makes up most of the universe. We really have no idea what's going on. My observations seem to agree. There's much more going on than what I can see. I don't believe in anything simply because I heard someone say it. I don't believe in things simply because it is found written in religious books. I don't believe in anything merely on the authority of others. I believe by observation, thought, and reason. So, let's think about what we see, and not see, in our world. Martin Luther Martin Luther said that God is not just in the Bible, but is also found in the trees, the flowers, the clouds, and the stars. In the crisp, clean air of Boulder, Colorado, I see the stars almost every night. The stars are amazing. They remind us of how vast God's presence is - not just throughout the universe, but also within each of us. Wonder Men travel great distances to climb snow-capped mountains, sail wavy seas, gaze across lands, ride wild rivers, and dive deep oceans. But we tend to pass by ourselves, not stopping to wonder about our connection to the universe. God is Everywhere Might it be that God is everywhere present and unseen? Yes. What we actually see are the manifestations of God, as Martin Luther said. God is a universal presence. Quantum physicists refer to an infinite field of invisible potentiality. Hm. Same thing. We cannot see God with our eyes. Why? Because God is Spirit. God is invisible to the human eye. No one has ever seen God. But we know, we believe, God is always present, with us, around us, in us. God is spirit (John 4:24). What else is God? Man? No. Woman? No. Is God Jesus? No. Is God religion? Certainly not. God is energy, everywhere, unlimited, eternal, powerful, joy, peace, love. God is unconditional love. And God is around us, with us, always. No matter where we are, God. Even if I was in the middle of nowhere – like the uttermost parts of the sea - I would not be alone (Psalms 139:9-10). God is everywhere present. He is always there as a source and a guide. How Big is the Universe? If God is everywhere present in the infinite universe, then God is, therefore, everywhere present in event the smallest, tiniest thing. Well, how big is the universe? Let's imagine the Earth was the size of a grain of sand. Then the size of our solar system, out to the planet Neptune, would be as big about as big as a football field. Now, imagine if our solar system was the size of a grain of sand, then our Milky Way Galaxy would be 1,000 times the size of a football field. Now, let's imagine our galaxy to be the size of a grain of sand. Then the size of the universe would be as big as a football field. The universe is really, really big. And God is everywhere. Everywhere Means Everywhere Now, let's imagine God being present everywhere, even in the smallest building blocks of everything that we see - atoms. What’s inside atoms? Nothing that we can see with our eyes. There are electrons, neutrons, and protons. And even smaller than that, there are quanta. Even in the tiniest of things, God is everywhere. Everywhere means everywhere. Why Study the Unseen? Why do we study things we can not see? Because the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). God is eternal. Why is This Important? Why is it important to know that God is is everywhere, eternal, and always with us? It might be that remembering God’s presence in our lives helps us to not have fear. We can be peaceful in any situation as we stay our minds on God. Peace We experience perfect peace when our minds are stayed and focused on God (Isaiah 26:3). God says He will keep us in perfect peace. How? As we stay our minds on God. How do we do that? Staying Our Minds on God How do we stay our minds on God? We are not be conformed to this world, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs. But instead we are transformed (changed) by the entire renewal of our minds, with its new ideals and its new attitude, so that we may prove for ourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). As we keep our minds on God by renewing our minds, and reading the Word, we can be peaceful, knowing that God is present. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). He is with us day and night, inside and out, no matter what challenge we face. Boat in a Storm Jesus knew God was with him in every situation. He practiced the presence of God. Because he remembered God was always with him to help, Jesus turned to God and stayed peaceful in difficult situations. In Luke 8:22-25, there a story about when Jesus and his friends were on a boat crossing over the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was tired from teaching, so he took a nap on the boat. While he slept, a large storm hit and lots of water came into their boat. This was a very scary and dangerous situation. Can you imagine being in this boat? Would you remain peaceful? Jesus did. He remembered that God was with him. He rebuked the storm. Rebuke means to express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone or something, because of their behavior or actions. He knew that God’s power was greater than the power of the storm. He commanded the storm to stop, and it did. Practice the Presence of God We can practice the presence of God in our lives. In all our ways we can acknowledge God’s presence. We can lean on, trust in, and be confident in God with all our heart and mind. We don't rely on our own insight or understanding. In all our ways, we know, recognize, and acknowledge that which is ever present, unlimited, yet unseen. And God will direct and make straight and plain our paths. Love Each Other And we can pray to God for ourselves and each other. We can pray at all times, on every occasion, in every season, in the Spirit, being inspired. We keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, and we intercede on behalf of each other. We have free will, freedom to either be opportunity to serve or excuse for selfishness. Through love we should serve one another (Galatians 5:13). Put on the Mind of God We can put on the mind of God by (a) studying the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15), (b) recognizing ourselves as children of God or children of light (Ephesians 5:8), (c) practicing the presence of God (Proverbs 3:5-6), and (d) walking in love (2 John 1:6). Love One Another We ought to love one another. And what this love consists of is this: that we live and walk in accordance with and guided by God and the teachings from God. If there be only one expressed desire, it would be that we continue to walk in love, guided by it and following it (2 John 1:5-6). Conclusion When we keep our minds on God and His Word, we have God’s peace. God will guide us and help us. We can practice the presence of God in our lives as we acknowledge God in all situations, and we can pray and believe. When you’re outside today, is God with you? Yes. How about tonight when you’re sleeping? Is God with you? Yes. No matter where you are or what you’re doing or what challenges you’re facing, you can say, “God is with me always.” You might be interested in reading "Gandhi, Sugar and iPhones" from The King's Guide. If you change the way you love your woman, the woman you love changes. Right? Right. The mind is everything. Your mind is powerful. What you think, you become. And when you change the way you think about things, those things change. There’s an entire lifetime of learning of how important your thoughts are. Your thoughts affect your world. When you change your thoughts, the things you think of change. When you change the way you see things, the things you see change. If you change the way you love someone, that someone you loved changes. We are what we think. For as you think from you heart, so you are (Proverbs 23:7). The thoughts I have in my heart, deep down inside, that’s who I am. And we keep that heart like a treasure - protected. I've learned that my heart retains my words, and I keep (protect) those words, because I live from them (Proverbs 4:4). Our hearts retain, or keep, our words. What we say and think is in our heart. Proverbs 4:20-23 reads, "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Out of the heart are the issues of life. We guard our hearts. We are alert to the thoughts we allow in our hearts, because out of the heart, the innermost part of our mind, comes the issues of life. Take a simple truth, such as 2+2=4. That's in our minds. Once we learn it, it stays there - forever. That’s a truth. But what about lies? What if someone says something bad about you? Does that stay in your mind, in your heart, forever? It’s like salt in unbaked brownie batter. Ever hear the story about brownie salt? Let's say you have a chocolate brownie in your hand. You're about to eat it. But, by mistake, you dump a bunch of salt on the brownie. What do you do? Is the brownie ruined? No. Just brush the salt off the brownie, and you're good to go. Tastes great. Now, assume you're mixing the brownie mix, stirring it with a spoon in a bowl. And the salt spills into the mix. What happens after you bake the brownies? Take bite of that brownie, and you'll taste the salt. Yuck! It's completely ruined, and there's nothing you can do. That's because the salt is stuck in there. It's too late. Now, you're mind, especially the minds of our children, is like a brownie mix. Don't let salt (untruths, lies, fear, worry, doubt, suffering, etc.) spill into it. Guard your mix. Guard your thoughts, your heart, your mind. For most adults, our minds are already baked. We can just brush it off. But for some, especially our children, it's too late. The salt is in there - forever. Henry David Thoreau Henry wrote, "As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives." So, be careful with what you think about. If you think it over and over, it could change your life forever. When we change the way we see things, the things we see change.
We have to change the way we think. I’m not talking about meditation and emptying the mind. I'm not talking about closing your eyes and chanting. I love yoga. I love getting quiet. But that's not what I'm talking about. I’m talking about change. A better way of saying it would be to RENEW your mind. Change means to take this and make it that, something completely different from its original. Renew means to make something new, to re-new, or make new again, fresh again, and strong again. Renewing the mind means to restore it to its original, good state. How do I restore my mind when I'm faced something negative or challenging? Well, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but rather, God gives power, unconditional love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We have the power to replace any negative with spiritual positives. We can have power. We can have love. We can have a sound mind. We can do this. We can renew our minds to this truth and make it deep mental path by walking it again and again, as Henry wrote (see above). Ephesians 4:22-24 reads, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." In those verses, we read that we put on the new man, which after God is created [or created in God’s image] in righteousness and true holiness. So, after putting on the new man (by renewing my mind), I’m created in God’s image. Holy crap! That's powerful. Read that again. We're created in God's image after we put on "the new man." How? By renewing our minds to God. But what is the image of God? And who is God? Is God a man? No. Is God a woman? No. Is God an old man with a long gray beard and bushy eyebrows, waving his finger, and always mad? No. Is God Jesus? No. Is God religion and vice versa? Certainly not. So, who or what is God, and what's the image of God in which I'm created (or renewed). Well, actually, God is what the bible says God is. The bible says that God is:
That is the image of God. So, when we put off the old man, when we renew our spirit of our minds, and we put on the new man, we see ourselves as created (created anew) in God's image. Think of an old shirt. Take off your old shirt, and put on a new one. Clothe yourself in a new image, an image of God. The woman above is simply helping her man change his mind. ... and we're back. 2 Corinthians 3:18 reads, “And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit." What does all that mean? We hold what we believe in in our hands, like a mirror. Maybe it's the bible, spiritual principles, new age enlightenment, teaching of Buddha. It doesn't matter. Whatever it is... it reflects our open mind, and we see who we truly are. Your believing is like a mirror. With the God in our mind, we are renewed in the image of God. So, what do we believe in? What do we have holding in our hands? What is image reflecting in our mirror? Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, tour values become your destiny.” Buddha The Buddha said, “The mind is everything. What you think, you become.” Believing So, again, what do we believe in? What do we think about? If you can't think of anything, Philippians 4:8 provides some guidance. It reads, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Fix your mind upon these things. Colossians 3:10 reads, "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him [God] that created him [you]." When we renew our minds, we put off the old, and put on the new. We put on the new man and clothe ourselves with the new spiritual self, which is forever in the process of being renewed in knowledge after the image of God that created you. When you renew your mind, you understand more fully about God in whose image you were created. When you renew your mind, you see yourself a bit differently. Don't you? And, when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Yes? Repeat that in your mind. You see yourself as a reflection of the image of God. How can that be? Remember. Remember who God is (see above). Hebrew 4:12 reads, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." What God speaks is alive and full of power. It's active and energizing. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow, the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and sifting and revealing the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. God’s Word helps me renew my mind, because it is so effective & powerful. So, to what do you renew your mind? What do I think about? How does the bible help me in this? Let me share a few verses that I keep in my renewed mind. In Ephesians 2:10, I am God’s workmanship. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, my body is a temple. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 says I am a child of light. Psalms 139:14 says I am wonderfully made. Philippians 4:19 says all my needs shall be supplied. Ephesians 6:11 says I wear the whole armor of God. Ephesians 3:12 says I am bold and confident. Colossians 1:22 says that I am without blemish. Galatians 5:1 says I am free. Psalms 18:29 says I can run through a troop and leap over a wall. Romans 8:37 says I am more than a conqueror in every situation. Philippians 4:13 says that I can do all things. Joshua 1:9 says God is with me wherever I go. That’s some powerful stuff! That's what I think about. God helps me renew my mind. Summary In summary, we learned about renewing our minds. When we change the way we see things, the things we see change. And what we believe is like a mirror, reflecting who we really are. So, I encourage you to be careful in what you think about and what you believe in. For the thoughts you keep in your heart, that’s who you really are. You may want to read "Who is God?" from The King's Guide. Learn more about becoming a great man, a king. |
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