St Francis Place

New Pet Care Service in Hickory County Mo.

2011-12-31T13:38:00.000-08:00

Introducing Heydi's Home and Pet Sitting Service in Wheatland Mo. This service offers in home pet care and house sitting service while you are away. Heydi also provides in home pet bathing for smaller breeds. Serving the needs of Hickory Co. and surrounding communities. Contact us for rates.

Heydi's Pet Care Service

Arun Gandhi: Nonviolence in the Age of Terror. (Complete Speech)

2011-10-29T08:28:00.000-07:00

Part One of the full speech by Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of M.K Gandhi discussing his understanding of Non-violent resistance, and the importance of returning to this concept and practice today.

"The choice is no longer between violence and non-violence; the choice is now between non-violence and non-existance." -M.K. Gandhi

Follow the link below to the complete playlist on UTube:

Link

Blessings,

Ralph

The Nature of Reality. (Actually the Illusion of Reality)

2011-10-02T09:12:00.001-07:00

Rabbi Laibl Wolf on Unconditional Love and Giving.

2011-08-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

Theocracy Watch: Dominion Theology

2011-08-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

In this video series Joan Bokaer of Cornell University's Theocracy Watch gives a history of how the United States has been on the road to Theocracy since 1973. In this struggle to protect and defend religious freedom in the U.S. it is already later than most people realize.

Tools for Inner Transformation. Sight: Seeing The Need To Change.

2011-08-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

For the next several weeks I will be doing a series of articles focusing on the Spiritual Tools needed for inner transformation. These tools will be presented in a non-religious framework, using everyday language that anyone can understand. You do not have to be religious or non-religious in order to effect radical transformation at a core level. All one has to be is a Spiritual Person who is open to Spiritual concepts. And deep down, at our root level, we are all Spiritual Beings.

The first tool I will deal with is that of Sight or Spiritual insight. It involves being able to see the need for change. This is really one of the first steps to a deep inner transformation. In order to seek to change, we first must see and be clearly convinced of the need for change. If we think we are fine just the way we are, then chances are we will not change ourselves, unless forced to do so by outer circumstances. But if we can see some fault or series of faults within ourselves, we will eventually become open to change. Sometimes the faults can be clearly obvious. If a person has a habit of drinking a case of beer every night and has had a few DWI's, it does not take a rocket scientist to see this person has a deep need to change. Of course addicts with this kind of background may still need some convincing, but over the course of time the truth will become clear. With other people the need for change may not be so obvious. What about a person who is addicted to gossip instead of alcohol? They may think they are just fine; that it is everybody else who has a problem. But over the course of time, when a person has spread enough slanted stories conveying a false message which seems true to them; when they have unintentionally, or perhaps even intentionally, destroyed the lives of more than a few good people, then they too may see the need for change. Or let us consider a person who has a very judgemental character, who holds onto grudges and has a difficult time to forgive and let go of past resentments or hurts. They may think they are just fine too. But, over the course of time, this person may begin to feel physical symptoms in their bodies such as high blood pressure or ulcers. If they have the Spiritual Insight to look deeply into themselves, they may see their physical ailments are but the material manifestations of their own inner problems and difficulties. They may begin to see the wisdom in letting go of the past, practicing forgiveness, and allowing love and healing to flow into their lives, both on a Spiritual level and on a physical level.

So one of the first steps in effecting inner change and transformation is to be able to see the need for change. For some people this is going to be easier than others. Consider for a moment why both Jesus and the Buddha liked to associate themselves with people who were publicly recognized as being sinners? Did they just love to go "slumming" as we might call in today? Why would Jesus sometimes say to the self-righteous of his day, "Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of Heaven ahead of you."? Because these people, the prostitutes and the social outcasts of his day had the grace that the self-righteous could never imagine: they could clearly see their need to change, and thus were on the first steps of the Spiritual ladder which the self-righteous could not even begin to enter upon. They may have been considered the "scum of the earth" by others, but to Jesus, Buddha, and other great Spiritual masters, they were Children of God ready to advance into paradise.

So it is with us today. It may be surprising, but those who have practiced some very flawed and spiritually corrupt life-styles, such as the alcoholic, addict, criminal or even murderer, may be ready to advance in self transformation more quickly than the average person. And the reason for this is that they may have been beaten down enough and bleed deeply enough to begin to awaken to the need for change, and finally arrived at a point where they are willing to do whatever it takes to effect change in their lives. But it first begins with the ability to see. Do I need to change? What do I need to change? Open our eyes that we might see!

Blessings,

Ralph

InterFaith Unity, Contemplation, and Humanitarian Outreach: Our Guiding Stars.

2011-07-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

Here at St Francis Place our work revolves around three basic concepts which together form our mission: InterFaith Unity, Contemplation, and Humanitarian Outreach.

InterFaith Unity:

We are all God's Children regardless of how we see or understand God. By coming together in extended community both online and face to face we learn to see the commonalities that exist between us. Eventually we begin to see not just the Unity which exists between us, but also the Oneness of all things; all things being rooted in the Creator. With each other's support and friendship we break through the walls of illusion which have divided us for too long, and begin building bridges of love and Unity!

Contemplation:

Contemplation, or Prayer and Meditation; call it what you will. This discipline is known to all in varying forms. Some may sit cross-legged chanting a mantra. Another may take a silent walk in nature. Others may lose themselves in creating or observing a work of art. Still others may gain this state of mind in the very deep and profound study of Scripture. Contemplation gives us the ability to see beyond ourselves and into the Mind of the Universe. In Contemplation we seek out the Will of God, as we understand God, and gain the insight, strength and energy needed to do the work that needs to be done. We cut through the chatter of our day-to-day lives and listen to the silence and the stillness of the Divine. By engaging in these practices on a daily basis we attain Serenity, Peace of Mind, and Wisdom.

Humanitarian Outreach (Helping Others):

We have all needed help at one time or another. And in our times of deepest need there was somebody there to help. It is not always possible or even necessary to repay those who have been there for us, but we can honor our benefactors through the simple act of "paying it forward." When we see a person in need, give whatever you can. Give without demanding payment in return. Rather ask only that when their circumstances improve they also repay your kindness by spreading the gift of goodness to others. We all have needs, and we all have abilities. Let us use them not just in the service of ourselves, but in the service of others as well. Thus we fulfill the Scriptural command, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

Here at St Francis Place, InterFaith InterPeace, ACA, and our other ministerial outreach programs we practice being open to all regardless of religion (or lack there-of), race, creed, color, sex, or sexual orientation. All with an open heart are welcome.

If you would like to join our extended online community, message me for details. Those wishing to make a donation to this work may do so by clicking on the "Donate" button to the above right of this post and give whatever you would like. Checks and International Money Orders are acceptable and may be made out to ACA and sent to the address below:

ACA
C/O Ralph Lindenberger
RR 1 Box 1764-D
Wheatland Mo. 65779

Thank You For Your Care and Interest,

Ralph

Kabbalistic Wisdom: "There Is None Else Besides Him."

2011-07-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

Homeless In Hickory County: A True Story of Extended Community.

2011-07-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

Back around Christmas a few years ago a homeless man named Steve knocked on our door. I was the pastor of a local Christian Church, so having strangers knock on my door asking for aid was a routine situation. Usually I would talk to them for a few minutes, access their need for help, and slip them a Salvation Army voucher redeemable for goods at most retail stores if the situation warranted. But Steve was different. He did not want a Salvation Army voucher or even cold hard cash. All he wanted was a tent. He told me he had come back into the area to see his family at Christmas, but did not want to live off of his kids even though he was homeless and could not afford a hotel. He shared that he had been living in his car up to that point, and with the nights getting colder, could not afford to run the car's engine to keep warm. His request was simple and to the point: a spare blanket that he could use in his old sleeping bag for warmth, and an old tent if we had one.

In Hickory County Mo. there is not much by way of housing homeless people for any period of time. What we pastors usually would do was put them up for a day at a local hotel which always gave us a special rate during the off-season, then provide for a bit of food. The next morning the homeless person would hit the road again for the next town that would provide some form of basic hospitality, and the pattern would repeat. But I could tell right away that Steve was different from the majority of people I had dealt with. There was an excitement in his eyes and a child-like innocence about him. He was around 50 years of age, but reminded me of a child of 12. He spoke briefly about "hearing voices" telling him to forsake his faith in God, but that he wanted nothing to do with those suggestions which he attributed to coming from Satan. He said he was a child of God and wanted to live as a child of God. He did not like being around a lot of people, but instead preferred to live out in nature with "God's creatures." I could tell right away I was dealing with a paranoid schizophrenic of the classic type. Not the kind that presented a danger to others, but rather a sweet and loveable one who, while needing help, prefered giving help to others rather than receiving for himself. This would not be one of my typical pastoral missions of mercy. Rather this would be one that would teach me a great deal about human nature and life in general.

With Steve waiting in our living room I called the local authorities and had a background check done on Steve. He was clean with no prior offences. I called the mental health authorities in the area asking if they knew of any programs he might qualify for. I discovered to my surprise that in our small rural area there were no programs that could take him in. According to one man I spoke with the best that could be done would be to put him into an institution for an overnight evaluation, then, if they felt he was not a danger to others, would cut him loose the next day leaving him again out on his own. After these conversations I took Steve to our backyard storage shed and gave him an old tent I had not used in years, as well as a blanket and some tins of food. Against my usual better judgement, I worked hard to convince him to take $20 for gas. He did not want to accept the money at first, then only accepted it on the condition that he could pay me back when he could. He took his things and headed out to a local campground which allowed the homeless to stay free of charge during the winter months. I never really expected to see him again.

What happened in the next few days was totally unexpected. Within two days he was back on my doorstep with $20 in hand and a Christmas cake. He told me his son had given him some money and some food, and he wanted to pay back my hospitality. I accepted the money, but told him to at least keep the food. He smiled and said, "Awe Ralph...I really don't like fruit cake. It gives me the runs, and when you are homeless you have to be careful about things like that." No other explanation was necessary for me at that point. I accepted his gifts, and asked how he was doing and exactly where he was staying. He had a place in a local park not too many miles away, and I told myself I would check in with him every few days to see how he was doing. A few days later I did just that. I arrived early in the morning at Steve's campsite to find him feeding a deer potato skins! It was like he was feeding a family pet! The innocence this man portrayed could even be felt by the park animals. He seemed to be doing fine, so while I did not like leaving him out in nature during the cold winter month of December, I left feeling like I was doing the right thing.

Another day later I knew I had to take more drastic action. The weather report warned of a large ice storm moving into our area, which would last several days. I went down to his campsite and after a long conversation, convinced him to move out of there. We got him packed into his car just as the ice started coming down. I managed to book him into a really cheap hotel for $250 per month paying first and last months rent, and asked Steve to promise me he would stay there for at least the full two months. He said he would, and thanked me for the help. After I got Steve moved in, I managed to make it back home in the middle of the ice storm. Later that night the ice was so severe we lost electricity in our home and over much of the county. The outage would last for over a week. The next morning waking up in a cold house with the temps just above freezing, my concern was more for my family rather than Steve. I wondered how he was doing, but saw also that we were iced in and could really do nothing more to help. So I just camped out in our powerless unheated home with my wife and made the best of it. We ate out of cans and heated by candlelight for the next few days until the roads were cleared enough for us to get out.

About that time Steve showed up again. He was happy and grateful and was wanting to check up on us to see how we were doing. He was surprised to find that we were without power as his utilities were still on! He offered for my wife and I to stay at his place. I appreciated the offer, but being a church pastor who lived right next door to the church he served, I told him I had to stay on site to keep an eye on things. A few days after that the power was finally restored, and our life began to get back to normal.

After the Christmas, New Years, and ice storm closure period was over, I took the situation concerning Steve up with the wider church. Most were eager to help out. I told them we had paid two months rent for him out-of-pocket, but that additional funds might be needed from the church until a more permanent living arrangement could be found. One kind church member took out her check book and gave me a check for $250 saying she wanted to split the cost with us for putting Steve up for those two months. Others gathered together more blankets and food. An old cot that had been gathering dust in somebodies basement found its way up to Steve's place along with pots, pans, and other household goods. Within 30 days a church member who did not want to be identified talked to the owner of a local lumber yard and convinced him to give Steve a job. Steve came over to our place that day to give me the news! He was beaming with delight. He loved the chance to work again, and paid his own way for the next nine months. Over that same period of time we got Steve signed up for medical benefits and things seemed to be going well. I thought we had a real success story on our hands. Unfortunately I do not exactly have a happy ending to report as of this writing.

It seems at one point Steve stopped seeing the doctor we had signed him up for, and stopped taking his medications again. He never fully trusted the doctor, nor did he trust the medications. Such is common with the schizophrenic. Sometime in September after nine months of having settled down into a normal lifestyle, he followed the voices back out onto the road. I have lost track of him, but still wonder where he is and what he is up to, hoping that if our paths cross again we might be able to help in a far better way. Services to the homeless in our county are still few to none except for the outreach of a few small churches and committed pastors. This is where you the reader may be able to help!

By clicking on the "Donate" key to the right of this post, you can help us provide aid to other people such as Steve. Even donations as low as five to ten dollars per month can be of great benefit. Realistically one person or even one small group of people can not always do much to help out those who can not for whatever reason help themselves. But by joining our limited resources together, we can make a definite difference in the lives of others. All that is needed is the willingness to take action and do what you can to reach out to those in need. Your help today will be greatly appreciated.

Blessings,

Ralph and Heydi

An Introduction To The Wisdom of Kabbalah.

2011-07-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

2011-07-14T06:13:00.001-07:00

Why forgive? Why should I let somebody off the hook who has done me harm in the past? People today are usually slow to forgive, thinking they have a right to their anger (which we do), but not thinking of the harm holding onto anger does to themselves. Long ago the Buddha put it this way, "Hanging onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at somebody else. You are the one who gets burned."

When we hold onto to anger, all sorts of bad things can happen to us. If you have held onto a resentment for any length of time a simple demonstration will make this point clear. Think of somebody whom you have not yet completely forgiven who has caused you harm in the past. Now, what do you notice about yourself and the way you are feeling? Has you face turned red yet? Do you feel your blood pressure going up? Any signs of stomach upset? If you are thinking about this close to bedtime, do you have trouble going to sleep afterwards? Do you feel like crying, pounding a wall, or going out for a drink? These and other things are warning signs that not forgiving another person for the harm they have done to you in the past is screwing up your present moment. Also notice that holding onto the anger is not causing these things to happen to the person you are holding the anger against; rather they are happening to you.

Forgiveness clears the way for us to get on with our lives. If we are holding onto anger and resentments, we are hanging onto the past, and a very nasty part of our past. Focusing on the past obscures our view of the present. Rather than going ahead with our lives, we are stuck looking into the rearview mirror as it were (and a cracked rearview mirror at that). How can we move forward when we spend too much time looking behind? We can not. We must eventually see the wisdom in leaving the past behind, for ourselves and others, so we can see the present for what it is, and move ahead into the future. Forgiveness makes this possible.

Most Christians today believe they do not have to forgive anyone. They tend to believe that if they accept Jesus as their Lord ans Savior, then God will forgive them. But that is about as far as forgiveness goes for many of them. Is this what Jesus taught? A simple look at the Gospel of Matthew will show that it is not.

In Matthew 6: 14-15 Jesus makes this clear. "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (NRSV) Here Jesus teaches a very simple law of Karma: You reap what you sow; or, what goes around comes around. As we forgive others, so will God forgive us. In other parts of Matthew Jesus again points out the urgency in forgiving the sins of others. "When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5: 23-24, NRSV). The Christians of the 1st century took this teaching seriously. There is a practice recorded in the Didache (Teaching of the Apostles) which reads, "On the Lord's Day assemble in common to break bread and offer thanks; but first confess your sins so that your sacrifice may be pure. However nobody who is quarreling with their brother may join your meeting until they are reconciled; your sacrifice must not be defiled." (Didache 14: 1-2) This should make it abundantly clear that forgiveness is not just something the first followers of Jesus believed in; it is something they practiced and taught others to do as well.

Today in churches and even in some pop psychology circles forgiveness is taught as being optional. Nothing could be more harmful or further from the truth! Forgiveness is essential to the life of a healthy human being. People working in recovery groups have noticed that when alcoholics practice forgiveness, their chances of complete recovery dramatically improve. But if they hold onto resentments, it is usually only a matter of time before their next drink. Even non-alcoholics notice a life improvement when they learn to forgive. They gain the ability to see life more clearly and live life more fully. In some people who begin to practice forgiveness for the first times some amazing physical changes are noticed as well. High blood pressure may stabilize; insomnia may disappear and stomach ulcers may heal of their own accord. When these changes are noticed in ordinary human beings who practice forgiveness for the first time in their lives, the "why" of forgiveness becomes obvious; we do this to stop punishing ourselves!

There is an old saying, "Time heals all wounds." When we forgive this saying is proven to be true. However there is an opposite yet just as true saying, "Time wounds all heels." When we refuse to forgive others and ourselves, this saying is borne out in spades.

This all is not to say that we should forget the harm that others have done to us and to set ourselves up to being hurt all over again. John F. Kennedy once said, "Forgive the sins of others, but remember their names." In other words we should forgive the trespass, but remember and respect the weakness in the other person (and in ourself) which made the trespass possible in the first place. If your husband is an alcoholic who has beaten you and your children while drinking; forgive the trespass, but take measures to protect yourself and others from any further abuse, even to the point of leaving the home and seeking legal recourse. If somebody has cheated you out of a large sum of money, again forgive the trespass, but be cautious about trusting your money with that person again, and if appropriate, file criminal charges. Yet we should always leave the door open to repentance and transformation! We never punish an evil doer out of a sense of revenge. Rather we do so out of love hoping the wrong-doer will learn from their mistakes and change, and also remembering the times in the past in which we ourselves had been the evil-doer. Remember too that people do change and grow over time. An alcoholic who once did terrible things to themselves and others may become an outstanding citizen and parent once they seek help and put their drinking days behind them. Likewise common thieves can become trustworthy once more when they truly learn the errors of their ways and seek to move forward as more Godly persons. Forgiveness leaves the door open to such transformation. A lack of forgiveness tries to shut this door tight.

Great spiritual masters such as Jesus, the Buddha, and others knew about the power of forgiveness and transformation. They commonly associated with criminals and riff-raff that the normal religious people of their time would avoid. And in the literature of the great world religions, we see accounts of people who were once thought to be completely lost being redeemed; thieves becoming great teachers and killers becoming saints. Redemption for anyone is possible. Let us never shut the door.

Music. The Greatest In The World.

2011-05-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

A Global Music Project of Bnei Baruch...

What if...?

2011-05-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

What if Moses stayed out in the desert and remained a shepherd for the rest of his life? What if Jesus remained in Galilee and did nothing but carpentry? What if Mohammed continued on as a caravan leader and nothing more? Where would we all be then.

Each of these men went on to chance the world as we know it, each in his own way. What if they all just gave up and said to hell with it? How would that act of saying no to God have altered human history? We too play a part in the world around us and in God's plan for humanity. What happens when we say no to God? How big of a change could we see when a few simple people, be they farmers, carpenters, or tour directors decide to say yes to God's Will in their lives? The choice is ours!

Why Is The Middle East in Crisis?

2011-05-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

World Scriptures On The Same Page: Similar Thoughts From Different Texts.

2011-05-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

Give to the needy readily and have no regrets when you do so, for in return the Lord your God will bless you in all your efforts and undertakings. For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor.   ( Deuteronomy 15: 10-11)

Treat people in ways you want them to treat you. This sums up the whole of the Torah and the Prophets.    ( Matthew 7: 12)

Have you thought of him that denies the Last Judgement? It is he who turns away the orphan and has no urge to feed the destitute. Woe to those who pray but are heedless in their prayer; who make a show of piety and forbid alms giving.   (Quran 107: 1-7)

Inter-Faith Peace Study.

2011-05-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

The Study

St Francis Place is launching an Inter-Faith Peace Study focusing on the teachings contained in "The Sermon On The Mount", found in Chapters 5,6,and 7 of the Gospel According to Matthew. The study will also make use of the book by Emmet Fox "The Sermon On The Mount: The Key To Success In Life."

The study will seek to include people of many different faith traditions, including (but not limited to) Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Atheists. My goal in the study is not to convert people to any one religious viewpoint, but rather to listen to as many different viewpoints as possible. What will happen in the study is this: once each week I will present the material from my point of view as an Inter-Faith pastor (with a strong Catholic/Disciples of Christ background), then I will ask each participant for their point of view relating the materials back to their own Scriptures and understandings. People need not share if they do not wish, but I hope as many will who feel comfortable doing so. As I see it the basic Spiritual principles covered in the Sermon On The Mount are common to all Spiritual traditions. These basics such as "Love your neighbor as yourself," and "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." will give plenty of common ground for us to work with so that no one should be excluded in the discussions.

Why The Sermon On The Mount?

I chose the Sermon On The Mount to be the basis of our study partly because I have become very familiar with it. Over the course of the past 4 years I have spent a great deal of time studying the teachings found in the Sermon On The Mount, and believe these teachings hold valuable lessons for all of human-kind. This is a message dating back through the centuries that can be found in all Spiritual traditions which the human race needs today.

The second reason I have chosen the Sermon On The Mount is due to the work of Mahatma Gandhi in his struggle during the early 20th century to build bridges of peace and understanding between the factions of his day; namely the Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. In his efforts Gandhi made use of the Sermon On The Mount relating it back to his own Scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. My feelings are if it worked for Gandhi in the early 20th century, this approach should also work for us in the early days of the 21st century. Be you Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jew or other...there is something in the teachings we can all relate too!

I am currently hoping to get the study formerly launched in May 2011. If you are interested in joining the group please let me know via the Email link to the right of this post. There are no materials to buy, unless you so desire. All materials will be made available for free via Internet Links and discussion board posts. I will also periodically supplement the discussions with video content relating to the topic at hand. It is my sincere hope that we can use this weekly study to build bridges of understanding between the various factions of today. And that together we can establish connections that will help to establish peace between common peoples that will spill over into our local, national, and international communities. It all starts with a few brave souls willing to venture out and take some common sense steps and a few personal risks. Are you one of them? If so...let me know!

Peace,

Ralph
St Francis Place

Some InterFaith Scripture Resources.

2011-05-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some links I have found to help connect the group with some of the Scriptures we will be dealing with. Just follow the links given to access the various Scriptures online.

The Torah: The Hebrew Bible In English.
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et0.htm

The New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible.
http://www.devotions.net/bible/00abibletop.htm

The Holy Quran.
http://www.muslim.org/english-quran/index.htm

The Baha'i Reference Library.
http://reference.bahai.org/en/

Feel free to let me know of any other links you feel may be of value, and I will update the information as needed.

Blessings,

Ralph

Peace Is Every Step (Thich Nhat Hanh) and Building The House Of Peace (Ajahn Brahm).

2011-05-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

For those who are not yet familiar with Thich Nhat Hanh or Ajahn Brahm I present the following two samples of their teaching. May peace be within you!

Peace Is Every Step Trailor Thich Nhat Hanh

Building The House Of Peace Ajahn Brahm

The Golden Key. By Emmet Fox.

2011-04-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Golden Key

Scientific prayer will enable you to get yourself or anyone else, out of any difficulty. It is the golden key to harmony and happiness.

To those who have no acquaintance with the mightiest power in existence, this may appear to be a rash claim, but it needs only a fair trial to prove that, without a shadow of doubt, it is a just one. You need take no one's word for it, and you should not. Simply try it for yourself.

God is omnipotent, and we are God's image and likeness and have dominion over all things. This is the inspired teaching, and it is intended to be taken literally, at its face value. The ability to draw on this power is not the special prerogative of the mystic or the saint, as is so often supposed, or even of the highly trained practitioner. Everyone has this ability Whoever you are, wherever you may be, the golden key to harmony is in your hand now. This is because in scientific prayer it is God who works, and not you, and so your particular limitations or weaknesses are of no account in the process. You are only the channel through which the divine action takes place, and your treatment will be just the getting of yourself out of the way.

Beginners often get startling results the first time, for all that is essential is to have an open mind and sufficient faith to try the experiment. Apart from that, you may hold any views on religion, or none.

As for the actual method of working, like all fundamental things, it is simplicity itself. All you have to do is this: Stop thinking about the difficulty, whatever it is, and think about God instead. This is the complete rule, and if only you will do this, the trouble, whatever it is, will disappear. It makes no difference what kind of trouble it is. It may be a big thing or a little thing: it may concern health, finance, a lawsuit, a quarrel, an accident, or anything else conceivable: but whatever it is, stop thinking about it and think of God instead -- that is all you have to do.

It could not be simpler, could it? God could scarcely have made it simpler, and yet it never fails to work when given a fair trial.

Do not try to form a picture of God, which is impossible. Work by rehearsing anything or everything that you know about God. God is wisdom, truth, inconceivable love. God is present everywhere, has infinite power, knows everything, and so on. It matters not how well you may think you understand these things: go over them repeatedly.

But you must stop thinking of the trouble, whatever it is. The rule is, to think about God. If you are thinking about your difficulty, you are not thinking about God. To be continually glancing over your shoulder in order to see how matters are progressing is fatal, because it is thinking of the trouble, and you must think of God and nothing else. Your object is to drive the thought of the difficulty out of your consciousness, for a few moments at least, substituting for it the thought of God. This is the crux of the whole thing. If you can become so absorbed in this consideration of the spiritual world that you forget for a while about the difficulty, you will find that you are safely and comfortably out of your difficulty -- that your demonstration is made.

In order to "golden key" a troublesome person or a difficult situation, think. "Now 1 am going to 'golden key' John, or Mary. or that threatened danger": then proceed to drive all thought of John, or Mary, or the danger out of your mind, replacing it with the thought of God.

By working in this way about a person, you are not seeking to influence his conduct in any way, except that you prevent him from injuring or annoying you, and you do him nothing but good. Thereafter, he is certain to be in some degree a better, wiser, and more spiritual person, just because you have "golden keyed" him. A pending lawsuit or other difficulty would probably fade out harmlessly without coming to a crisis, justice being done to all parties concerned.

If you find that you can do this very quickly, you may repeat the operation several times a day with intervals between. Be sure, however, each time you have done it, that you drop all thought of the matter until the next time. This is important.

We have said that the golden key is simple, and so it is, but of course it is not always easy to turn. If you are very frightened or worried, at first it may be difficult to get your thoughts away from material things. But by constantly repeating a statement of absolute Truth, such as: There is no power but God: I am the child of God, filled and surrounded by the perfect peace of God: God is love; God is guiding me now; or, perhaps best and simplest of all. God is with me -- however mechanical or trite it may seem -- you will soon find that the treatment has begun to "take." And that your mind is clearing. Do not struggle violently; be quiet, but insistent. Each time you find your attention wandering, switch it back to God.

Do not try to think in advance what the solution to your difficulty will be. This is called "outlining" and will only delay the demonstration. Leave the question of ways and means to God. You want to get out of your difficulty that is sufficient. You do your half, and God will never fail to do God's.

by Emmet Fox
Early 20th Century

United We Stand. A Brotherhood of Man.

2011-04-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

An oldie from the 1970's, but the message still stands. Now more than ever!

Muslims For Peace (the kid version).

2011-04-16T17:05:00.001-07:00

Heal The World.

2011-04-16T17:03:00.000-07:00

What is the missing element? Love your neighbor as you love yourself. We've all heard the phrase, now let's try living it!

Muslims For Peace.

2011-04-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

To Love Is To Be There

2011-04-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

"To Love is to be there." -Thich Nhat Hanh

Our minds seem to be constantly moving from past to future. Rarely do we rest in the Present Moment. The time we spend dwelling on the past does not help us, and the time we spend in worry about what the future may bring takes energy away from us. Only in the Present Moment do we have the opportunity to accept the past and build a better future by truly being in the moment and being available to those we love in the Here and Now. For our sake, as well as for the benefit of others, let us find the time to embrace the Present Moment and to Be Here Now!

Blessings,

Ralph

Music. The Quitter

2011-04-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

Seth Breitman...

True Spirituality and Forgiveness.

2011-04-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

What is the measure of any system of spirituality? Its ability to forgive.

Music. Break Free

2011-04-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

Seth Breitman...

People Uniting For Good. Kabbalah Congress 2010.

2011-04-16T10:10:00.001-07:00

Everything Comes From Above - Unity Sessions

2011-04-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

What Did Jesus Really Teach?

2011-04-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is a question I have found asked in blogs, on UTube, and in churches of all denominations. What did Jesus really teach? Of course each person who asks this question usually believes that they have the answer. They tend to think that Jesus taught whatever it is that they believe...that which is approved by their church or religious denomination. But really, what did Jesus teach? How can we find out? Where do we turn to for this information?

I believe the answer to this question lies in the earliest documents which survive from the era of the early 1st century Jesus Movement; namely The Sermon On The Mount, The Didache, and what has come to be known as the "Lost Gospel of Q" or simply "Q". All these documents are now thought to represent the teachings of the Jesus Movement prior to the year 70 of the Common Era, although some scholars do disagree on some of these dates. But there is enough consensus to begin a reconstruction of the earliest Gospel of Jesus...a Gospel which stresses these basic points:

1. Love God who created you.

2. Love your neighbor as yourself, doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.

3. Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Blessings,
Ralph

Hebrew Yeshua and Greek Jesus.

2011-04-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

Brian McClaren: Rediscovering Christian Faith

2011-04-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday April 3, 2011. Meditation at "The Rustic Hermitage".

2011-04-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a wonderful time of new discovery in old places. Due to the presence of other private retreat groups we were unable to meet in our usual location for meditation. Instead we had the opportunity to use a new facility which we otherwise might have missed, the "Rustic Hermitage" located at The Hermitage Spiritual Retreat Center in Pittsburg Mo. It was a rare treat!

Words really can not describe the place, nor even pictures (alas I forgot the camera!) do justice to it. But I will take a stab at providing a description any way. The Rustic Hermitage is a small cabin (about large enough to fit one comfortably and to hold a sitting group of up to 8 snugly) which has been divided into 4 living areas during an individual retreat. There is an area for sleep with a single bed; an area for prayer and meditation, an area for study, and an area for eating. There are no walls or obvious dividers on the inside, just one open room separated by function and a slight difference of floor elevation. The cabin is located deep in the woods of Lake Pomme de Terre in a setting that is quite and peaceful beyond words. Outside the cabin is a spring stream and water fall which trickles softly past. Fr. Paul told me we should have a fun and fruitful experience, and he was right. On our next trip out I will try to take pictures for the websites to give the readers a better understanding as to the peacefulness of the location. Let it suffice for now to say we had a very peaceful and rewarding meditation far from the world of Koran burning Christian extremists attempting to incite Muslim extremists. This was an oasis of peace in a desert of fear and misunderstanding. A peace and closeness to God our world so desperately needs at this time in our history.

Peace and Blessings To All,

Ralph

Shamati

2011-03-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

Despite all outward appearances we are one people; one man with one heart.
Let's start acting like it.

UNITY!

St Francis Place Meditation Group.

2011-03-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

St Francis Place Meditation Group is currently meeting at the Hermitage Spiritual Retreat Center in Pittsburg Mo., just 30 minutes away from Bolivar Mo., and 60 minutes outside of Springfield Mo. We will be meeting Sundays from 2 to 5 PM. Coming atrractions will include a workshop on Meditation and the Art of Crochet taught by Heydi. Those interested in an 11th Step Group should inquire with Ralph, as he is working on bringing one to our area. Will post more details as they become available.

Blessings,

Ralph & Heydi
St Francis Place
Wheatland MO.

The Cosmic Christ. A Discussion With Fr. Richard Rohr.

2011-03-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

The Shift, with Wayne Dyer. Part 1.

2011-03-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

Watch The Shift (Part 1 of 3) in Educational & How-To | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Buddha, Man, and Jesus.

2011-03-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

Bob Thurman and Deepack Chopra give their views on Man, God, Spirituality and religion.

Namaste,

Ralph

A Zen Parable: The Story of the Student and the Thief.

2010-07-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

There is a Zen Koan which goes something like this:

Once there was a Zen student who was meditating in his room. A robber broke in while he was meditating on the floor, put a knife to his back, and demanded money. "I keep the money in the jar over on the table." The student said without opening his eyes. The robber went over to the table and took the money from the jar. "They are coming around in the morning to collect taxes." said the student. "Leave a little money so I will have enough to pay them." So the robber put some money back into the jar, and turned to leave the room. "Don't you say 'Thank You' to someone who gives you a gift?" asked the student. So the robber thanked the student, and left the room.

After some time, the robber was caught by the police. He confessed to many crimes, among them the robbery of the Zen student. The police went to the home of the student to seek his testimony against the robber. The student refused to testify. "The man came in, I gave him some money, he thanked me, and that was that." is all the student would say about the robbery.

Eventually the robber was convicted of his many other crimes, and spent several years in prison. When he was released, he went back to the Zen student. "Will you accept me as your disciple?" the man asked.

This story points to a truth that is found in both Buddhism and in Early Christianity; that of Universal, Unconditional Love. Love of friend and foe alike. Indeed the student in this story is unable to distinguish between friend and foe. He treats the robber as he would an old friend asking for a loan. He does not seek to recover any of the money that was lost, with the exception of the small amount of money needed to pay his taxes; the same amount of money which the robber put back voluntarily into the jar. This same teaching, in different words, can be found in the Sermon On The Mount: "Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; pray for your persecutors." And again, "If someone takes from you your coat, give him your shirt as well." An early Christian document known as the Didache (The Teaching Of The Twelve Apostles To The Nations) is even more to the point, "If someone takes anything from you, do not ask for it back, for indeed you can not." The lesson contained here is clear; Love is more important than property, even the Love of one's enemies.

The effect of such Love is clearly shown in the above story. After seeing the error of his ways, the man returns to the student, much as the Prodigal son returns home to the Father. "Will you accept me as your disciple?" The young Zen student suddenly becomes a Master! All though the simple act of teaching from one's life example.

This is a lesson we all can learn from today. Today, if a Temple or Church is broken into, more often than not the people of that Temple or Church wish to demand "justice". They take the offender to court and seek restitution. A few years ago a local church was broken into by a man who was high on drugs and alcohol. He ransacked the Pastor's office looking for money, finding none. In the process, however, he caused considerable property damage. The man was arrested by police who responded to a silent alarm. The Pastor of that church wished to forgive the incident completely. Insurance would cover the damage. All he wanted was for the man to get addictions counseling and become a better husband and father in the process. A church elder, who was also the county prosecutor, would not hear of such a plan. He sought to make an example of this thief who broke into and damaged "his" church. What lesson was taught to this man and his wife and his four children? Basically this; that the church is no different from any other institution. Cross the church and you pay a price equal to, if not greater than, offending any other "worldly" organization. As far as the church is concerned, money and property are always the bottom line. As Christians should we not strive to be better than this? As Paul once wrote, "If you share in blessings that are imperishable, how much more should you share in the perishable things?" Jesus sums it up well in this commandment, "Be Perfect (in Love) as your Heavenly Father is Perfect." Let us live as our Saviour and Master demands.

With Metta in Christ,

Ralph

Jesus

2010-05-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

Laurence Freeman OSB presents Jesus as a teacher of the Contemplative life; a teacher of Meditation. This is a point Christians have overlooked for centuries, but a point that is clearly illustrated in the Gospels, especially The Sermon On The Mount found in the Gospel according to Matthew. It is a point we need to get back to as Christians, and more importantly as followers of Jesus the Christ. So much of Christianity today is focused on egotistical self-seeking ways; making sure of our salvation, and to hell with the rest of humanity or creation. Jesus calls us beyond this mindset and into a direct relationship with God. This relationship with God brings us into Unity, not only with God, the Greatest Good and Root of All Being, but into Unity and relationship with our fellows and the rest of the Universe. Thus when we are in a direct relationship with God, there is no way we can doubt the Salvation of ourselves or others. Rather we see the One moving and working within the many. Just as a wave on the ocean can not doubt in any way that it is water, so too when we discover our true Self through the practice of Meditation, can not doubt in any way our Ultimate identity or destination. Give just one hour per day to the practice of Meditation, and you will soon see what I am talking about, and more importantly, what the Almighty seeks to remind you of! Bringing the Contemplative Life and the practice of Meditation back into Christianity is truly the Great Unfinished Work of our day and age.

Blessings,

Ralph

"What-so-ever You Do..." A Story of Sheep and Goats.

2010-05-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

When the son of Adam comes in His glory, accompanied by His messengers, then He will occupy His glorious throne. Then all peoples will be assembled before Him, and He will separate them , much as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats to His left. Then the King will say to those at His right, "Come you who have the blessing of my Father, inherit the domain prepared for you from the foundation of the world. You may remember, I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a foreigner in your land and you offered Me hospitality; I was naked and you clothed me; I was ill and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to see Me."

Then the virtuous will say to Him, "Lord when did we see you hungry and feed You or thirsty and give You a drink? When did we see You as a foreigner and give You hospitality? When did we see You naked and clothe you, and when did we find you ill or in prison and come to visit You?"

And the King will respond to them, "I swear to you, whatever you did for the least most inconspicuous members of My family, you did for Me as well."

Next He will say to those at His left, "You condemned to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his messengers, get away from Me! For I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you refused Me anything to drink; I was a foreigner and you failed to offer Me hospitality; naked and you did not clothe me; ill and in prison and you did not come to visit Me."

Then they will give a similar reply, "Lord, when did we notice that You where hungry or thirsty or a foreigner or naked or ill or in prison and not attempt to help You?"

He will respond: "I swear to you, whatever you did not do for any of the least most inconspicuous members of My family, you did not do for Me."

Then the second group will head for everlasting punishment, but the virtuous for everlasting life.

Gospel According to Matthew 25: 31-46 (SV)

A Rabbinical Parable On Helping The Poor.

2010-05-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

It is related of Nahum of Gamzu that he was blind in both of his eyes, his two hands and legs were amputated, and his whole body was covered with boils and he was lying in a dilapidated house on a bed the feet of which where standing in bowls of water in order to prevent the ants from crawling onto him. His disciples said to him, "Master, why has this befallen you?" And he replied, "I have brought this condition onto myself. Once I was on a journey to my father-in-law's house with three donkeys. One donkey was loaded down with food. The second donkey was loaded down with all kinds of drink. The third donkey was laden with delicious desserts. Close to my father-in-law's home a poor man stopped me and said, 'Master, please give me something to eat.' I replied, 'Wait until I have unloaded all three donkeys at my father-in-law's home, and then I will return to give you something to eat.' But before I could finish unloading the donkeys, the poor man died of starvation. I then went and threw myself upon the man's body and exclaimed, 'May my eyes which had no pity on your eyes become blind, may my hands which had no pity on your hands be cut off, may my legs be amputated, and may my whole body be covered with boils for not having had mercy upon you.'" Thereupon the disciples exclaimed, "Alas that we see you in such a plight!" To this he replied, "Woe to me if you did not see me in such a plight."

Babylonian Talmud, Taanith 21.A

The Cry Of The Poor.

2010-05-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

Last week I passed a man and a woman standing on a street corner with a sign saying they needed help. I was in a hurry so as not to be late for work, so I passed them by. The next day I saw the same couple sitting a few yards from where I had seen them last, both now severely sunburned and clearly in bad straights. I stopped to offer help, as did another lady right behind me. This raised the question in my mind; How much suffering does it take before otherwise good people will stop and do the right thing?

Forgive Us Our Sins, As We Forgive Others...

2010-04-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

From: elderscorner

Transform Your Mind, Change Your Brain. Video from Google on Contemplative Neuroscience.

2010-02-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

A little bit about St. Francis Place.......

2010-02-03T11:10:00.000-08:00

"Lord Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace."

Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek,
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

"Make me an instrument of Your Peace."

Peace on earth is perhaps one of the oldest desires of the human heart. Yet for ages it has been most elusive. What is the key to world peace? Can it even be attained at all?

Some of the greatest spiritual masters have taught that in order for there to be world peace, peace must first come into the human heart; that peace must come from within. How can we bring peace into the world when there is war within our hearts? First we must cultivate peace in the treasury of our own heart, and then radiate that peace outward into the lives of our friends, families, and communities. We must first learn to be the peace we seek.

How is this task accomplished? One way is through the practice of prayer and meditation. In the practice of prayer and meditation we open ourselves up to the God of our understanding, by whatever Name He or She may be known to us. In prayer we ask God for the grace to be transformed; that the Divine Will be worked within our lives. In meditation we listen in silence and wait for God's response. Eventually we begin to receive that for which we have asked, a new and transformed inner being. It takes time and sincere practice, as well as the support of like minded people working together in a loving community. That is what we strive to be here at St. Francis Place; an Inter-Faith community helping people of Good Will to transform themselves into the Beings God desires us to Be. We are not concerned with religion. A person may belong to any religion they wish, or none at all. Our concern is with Spiritual growth; a process we are all involved in whether we realize it or not. A process of drawing closer to God, as we understand God, seeking to be transformed by the Grace of Unconditional Love, and thus finding a true inner peace. All it takes is a sincere and open heart, a little guidance, and the time spent to sit and listen meditatively. Eventually miracles do happen!

If this sounds like a community you might be interested in, please feel free to contact us using the email address in the side bar to the right. Currently we are active world-wide on the Internet, and are seeking to build a physical community in the Springfield Mo. area. Working together we can transform hearts and lives, beginning with our own. Peace on earth is a real possibility which can be attained. But first we must realize this peace within our own hearts and become the peace we seek.

Blessings,

Ralph and Heydi
St Francis Place
Wheatland Mo.

Give Me Something To Believe In - Music by Poison.

2010-01-31T10:23:00.000-08:00

What Do We Really Believe?

I hear many people say they believe in helping the homeless, the sick, the destitute. I hear many people say they believe in relieving the suffering of so many people around them. I hear people say, "Somebody ought to do something about things like this." not realizing that they are somebody with the means to act.

What do we really believe in? Where do our hearts really lie? Take a moment to look through the ledger on your checkbook or to look at your latest credit card statement. Where have you been spending the bulk of your time and money? That is what you believe in the most. Does it match well with what you say your inner beliefs really are? Chances are it doesn't.

The problems of the world seem so many and so diverse. We often times wonder what any one of us can do to solve even a few of the worlds problems, let alone the many we see. What can one person do? Perhaps not much. But, a group of people working in community...sharing their resources...pooling together their time, talents, and material resources....providing spiritual support and encouragement...seeing to their own inner growth and the spiritual growth of others...this is where miracles can happen and lives can be changed. Working alone we are limited in what we can do. Working together, in harmony, we can all give the world a little something to believe in!

Blessings,

Ralph

Inner Peace

2009-12-15T18:04:00.001-08:00

God and Love.

2009-11-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

A short selection of videos about God and Love, starting with
Mother Teresa.

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me bread."

Ram Dass: Profound Truth.

"If you want to become enlightened, serve people."

Gandhi: One World.

"For God to be God He must rule the heart and transform it."

Love Is The Question music video.

"Love is the key."

We tend to over-complicate many things in life, but the basic Truth is simple: Love unconditionally and you will find the one True Life!

A History Of God

2009-11-09T15:00:00.001-08:00

Meditation. Laurence Freeman OSB.

2009-11-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

Dr Jill Carroll: Religion and Violence

2009-11-03T20:54:00.001-08:00

Hope Is A Gift

2009-11-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

Christian Meditation Series with Fr. Bede Griffiths

2009-10-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

Bede Griffiths

Shantivanam | MySpace Video

Bede Griffiths

Shantivanam | MySpace Video

Bede Griffiths

Shantivanam | MySpace Video

Fr. Bede Griffiths was a man who saw to the heart of all the major world religions. As a young man he began his journey of faith in the Church of England, then became a Catholic Benedictine Monk. From there he was invited to India where he studied Hinduism and Buddhism. He saw to the core of all these points of view and saw the commonalities in all. In the above video series from Shantivanam Fr. Bede does an excellent job of showing the commonalities between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of Buddha, and how Christians and Buddhists can learn from one another.

Music: I Choose Love 2

2009-10-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

The Life of Father Bede Griffiths

2009-10-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

Bede Griffiths was a monk, a man in whom there was no guile, and was last to see the guile that may have been in any other. This monk with a universal heart was an icon of integrity and guilelessness. As John Henry Cardinal Newman once described them, Bede was one of those: who live in a way least thought of by others, the way chosen by our Savior, to make headway against all the power and wisdom of the world. It is a difficult and rare virtue, to mean what we say, to love without deceit, to think no evil, to bear no grudge, to be free from selfishness, to be innocent and straightforward... simple-hearted. They take everything in good part which happens to them, and make the best of everyone. (homily, Feast of St. Bartholomew)Such was Father Bede Griffiths, Swami Dayananda, who died May 13, 1993, barefooted and clothed in the color of the sun, in his thatched hut at Shantivanam in South India.

God As Being And Wisdom. Father Abbott Placid

2009-10-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Reflections On Love

2009-10-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

History Of Non-violence: Gandhi to Silo.

2009-10-13T14:08:00.001-07:00

World Peace through our Inner Peace

2009-10-12T18:12:00.001-07:00

The Teachings

2009-10-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

Deep down we are all the same. We are one. Friend and Foe alike. We are all One!

Gandhi On Satyagraha (Truth Force)

2009-10-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

From a statement made by Mahatma Gandhi to the Hunter Committee in 1920.

For the past 30 years I have been preaching and practicing Satyagraha. The principles of Satyagraha, as I know it today, constitute a gradual evolution.

Satyagraha differs from Passive Resistance as the North Pole from the South. The later has been conceived as a weapon of the weak and does not exclude the use of force or physical violence for the purpose of gaining one's end, whereas the former has been conceived as a weapon of the strongest and excludes the use of violence in any shape or form.

The term Satyagraha was coined by me in South Africa to express the force that the Indians used there for a full eight years and it was coined in order to distinguish it from the movement then going on in the U.K. and South Africa under the name of Passive Resistance.

It's root meaning is holding on to Truth, hence Truth-Force. I have also called it Love-Force or Soul-Force. In the application of Satyagraha I discovered in the earliest stages that pursuit of Truth did not admit of violence being inflicted on one's opponent but that he must be weaned from error by patience and sympathy. For what appears to be truth to the one may appear to be error to the other. And patience means self-suffering. So the doctrine came to mean the vindication of truth not by infliction of suffering on the opponent, but on one's self (self-sacrifice rather than sacrificing one's opponent).

But on the political field the struggle on behalf of the people consists in opposing error in the shape of unjust laws. When you have failed to bring the error home to the lawgiver by way of petitions and the like, the only remedy open to you, if you do not wish to submitt to error, is to compel him by physical force to yield to you or by suffering in your own person by inviting the penalty for the breach of the law. Hence Satyagraha largely appears to the public as Civil Disobedience or Civil Resistance.

Gandhi: What It Takes To Practice Non-Violence.

2009-10-10T00:18:00.002-07:00

By M.K. Gandhi from Harijan, March 25, 1939. (Additional comments in parenthesis are mine.)

The four days' fast set me thinking of the qualifications required in a Satyagrahi (one who practices non-violence). Though they were carefully considered and reduced to writing in 1921 they seem to have been forgotten.

In Satyagraha,(literally 'clinging to truth'. Also Truth Force or Love Force. Most commonly rendered in English as non-violence) it is never the numbers that count; it is always the quality, more so when the forces of violence are uppermost.

Then it is often forgotten that it is never the intention of a Satyagrahi to embarrass the wrong-doer. The appeal is never to his fear; it is, must be, always to his heart. The Satyagrahi's object is to convert, not to coerce, the wrong-doer. He should avoid artificiality in all his doings. He acts naturally and from inward conviction.

Keeping these observations before his mind's eye, the reader will perhaps appreciate the following qualifications which, I hold, are essential for every Satyagrahi in India:

1. He must have a living faith in God, for He is his only Rock.

2. He must believe in truth and non-violence as his creed and therefore have faith in the inherent goodness of human nature which he expects to evoke by his truth and love expressed through his suffering.

3. He must be leading a chaste life and be ready and willing for the sake of his cause to give up his life and his possessions.

4. He must be a habitual khadi-wearer (home made clothing) and spinner (maker of home spun cloth). This is essential for India.

(At the time of this writing India was impoverished by the importation of British made cloth and clothing. Gandhi urged the boycott of these British products).

5. He must be a teetotaller (non-drinker) and be free from the use of other intoxicants in order that his reason may be always unclouded and his mind constant.

6. He must carry out with a willing heart all the rules of discipline as may be laid out from time to time.

7. He should carry out the jail rules unless they are specially devised to hurt his self-respect (Most of Gandhi's followers where subject to arrest for their non-violent activities and protests).

The qualifications are not to be regarded as exhaustive. They are illustrative only.

(Peace, Ralph)

Tibet: History Of A Tragedy

2009-10-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

An historical look at Tibetan culture of the last 70 years, and the repeated attempts of the Chinese to destroy it through lies, deceptions, and genocide.

Tibet: Murder In The Snow

2009-10-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

Documentary showing the persecution of unarmed Tibetans attempting a run for freedom in India. This film demonstrates that the "Iron Curtain" is still alive and well in China.

Yoga Of The Heart

2009-10-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

Mark Whitwell workshop with theme: Yoga is intimacy with body, breath, and relationship. This video is a companion to the book Yoga of Heart -- The Healing Power of Intimate Connection Lecture, Demonstraion, Question and Answer. Sacred music. heartofyoga.com yogaofheart.com

The Science Of Miracles.

2009-10-05T14:49:00.001-07:00

Patience

2009-10-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

How Can We Know God?

2009-09-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

Part 1.

On trying to understand the Infinite Ground of All Being, the Ultimate Reality (a.k.a. God) using finite and limited human minds and expressing this Truth in the limited and finite terms of human speech. The task is impossible! Like trying to pour the ocean into a jar, one can not contain even the notion of God completely in any one set of man-made religious doctrine or dogma, let alone the Reality of God! Only by direct experience of God can we hope to understand God, knowing even as we ourselves are known. How does one attain this experience? Through the practice of Meditation. As the scripture says, "Be still and know that I Am God."

Part 2. Silent Meditation Time.

The sounds of the evening calm after a day of heavy rain. Nature speaks!

Who Or What Is God?

2009-09-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

Talks by Anandmurti Gurumaa on Mind, Body and Spirituality

Who or what is God? How does one express the infinite in finite human terms? No words can adequately describe God; God can not be defined in a satisfactory way. The best way to get an understanding of God is through the experience of God through prayer and meditation. The mystics of most all religious traditions tend to agree on this point. God can not be defined, but one can gain a direct experience of the Divine through meditative practice. Who or what is God? The answer can be found within!

Father Thomas Keating: Centering Prayer at The Crossings

2009-09-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

Thich Nhat Hanh - The Energy of Prayer

2009-09-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

Upon the publication of his book, "The Energy of Prayer", Zen Master the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh was asked by Publishers Weekly to answer ten questions about prayer and about his teaching. This dharma talk is a response to those questions: "Some Christians -- those who think of God as someone external and powerful and transcendent -- would be surprised to know that Buddhists pray. What would you say to them?”

Simple Mindfulness. Thich Nhat Hanh

2009-09-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

Becoming An Earth Pilgram: An Interview with Satish Kumar

2009-09-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Editorial Video. Affordable Public Health Care Can't Wait!!!

2009-09-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

Change. Music by Tracy Chapman.

2009-09-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

Accepting Change.

Do we really believe in change, even change for the better, for ourselves and others? So many times we hear, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," or "Once a criminal always a criminal." We have many other similar sayings which we repeat or hear on almost a daily basis. Yet as people who claim to be followers of Love who are called to a life style of Love and Forgiveness, should we not have a different attitude?

I few years ago there was a lady in a church Bible study I once taught who shared with us what her church was doing in its prison ministry. Her church would send out missionaries to a local prison to witness to the inmates and share their experiences of Salvation through Jesus Christ. These missionaries had an open loving attitude towards the inmates, and where very successful in reaching many of the men while incarcerated. Some inmates were so moved by the missionaries that upon their release they would re-settle in that church's general area, and try attending their Sunday services. This is where a problem developed. The church did a wonderful job of preaching the Gospel, as they understood it, to the inmates while they were in prison. But, when the former inmates began to mingle with the church members during the Sunday service, the attitude of the average church member seemed to be that of rejection of the former inmates. "Not in my church!" seemed to be the prevailing attitude! They just could not accept the possibility that these men had changed, and made them feel most unwelcome. As a result, none of the former inmates ever joined the church which was so kind to them while behind bars, but could not accept them in their own community of faith.

Jesus taught a different kind of Gospel. "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us," and "If you hold your brother bound by his sins, so will your Heavenly Father hold you bound by your sins." Jesus taught radical Love and Forgiveness. Why? Was it just to be nice, or to have people consider Him a lunatic? No. I believe Jesus taught this way because He firmly believed (and more than believed...He knew) in the power of the Transformative Love of God; the power to change for the better. This is the Love which turned prostitutes and thieves into Saints. The Love which turned murderers into followers of Christ. It is the same Love which has the power to transform our world today, if only we shall let it. But if the power to change is to take root, we must accept it into our own lives and allow for the possibility that change can and will come for us and for others. Most seem able to accept the possibility of change for the worst. Now as followers of Love, we must open ourselves up to accept change for the better!

Blessings,

Ralph

The Power To Change Through Practice Of Meditation

No matter if you are 8 or 80, it is never too late. Change your thinking and change your world!

Meditation For Starters. With Swami Kriyananda, 1998.

2009-08-31T22:01:00.000-07:00

John Forte - God is Love, God is War

2009-08-31T10:24:00.001-07:00

Beautiful song illustrating the point that life is what we make of it. In all things we Co-create with God. If we operate on a daily basis out of Love, we co-create harmony and order. If we operate on a daily basis out of fear and hate, we co-create chaos and destruction. How do we choose to live this day; out of Love or out of fear? The choice is ours.

Where Is The Love? Music by The Black Eyed Peas

2009-08-31T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Politics Of Love. A Presentation by Leo Buscaglia

2009-08-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

A beautiful presentation from the 1980's by Leo Buscaglia. Known in his hay day as "Dr. Love" and "Dr. Hug" Leo always presented the message of absolute, unconditional Love. Here he presents the same message in simple everyday language using real life examples to illustrate his point: Unconditional Love is possible and very beautiful to behold!!!

Some excepts:

"Be a great Lover, and people will think you are crazy. They thought St. Francis was crazy...They thought Jesus was crazy....They thought Buddha was crazy. Oh God, when will the world be ready for great Saints!"

"To be loving and forgiving you've got to be strong...you have got to have guts!"

"Don't wait for someone else to start the process...start Loving now!"

Thanks Dr. Love. We miss you!

Leo Buscaglia Short Clip on Love and war.

2009-08-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Don't wait to say "I love you."

Sacrifice Of Love

2009-08-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

Brennan Manning: What It Means To Be Cool In Christ.

2009-08-25T21:07:00.001-07:00

Richard Rohr On The Emerging Church and Emerging Conciousness.

2009-08-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

The Parable Of The Life Saving Station

Jesus Scholarship

What Did Jesus Really Teach?

The Emerging Church

New Structures

The New Mind

Summary Of The Emerging Church

Inter-Faith Service of Forgiveness and Oneness.

2009-08-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

The Bridge Of The Holy Spirit.

"You will know them by their fruits." -Jesus

What is the mark of Salvation? Christians have argued about this for centuries. Some say membership in one church or another, while others maintain that the mark of Salvation is some special ability or gift such as speaking in tongues. In the Gospel Jesus simply states, "You will know them by their fruits."

What fruits could Jesus be talking about? I believe the Apostle Paul hits the nail on the head when he speaks of the fruits of the Holy Spirit; among them being patience, Love, and understanding. I believe that when we see these qualities in another human being we see, in some small way, the Presence of the Holy Spirit. And when we see these qualities in another human being present in a very strong and powerful way, we see the Presence of the Holy Spirit made Manifest!

In the early Christian Church, when people faced hardship and persecution for the name of Christ, even the enemies of Christianity made mention of one fruit in particular, "See how they love one another!" It was this Love which set the Christian apart, a form of Love we have forgotten in the 21st Century. That Love is called in the Gospel Agape, the completely unmerited love of God which is freely given to all and then radiated back out by all who recieve and live in this Love. John wrote of Agape, "God is Love, and those who Love abide in God." This simple rule still holds today. Where ever we see Unconditional Love in action, we see God coming once more into this world. It matters not what a person calls themself, so long as they live by Love. In this Love the Holy Spirit makes known its Presence and God abides uniting all.

In the videos that follow our teachers and musicians speak of Love in the most radical form; the Love of enemies and the power to forgive those who have harmed us. It is a message we do not hear in the world today; not in the media nor even in most churchs. It is, however, a message we very much need to hear today. It challenges us all to live as God intended!

Blessings,
Ralph

Ajahn Brahm of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia. On Forgiveness and True Spirituality.

Peter asked Jesus, "How many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me, seven times?" Jesus answered him, "Not seven times, but seventy times seven times."

Music by Larry Norman. If God Is My Father.

"This is how you should pray: Our Father in Heaven..." Matthew 6: 9-15

"I See Me In You, And You In Me." Discourse On Inter-Being With Thich Nhat Hanh.

"May all of them be One, Father. Just as You are in Me, and I am in You, may they also be One in Us..." John 17: 21

Music by Crux and Rev. B. Everything Under The Sun.

"Tell me when everyone under the sun will be One."

Meditation In Poetry. Please Call Me By My True Names by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Gospel For Today: Matthew Chapter 25: 31-46
"Whatever you do to the least of these, you do it to Me."

Closing Music. Prayer Of St. Francis. Music by Denis Sorenson.

Denis Sorenson was the Tenor in the "3Ds" a popular singing group of the 60's. He was so impressed by The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, that he put the words to music. This was performed at a concert commemorating their 25th aniversary. More can be learned about the 3Ds on the Phoenix Records website: phoenixrecords.org

The Ten Paradoxical Commandments Of Jesus.

2009-08-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

Then there are the Three Commandments of Jesus which can be drawn out of the Gospels.

They are:

1) Love God Above all Things.

2) Love your neighbor as yourself.

3) Love your enemies.

These Three Commandments are all contained in the final Commandment Jesus gave to His disciples in the Gospel of John:

"Love One Another As I Have Loved You."

Mahatma Gandhi : God is Life, Truth, Light, Love and The supreme Good

2009-08-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

One of the Principal Spiritual Inspirations here at St. Francis Place. Like St. Francis, Gandhi preached a message of Love and lived in simplicity. Through the course of his life he managed to build many bridges between the worlds Great Religions, such as Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. He taught a common Spirituality that could be grasped by all. Much of his message has been lost on the world today. None the less it is a message that needs to be heard, and one we are devoted to spread here at St. Francis Place. Be you Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Agnostic or Atheist or whatever you chose to call yourself, deep down we are all One, Children of a Common God. Let us live together in Peace as our Heavenly Father/Mother Intends!

Peace,

Ralph & Heydi

Excuses Be Gone! by Dr. Wayne Dyer

2009-08-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

Excuses Be Gone! The New Self-Help Book by Dr. Wayne Dyer. To order simply click on the photo above. Buyers will also be registered to win a trip to Hawaii.

Blessings,

Ralph & Heydi

You and The Other.

2009-08-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

God as seen as Being the Presence of Another who is always with us and Whom we can sense in moments of quite and solitude. By Fr. Thomas Keating.

Prayer Of Peace and Wholeness Update

2009-08-17T16:08:00.001-07:00

To date the Prayers Of Peace and Wholeness practice here at St Francis Place in Wheatland Mo. have been a success. Even though there have been some tough times over the past few weeks, an atmosphere of Peace has prevailed. One man I work with has calmed down considerably. He has gone from primarily negative in attitude to positive, and has even recieved a job promotion he has been working at for the past several months. My own personal attitude has also improved. I do not worry about things which used to upset me, and no matter how bad things get I can always return to a state of Peace and Calm. So things have been going well by way of cultivating Peace and Wholeness here. And the work goes on!

I still do not have a firm idea of how many people are praying with us. So far only 3 people including myself have joined the online discussion group. But I know from responses recieved on UTube there are more participating with us in an informal fashion. If you would like to participate in a more formal way send an email to me so we can all keep in touch and keep one another informed and encouraged. Working together we can not only work to improve our own lives, but the lives of those around us, and yes...even the world at large. Remember, Peace and Wholeness begin at home, but spread out much further than that!!!

"I See You In Me, And Me In You" Discourse by Thich Nhat Hanh

2009-08-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

Beautiful teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh on the Oneness of all things...Inter-Being.

Towards Understanding In A World Of Difference.

2009-08-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

Saw this bumper sticker the other day. A Great little reminder!

An Explaination Of The Symbols is below:

And Another Point of View:

If you want Peace...Work towards Understanding all of God's Children!

Prayer Group Update: Personal Share Of The Week Of Hell. :-)

2009-08-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

It has now been two weeks in which I have been involved in the St Francis Place Prayers of Peace and Wholeness prayer effort. Overall things have been going well, in spite of some rough times on the job. Work has been hard with new managers pushing our labor force to the maximum extreme. Due to people calling in sick, and others taking vacation leave, this past week our labor force has been cut in half with the same, or some days double, the work load. These have been the kind of conditions in which tempers flare, and people walk off the job. Yet through it all, calmness has prevailed, and days which started out bad have thus far ended well!

I have been observing the Prayers of Peace and Wholeness twice a day. My first Prayer Time is during my lunch hour at work; the second on the drive home. I have found the practice allows me to return to a state of calmness and God-Centeredness in spite of what the day throws my way. Also I have found it helpful to offer a Prayer of Peace whenever I feel tempted to say a cruel word, or experience thoughts of anger or ill will. The result has been Peacefulness within myself, as well as my co-workers. Even our bosses have shown a greater state of calmness then I would otherwise expect. All in all, in our own life here in Southern Missouri, the practice of this form of Prayer has been a success!

For those new to the Prayers of Peace and Wholeness practice, what we do is spend time each day focusing on feelings of Peace and Wholeness, feeling them as already present within our lives no matter what our circumstances, manifesting them within ourselves, and radiating these feelings to others. To that end we pray whenever necessary, as well as at the regular times of 8-9 PM CT (2-3 AM GMT), and 1-2 AM CT (7-8 AM GMT). I have also found that chanting quietly to myself while working has had a tremendously calming effect on myself and others. One of my co-workers, who is unaware of this prayer practice, smiled and bowed to me after I had gone out of my way to do her a favor. While this would not be worth mentioning in a place like India where bowing to one another is common practice, in Southern Missouri this is just about unheard of! Needless to say I will be continuing this practice for some time to come. :-)

If you would like to, please feel free to join us. Our Prayer group is Inter-Faith, and is open to all who wish to grow in Love, Peace, and Wholeness. You may even join us on our Discussion Board, the address of which is posted on the side bar of this site. Looking forward to your participation in this Prayer Fellowship!

Blessings,

Ralph Lindenberger
St Francis Place
Wheatland Mo. USA

Larry Norman | Only Visiting This Planet (1947 - 2008)

2009-08-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

Wayne Dyer: Living The Wisdom Of The Tao

2009-08-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

To order, click on link below.

Blessings,
Ralph

St Francis Place Prayer Group: Inclusive not Exclusive.

2009-08-09T09:45:00.001-07:00

The Power of Intention with Wayne Dyer. Part 1.

2009-08-07T09:50:00.001-07:00

The Power of Intention with Wayne Dyer. Part 2.

2009-08-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

The Shift starring Wayne Dyer

2009-08-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

St Francis Place Prayer Group Now On Google Groups.

2009-08-05T05:35:00.000-07:00

(Planting Meditation Garden at St Francis Place Spring of 2009)

The St. Francis Place Prayer Group now has a Discussion Board running on Google Groups. This should allow those participating to keep in regular communications more easily, and help in coordination of Prayer Group Intentions and Activities. To access the Board, follow the link below:

http://groups.google.com/group/st-francis-place-prayer-group

If not already registered on the Discussion Board, you may register for free using the same link. If anyone has any problems getting on the Board, please let me know, and I can add you directly.

Thanks to all who have informed me of their participation so far. It has been just over a week, and I continue to hear from new people on a daily basis. There is a great need for Peace and Wholeness in our World, and together we can make a difference!

Blessings of Peace Be Upon You,

Ralph & Heydi
St Francis Place
Wheatland Mo. USA