It’s true! Whatever god you adhere to, your understanding of that God does not exist. There is no big ogre in heaven waiting for the next feeble human to step out of line or to disobey his utterances and to strike them dead. Such a god is dead. He just does not exist. People are like that, but not God.

There is no such god who favors one human being over another. A god who sends his chosen ones to wipe out a neighboring nation or who blesses one side more than another does not exist.

Look at your scriptures, what do they say? God rains on the wicked and the righteous. God is no respecter of persons. All men are equal in God’s sight. God is love, compassionate and forgiving. Does that represent the God you have been taught about? Too often we humans portray our weak, jealous feelings onto the Divine Entity who created our world, and we expect him/her to respond in a human way.

Fortunately for us, God is more tolerant than we are, and more patient. God to me is a Universal Intelligence who sees the big picture. He sees the beginning from the end and knows all things. God is also part of you and me. As the ultimate expression of love and light God is also expressed in all of creation, including you and me. That means I am an expression of the Divine, and you are too, as is the enemy across the frontier.

No, it is not God who is dead, but the faulty perception we have of God which is dead. God is very much alive, and alive in every human being, animal, fish and plant. Think of that. When one man kills another, he is killing God! Isn’t it easy to understand why God, no matter in which religion he is represented (or misrepresented), implores us to love our brother and sister, our neighbour and even our enemy. In doing so we are expressing the God part of our being.

What do you think? Is the god of your tradition dead? Or is He/She very much alive in all that you think, do or say?

It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.

We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.

We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.

Affirm the Charter http://charterforcompassion.org/

The unwillingness to explore alternative options creates the need for competition. As a competitor, intolerance is inevitable. You discriminate against those you regard as competitors, those who, in your opinion, have what you want. You are so focused on your opponent, new and better methods are ignored. If you treat your competitors this way, how do you think they’re treating you? Everyone wants a piece of the pie regardless of the cost. This mindset condemns the weak and timid in society. They’re viewed as indispensible and unworthy by the highly successful and competitive individuals.

When there is only one way, the path crowds with people trying to push themselves ahead of the line. A good analogy is a sale the day before Christmas. Time is limited and everyone wants the same item, so lines form and tempers flare. The moment the door opens, people push and shove to get what they want. Competition is a truly a selfish activity. The competitor wants to win and do so at the expense of all opponents. When you compete you are not thinking of the success of the others, but only of your own success. So often we want to take away from our competitor in order to gain more for ourselves. We see no other way. This comes from the mind set of limitation – there isn’t enough to go around.

In order to make profit we must also take the business away from our competitor. The story of the sale before Christmas is a simple example; a more subtle form of competition is among leadership positions. No matter the business or organization, whether it is a hospital, church, or sports team, it has a leader. Acquiring a leadership position is difficult and therefore these positions are coveted and treasured. This role brings with it an air of importance. In many instances, this new attitude changes their true self and creates a mindset of the need to protect their position. This mindset of competition creates an environment where anyone who demonstrates better qualities or has a better relationship with the staff, congregation, or team becomes a threat to the leader. This need to guard against potential threats causes the leader to treat their subordinates unkindly and with suspicion. As a result, every moment they’re fighting for their position by competing against those around them.

So it is in the interest of the leader, even if his job is to help others improve and advance, to prevent anyone else from gaining too much experience or too much influence, so as not to be a threat to the leader’s position and authority. Therefore they prevent promising individuals with productive and innovative ideas from advancing with the organization making sure they cannot break out and reach a higher level than them. They even convince them that it is a privilege to work for them. This is common tactic used to manipulate others into a false belief. In a religious setting, this is particularly dangerous.

It may not be a deliberate act to keep others in their place. But because of the competitive mind set there is the fear and thus the automatic reaction to keeping others in their place: “I am the leader, you are the follower”, “I get paid for this, you don’t”, “I know what’s best, that’s why I am the leader.” Most may not be so outwardly arrogant, but in the sub-conscious mind these thoughts linger and cause the feelings of fear of survival, thus producing the result of enforcing subordination.  These thoughts result in manipulating the people into submission. The majority of society honestly has faith in their leaders. Leaders know this and misuse their position as they rule their flock.  These leaders view themselves as deities and expect you to surrender your ego and give your devotion only to them. When this happens, you no longer control your life and your happiness is ruled by others.

This is a destructive path.  Competition suffocates creativity, love, and kindness. In fact if you display any of these gifts you are looked on with envy. Is it any wonder that some just take a defeated surrender? They live in a grey existence, caring less about their life forcing them to live on a survival basis with no hope in sight. Feelings such as Uniqueness, importance, and worthiness are buried deep within. This absence of emotions pits every one against each other. How can there possibly be peace and friendly productivity in such an environment? This attitude permeates not only the business world, but also in sports, media, and religion. Why do so many different denominations of the same religion insist on evangelizing the areas dominated by other denominations? Competition! Competition is based on a lack of love. If you win the other loses. Your profits mean the other’s loss.

Leadership does not have to be like this. A leader should be leading people on and not holding a position to keep others back. A true leader will benefit when others rise to their level or even beyond – then the leader has fulfilled part of his position. A leader who hinders advancement for fear of his position is not leading but ruling. A ruler only has subjects who obey; a leader has fellows to show the way.

- An extract from Wings of Change by Jim & Katharina Murdoch

“You’re hopeless!” “You can never do anything right!” “Your brainless!” “You’ll never amount to anything!” “You’re a dead loss!” “No one can trust you to do anything right!” A child who hears these things spoken to it over and over again, being repeatedly demoralized and put down, will believe what is being said and live each day depressed.

If you are a parent and you have been speaking to your child like this, then stop now! You are razing your child, destroying their self-esteem and their future potential.

If someone you know is doing this, encourage them to speak words of encouragement. If a scolding is necessary, or even if a nasty comment slips out, let it rest with that. Do not continue to repeat the phrase. There’s no need to make the wound deeper. If a negative scolding or insult is made make an effort to lift the child up with a word of love and appreciation. Speak as you would like to be spoken to.

And this isn’t only for treatment of children, it’s good for dealing with anyone. By ending every communication with everyone you speak with with a positive word of encouragement or appreciation you are raising their self-worth. Not only will they feel better, in spite of any mistakes made, but you will feel better and they will go on to reflect that good feeling to the next person they meet.

What kind of wave do you want to spread, a wave of despair or a wave of joy?

I regard Jesus as one of the most inspired teachers of all time and that he was teaching us to recognize our being and connection to the Divine. He also understood the power of intention and thought and taught very clearly that what you give out will ultimately return to you.

So many, even religious people, fail to understand how important it is to love others and not to hate and hold grudges. Many are sick, poor and miserable because of their attitudes towards others. In fact, I would go as far to say that most illnesses are caused by hatred and foul feelings towards others. Think of what those feelings are doing to you and your body.

It is now clearly understood that we are more than just a physical being. We are also spiritual beings and emotional beings. These three parts to our being effect each other, so it must be understood that your emotional condition will effect your physical body and vice versa. When Jesus was telling us to love others, even our enemies, he wasn’t telling us to ignore the evil around us, but he was instructing us how to stay healthy in spite that evil. If you internalize the evil done in the world then you internalize the effects of it in your physical and mental health.

I am currently reading Dan Brown’s new novel “The Lost Symbol”, and you wouldn”t expect to find New Thought teaching in a novel. But Brown does quote Lynn McTaggart and makes the following observation: Thoughts have mass, and as such have gravity. If we then focus thought intensely then we increase the gravity of that thought.

Isn’t that interesting? I have known that our thoughts do attract what we think about and that thoughts are energy, but now to see thoughts as actual mass makes this more understandable.

If you hate someone, you are drawing that hate into your own body. If you criticise someone harshly you are drawing that criticism into your own body. But if you love others, no matter what they have done, you are drawing the most powerful force of love into your body and life.

Isn’t it time to get rid of all those hates and grudges? Let them go like hot coals. Grab hold of the good by giving it out. Love and be loved.

This was an challenge and exercise started on Twitter and Facebook on started 2^nd August 2009. Here is a collection of the blessings of each day and some of the comments received. Why not try it out and post your experiences?

Challenge for the next 30 days: Silently wish everyone you see or meet the best possible blessings. See what happens!

Day1:

Tracie
Do we have to do it silently?

Belinda
I think so … it shouldn’t be about ego …

Tracie
Not about ego at all…just letting people you meet know someone they may not know at all cares…making a connection

Belinda
Good point. Perhaps we can use it both ways? Not easy to make a connection with every person we encounter…

Tracie
No it isn’t easy, but it’s a great goal isn’t it!

Hakan
This is a fantastic exercise, the more you have gratitude & appreciation you give to others, whether they are aware or unaware, the more you will get in return.
While you do this exercise coming from a place of genuine intent, you will undoubtedly notice there will be changes in your body.
Could be more joyful, positive & uplifting.
By doing it for 30 days it automatically becomes a habit & you’ll find yourself doing it sub consciously.

Jim Murdoch
I started the day by wishing mentally blessing to everyone I saw, on the bus, the train, the tram, the street. Gets a bit busy. A group of school children got a sweeping blessing as I passed. Even the smelly old man who sat in front of me. It certainly beats being grumpy. You don’t have time to be grumpy, so many to bless. Yea, do it aloud too when you have the chance. Praise someone, or thank them, or just wish them a great day.
Let’s hear how it goes.

Blessing challenge: ran for tram today, door shut on my nose, wouldn’t open, tram drives off. Curse or bless? Bless him, higher awareness.
Did pretty well sending blessings out in all directions to anyone and everyone. Oh, must include wife and son

Day 2: Stay at home day – 30 day blessing. I can bless those out the window, those who come to mind. I can bless you. Have u blessed people today?

Tracie
Bless you too Jim! And everyone else who sees this post ;~)

Day 3: Who are you thinking about right now? No matter good or bad, bless them now! Wish them good things. Day3 of 30 day blessing challenge.

Laura
Wow. You got me on a hard one. It is done. I bless her.

Jim Murdoch
Good for you? Have you realized the blessings return multiplied?!

Laura
So far, an immediate blessing was a feeling of peace. I
think that it actually occurred at the moment of decision.
Haven’t yet noticed blessings multiplied but am convinced
they will. “She” will be included in my daily blessings for
awhile.

Day 4 of 30 day Blessing. I bless those who have the annoying pop-ups on their sites preventing you from closing the window

Day 5: Bless my wife for making me lunch even so she only eats fruit today. She’s a darling. @katharizo

Day 6: Bless Google Chrome programmers, my Chrome browser crashed and lost all my open tabs. Don’t you just love 2 bless rather than curse?

Here’s one for you all. Go to the mirror and say: In spite of all the crap, I love you unconditionally. I believe in you!

Day 7: I bless my Mastermind – great friends, great thinkers, great achievers and great inspiration

Day 8: Continuing to bless just whoever falls into my eyesight or my thoughts. How about: Bless the tax collectors?

Day 9: Kindness is one of your wonderful traits, but where you really shine is in your generosity. Neale Walsch – Fits well with 30 day blessing

Day 10: “Those still stuck in the mass paradigms drift along with no definite purpose, no focus, and no chosen direction.” Wings of Change

Day 11: Good morning friends Day 11 Bless your boss today! Yes even if he/she is one of those. Just bless them. Now enjoy the bliss free from anger.

Day 12: bless all those who bless you, give you joy, a smile, friendship. Often we forget they need blessing too.

Day 13: Today I bless myself for my achievements, plans , dreams. Go ahead, bless yourself today.

Day 14: Today I bless my parents. Bless yours today. Overlook all the negative – just bless them.

Day 15: Who to bless today? What about your government? Remember, blessings return to you – so do curses. So be sincere – for your own good

Day 16: I bless all those who have humbled me by their kind comments and gratitude. Let no one steal your dream!

Day 17: Are you still blessing instead of cursing, blaming, accusing, mocking? What you give out comes back to you!

Laura
Yes, indeed. Good to have reminders to make it habitual.
Bless you, Jim

Day 18: Lost your job? Been downsized? Bless the situation. Take responsibility and break the pattern.

Day 19: Bless the Italian worker at the train station who was friendly and told us when the next train was arriving. The Blessing challenge!

Day 20: How about blessing those who prepare our food, bring it to the stores, and make it available to us? Time to eat lunch.

Day 21: This fits in well for day 21 of my 30 day Blessing Challenge. Be grateful for all the good, bless and be blessed. Have fun dancing!

The Original Gratitude Dance! (www.TheGratiDudes.com)

http://www.TheGratiDudes.com We started the Gratitude Dance out of moment of celebration at a coffee shop in Victoria, BC while writing our book on Manifesting Awesomeness. Out of this little jig came the idea to film it and put it on Youtube. …

Day 22: Bless the people who did bad things to make you lose your job, your home, your money. U don’t wanna curse them! That comes back to you

Doug
Yes, Jim, you are right. What we give out comes back to us.

Tracie
By blessing them you’ll find getting around the boulder they put in your stream a bit easier…and the waters on the other side much more smooth running than the ones you were in before it happened!

Day 23: Bless the mobile phone company, even when the signal isn’t what it should be. – Are you blessing all those you meet?

Day 24: People who make fake profiles -dare we bless them too? “Father forgive them. for they Know not what they do.”

Day 25: Time to bless our friends – the joyful, the woeful, the annoying, the loving, the draining, the giving – bless them.

Day 26: Now we hit the mother in law sisters brothers cousins & all- bless them, wish them the best they can possibly have. R u feeling it?

Day 27: 30 days are almost up. Is there anyone you missed whom you know you ought to bless? Do it now! Feel the energy coming back.

Day 28: Bless those who encourage others to reach for their dreams. It’ll help you reach yours.

Day 29: Bless those who serve: hairdresser, doctor, dentist, judge, lawyer, politicians, presidents, ministers, cleaners, soldiers!

Day 30: Bless God! Yes! That too will return to you. How did go for you? Feel the blessing return? Now keep on blessing. Never stop.

What is a Relationship?
A relationship is a connection between two human beings, be it a business, family, social or intimate relationship. All relationships comprise of similar characteristics and boundaries. The connection is what determines the kind of relationship and respect for that connection determines its success. Connections are made in business deals, births and marriages, membership or attendance in clubs and organisations and on the emotional and sexual level between two individuals. Problems arise when this connection is not respected and one party’s boundaries are crossed.

The connection is the basis for the relationship. If this can be maintained honestly then the relationship will grow as trust grows. Where there is dishonesty, there is no trust, the connection is broken and the relationship no longer has any grounds for existence. If the relationship is subsequently forced to continue, either because either or both parties do not face the truth of the dishonesty, or because of fear of what others may think, or even because of the fear of not knowing what to do without this relationship, then this relationship becomes a conflict. The relationship has broken down and only conflict can remain when the two insist on playing out a relationship.

What Boundaries are Necessary in a Relationship?
Every individual has his or her private sphere. This is the area where a person is alone with his or her thoughts, their interests and pleasures. A relationship is built on the connection of common interests. No two people are the same, so there is naturally a boundary between the connecting interest and the individual interests. I see three possible scenarios when this boundary is reached:

1. The boundary of individual interests is respected and left alone. There is no attempt to interfere with the other’s personal interests.

2. The boundary is shared for the sake of the other and the interests are enjoyed by both parties.

3. The boundary is ignored and one party attempts to change the other to make them fit more into their realm of interests.

A combination of the first two will lead to a successful relationship. But any attempt at the third brings only disaster to the relationship.

A healthy relationship is always depending on a healthy give and take attitude. Each party seeks the best for the other and never forces anything. Any attempt to control the other immediately breaks the connection forming the relationship. Freedom should be given and each party is free to develop their own interests and personalities.

Why are Relationships Important?
Relationships are important because of our connection with each other. This time I mean another type of connection. All of us are connected on a higher level than is obvious to our physical perceptions. On the understanding that everything is energy, our bodies, the world around us, even our thoughts, and that beyond the physical world which we are familiar with there is another non-physical existence, outside of our perception of time and space. On this other level, we’ll call it energy level or the spiritual level, everything is connected through a field of energy, for all beings are energy. This connection, although not obvious to us here in this life, is still very real in the other realm.

This is why we are drawn to one another (all man-made religious ideas and ideals set aside) because we are a part of one another. There is a sense of completeness when we have a close relationship with another individual, whether this be on a social or intimate basis. Even a successful business partnership can be fulfilling as both parties benefit from the partnership. We are constantly looking for this inner fulfilment. Some try to find satisfaction in religion, enjoy the connections there, but are driven to despair by all the other stuff which make relationships impossible. Others will seek fulfilment in social or cultural groups, finding those who like the same things. But even these relationships are doomed to failure if they are not built on a mutual connection respecting individual boundaries.

Every individual has a purpose. Our relationships work best when this purpose in respected and given freedom to evolve. How far a boundary should be set is up to the mutual agreement of the parties involved. This may be unspoken yet naturally worked out in the love and respect of each other.

Tell me what you think?

Check out my new website at http://www.wingsofchangelife.com

How far should love go? When is loving too much? When is it not justifiable to love more, forgive more?

If someone has harmed you, you have a right to seek justice and see the culprit punished and the wrong righted. But what if you were to forgive the wrongdoer? And what if he does the same again, and again, and again? What if you really do forgive seventy times seven?

Is justice always the best road to take?

Forgiveness releases energy, an energy which goes out to the forgiven and deep into the forgiver. This energy is greater than the energy dissipated by justice and revenge. The energy released by forgiveness is Love. Love is the greatest force in the universe. Nothing can conquer love. Nothing can replace love. Love is over all. Love is beautiful. Love calms. Love inspires. Love forgets harm. Love overcomes evil. Love supersedes justice. Love forgives. Love avoids conflict. Love heals.

What has love done in your life? What peace has been sacrificed when justice has been sought? Can we choose? Dare we choose?

Think about it. Every area of conflict has one basic problem: one or both sides believe themselves to be right and in the right to do harm to the other side. We scold our children when they fight over toys, yet we accept the same adult behaviour which leads to fists, fighting and feuds. Why is it, that after hundreds of years, people persist in hating the other side? Why is it that we insist the other back down before we do? Don’t they see that when no one backs down that conflict will persist and fighting will continue and children will still get killed?

In this world we have those still acting out of a low state of awareness. They are unaware of the universal connection to all humans. They think themselves as separate entities and of their cause as their identity as an individual being belonging to an distinct group. They feel the need to protect this identity and are prepared to kill for it. And here’s the crunch – Not one of them, no matter which side they are on, is thinking their own thoughts and making their own decisions!

Every one of us has grown up with indoctrination. “Don’t do that!” “Do this!” “Don’t trust them!” “They are not nice people.” And so on. We learn as children to mistrust our fellow human beings simply because they were born to different parents who lived on the other side of the fence. So now they are are enemies and all we know is we must fight them to stop their evil from spreading. And that child on the other side is being taught exactly the same thing.

Mr. Taliban, Mr. Ulsterman, Mr. Iranian, Mr. Israeli, Mr. Palasitnian, Mr. Religious, Mr. Colleague, Mr. Neighbour, and you too, isn’t it time in this world of growing global consciousness to stop our childish, petty quarrels and learn to forgive? Isn’t it time to put aside the centuries old conflicts and outdated views and seek to help our neighbours and give them food, rather than bomb them out of existence.

And Mr. USA, isn’t it time you stopped bullying the world and attacking out of fear and mistrust, and started using your might to build schools, factories, food plants and educate the world to provide for his neighbour? Isn’t it time to turn our swords into ploughs, our tanks to tractors, our bombers into carriers of water and grain? Isn’t it time to make this planet a world of peace and prosperity for all?

For God’s sake and the sake of our children, grow up and stop pointing the finger. We’re no more perfect than the one being accused. Here’s why:

We are all one. All of us! Everyone, no one excluded. We are ALL one. We are living in a sea of energy and we are ourselves formed out of energy and we are all connected via energy. Everything I do effects you and the rest of the world and vice versa. Believe me, God, Jesus, Muhammed, Buddha, Krishna, King David and every other religious or political leader that ever lived are looking down on us right now and shaking their heads. They are urging us to remember their most important message: Love your neighbour as yourself – forgive one another – do good to those who abuse you – provide for the poor, the orphans and widows. If I kill another I kill part of myself. If I love another, no matter where he was born or what he believes, then I am healing myself and humanity.

Isn’t it time to wake up and recognise that the human race is unique and a part of something much greater than humanity? This is our testing ground. Will you mess up, or pass into global acceptance and universal love? What do you think? write a comment below.

Think about what this is doing, what is happening. Your thoughts are an energy force being projected out into the cosmos. It’s like a radio signal being broadcast into the air. It goes out generally in all directions, although in some specialized cases radio waves are directed and concentrated in one particular direction. Thoughts are just like this, although they are a completely different type of energy. Whenever you have a random thought, that thought is being projected out into space. Scientific experiments prove that thoughts are not restricted by time, they are simultaneously present at all places and the same time. Some even suggest they are present also at all times, that is outside of time. Thoughts, like bundled radio waves, can also be directed, or targeted, in certain directions, or towards certain targets or subjects.

Now, if this is so, then thoughts about a person are instantaneously sent out not only to that person but to any similarly resonating energy which is out there. So if you think accident, intending that to happen to the other person, watch out, for your thought will attract and be attracted to that of similar vibration, that is to accidents. This means that if you think “accident” often and intensely enough, you will in fact attract an accident to yourself.

It sounds odd, but it is a fact, that what you think about will come about. Thoughts are energy and in this field of energy like attracts like. A certain sound frequency will resonate, be attracted to, another object which vibrates or resonates at the same frequency. Hence the famous glass being shattered by the opera singer. Everything is energy. Even your body and the things around you, no matter how solid, they are all energy. There is nothing really solid, that is only an apparent physical trait. In reality even a rock is made up of fast moving bundles of energy with lots of space in between. To us, from our perspective, the rock looks solid, feels solid, and is solid. But look closer, if you could, and you would observe only pure energy in its various forms.

So next time you think bad about someone, stop and think about what you are drawing to yourself. Is that what you really want for yourself? Probably not. Then it’s best to stop right there and wish your worst enemy good, for that is what will ultimately return to you. Cast your bread upon the waters and it will return to you. It’s ancient wisdom.

Stay cool, wish well and love more.