FELLOWSHIP

A new commandment came to man, two thousand years ago,

"love each other, Jesus said, Unselfish love bestow,

This lovely gracious way of life, so many have passed by,

Remains still new to many who, still live self center, me, my and I

For all need love and kindness, friends, neighbors, plant life too,

Friends, relatives, all those we meet, need kindnesses from you,

That kindness may be part of us, upon the stage of time,

Not for a name or thanks to gain, bur for content of mind,

For every being whom we meet, is no way less divine,

The inner kingdom of each one with different aspects shine.

If the acts of others come that caused us grief or pain,

The strength of will to minimize, will bring a spiritual gain.

For unkind deeds like boomerangs strike sadness to the soul,

Of senders in their thoughtless rush, and hinders their true goal.

For selfish ones, give gentleness, that encourages others too,

At times a gentle word will do, sends love to them and me and you,

A shadow is of higher love, that in their hearts may dwell.

A meditation hour can tune into this special power as well.

Directing power to those in need helps brotherhood to flower,

So burdens weary for those least ones find that special power.

VIRTUE AND UNDERSTANDING

Once Plato said that virtue would embrace a word group four,
With prudence , temperance, fortitude and justice - but there is more.
When words are brought alive with deeds and daily spread around.
Inspiring, helping all, then virtue can abound.
Words brought to life with actions join the forces of the soul,
To effervescence and coalesce a charismatic whole.
An understanding from within, beyond the senses will
 Interpret laws that bring about relief from every ill.

As tenon and the mortise join to form a smoother whole,
From virtue, understanding grows, to play its perfect role.
Not only mere observers here but part and parcel, we
Of living, universal laws, as members, that's the key.
The colors bringing harmony as morning sun just risen.
That may tune to Creative Force, reflecting through its prism,
Whose rays of hope and trust and faith give energies access,
To wisdom that true knowledge brings, so virtue may express.

To build this virtue in the mind as part of daily ways,
A meditation time apart, insures a brighter day.
Each moment holds its gift of life, a time to touch and find,
The way to help another's need, or ease a worried mind.
So virtue may spread forth its blooms of sweet and fragrant flowers
An essence blessing every life that passes through its bower.
As thoughts direct each act and deed to daily set the tone,
It blends with all earth's symphony and for you a happy home.

Faith

BOOST YOUR BRAIN POWER

    “It is normal to have occasional episodes of minor forgetfulness
but some types of memory loss are more substantial than others as we
age,” says Arthur Kramer, a professor of psychology and neuroscience
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  “For example, you
meet someone at a party and want to remember their name, what they
looked like and what you talked about,” Kramer added.  The memory
takes different pieces of information and puts them all together.  The
brain is surprisingly adept at compensating, and other types of memory
can improve or remain intact over time to help retain a vigorous mind.

    In late adulthood, the brain region is responsible for forming
some types of memories – the hippocampus – shrinks one to two percent
annually, leading to memory challenges.  Regular aerobic exercise
encourages the use of new brain cells even when workouts are not
strenuous.

    In a trial published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences in January 2011, older adults were asked to either exercise
or stretch.  Exercises began with 10-minute walking sessions,
extending them by one minute each week until they walked for 40
minutes three times a week.  Over a year their hippocampal volume
increased by two percent on MRI brain scans, reversing age related
loss by one to two years and improvement of memory.  Those who only
stretched showed a decrease in hippocampal area.  Aim for at least 30
minutes a day, five days a week of moderate intensity aerobic
exercise, such as brisk walking or hiking.  Social people are more
likely to retain their brain power.  Over an average of five years,
the rate of decline on a broad range of cognitive abilities, including
several types of memory, was 70 percent lower in least socially
active.

    Regular consumption of fish, fruit and vegetables protect mental
ability.  Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh tracked the
diets and using MRIs, the brain volume of 260 older people with
cognitive function in a study presented at the Radiological Society of
North America in November of 2011.  After 10 years, those who ate
baked or broiled fish at least once a week had larger and healthier
cells in brain areas responsible for memory and learning.  Listening
to mellow music, visualizing pleasant scenes and writing your thoughts
all helps retain memory.  Stop smoking if you do and limiting alcohol
are good ways to relieve stress.

THE MYSTERY

Does each question beg and answer, the mystery that it holds,

Sacred in its inner self, through silence to unfold,

Am I me, yet one with Thee, how can this thing be,

A presence near , that feels right here,

Together on the path of life, awareness, one in heart,

An inner essence, guide and friend, to practice spiritual parts,

A path to choose, a life to use, to practice spiritual art.

A path to make, a life to take, together as a team,

Joyous in the sacred self, and on God's wisdom lean.

Still myself, as spirit grows, within God's holy sphere,

An all embracing comfort place, a presence very dear,

At times your presence seems to leave, and flown to different climes,

Let me once more feel Thee near, and at Thy table dine.

You say, "I never went away, I'm with your living soul,

Your purity of love seek, a cleansing sacred goal."

I cancel impure thought streams, and send the far away,

Into the abyss of the past, I'm free to live new ways.

Once more embracing soul's ideal, eternal spirit lives,

A corpuscle in the heart of God, that only He can give.

Conjoined within His sacred trust, in work and all I do,

In fellowship to live and learn, as daily life renews.

Thank you for your patience, that cleaning out soul needs,

Resisting every grudge and thought or other careless deed.  

Messages From the Earth

My eyes behold the sweeping landscape,
The rivers wide their stories tell.
Then rippling grasses dance in sunbeams,
While the mountains cast a mysterious spell.
God's message comes in the silent waters,
Can change change into a raging storm,
Then whispers soft in evening twilight,
Restoring the soul, our inner home.

Attuning to this inner wisdom,
Our conscience guides throughout each day.
To each a guardian angel spirit,
Provides us with protective rays.
And shows a bond with all creation,
The smallest flower, the tallest tree,
Each with its special song of wonder,
That blends its sound through earth
and sea.
To join in universal service,
With challenges still more refined,
Within, without, a heavenly kingdom,
To love and serve throughout all time.
With challenges, alone we conquer,
And walk with those on ancient roads,
Alone to see heaven's dazzling welcome,
To join those loved,in new abodes.

How to Avoid Prostate Trouble

Cancer is caused by the bottling information of negative emotions. It is not what we eat, but what eats us. At the mental and spiritual level we can avoid cancer by forgiving those who cause us harm and forgiving those who caused us harm. Cancer seems to occur more readily which is avoiding it to begin with.

“My prostate was in good shape until five years ago when the doctor examining me said it was enlarged which explained some urinary changes that I had noticed.It suggested a massages of olive oil and peanut oil every evening before retiring. Last fall I had another medical exam during which my doctor commented that I had the prostate of a 20 year old (I was 68) I reminded him of the first exam which he had forgotten. I mentioned my success to a friend who had prostate problems. This man experienced the same salutary results.”

Resisting every grudge or other careless deed . God's spirit dwells in everywhere, on standby and on call, responding to each sincere prayer to answer one and all and I am finding my sincere prayer will answer one and all. How beautiful and different our present world challenges would be when we feel and practice this forgiveness.