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AH-MAN FREEDOM NEWSLETTER
News from Ah-Man April 2010
In This Issue
Sacrifice and Service
Healing from Addictions
Retreats & Speaking Events
Quick Links
Hello Friends:

As I write this newsletter on a fine April morning, it feels like Spring is really here!  That means that it's time for me to put away the boots and break out my sandals; mark off the baseball games I'm going to this season; and plan some summer trips with family and friends!

But the month of April holds a more profound meaning for Christians and Jews alike.  Whether you observe Passover or Easter, you are paying homage to a tradition of sacrifice and service.

I have shared my personal experience with the tradition in the feature article below.

And be sure to check out the Ah-Man Blog in April for more inspiring stories of sacrifice and service.

Until next time.

Namaste,
Michael

Elizabeth Brown SACRIFICE AND SERVICE


Two Saturdays ago, I attended a Bar Mitzvah.

I didn't know Sam, the young man who was becoming Bar Mitzvah. I was going to temple to support and witness my beautiful partner as she sang hymns from the Sacred Torah.

Since it was close to Passover, the readings were about the sacrifices made at Passover time...mainly about the Israelites' exit from Egypt.

It is also a custom that the one who is becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah do some service that relates to the reading at their special ceremony.

The Kabbalistic tradition says that a person's spiritual being has several levels of soul.  A new level of soul (called neshama) comes into awareness at Bar/Bat Mitzvah time.  This is the time when moral awareness and sensitivity fully develops, enabling young people to take responsibility for their actions.

So at this particular Bar Mitzvah, the reading from the Torah was about the exit of the Israelites and what went on just before they were given permission to leave.  If you remember, because Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let Israel leave Egypt as God called for, God visited the plague of death to all of the firstborn of both man and beast in Egypt. In order for Israel to avoid the angel of death's visit to their households, God told the Israelites to sacrifice and eat a lamb.  More importantly, He commanded them to take some of the lamb's blood and put it on the doorpost of each household.  As the angel of death passed over their houses and noted the blood on their lintels they would be spared...and they were.

In every relationship, we all make sacrifices, even in our relationship with God. Today, most of us do not make animal sacrifices.  As a society, we have changed some of our customs.  Today, most of our sacrifice comes in the form of service.

Sam, the young man who was coming of age, choose to do service for those who do not have enough to eat.  This relates very well to the Israelites exit from Egypt.  They had to rush to leave, thus they were not able to make bread they way they were accustomed to.

Sam ran a marathon to raise money and awareness, and built a website for donations to feed the hungry.  I was deeply touched by his sacrifice and service to mankind.

I was also reminded of another Jew who made the ultimate sacrifice during Passover some two thousand years ago: Yeshua...also known as Jesus of Nazareth.

In the same way that the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites, Christians believe that when God sees the blood of the Suffering Messiah, Yeshua, on the doorposts of their hearts, they are saved from eternal death for their sins.

Christians believe that when you bring Yeshua into your heart and accept his teachings - "The Kingdom of Heaven is within," love thy neighbor as thyself, become perfect by becoming One with the Father - you experience True Love with God.

This is their sacrifice...their service, which enables them grow and love.  Sam was doing service to grow and love his neighbor as they self, one of the commandments of God.

Not all of us belong to a religious organization, but we all can render service/sacrifice for the betterment of our world. During the month of April I will honor your service and sacrifices by writing about them in the Ah-Man Blog.  So, please take a moment share with me how you are - or someone you know is - making our world a better place to live in, and I will share with you some of the ways over the years I have.


HEALING FROM ADDICTIONS

SelfGrowth.com, the #1 self-improvement site on the Internet, recently published my article on Healing from Addictions


I invite you to click on the article link above to review the piece. 


In fact, I'll go one step further, and ask that you rate my article after you read it.  You can leave your rating by clicking on the stars right above the article.  You'll have to register at the SelfGrowth.com site in order to use the rating feature, but I am sure you will find that the site features a great deal of information, insights and resources relevant to you or someone you know.


I thank you in advance for your support!


RETREATS AND SPEAKING EVENTS

When it comes to learning how to cope and enrich your life, sharing the thoughts and experiences of others via blog can be effective, but nothing beats the healing impact of human interaction.  And that's what I provide at my retreats.  You will better understand your own life experiences and the resulting disconnection from your heart.  My goal - and passion - is to help you open your heart and find the freedom and joy we are all meant to experience.  Please share this information with those who have a need.

Awaken to Your Best Self Wellness Fair & Marketplace

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Doubletree Tarrytown Hotel
455 South Broadway
Tarrytown, NY 10591
9:00am to 5:00pm
Fee: $10.00 (online registration) or $15.00 at the door
Register online at the Awaken Wellness Fair Web Site

During this talk, I will present an overview of the new Ah-Man Freedom Retreats, with special emphasis on the "Finding Peace Through Forgiveness" Retreat.  If you plan to attend this event, please stop by to say hi!


Finding Peace Through Forgiveness Half-Day Retreat

This retreat is designed for anyone who has experienced hurt in their life.  The pain we feel from being hurt continues to manifest itself in our lives.  Resentment and pain continue to affect our thoughts and the decisions we make, either knowingly or, in most cases, unknowingly.  During the retreat, I will share my own miraculous experiences with forgiveness and show how forgiveness cannot happen without healing on the Emotional, Spiritual and/or Mystical levels.  I will also expose some of the myths about forgiveness.  During the session, I will also guide attendees through meditations of forgiveness, and invite you to see opportunities to grow where there were none.  Join me to find out how to have more peace in your life about your past, and to learn the secret of being human.

The retreat is being offered on the following dates/times:

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Opal Moon
2037 Albany Post Road
Croton, NY 10520
Time: 10am to 2:30pm (includes a 1/2 hour lunch break)

Fee: $60 the day of event
        $45 if you register before April 10, 2010



Saturday, June 5, 2010

Wainwright House
260 Stuyvestant Avenue
Rye, NY 10580-3115

Time: 9:30am to 2pm (includes 1/2 hour lunch break)

Fee: $60
        $50 for Wainwright House Friends

Register online at http://www.wainwright.org/programs/program_hoare_retreat.htm

Michael Hoare, D.D., is an author, minister and certified Angel Therapy Practitioner, who has a wealth of experience and expertise in healing his own life and helping others heal theirs.
 
For more information, or to learn more about Michael and Ah-Man, visit his web site at www.ah-man.com and his blog at http://www.blog.ah-man.com/.