What Does This Easter Season Mean to You?

We recall the beautiful Sunday Services celebrating the Easter Season at Founders Church in Los Angeles, California. There was the 5:00 A.M. Sunrise Service, 9:00 A.M. and the 11:00 A.M.Service.

It all began with a Musical Dramatized Interpretation of the Life of Jesus the Christ with a white cross in the backdrop, soloists who sang beautiful songs written by Dr. George Goulding, the Organist and directed by Dr. Paul Senia with a choir of about 80 singing gloriously and we were in that choir.

Bus loads from Northern California made this trip just for these performances. The Sanctuary was completely filled with about 2,000 people and the Chapel who saw this on Screen was completely filled with about 500 and this was for all three Services. Outside you could see the lines form to make sure they got a seat for the next presentation.

This version was about Jesus, his teachings, his Disciples and what was said and felt during that time.

I want to ask you if you know the 12 that Jesus chose and can you put yourself in their place at this time? Can you imagine what these 12 felt, well in actuality 11, because Judas was the betrayer and was not there, but can you imagine what Judas felt seeing that he was incorrect about Jesus?

With this writing Peter was the one that was hurt the most, because he had seen Jesus transfigured, talking with Moses and Elias (Mark 9:1-8) up onto  an high Mountain, earlier Jesus had washed the feet of the 12 (a job that is for a servant only), and he saw Jesus surrender himself to the Romans.

These things were hard for him to accept because he loved the Lord so much. The things that we who are taught Religion traditionally and was never taught to us is that as a Jew a "Saviour" does not serve, suffer or surrender himself, but this is what Peter was taught since he was a Jew, but Jesus had done all three.  Could have been the true reason that Peter said that he did not know this man?

You see, Peter and the other Disciples really did not know him. Peter thought he did, but we have to understand that the Disciples thought that this was "their" Saviour to save them (the Jews only) for all the years upon years of slavery that they had endured and what the Romans had done to them. They did not understand what he had told them over and over again, because they were not really listening.

We ask you, "Do you really know Jesus? Are you ready to understand his teachings? Are you ready to listen?  Can you love as he taught that we are to love, divinely? Or, do you too think that he is only for a certain race, a certain group of people or just for Jewish People of yesterday?

 
May this Easter Season open your heart and fill it with love, open your mind and let wisdom be expressed and allow your soul to enjoy and be entertained by the Holy Spirit of Our Father with great peace, happiness and harmony.

Have a Blessed Easter, 

In Divine Love and Great Delight,

The Reverends

Do You Believe in Religion?

You say that you do not have a religion, but do you not realize that this IS your Religion-unbelief? Religion is not bad. It is simply the way that God expresses through an individual according to your beliefs. Religion is really a form of expression, the way you live. We are here on this planet to improve or re-adjust our imperfections. There are many, many churches that meet the level of understanding for those that are involved.

I suppose you would say that God choosing me, a woman and a "Black" woman at that, to be His Minister, YES, of a church is poppy-cock. You may even believe that Jesus Christ is one that never lived or had many experiences with Our Heavenly Father. I suppose you could disbelieve that God, for the lack of a better word, knows nothing about creating as if by magic. Well, who do you think created this Universe? Who do you think is behind everything that is here? Who do you think is putting certain people in places, seeing that certain things are carried out?

To those who are reading this Newsletter for the first time, have you heard of New Thought, or Religious Science or Science of Mind? I prayed to God many years ago to show me where Truth IS and finally was led to Religious Science and then to the Mother Church. The moment I stepped inside that church, I knew that this was where TRUTH IS. This was my experience. Jesus tells us that there are many mansions in His Father's Kingdom and one more question: Who do you think heals you????

However, I say, do not be so quick to disclaim a person's God unless you can give them a "better" God of Truth just because you had a few experiences. Everyone on this Earth has had an experience with Our Heavenly Father, because everyone is God's Child! However, each experience has been at the level of "their" understanding.

I have had many Angelic experiences, experiences with both Jesus Christ and Our Heavenly Father and even Jesus' mother, Mary, but I would never criticize Religion, for I do not know who God depends upon to teach His Word.

You would be wise to never speak negatively about anyone. We have said and taught that what a person says about another, he or she is really speaking about themselves. God has many Servants and usually His Servants are those who you would never suspect are the ones Our Father would use, for He has a tendency to use the most unlikely ones on Earth.

I had an experience that supported this some years ago. I cannot tell you who or any more regarding this, but it gave me enlightenment that we are human with many hidden faults, fallacies, negative thoughts and just simply we do not know everything, but Our Father is Divine and is All-Knowing. He makes the decision about whom or who He chooses to deliver His messages.

He does this through Kings, Queens, Presidents, Leaders, babies, boys and girls, men and women, teachers, Philosophers, Doctors, Lawyers, Street Cleaners, the school building superintendents, Ministers, Priests, mothers, fathers and you can name any person on Earth. They all have heard the Voice of Our Father and they all have experienced Him at some time or other.

When things look different from what you expect, try asking yourself this question: What part of me am I rejecting?

May the Father of us all love you more and bless you this day.

In Divine Love and Delight,

Rev. Pat

God Is Not For Sale

By Rev. Pat 

There are times that I feel many believe that Our Father God, Almighty is for sale. Sometimes, I believe that many may feel that God Almighty can be bribed through saying what we will do "if" He will do what we want, but that never will work. He is only available for your tender Love. These "tender" words come often to those who trust Him and want to serve Him. "If you love Me, you will keep my words" is what He says. John 14:23 also John 14:15

This means that we are to "obey" what His words say and that word "obey" tends to make one feel obligated, but it never means that. The one synonym that feels so wonderful is "abide by". Those two words are beautiful. So we could say that the above Scripture would mean this: If you love Me, you will "abide by" what my words say. Isn't that wonderful?

It may interest some about Our Father in believing that if they can just become really wealthy, Our Father is not needed or they can bribe Him to do whatever they so wish by saying they will tithe to some Religious Order. Neither of those actions will ever bring Our Father close to you, because He is not for sale and anyone that is "In His Service" is not for sale either.

These words of which so far, I have been unable to find who wrote them may have been written by Lao Tzu as they sound just like him.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Author Unknown

We are New Thought Thinkers and Teachers of the Wisdom of Science of Mind. We know that these statements are quite true. Dr. Ernest Holmes wrote a book stating that "Thoughts Are Things" and how true that is.

At any rate, our daily thing to do, the real reason we have come to this Planet is to make our way back to Our Father God, Almighty and to make adjustments in our thinking, the way we treat others and what we say in our day to day thoughts.

These are some of the things we are not here to do:

1. To make money our god (Money is needed in order to live)
2. To become famed (Though some things may support it)
3. To be a slave (In the 613 Laws of God we know what we are to do)
4. To belittle others (We are all children of Our Father)
5. To resist Our Father's guidance (It is wise to lean on the One who knows all)
6. To use Our Father's name in vain (To say we will do something and don't is one way to use His name in vain)
7. To break anyone's spirit (This can refer back to: Thou shalt not kill.)

And Oh, there are so many more things, but perhaps these are most important. Our greatest reason for returning to this World, this Planet is to become aware of how to love Our Father God, His Son Jesus and every individual on this Earth and that means every day of the year, not just Valentine's Day.

Thoughts from Within

Priorities

By Reverend Dr. Fred Ogletree

Rewrite of an Article in 2006

The is the beginning of the third month in this New 2013 year and I wonder how many of us have set affirmations, firm priorities, and if so, remained committed to them thus far! At this point of understanding in my life, I indeed know without doubt, life is a matter of priorities.  

Imagine, Our Biblical friend Solomon could have had anything he wanted, including great wealth and political power. God was offering him carte blanche. All he had to do was ask. So what did he ask for? He asked for an understanding heart.

"Behold I have given thee a wise and understanding heart and I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days." (I   Kings 3:12, 13).

I was asked recently what does every person needed to become healthy, successful and happy to live in peace with themselves and in the spirit of harmony and mutual help with others. In my very next breath the word "unity" came to mind and heart as broad as box car letters.

I believe experience teaches us that wherever the spirit of unity determines our thinking and acting, solutions are found for all personal and collective, national and global problems. This is why the consciousness of unity can be of direct help to everyone.

When we live entirely by the spirit of unity we indeed realize that there is nothing adverse or evil in the sense of an independent power opposing us. There are only lesser or greater manifestations of the good and divine, just as darkness has no reality of its own but is merely the absence of light. Thus, in the final analysis, peace and happiness depend upon the measure of our awareness of our spiritual unity with the Allness of Spirit.

My sense of awareness and observation tells me today the entire world is seemingly pressing for a better order of life. In world affairs, the United Nations appears to be making efforts for the establishment of peace and unity on earth and the furtherance of international collaboration. From seeing, hearing and interaction in the field of religion, the idea of unity and peace seem to be supported by a growing number of progressive inter-religious movements.

However, I believe in the last analysis, the spirit of peace and unity must radiate from the individual before it can finally become real and alive in the whole of us as the spirit and impulse of universal unity and peace. I firmly believe it is not enough just to think and speak about this unity. This unity of the Spirit must be expressed in our daily activities as we recognize Its unifying Allness.

Hence, my all inclusive suggestion is to follow the spirit of peace and unity! Realize the fellowship of the Spirit by expressing love and oneness with all. This indeed can be more than wishful thinking or a pious hope; this is as powerful reality that can be manifested now by each of us! However, our bottom-line priority must remain the focal point of our realization.

Happy, blessed Easter and far beyond this wonderful season!

In Love and Light,

Rev. Fred

We "as" humans find some of the strangest things to criticize. Yet, I dare say that it does little to nothing in making anyone feel better or happy. It is amazing to find that we still have a lot of room for maturity and the unsettling part is that oft times those who criticize fall short in realizing that they are the ones who need to grow in consciousness.

You know, Our Father has prepared such a beautiful Earth here for our entertainment, pray tell, what is the reason that so many of us are so unhappy? For what reason does it appear that money seems to be the motivation for so many negative thoughts, actions, jealousies, prejudices and distrusts in this life?

Would it not be simpler to just allow ourselves to enjoy everything here on Earth? Those who love the country could go to the Country Estates and live and those who love city life, could as easily go to the city and enjoy people upon people and all the things that city people love.

Those who love a quiet religious life could go to the Mountain Retreats and enjoy, commune or just lull themselves in the beauty that Our Father has planted on the hillsides and on the tops of mountains

It is our soul that is here to experience re-growth, improvements, re-adjustments and an upgraded spiritual life. Is it really necessary to deny our soul, the most precious possession we own, the experiences that we could give it?

Life truly is beautiful and it is the God-given Beauty of His Life that our soul is waiting to experience in fullness. One way that we could be sure of the right experience for our soul is to question Our Father. We could ask a question similar to this, "Our Father, how much pleasure and growth would my soul receive if I owned such and such or if I went to such and such place for a while?"

Your soul is trying to inform you what it needs when it is suggested that you do a certain activity. It could come from the Still Small Voice or it could come from a friend, a spouse, a parent, a Minister, Psychologist or even a baby. I have found that our greatest blunder in life or block or obstacle is our listening skills. Those, may I say, really need improving--even Jesus' 12 could have used some improvement on their listening skills (smile).

Promise yourself that you will try some of these not because I have stated them here. Forget that I am that person described in the other article, "little, a woman and Black", but because you truly want an unforgettable happiness and a wonderful spiritual experience with Our Father. It is all there for the asking.

In Divine Love and Delight,

Rev. Pat

 
I speak my word today for myself and say that I refuse to be disturbed or distressed about anyone, or anything, for I know that within me is the fullness of Life. As I contemplate these words of dynamic Truth, I am over flowing and filled with a sense of my own wholeness. As I walk forth into this new day, I draw upon the Strength, the Wisdom, the Intelligence and the Joy that are already with me! I accept that only good takes place for me today. I know You hear me, for You have always heard me and I am grateful. For this, I say again, thank you O Loving Father. I let this be and so it is. Selah, Amen.