Universal Life Church

By Rev. Erik Strunk

Sometimes We Have To Judge

"First take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Luke 6:42

Some people stand for what is known as "laissez faire," that is, let people do as they please. In support of this stance

they quote the words of Jesus: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged.

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned" (Luke 6:37).

In words preceding the above, Jesus urges us to bemerciful because our heavenly Father is that way. Further, He warns against self-righteousness, against having 20/20 vision with regard to someone else's faults but being blind to our own. Such people spot a "speck of dust" or a splinter in their brothers' and sisters' eyes when having a "plank" in their own. On the basis of this context, some say we ought never judge and condemn anyone, not even when moral wrongs are involved.

This cannot be what Jesus meant, for elsewhere He stated, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault"

(Matthew 18:15).

Whenever Christians do this, they are not expressing arbitrary, personal judgments but are applying the prior judgments of God.

The latter are the standard by which we live.

What kind of judging or condemning is Jesus

forbidding? It is a judging that is loveless, without mercy, and is prompted by self-righteousness.

Our Lord does not want us to presume to lay down moral principles, or a set of do's and don'ts, of our own making that exceed or fall short of what the Word of God says. The attempt to add to the Word of God was illustrated by the Pharisees, who added more than 600 laws of their own to the moral law of God. This is legalism.

Yes, there may come times when it is our Christian calling to point out to those near and dear to us that what they are saying and doing is wrong in the light of the Word of God. The intent is to be constructive and positive--as Jesus said--to "win" or "gain" the brother or sister, to be spiritually helpful to one for whom Christ died.

PRAYER: Lord Give, give me the attitude toward, and the right concern for, my brothers and sisters in the faith who err.

Amen.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.
 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Online Sermons

Does God Still Speak to People??

A young man had been to night Bible Study.

The teacher had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice.

The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?"

After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.

Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.

It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home.

Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God...If you still speak to people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey."

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.

He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home.

But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk.

The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli.

"Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.

As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn Down that street."

This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection.

Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street.

At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh.

Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will".

He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semi commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.

Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.

"Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away.

The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?"

The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway.

Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face.

The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk."

His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?"

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face.

He knew that God still answers prayers.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have multiple classes in Christianity, Wicca, Religious Philosophy, three courses in Metaphysics. a course in Buddhism, a re-vamped course on Shamanism, and much more.

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Online Sermons

Do You Have Enemies?

I suppose we all feel at times we have a few. In our sophisticated

and proper society, this concept of someone being your enemy may

seem extreme, but if you would allow me to use this broad term to

deal with a few realities we all face.

Act One

The character I will base this on is one outstanding Bible

Characters, and my personal favorite in fact. David lived his life

with a series of circumstances that positioned him in a place where

he had foes and enemies, those that did not wish him well and in

fact worked to do him harm either proactively or by their actions

placed him at a disadvantage.

Enemy

Opponent

Rival

Foe

We find that his circumstance of birth played against him, for he

said "I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive

me." He shows us a deep secret of shame, for he finds that this

fact has conspired against him. Often we may feel like there are

things that have followed us from childhood. Attitudes, ideas,

family traits that have haunted our path like dark shadows in the

forest, conspiring for our downfall.

We follow this to see that this mindset was reflected in how David

was treated and perceived by his family. His family, his father in

fact shows this contempt held for the young boy when he is asked

about his sons, he only remembers David when pressed. We see this

played out again when David goes to bring his brothers a little

bread from home; his brother despises him and chides him for his

presence on a day that would define him.

This day when David faced the famous Giant, we see that David

overcame the fear that had bowed down a nation, the scorn of his own

brothers and the timid ness of the King. He walked out that day

with the only things he had proven in his young life. A memory of

past victories and few stones he knew he could throw and an Intimate

knowledge of a God that would not let him down.

Here in the First act of David's life, we see that in spite of the

circumstances around his birth and his own family's opinion of him,

he stood on top of the dead giant with his head hanging from one

hand while the sword thrust toward the sky and a battle cry erupted

from his lips. I can see as this played out, the formerly fearful

band of beleaguered soldiers solidifies into a force that overcomes

the enemy with an unstopped momentum, till the song of victory rings

through the valleys of Judea.

Act Two - Victory, the beginning of personal hardship.

No sooner has David climbed off the chest of the defeated, and the

enemies of David begin to form. His Leader, his beloved King goes

from curious to crazy. In just a few moments he finds his harp that

opened the door into the kings court no longer soothes the evil

spirit, and the King hurls his hatred-powered javelin toward young

David.

Imagine how the young man felt. Everything was supposed to change,

but on the other side of an amazing victory a greater force begins

to mount against him.

His first enemy was the enemy of being ignored and invisible. Now

his enemy is because he is visible and someone to be reckoned with.

And someone on the rise threatens human nature. Very few, and I

mean very few men, no matter their own anointing feel threatened and

attack the younger generation who God has ordained to take the

Kingdom to the next step of his purpose. When they should be able

to rejoice together, often the young man must flee down the dusty

paths of obscurity till God must resort to other means to bring his

purpose about. I have been blessed to know a number of great men

who could see the future and attach their blessing to those who will

accomplish what they had not been able to do. It is the following

generations that fulfill the vision of previous generations. Just

as David planned the temple and paid for it's building, it was not

accomplished until Solomon came on the scene. The lesson in

David's life is how he dealt with this second phase.

When Favor with God becomes the motivation for your enemies. How

we respond here is so important. If David were like many of us, he

would have told Samuel, God and Saul, "Bless God I am supposed to be

King, so either your going to move aside, or I will push you aside."

The many examples of this faulty foolishness are repeated over and

over. David took the low road. He ran and hid and did everything

in his power to just survive without killing his enemy, who was on

the same side as he was. It is difficult to deal with your enemy

when he wears the same color uniform and salutes the same flag and

has been appointed by the same God, but he has the power and all you

have is a promise. If you ever have a Saul after you, run and hide

and don't fight against him. David would not touch his leader,

even when he was wrong. Even when the Bible says that God had

rejected him. Even when his error was hurting Israel, David let God

take care of it.

You can tell who is in the wrong by who is attacking the other.

Find who is humbly taking the low road and pray for them to

continue, because God will fight for the humble and fight against

the proud. The bad guy always loses, the good guy always wins. The

good guy don't wear a white hat but walks the low road.

We know, the day came and King Saul and Prince Jonathan died. In

one day, David lost his worst enemy and his best friend. I think

we see what happens to us in these terrible situations, because

enemies never die alone, they always die with something and someone

we love. David rent his garments and all of Israel mourned the

death of Saul. No matter the situations around Saul, he still was a

called and anointed man of God.

The next enemy comes from an unexpected source. Imagine with me,

David is King and rules in Jerusalem. He dwells in a nice palace

and everything is right. He is finally brining in the Ark of God

into its proper place. David's great victory. All of Israel is

Celebrating and finally David sends them all home with a loaf of

bread a side of meat and a flagon of wine. God is blessing. He

walks into his house and what happens? His wife meets him and

scorns his attempt at worship. But watch what David does, he tells

her, "You can scorn me, but I am still going to continue to worship

God." There are times that many will face a time when their spouse

or children will scorn their efforts. Don't let it steal your

devotion.

Act Three - Mid Life Crisis - What to do when you have won and

succeeded?

One of the last enemies David faces is Himself. After struggling

against all of these external forces, he is almost defeated by his

own actions. Temptation comes, sin is committed and finally he

holds a dead baby in his arms. What do you do when your failure

has hurt others? What do you do when your failure has reached

beyond and afflicted beyond and you see your error for all its

ugliness? This is by far the hardest enemy to overcome. To

overcome failure is the true test of us all. For then we see, that

we need a saviour as much as anyone else. This is a humbling fact

that will save you if you will recognize it.

However David continues to show us how to deal with our enemies. He

repents, he weeps, and he gets up washes his face and moves forward

in his walk with God. Many people face many enemies, but have the

hardest time forgiving themselves when they have fallen. Follow the

example of David. Repent. Repent Deeply and completely. Be broken

and humbly honest with God and those around you. Wash your face and

move forward in the Life of purpose that God has for you.

Act Three - The Trial of the Aged - What to do when your at odds

with the pride of youth.

In this mans life we see finally that his own son, one who favored

him the most, begins to plot David's destruction. Rather than

divide the kingdom over this, he again takes the low road and leaves

his enemy behind. And we see again, God deals with Absalom when the

prideful locks of Absalom become his undoing. I would say, this

always the undoing of the prideful generation who thinks they will

get rid of the old man and his old fogy ways, the unshorn locks of

their own pride becomes their untimely demise.

How did David survive in the face of all of these enemies? I think

it boils down to one thing. If you will keep your heart right with

God, God will take care of you and your enemies. No matter how

plentiful and powerful they may be, if you will simply understand

the time tested principle I am going to close with, you can stand in

faith, run in hope and even hide yourself from your enemies when

they seek to destroy you with their words and devious plans.

So you have enemies?

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can

be against us?"

You can overcome them for one Reason, God's purposes for your life

are more powerful than the plans your enemies thrust on you.

The Bad Guy always loses, and the good guys always win,

Scott Phillips

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Online Sermons

Self-righteousness Vs. Spirituality

by Rev. Jimmie Warren

How many times have you heard some Christian preacher say that everyone in his church is good except for a few who are bad, and all of them are going to burn in hell?

How many times have you heard preachers tell you that if you don't change your life and be like them (judgmental,) that you are on your way to hell? They tell you that if you don't quit smoking, then you are going to hell. They tell you that you must quit cursing, or drinking, or stop listening to that satanic music you like, or you are going to hell!

Then they tell you that if you don't come to their church, you will be in the hands of Satan. What a bunch of garbage.

These ministers are just like the pharisees of Jesus' time. They are always judging others and not doing the right things that they are preaching for you to do. These guys are so full of it that their eyes should be brown; you know what I mean!

They must not read their Bibles about "FORGIVENESS." God is THE God of forgiveness. (Jeremiah 31:34) says: "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

God also expects us to forgive others. ( Ephesians 4:32 says:) "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Read scriptures like these

"Thou shall not judge" "As you judge ,so shall you be judged" "Judge not less you be judged"

(Matthew 7:1 ) ( Matthew 7:2 ) ( Luke 6:37)

My dear friends, read about the spirit of the law and how Jesus himself preached nothing about condemning anyone, but He preached repentance and to be forgiven of all your sins.

GOD HATES self- righteousness. GOD also hates VANITIES

(Deuteronomy 32:21,) and GOD absolutely hates hypocrites. (Matthew 23:14, Luke 11:44)

These are the things that Our GOD loves so much--- Humbleness, meekness, kindness, and most of all, LOVE, for HE is Love! I John 4:8 says: " He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love." Jesus told his disciples, above all, that love covers a multitude of sins.

Paul states in (1 Corinthians 13:1-8) that you can keep every law and every holy day and give all your money for show, but if you don't have love then it is all in vain.You can go to church seven days a week and give away everything you own; you can even read your Bible for the umpteenth time, but if you don't have love for all peoples, then you are doing all of it for nothing.

You can say long prayers and wish everyone well, and you are still not going to be SAVED! Yes doing all these types of things still doesn't cut it with God. He wants you to do all these things simply because you like doing them. God wants to know that in your heart you do really love others; that's what it is all about my fellow Christians.

I understand now, when we read in the Bible, that in the end time Jesus will say, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."(Matthew 7:21-23) (Luke 13:27, Matthew 25:41- 46) See in these scripture some of the people are saying, "But Jesus, we have healed in your name,we have kept all the laws, we have fasted and prayed day and night, we have cared for the homeless and taught about clean and unclean meats and other health laws, we taught about new moons and holy days and Sabbaths."

But Jesus still turns them away. WHY? Because they did it all for show; they did it to be big men among others for show! Some big ministers still today go around the country with big tents and rent big auditoriums for show and fame---Vanity. May God have mercy on their souls for they will be judged on what they are doing to hurt the little ones in Christ.

I talk to young people every day about religion, and most all of them are turned off to most churches and their preaching. They have seen the guys with their big limos and those TV MINISTERS that have fallen from grace on TV. They have had it with all the false doctrines of today's religions, like ever burning hell , or becoming an angel sitting on a cloud plunking on a harp.

This stuff is not even in your Holy Bible. Look for it yourselves, it's not there.

You see, when we sit around and worry about what others think of us or what they think we are doing , then we are not pleasing God. God wants us all to be happy and do what is right because we love doing what's right. Ask yourself, are you more afraid of what some minister or church might say about you or how they might judge you? Worry more about what God thinks of you, you will be a lot better off.

Beloved,in this life we can't do enough good to ever make up for all the wrongs we do. Right now you are thinking, if that's the case then I might as well quit trying because I'm not ever going to make it to the kingdom of God.

Let me tell you brethren that that kind of attitude is exactly what Satan wants you to think. Remember we are not, repeat, not fighting a physical battle here on this world.

( Ephesians 6:12 says), "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,against spiritual wickedness in high places."

We are fighting a spiritual battle and angels are fighting our battles with us to help us make it into God's kingdom.

It is all about being in His kingdom, where we are heirs and sons to Him and brothers to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what Satan hates the most, that we humans are going to be with God the Father forever!

If we repent and will turn from our old worldly ways, then we will be the sons of God and live forever in His kingdom. Amen! We become His true children and are saved from the grasp of death and Satan the devil.

If you are in a church (doesn't matter the name on the building,) pray always for help because God's true church is spiritual. This church (you and me) is the one and only church which even the gates of hell can't touch. (Matthew 16:18)

This is God's real church through Jesus of Nazareth. Yes beloved, Jesus is the rock which the church was built on,

(we are this spiritual church) worshipped in and by the Holy Spirit.

Do you have this spirit in you? If not, NOW WOULD BE the time to repent and to ask Jesus Christ into your life.

Some church leaders really think that they can contain God Almighty in their own little religion and buildings. What a laugh this must be to God! It is so sad to think this way, to be so narrow minded. These kinds of churches who teach that they are the ONLY TRUE CHURCH are so little-minded that they can't see the real freedom of Christ.

Well brothers and sisters, I have been in some of these special churches, and the only differences was SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, judging and finger pointing. They have too much back biting and law keeping,

with no GRACE--- death teaching attitudes, that they cannot see the truth!!

JESUS CAME TO FORGIVE MAN (YOU AND ME) OF ALL OUR SINS!!!!!

He bought you and me with his blood, to be saved and to be with Him and Our Heavenly Father.

After you have repented (changed your old ways)and become baptized in water, you will receive the Holy Spirit; then you are saved from Satan and Death. This is the greatest gift you or Iwill ever receive from our all loving Father in Heaven. Amen!

Yes,JESUS' BLOOD covers all our sins; then we become spiritual brothers to Jesus and can come personally in front of the Father in Heaven.

It is all about the spirit of the law.It is about the spiritual church of God. It is all about the spiritual caring that Jesus has for you and me. Some of you ministers out there are preaching nothing but condemnation. You should come down off your high horses and repent yourselves. Try to Preach more about what Jesus himself preached, FORGIVENESS and LOVING.

I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THAT I AM TRYING TO TEACH WHAT MY SAVIOR JESUS PREACHED.

Which one of you who has not sinned cast the first stone. You will have to forgive me as to being so bold as to preach the real Jesus and the real church of GOD!

IT'S ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW more than making sure a man is trying to keep a law, the law that will lead to death. It's about really caring for others and going out of your way to help them make it. Not to condemn them and discourage them or make them fall. That's Satan's job,and he is doing really well at it, don't you think?.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 22:36-40. A Pharisee, who was a lawyer, asked him, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

By the spirit of our God I say, don't condemn anyone or anything anymore.Instead, love all and forgive all as your Father has forgiven you. If we do this, then we shall hear these wonderful words, "Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into MY kingdom."

In Jesus mighty name," Amen and Amen.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Online Sermon

As you well know, it is getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts and many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful for all I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face......... and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all seem to close their doors to me. Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; some who were drunk, telling jokes, and laughing at everything. They were having a great time and to top it all off, this big fat man dressed in red and wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"... as if the party were in his honor.

At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other. I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me but, do you know, no one did. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me.

What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, the eating and drinking. Nobody remembers me.

I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world and give my life for you on the cross, to save you.

Today, I only want that you believe this with all you heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one can even imagine, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is one for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be allowed into the party. Those who don't answer the invitation will be left outside. I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year... See you soon and remember.... I love you!

Jesus-

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Online Sermons

Staying Connected

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my

trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. -

Psalm 143:8

Two of the greatest inventions of my time have been the laptop computer

and e-mail. The laptop means I no longer have to stay in one place to be

productive in my business life. E-mail has allowed me to stay connected

to people all around the world with the touch of a button.

One of my greatest frustration is when either of these does not work. Sometimes e-mail cannot be used because I can't get a connection. Sometimes I cannot use my laptop because I have not properly charged it, and then the charge runs out while I am moving around. Both of these situations mean I am unable to tap into the resource that allows me to fulfill my duties in my work to the fullest.

Our personal time with God is much like these situations. God pours His

Word into our spirit, and we are recharged. This recharging has an important effect on our day. It allows us the greatest opportunity to hear the small voice that directs our steps. If we refuse to "get connected," we risk following our own ways of fulfilling the duties of our day. It sets forth the opportunity for God to speak into our spirit what He desires for us each day. It allows us to focus on God's purposes, not our own.

The only way to know someone is to spend time with him or her. The only way to discern the voice of another is to hear that person's voice. David, the author of this psalm, was a warrior, king, and businessman. He understood this principle of connecting with God in the morning. His morning allowed him to connect with God's love, renew his trust in Him, and hear His directions for his life. Shouldn't you and I do the same?

Blessed be the name of the Lord,

Shalom,

SGT T.D. Stewart

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have multiple classes in Christianity, Wicca, Religious Philosophy, three courses in Metaphysics. a course in Buddhism, a re-vamped course on Shamanism, and much more.

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Universal Life Church

The Spirit of Humanity

By Rev. Kathryn Horner

E.E. Cummings once said; “To be nobody but yourself in a world which in doing its best to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest human battle ever and to never stop fighting.” I believe this statement to be true. I further believe that we all fight such a battle. However, as we all look for our unique identity, we must understand that in spirit we are not different from one another. In our attempt to differentiate ourselves, we have too much of a tendency to forget that our spirits are connected to one another.

With this in mind if you would, please take a minute of your time and imagine yourself back to the most vulnerable moment you have ever experienced. As you go through this exercise, keep in mind that this moment is one where you had little to no control. Now imagine in your mind’s eye that you are experiencing this moment in public and there is no escape from its scrutiny. You know at this instant that their eyes are transfixed on your actions and/or responses. You also know that what is happening to you does not comprise who and what you are, but you may be the only one who knows this, or so you feel at the time. This moment is so intense that your very spirit cannot answer to what is happening around you. It feels unusually disconnected from its source however. You can sense that those around you are rendering opinion but this unfortunately is only based on what is perceived. You must understand that most people cannot identify with what you are going through. The public may pause to try and comprehend your vulnerability but still they dissociate themselves from it all. The latter you see is simply a tool employed by most people so that they may differentiate their reality from your own. They may mean no harm and yet the outcome is so different.

The picture you are creating is one played out every day all around the world toward those that have disabilities or maybe even the elderly, the weak or any number of people we may refuse to associate ourselves with. However, please also understand that this picture is not one drafted to solicit your pity toward another persons’ condition.

Stay with me for a minute more as I explain what I have come to identify as the Human Spirit and how intimately they are associated to each other.

I have come to believe that we all have something in us known as the ‘Human Spirit’. I believe it is pure from the moment that we are born up to the moment we die and maybe beyond this time.

Some of us may choose to identify ourselves in a way that can only be seen and/or touched. This may be because it is simply too demanding for many of us to venture elsewhere. So if we come to witness vulnerability, particularly in its rawest form, we tend to distance ourselves from it. Maybe the critical response that some have is due to their not knowing what to do. Maybe seeing genuine vulnerability in someone else feels so oddly foreign that it simply imparts a form of fear in some. However, is it possible that if we pay closer attention we will learn more rather then to conclude any perception as a fault of another while in their moment of humanity?

For much of my life I have experienced many such vulnerable moments that were out of my control. I have therefore also experienced the ill that the public can impart even though they may not intend to if only because they too were frightened. However, most important, I have witnessed those few that can see beyond our flesh. I believe the latter to be the peacekeepers or maybe in a time of such fragile existence, it would be better to refer to them as the peacemakers. In either case, I know that no spirit is disabled or irregular in any way, they are all, simply pure. God is said to be referred to as the ‘Holy Spirit’ and that we are created in the likeness of him. If this is true, is it then possible that this ‘likeness’ spoken of is his spirit and nothing more therefore rendering our own spirit to be pure for all Eternity? With that said, maybe our ‘mind’ is quite separate and therefore can become misaligned.

I truly believe that the human spirit does not belong to any one of us. It transcends us all. Maybe they unite to represent peace. Maybe if we pay closer attention we will learn more.

To quote another, Mother Teresa once said; “If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Therefore, it is with her words and the following I leave you with this issue to hopefully ponder further:

To those that have little to no choice as to where or how they may express the human condition of vulnerability, I salute you each time you find yourselves in public. You illustrate true courage.

To those that have the capacity to see beyond the fragility of humanity, I salute you too. You are the teachers of wisdom and quite possibly the peacekeepers and/or peacemakers.

To everyone that gave a minute of his or her time remember this; change is constant and our only freedom is choice.

To all of the above, may you always find serenity wherever you are.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.


 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar