Onlline Sermons

We have posted a lot of sermons from our Universal Life Church ministers. Some are Christian and some are not. You are welcome to use them or just enjoy them as you like.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Ordination

I'm a long-time ULC minister. I became ordained out of necessity in 1972.

I'm a school teacher and with the help of the local Health Department, a local church, and even the USAF, myself and a few colleagues started a free clinic for teens where they could get medical assistance with drug problems, STD's and birth control.

Well, my Vice Principal got wind of it and demanded that within the month I produce a list of the names of all students of our school who came to the clinic for drug problems. I checked with my attorney and I did not have any way of withholding this info. So, I became ordained through ULC---in those days it was by mail--- and refused to supply the list of names on the grounds that it would violate a trust between a minister and his flock. On appeal to the Board of Education attorney, it stood as legal confidentiality and I (we) were off the hook.

John 
ulc.net 

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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

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Free Online Ordination

I've always had someone approach me for advise or just wanting someone to talk to. I became ordained by ULC because I didn't appreciate the various teachings or beliefs of the standard religions around me. I more or less wanted to be an interfaith believer. 

I have always been interested in cars as a hobby and that has brought others closer to me to share their problems. Motorheads and people that can't get their car started on a cold morning have as many problems as the rest of the world. (Go figure!) I did go through some agonizing reappraisels in reaching this decision having gone to Catholic school while brought up Protestant and having lived in a multicultural neighborhood. 

Not knowing much about others beliefs I listened and told them what I thought was right. I can't believe how far this attitude has brought me in life. At my job I listen and talk to people from many various cultures from around the world. This diversity has made me more aware that people are the same around the world. They want to make a peaceful living and raise their families. I truly do feel, that now, I am an INTERFAITH MINISTER. 

ulc.net 

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The Universal Life Church offers free online ordination and an extensive seminary program where we offer a course in Wiccan Studies, one on the Four Gospels, several courses that are based on A Course in Miracles, several Christian Studies courses and a variety of courses on Spiritual Awareness and Spiritual Development.


Saturday, December 25, 2010

Universal Life Church

I guess the biggest reason behind my decision to become ordained was the fact that my best friend asked me to perform his hand-fasting. Up until that point, I was happy merely following my order without any of the, shall we say, "perks" that go with the job. 

But once I joined the form I got a better sense the I was just ordained but part of something. I had become part of a free thinking people willing to put difference aside... most of the time ;) and discuss religion and beliefs not from the point of which is right, but from the point of enlightenment. So I guess my spirit must have pulled me to the place I fit in instead of me just becoming ordained.

Love, peace, and happiness

Chirockdruid 
ulc.net 

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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

Monday, December 20, 2010

Online Ordination


At a young age I attended a Baptist Church, primarily because that's what my parents professed to be at the time and where they chose to go.

As I got older and began to think for myself, I questioned just about everything. I went from Agnostic to Atheist to Agnostic again and, after years of studying various religions, I eventually settled on creating my own faith, essentially cobbled from the parts of other more traditional religions that I agreed with and my own unique perspective on the universe-at-large.

Some might consider my personal religion vague but I see it as being "open-minded" and awaiting the universal truths to fill in the sketchy areas where I don't have hard answers.

When I discovered the ULC early last year, like many I thought perhaps it wasn't an entirely serious organization, but the more I read the more I found myself agreeing with the ULC's basic tenets. I read somewhere, either from Rev. Hensley himself or another ULC minister, that said something like "Religion is very personal and unique to every individual. Who knows what you believe better than yourself?".

Well, it didn't take rocket science for me to correlate the similarities between that statement and my own unique religion. I don't have to force others to believe as I do, only live my life believing what I wish, listening to the perspectives of others (I don't have all the answers but I'm always searching) and "Doing that which is right." Spirituality for me is about learning.

Could any other organized religion or church offer a more simple and easier-to-live-by doctrine?

If so, I never found them.

And thus I became a ULC minister (as did a couple of my friends who were also impressed that a legal religious order would allow them to believe what they wished and not force any particular set of beliefs or restrictions on them).

The ULC is the only order I know of that allows me to fit in and learn from others who don't necessarily believe what I do, but do believe that everyone should have the freedom to believe what they wish so long as it doesn't harm others.

That "open-door" policy is quite refreshing compared to some places where you might be beheaded for simply asking "Why?" about some facet of religion.

ulc.net 

*******************************
 
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

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Universal Life Church

I applied to ULC for the soul reason to legally and properly conduct a sold service to my faith. I
was directed here by a fellow minister. I was once lost and this is going to help me further my change in life choices. I chose the name lost soul because you cant find your self if you were never lost.

Every action has a reaction! I chose this way as the path I will follow.  

ulc.net 

*******************************
 
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

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Online Ordination

I became an ordained ULC minister because a terrific group of vegetarian hippies in Atlanta in 1969 told me it was a good way to escape from orthodox religion. They were so right, and those were wonderful days.

Then the world turned a few times, and I stepped off the Red Road to wander some very meandering paths.

Then, thirty years later, I did it again, figuring I was expired from the first time. It is a VERY very different organization these days, in membership at least, due to the internet. There are many more opportunities to learn and grow, which is good, but I think there are more nuts these days showing their colors as well.

ulc.net 

*******************************
 
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

Friday, December 10, 2010

Universal Life Church

I was ordained on January 9th 2004 and finely performed my first wedding ceremony this last October 15th, 2005.

I offer my services at no charge and I'm pretty much referred through friends and it looks like I have two more weddings coming up next year.

I deal with a lot of people that are into Cars (Hot Rods) Motorcycles and clubs that are associated with the hobby etc.

I appear at several automotive and motorcycle charity events each year. I am directly involved with most of these shows and oversee charity auctions and other fund raisers for the underprivileged. A lot of these shows are presented on sundays and I would like to be able to offer short services, opening and closing prayer and blessings if asked.

I belong to 4 different clubs and associations one club that I belong to called the "Early Riders". Currently we have over 100 members. I am the youngest at the age of 48. The majority of my club brothers and sisters are my senior of 15-20 years of age. Our members lived pretty ruff and tumble lives back in the 50's and 60's what I refer to as the survivors. There are a good many of them that are now experiencing the trials and tribulations of age.

On and off we end up with members in the hospital, and recently we have had a few pass away. We also just have had a couples that get married!

Some of these these people are God Fearing and that of the Christian faith. However many of them are not linked with any specific church, either that or they are pretty much agnostic. My goal is not to start a church but to offer services of confront and joy and advise to those in need of spiritual healing and confirmation of their faith what ever that may be.

Even though my faith lies with Christ I have never been able to agree with any church. I am not a fundamentalist. I have a very open mind and so therefore through out the years when trying to join a church I've always bumped heads with other members.

Christian fundamentalist may say that I am one that is luke warm, only to find out that I am red hot.

I am one of those types that associate God, Christ and other spiritual entities as pure energy beings and therefore consider them in the form of extraterrestrial not of this world.

I believe that God or (gods) created our universe. (Big Bang?)

Our bodies are carbon based the same as all physical elements that make up the universe, so therefore man was created by God. We run off of electromagnetic fields or electricity. The brain stimulates the physical components with of the body with electrical signals. The mind and soul are completely separate components that are composed of pure energy.

In short I believe that God and Christ have nothing to do with a specific church. Belief is not found in a church is found within oneself and the personal relationship that you have with them which can be found through spiritual meditation or prayer.

I was baptized a Methodist, raised as a catholic, have studied religion of all types and even practiced what I called white witchcraft as a young adult to find out later it was referred to as Wicca. I still practice methods of Wicca today because as a belief it is very diversified and seems to mostly be free from fundamentalist rule. I will have to admit, however, that there are a few things even with Wicca that I don't agree which mostly has to do with the way it's founder confirms a Wiccan. I was bound to a Wiccan for 7 years and we seemed to get along just fine during that time. Unfortunately we are no longer together but that had nothing to do with our spiritual beliefs.

My beliefs are very deep and can be somewhat confusing. So I am currently working on a web area for the general public that will testify to my beliefs and will post when I feel more comfortable about it so folks can get a better understanding of who I am.

To keep it simple I am here for the good of all and only for good and for those who seek my services in faith whatever faith that may be.

I am really very grateful that I have been led to this group and the ULC. And look forward to the future.

Once again thanx to all.... Rev. Moldy / J.W. Hillinger
A.K.A. the Moldy one
ulc.net

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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

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Why I became ordained

Hello. My name is Carl Kem and I was ordained on Dec. 28th, 2002 (might be 2003).

My reasons are simple- for so long I have searched in vain for a church that is a true church of God. haven't we all searched for that? I was raised LDS and was a member for 23 years. I bounced from church to church- Methodist, baptist, southern baptist, independent baptist, independent southern baptist, conservative southern baptist (I honestly feel there are more different sects of southern baptist than there are recipes for southern fired chicken), catholic, Jehovah's witness's, church of Christ, Lutheran, presbyterian, I ain't kidding when i say the list could go on. So many churches, but for what reason? All a matter of this man feels this way and that man feels that way, and if this man sees you're a member of that man's church you're now going to hell, and when that man sees you as a member of this man's church, he will knock on your door until you answer and account to him WHY you made such a choice. Is that what God wanted? I don't think so.

When I came to ULC, I did so out of desperation. I wanted an answer and I was going to get it!!! And get it I did. The answer, to me, is not what is in a church, because there are so many of them if there was one true church, the rest would quickly fall away. Instead it is within your heart. Who is God to you, and how do you believe in him? Maybe to you He is a Goddess. Or perhaps to you He is your Spiritual Brother. Ultimately who He is is up to you, and no man, or woman for that matter, has any right to say otherwise.

I have been attacked for my beliefs. The Clerk of Court in several counties in several states refused to accept my faith. The state says that to be a church you must have articles of incorporation and a 501c3 status from the IRS. I have been told that unless I adhere to the state laws, I cannot have a church. Well, here I am several years later, and while I have no congregation (I have 2 others that listen to my sermons), the state has yet to interfere.

So who is God to me? What is my faith?
My faith is COSMOS. Friends have made jokes of the name. One even called it the "Church Of Sleeping More On Sunday". Though my favorite joke is "Constantly Offending Socialists Mormons Ogres & Numbskulls". But is that it? No, it's not. It's far from that.

God is the Maker of all. He made the Earth we live on. He made the skies that are above us. He made the waters as deep as they are and the fish and creatures within. He made the mountains, as tall and grand as they may be, with all the glorious fine works of His art all across this blessed planet. He made the stars and the planets, the nebuli and the galaxies as large and beautiful as they are, and He made the ominous black holes that swallow galaxies by the dozens. He made the fine works such as Mt. McKinley, and those are terrible and fearsome as Mt. Pinatubo or Mt. St. Helen. All with important lessons within them all, all showing the might that He has.

Even with that said, I believe that while He does have these magnificent powers, there is much that He does not do. He does not interfere in stopping the multitude of crimes that happen. Why should He? They are lessons, they are opportunities, for us and for those that commit them. We can be disturbed by the actions of a murderer, and rightfully so. But that murderer also has the choice given to him by God to change. He has the choice of murdering again or coming before Jesus seeking forgiveness and asking for help.

These are the many chances that God gives us all. We will always have these opportunities. Maybe we choose wrong and we pay for it. Maybe slightly and perhaps dearly. But in the end He always has His door open to us, so we may choose, shall we stay or shall we go. shall we stay in His company and seek repentance and forgiveness for our many sins, or shall we go and walk the lonely road of life into the pits of hell?

So in closing, the Universal Church of COSMOS is just that- in celebration of the universal creations God has made. For us and for others. We have no special books of scripture, because the Holy Bible, new and old testaments, is sufficient. There is one God. One Jesus. One Holy Ghost. They are all one but they are all still the same. The Father, the Son and the Spirit.

You may lose your religion. I have. But I never lost God, and He has never lost me.

Maybe another day I will write more on this. I certainly look forward to it.

Respectfully,
Rev. C. Kem 
ulc.net 

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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

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Universal Life Church

I became a ordained minister with the Universal Life Church, because I believe mortals are called to Christ's ministry by Christ. Christ does not require a four year degree at a seminary school. Education is always good for the individual, but it is not necessary to preach the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus, did not select the educated scholars of the time to be his 12 apostles, he picked tax collectors, fisherman, unlearned mortals, etc. 

Why, because when you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, not adding or subtracting anything from the word of God, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you need to say or know, when the time comes. The Universal Life Church, asks only that we be honest and true to ourselves and helpful to our brothers and sisters.

Since, I have been ordained, I have mostly officiated at funerals, now I would not have picked this way to serve, but this must be my calling at the time. To serve and give comfort to those that mourn. I have been told several times that I have the Holy Spirit guiding me in my funeral sermons, and I usually get asked where I went to school, when I tell them I did not attend a seminary, most are surprised, and I feel they think I am joking. But, I pray and give myself to the Holy Spirit, who knows all, and helps us when needed.

I say all this to show that the Universal Life Church is doing a service to the mortals of this earth, male and female, with no rejection because of ones race, sex, education level, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.

God Bless and keep the Universal Life Church,
Reverend Dennis William Hawkins
Unicorporated Jefferson County, Colorado
Gluscushawk-at-Comcast.Net 
ulc.net 

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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

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Why I became ordained

All my life I've been a very spiritual person, and also somewhat of a psychic. Of course that is not acceptable in any monotheistic religions that I've come across. And I found the contradictions of the bible, an angry vengeful god in the old testament, versus a gentle loving god in the new testament, something I could not put my faith in.


As I grew older and studied more I learned that, through my own ancestry, there were a class of Priests long before Christianity came to northern Europe. That was when I learned about Druidry. I joined an organization based in England called OBOD, or the Order of Bards, Oviates, and Druids. I took their correspondence course and was completely amazed at how this ancient spirituality, the worship of nature and the duality of the universe, felt so right in my heart and mind. Because I live in the US, belonging to this organization doesn't give me any rights as a priest or minister. When I found your organization I had found what I was looking for, a way to be legally ordained under my own belief system.


I now have a small ministry where I teach the ways of my ancient ancestors. I have also learned, by tracing of the family tree, that it is very likely I am descendant of real Druids. My maiden name, Cady, means House of God in Gaelic.


I have also taken some of the ULC courses, which have contributed to my understanding of all spirituality. I am very grateful that I found ULC. 


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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 theUniversal 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

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Brave Officer

The Sailor Pictured Below Is,
Navy Petty Officer,
PO2
(Petty Officer, Second Class)
EOD2
(Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Second Class)
"MIKE MONSOOR"
April 5th, 1981 ~ September 29th, 2009
Mike Monsoor,
Was Awarded "The Congressional Medal Of Honor" Last Week,
For Giving His Life In   Iraq  , As He Jumped On, And Covered With His Body, A Live Hand Grenade,
       
Saving The Lives Of A Large Group Of Navy Seals That Was Passing By!
~
During Mike Monsoor's Funeral,
At Ft . Rosecrans National Cemetery , In San Diego , California .
The Six Pallbearers Removed The Rosewood Casket >From The Hearse,
And Lined Up On Each Side Of Mike Monsoor's Casket,
Were His Family Members, Friends, Fellow Sailors, And Well-wishers .
The Column Of People Continued From The Hearse, All The Way To The Grave Site .
What The Group Didn't Know At The Time Was,
Every Navy Seal
(45 To Be Exact)
That Mike Monsoor Saved That Day Was Scattered Through-Out The Column!
~
As The Pallbearers Carried The Rosewood Casket
Down The Column Of People To The Grave Side .
The Column Would Collapse . .
Which Formed A Group Of People That Followed Behind .
~
Every Time The Rosewood Casket Passed A Navy Seal,
He Would Remove His Gold Trident Pin From His Uniform,
And Slap It Down Hard,
Causing The Gold Trident Pin To Embed Itself
Into The Top Of The Wooden Casket!
Then The Navy Seal Would Step Back From The Column, And Salute!
~
Now For Those,
     
Who Don't Know What A Trident Pin Is,
Here Is The Definition!
~
After One Completes The Basic Navy Seals Program Which Lasts For Three Weeks,
And Is Followed By Seal Qualification Training,
Which Is 15 More Weeks Of Training,
Necessary To Continue Improving Basic Skills And To Learn New Tactics And Techniques,
Required For An Assignment To A Navy Seal Platoon .
After successful completion,
Trainees Are Given Their Naval Enlisted Code,
And Are Awarded The Navy Seal Trident Pin .
With This Gold Pin They Are Now Officially Navy Seals!
It Was Said,
That You Could Hear Each Of The 45 Slaps From Across The Cemetery!
By The Time The Rosewood Casket Reached The Grave Site,
It Looked As Though It Had A Gold Inlay From The 45 Trident Pins That Lined The Top!
 
This Was A Fitting End To An Eternal Send-Off For A Warrior Hero!
This Should Be Front-Page News!
Instead Of The Garbage We Listen To And See Every Day .
~
 
Here's A Good Idea!
 
Since The Main Stream Media Won't Make This News .
 
Then We Choose To Make It News By Forwarding It .
 
~
I Am Proud Of All The Branches Of Our Military


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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















Saturday, November 20, 2010

Becoming ordained

I wish to share why I became ordained by the ULC.  Firstly, I believe we are all called and ordained by God when each of us decides to serve our fellow brethren in the world. I come from a religious background, raised in the back of my grandmother's Pentecostal church. 

My grandfather, on the other side of the family, was a Baptist ,so there was some discourse in growing up. I believe that if God is using you now for anything that HE has a plan for you and your life. So to my calling, I have been involved in many organizations of religion and I have found many real Christians in all churches and a lot not even in a church, so I decided to try to reach others who have been disfellowshiped or deflocked or thrown out or simply walked away from their churches. 

I want to give them a place to come and to express their views and write poems or faith articles that gives all a chance to help other's. I have been down the road that leads to destruction and back by the mercy of God and brought out to serve. So I asked myself how do I go about serving God? I got an answer when one day a friend of mine asked if I would like to go with him to a public TV class,well I got a chance to do a TV show. 

I asked God what should I call this show? I want to keep it simple and try to reach other's without preaching to them to let them know that receiving salvation is a simple thing to do if you truly want to be with the Lord Jesus. Bingo the name Simple Salvation came to me ,so I used it as the title of the TV show which numbered only four. Soon people who I knew stated asking me which church I belonged to and how long had I been a minister? I was afraid to do more as I was not ordained by a man's church but by God's calling as decribed in the book of John. 

 A young friend of my son who I did a Bible study with told me he was an ordained minister,so I asked how someone as young as himself had become ordained and by which church? He then informed me about the ULC church in Modesto CA. so I went to the site and became ordained by them in Oct.1999 I have received a lot of respect since being ordained by a recognized church. I think you ULC though there are a lot of thing's I disagree with the whole thing of letting anyone become ordained, I do respect the idea to do good to all and respect their beliefs. 

God will straighten us all out on His return. I encourage all who wish to serve as a minister to become ordained and I have a link on my site to come to ULC and become ordained them selves. Thank you Jesus for all who wish to be with you and be in the kingdom of God. 

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To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for free, for life, right now, click on the Free Online Ordination link.

Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church


Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Become an ordained minister

Why did I become a ULC Minister?


It was an interesting chain of events, and a story I'm sure I've told more than once here.


When my husband and I first got engaged, a friend of ours informed us that as an ordained minister, he'd be happy to perform our wedding. I absolutely did NOT believe that he was ordained. He told me about the ULC, the only doctrine of which was "Do that which is right", and that's what intrigued me. He explained that it wasn't about a specific religion or belief, but about religious and spiritual freedom.


He gave me the website, and I checked it out that night. I still couldn't believe it could be that easy to become ordained, and I had to try for myself just to see if it was true.


I take pride in my status as ULC Minister. I don't preach in a church or hold sermons. My ministry is about spreading peace and understanding to as many people as I can reach. 

From a minister at ulc.net 

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To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for free, for life, right now, click on the Free Online Ordination link.

Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church


Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Four Gospels

A commentary on part of the four gospels course.

For whoever has taken this course I hope you will find this short Bible study edifying. For those who have not I hope you also find it useful.


This courses main reference was from a book called the Unvarnished Gospels which I will not refer to. I have chosen to use a New American Standard Bible. Use whatever one you wish.

The author of this course made mention of a passage in Matthew 9:14-17.

For ease of instruction the words of Jesus are all in red.
"The disciples of John came to Him (Jesus), asking, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. But no one puts a patch of un-shrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. Nor do people put new wine into old wine skins; otherwise the wine skins burst, and the wine pours out and the wine skins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved."

It is here that the author of the course is hoping to use this as a forum conversation starter. So I think I will try to take him up on his offer. Whoever wants to add in on the subject please feel free even if it is to tell me I don't know what I am talking about, but this is somewhat how a preacher explained this in a sermon I heard long ago and it has directed be ever since how I read my Bible.

The question the 4 gospels author is asking is, does this mean you can't teach an old dog new tricks? He doesn't seem to think so but it is a good base question to start with.

This parables theme seems to be saying "Out with the old and in with the new."

Here is how I understand it. In Christ we are a brand new creation. The old man is buried with Christ to be raised again a new man. Every now and then the old man likes to pop up and we need to metaphorically beat him on the head to put him back in the grave.
 
Scriptural support.
Romans 6:3-11 (Read the whole chapter to get a better picture.)
"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin."
Philippians 3:21
"Jesus Christ…who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory…"

Here we have it painted quite clearly. Our old lives are buried. This is the meaning of baptism. Our old self in a tomb and raised again in Christ.



One might deduce the wine skins being spoken of in this parable would mean us.


I will get back to this point later on.
Now what is the wine?

Acts 2:4
is the day of Pentecost when everyone in the upper room was filled with the Holy Spirit.



Later on in the same chapter in vs13 when they were speaking in tongues and being full of the Holy Spirit some mocked them saying they are full of "sweet wine" or as other translations of the Bible render this "new wine."

The Holy Spirit in many cases in the Bible is compared to wine.

Ephesians 5:18 "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…"

In Numbers 6:2-3
in the case of taking a Nazirite vow it says "he shall abstain from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar, whether made from wine or strong drink, nor shall he drink any grape juice nor eat fresh or dried grapes."

What is Numbers 6 saying here? It is saying if you want to live a life of not just devotion to God but separation to God your partying and carousing days are over.



Nowadays unless for other purposes I wouldn't take it so far as to abstain from a little alcohol but what is being said here is don't even have a hint of worldly influence in you. Leave room for the Holy Spirit to work in you by abstaining from impurities and evil.


I am not saying drinking is evil, but I sure wouldn't want to get liquored up on a Sunday morning and go to church claiming to be Spirit filled. The same goes for sexual immorality. Do not be under the influence of the world here is the message and even think you can serve God. Samson in the book of Judges could not drink alcohol or any other fermented drink because of the Holy Spirit stirring in Him. Not that he was known for obeying the rules but this one I believe he respected.
But the message of this study is the wine and the wine skins.


I would strongly say the Wine spoken of in Matthew 9 is the Holy Spirit that God promised through the prophet Joel in chapter 2 vs23.
"So rejoice O sons of Zion, and be glad in the LORD your God; For He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain. The early and latter rain as before. The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil."

Then later in in vs. 28-29 he prophesies
"It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind
; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days."
The Holy Spirit is the new wine and the oil. Read Matt 25 for how the Holy Spirit is the oil. All the virgins had lamps which is the word of God but some of them didn't have any oil. The Holy Spirit is what illuminates and brings to life. It instructs, it guides and teaches. It is our anointing. It is our promise given to us of Christ's return.



1 John 2:26-27 - The Holy Spirit is our anointing; our instructor.
John 16 - He is the Spirit of truth that reveals to us what we need.
By the way as a side note. If you want to read a gospel that brings to light the deity of Jesus and what we have in Him through the Holy Spirit He sends read John.

Eph 1:13 -
The Holy Spirit is our seal/pledge. We have all as Christians been sealed with it for the day of redemption. Let us only by the strength Jesus brings us submit to Him daily through prayer that we might not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.



Jesus is the one who brings us this Holy Spirit.


John 14:16-17 - "I will ask the Father and He will give you ANOTHER helper, that He may be with your forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you."
 
John 2
is the first miracle Jesus performed. The miracle at Cana. Here He took ordinary water and turned it into wine that was better than what any man could make. Even the headwaiter exclaimed "Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now."

Jesus makes the old like new again. We are the wineskin and he fills us up with the wine. But as John 2:26-27 says we cannot be filled with the wine if we are of the world or still the old man, decaying and dying.



Titus 3:5 "He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."

A sign of coming out of the world and into the new family of Jesus is the taming of the tongue.



James 3 says "The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity…the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell."

James is making it sound very dismal. Who can control the tongue but God?



We must therefore as put so well in Romans 6:12-13


"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."

And there you have it! I totally did not mean to write a sermon on Christian living, but if you are looking for the signs of God living in you and that you are submitting yourself to God and resisting the devil then this is part of what needs to happen.



I am by no means saying this happens on our strength.
I have been a Christian since I was a child. I have never known anything else. But at a point I fell away sort of. I presented by tongue and my body as instruments of unrighteousness and I had to say to God "Something just isn't working here. I need the Spirit of regeneration working in me like it did before."


Then along came a change in my attitudes; desires and the strength of God came more and more into my life. We are all people in process. Only those who have died are free from sin. But we must never give up submitting to God.


In Acts 10 Peter proclaimed the gospel message to the Gentiles, and as they heard this message. As this truth sank into their mind and their souls they became filled with the Holy Spirit. Then it was after this they were baptized with water. I use this verse for anyone who tells me a Christian is not spirit filled until they receive the water baptism for it was not before but after receiving the Holy Spirits baptism were the gentiles then baptised with water. And they were baptised into the name of Jesus Christ.


Now assuming the reader of this is a Christian and wants to know more about the baptism of the Holy Spirit here is how I think of it as being.
When you became a Christian you got a life saving drink of water. You were dying in the desert of your own sin. Along comes Jesus and says have a drink. Now that you have had a drink of water and have been partially filled you want more and more and more.


You realise you cannot live the Christian life on your own power. If you are a pastor who has not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit you will one day out of humility ask God out of humility to fill your sermons and your ministry because you will finally realise you cannot do it on your own.


Here comes a full blast of the Holy Spirit filling you right up.


John 7:37-38 "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said 'from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

In vs. 39
the writer says "But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

If you want the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Talk to a pastor about it if you want, but I say unplug your phone and your TV set. Turn off your computer and pray and ask God for it.



You have a heavenly Father who will not give you a scorpion if you ask for an egg or a snake if they ask for a fish.


You have a perfect heavenly Father who wants to set your life on fire with His Holy Spirit so he can live out His desires through you. Not through forcefulness but by you submitting to Him.


If the reader of this is not a Christian. I am telling you there is no better life than the Christian life. If anyone disputes that I and many other spirit filled Christians have a testimony that proves otherwise. You might be putting it off for whatever reason but in this case there is no time like the present.


Please share your thoughts on the forum or contact me at
justpray@hotmail.ca
Colin.


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