Universal Life Church

Welcome to our weekly sermon. We have created this feature to allow you to get regular weekly sermons sent straight to you. These sermons are on a variety of topics and we are neither promoting nor insisting on any particular point of view. We are merely sharing what has been sent to us. If you don't agree with the weekly topic or point of view, please just delete it and wait for next weeks.

Universal Life Church Seminary

#1 - What is the secret of life?

Rev. Linda Anne Spicer

Spiceonian@bresnan.net

(music in background…live guitar, piano…soft recorded instrumental)

Welcome all,

It is a blessing and a gift to be together with everyone this day /evening in the spirit of love and understanding. We are grateful for the freedom to be congregated in body and heart, to give strength, joy and support to each other and the experience of our Creator’s love. Let us take a few moments to look about us, greet your neighbor and feel the presence of life.

(Greetings, hugs, handshakes)

Please join me in a moment of silence to reflect on our blessings. (Quiet reflection)

Prayer-

Blessed Creator and Source of our Heart,

Thank you for another day to live in your world. Guide our thoughts and open our hearts that we may be spend this time in harmony with your Being. May we learn to be Honest, Happy and Free.

Amen

How many times have we wondered “What is the secret of life?”. When life is difficult, confusing or the universe seems to be at a standstill, when we get despondent or afraid, do we wonder “why are we here?“ or “What‘s the use?”. Is there anyone who hasn’t wondered these things if so, come on up and give today’s talk and do you really have wings? (Grin)

Is the Secret of Life wealth, fame, security, good marriage, successful children, health, God of your Heart? Could be, might be.

I went online, typed in “secret of life“, and got 132 million results, so this probably is a big question. Groucho Marx says “The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made.” Musician James Taylor writes the secret of life is the passage of time. Other places read of the discovery of the DNA double helix, the breakdown of molecules, radiation of the sun, the workings of the mind, belief in God and overpowering fear. One cartoon shows the secret of life guru two levels down from the great golf tips guru. There were books, movies, mantras, endless articles, I finally got bored and pondered these things as I let the cats in from the snow.

For me, the secret of life is breathing, that’s right, breathing.

Genesis 2:7 in the Bible reads “…God formed man from the dust of the ground; and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being”

Humans cannot live without oxygen for more than a few minutes. The brain requires more oxygen than any other organ; studies show lack of proper oxygen is one of the major factors in most diseases including cancer. Low oxygen intake causes irritability and depression.

Have you noticed when one is upset, afraid, in extreme concentration, the breathing slows down or stops altogether? A good example is the anxiety or panic attack. (Demonstrate w/ frown, startled gasp etc…) Now think of laughter, a sweet kiss, song. (Demonstrate w/busting out with a favorite tune or something of the like) How does the breathing compare? What joys can be had by the smell of fresh baked bread, lemon blossoms, and the crisp morning air. What about dangers, gas, acids, fire?

The breath of life has many names, prana, chi, anima, mana to name a few, and is recognized as the main Force in most spiritual arenas. Does not the bible read all creation came from God in the words “Let there be…”? How can we have language without breath? In the past a “man’s word was his honor” An interesting word play, change one letter in “words” to get “sword”. How often have our words cut like a sword, or caused countless fights. How much destruction has been started by words either said in jest, spoken in anger, retaliation, jealousy, fear? Ahh...but then again, what about the encouraging word, the sigh of relief, the atta boys/girls, or the words “dinner’s on” yelled from the kitchen or better yet “I love you”? Yes, our breath dictates much of our daily life by how we choose to use it.

Stop now, close your eyes and take a few minutes to just breathe. Even if you are on oxygen, have allergies or a cold, still stop, enjoy your breathing and think of the gift of life. (Music playing softly in background, close eyes and pause as people adjust to breathing.)

Prayer-

Creator,

Thank you for the gift of life today. May we be aware of your gift and speak as you would have us speak, live as you would have us live and love as you would have us love.

Amen

Lets’ try an experiment this week, when the temptation to react unkindly to any situation, be it an irritating driver, the telephone, a persistent child, let’s try to stop and take that deep breath or two or four and remember the life we’ve been given and just what we're about to do with the “ secret of life”.

Note*

The homelitic guidelines suggest an Offeratory section of a sermon. It is my desire to not bring money into a homily, the mixing of masters you know. I do realize money is a necessity, ideally money will be gathered at a drop box at the door or some localized place. Should the need arise for more money than is available, that will be taken up at different meetings and newsletters/postings stating the need and amount needed.

*******************************

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 , 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

Universal Life Church

Spiritual Perspectives by Rev. Tom Stewart

Being forced into hard circumstances or situations gives us a new perspective on life. Things we once valued no longer hold the same value.

Things that were of lesser concern become very important, and what we once thought important no longer holds such importance.

These hard circumstances allow us to identify with the sufferings of others. They keeps us from having a shallow view of the hardships of others and allows us to truly identify with them. Those who speak of such trials from no experience, often judge others who have had such hardship. It is a superficiality of life experience that often permeates this shallow perspective.

Those who have walked in and through hard times immediately have a kinship with others who have walked there also. They do not need to explain; they merely look at one another with mutual respect and admiration for their common experience. They know that these trials/life experiences worked a special thing in them. This trials and lessons help perceive the life trials of others. It is impossible to appreciate any experience while you are in it.

However, once you have reached the top of the mountain, you are able to appreciate what terrain you have passed through. You marvel at what you were able to walk through. Troubled times have yielded more than you ever thought possible. You are able to appreciate the beauty of the experience and lay aside the sorrow and pain it may have produced.

These hard circumstances and lessons work in us for a greater purpose. . . to be able to recognize what others are going through . . . to have compassion and understanding for them. . . to comfort and help them as a fellow human being.

(One cannot truly understand another until they have walked in the other's shoes.)

Loving our fellow brothers and sisters . . . as we love ourselves. Where have we heard this before? We serve . . . they later serve . . . everybody serves . . . a very simple WIN/WIN equation.

Shalom

*******************************

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 , 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

Universal Life Church

Unanswered Questions by Rev. Laura A. Alles

Two weeks ago when I found and made the commitment to the ULC Ministry I have been contemplating a sermon. Something has been bothering me for the last 7 months, I would like to put into my very first sermon.

Today as I cleaned up some of the files in my computer I revisited a letter I wrote May 14, 2005. It wasn't a friendly warm letter, it was a letter of pent up anger and just plain old frustration. It started with years of unsaid words and ended with a prayer.

Back to the letter I wrote. Being a mother and one quite involved in the school, and being vested in my community I have met many of the people around me. I have had the opportunity to interact on many levels. About 7 years ago I met, Donna. Donna was a single mom in the community, she had it hard. She was disabled, but mostly because of choices she made - though not all. Donna had grown up "rough" and it showed in her demeanor. She made many adversaries from sometimes honest, sometimes unneeded and hurtful words. A little ADHD was added to the mix also. I held my tongue.

Donna had a lot of life lessons to share with the world, and could have been very beneficial with the right manner of speaking. For years Donna and I watched our daughters be best friends and grow together. As typical best friends, they loved, laughed and fought. During the times of fighting Donna, would get involved in the agruements. She had this way of letting you know she always had it worse than those around her. I held my tongue.

February 12, 2005 my daughter was raped. In an attempt to make sense of the tragedy my daughter went to Donna for advice. The attitude my daughter got was not what I would have expected from a grown adult. Donna had been raped 30 years ago and it was, of course, worse than what happened to my 17 year old daughter so needed to buck up and deal with it. I held my tongue.

The girls had a fight, and Donna got into the middle of the argument. Here is where my unsettled feelings come from, and now 7 months after May 14, 2005 I am still feeling the effects of the letter. I wrote a letter to Donna, expressing all of the years of pent up frustrations that I had held back. In my growing I have been blessed by the Heavens above with patience, I thought it was a gift. The letter started with the hard truth because after all Donna sure dealt a lot of that in her lifetime without regard for who she hurt. I didn't hold my tongue.

I held onto the letter for two weeks, I wanted to make sure it was what I really wanted to say before I sent it. Our girls were graduating, I had bought a gift for her daughter, asked her to stop by pick up the gift and give the letter to her mother. Donna got the letter and freaked out, in a very Donna style - stormed over to my house, with a response that wasn't very friendly. Three days later - Donna killed herself.

Donna's daughter didn't have a mother at graduation. Donna's daughter had to move within 2 days of her death out of her home and out into the world of life. Donna's daughter was left with no immediate family because of Donna's hard life and harsh words. Donna's daughter found crack pipes in her mother things as she packed. Donna's daughter is struggling.

Should I have held my tongue? All of the things I held for so many years and pride myself in got the best of me. All the things I hated in Donna came out in me. What could be learned here? We all still answer for everything we do and say. We all still have to live with what is dealt to us.

Hold strong to your convictions, you have them for a reason.

In Peace

~Laura A. Alles ~

*******************************

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 , 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

Universal Life Church

Birth of the Song 'Precious Lord' - By Tommy Dorsey

Back in 1932 I was 32 years old and a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago's south side. One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis, where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting. I didn't want to go. Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child. But a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis.

I kissed Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and, in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66. However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back. I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music. The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again.

When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope. Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED. People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a phone and called home. All I could hear on the other end was "Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead."

When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that night, the baby died. I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I fell apart. For days I closeted myself. I felt that God had done me an injustice. I didn't want to serve Him any more or write gospel songs. I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well.

But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis. Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie. Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died. From that day on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. But still I was lost in grief.

Everyone was kind to me, especially a friend, Professor Fry, who seemed to know what I needed. On the following Saturday evening he took me up to Malone's Poro College, a neighborhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows. I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, one into my head-they just seemed to fall into place:

Precious Lord, take my hand,

lead me on, let me stand!

I am tired, I am weak,

I am worn, Through the storm,

through the night lead me on to the light,

Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me

home.

The Lord gave me these words and melody,

He also healed my spirit. I learned that when

we are in our deepest grief, when we feel

farthest from God, this is when He is closest,

and when we are most open to His restoring

power. And so I go on living for God willingly

and joyfully, until that day comes when He

will take me and gently lead me home.

Tommy Dorsey

Did you know that Tommy Dorsey wrote this

song? I sure didn't. What a wonderful story

of how God CAN heal the brokenhearted.

*******************************

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 , 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

Universal Life Church

This is the ULC Seminary Newsletter Announcement. To unsubscribe, click the link on the bottom of the page. "Doing That Which is Right" Happy Almost-My-Birthday! I...mean....Happy Father's Day! Hello! What an outstanding and busy month! - June is upon us and I'd like to talk about some of the crazed activities that I've been doing. Did you ever have one of those days-weeks-months when you get an idea to do something (aka. 'a bug up your butt') and you just have to get it done while you have the momentum? That's how my last month or so has been. The results of my efforts are discussed below.   BOOK CONTEST - The second round of the book-writing contest has started and I'd like to ask you all again to vote for me. Some of you already have and I appreciate it tremendously. Time for round 2. If you voted in round 1, you'll likely also get an email from the contest itself, but I'd like to beat them to the punch and ask here. Please follow the link and cast your vote. You'll find a book outline and a sample of Chapter 1 about Setting Spiritual Goals, as well as the video of me that's still posted, pitching the book. When I win the contest, the book will be published by Hampton Roads and will then be made available to the general public.    http://www.nexttopauthor.com/profile.cfm?aid=432   NEW COURSES - I mentioned these last month, but I thought I'd mention them again. The Master of Astral Projection and the Dr. of Christian Ethics are both underway. Both can be ordered through the church store. We have another course in the works, but I haven't had a chance to get them all formatted yet. Not enough hours in the day.   Master of Astral Projection: http://www.ulcseminary.org/store/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=210 Dr. of Christian Ethics: http://www.ulcseminary.org/store/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=211   UPDATED SITES - I've been spending some time working on updating some of our satellite sites. www.onlineseminary.org has had a complete makeover. If you want a different way to look through the Seminary Courses, review the course descriptions and look at samples, check out the new look. I also reworked www.ulcseminary.net. This has lots of sermons listed, both from our own sermon blog and from elsewhere on the internet. Also, if you have any sermons you'd like to share, please email them to me and I'll post them on the site and send them out via the sermon emails. I have a new way of keeping updated that will speed everything up, which includes poems, stories, sermons and ceremonies that you'd like to send. Please send me as many of each as you'd like and I'll get them up on the site.   TESTIMONIALS - I'd like to add more video to the website. I have a camera and I'm going to get started adding video sections with blurbs and such to talk about different things. What I would love is to have you all do the same thing, if you would. If you have access to a videocamera of any sort, videotape yourself talking briefly about weddings you've done, any of the books or products that you've used, classes you've taken, the church you started, etc. I'd love to get a montage of these and put them throughout the site. A short .mwv file (2 min. or less) would be great. Something I can play on windows. I'll edit them together into a few clips to post. Cool, huh? It would also be great to put a face/voice with so many of your names.   FORUM - For those of you who have been posting on the forum over the last year or two (or more), but stopped in the last few months, I'd like to welcome you back. There had been a problem with posting due to that dratted upgrade I did on the server 7 or 8 months ago. It was cutting off people's posts. Well, the forum is back in working order and we have a number of additional areas to post in. You can also post your lessons on the forum as well. www.ulcseminary.org/forum.   CANADA - New stuff for Canada. One of our wonderful Canadian Ministers, Denise La Rochelle, has sent me some info for a new way to go about getting accepted in Canada. This is a much shorter route, but there are definitely a bunch of hoops I need to jump through. There are two things I need from you: I need a list of 25 ministers in Ontario who are requesting ordination and acceptance. A pen and ink signed list of 25 names, address, and signatures.   The second thing I need from all Canadian ministers. We're doing Ontario first, but the rest will follow if this works out. What I need is a short essay from you, with your full name and province, letting me know why you were ordained (or want to be), what's your interest in ordination, and what do you plan on doing with it. These essays will be posted on a blog so I can tell them that we have record of everyone who wants to be accepted. In order to be approved by Ontario, you need to have that essay posted. Please send your essays to amy@ulcseminary.org and put CANADA ESSAY in the subject line.   SEMINARY STUDENT LISTING - In a similar vein, I'm going to be re-doing the seminary student listings. When I changed programs a year or so ago, it stopped automatically adding Seminary Students to the website. I was getting a lot of spam too, so that contributed to the decision. Also, when I upgraded my server, a lot of content was lost. Upgrades seldom happen without casualties. To solve this, I would like it if any and all seminary students would please re-send me your information, as you would like it to appear, to amy@ulcseminary.org. Please put SEMINARY STUDENT INFO in the subject line. All of this will be re-done and put into the site. The existing information will be removed, so if you want your listing to appear, you need to send me your bio.   SEMINARY STUDENT ID CARDS If you are a seminary student and you'd like to have a card stating that you are a student in good standing, we have made them available to you. This one is done on a purple card with black ink, but if you have another preference, you can state that on your order. http://www.ulcseminary.org/store/product_info.php?products_id=213.   NEW UPDATING INFO ON SITE - I have found some new ways of keeping the site updated. The poetry page now has a lot more poetry all listed, the announcements page has all of the monthly announcements archived (in case you missed any), the spirit quest course page has a listing of many of the essays from our students, as well as a lot of other pages throughout the site that will have updating information.   Oh, and most importantly, my birthday is June 19th. :) Often, right on, before, or right after Father's Day. That makes my dad happy.   Thanks for everything!   Rev. Amy Long Program Director Visit Our Website ULC Seminary http://www.ulcseminary.org 4714 Careyback Ave. Elk Grove, CA 95758 916-690-1682       Please go to this link and vote for me: http://www.nexttopauthor.com/profile.cfm?aid=432 Try our new free toolbar at: http://ULCSeminary.OurToolbar.com/

Universal Life Church

ULC Seminary Announcements - May 2010 Happy Mother's Day! Hello! Spring has Sprung and the Grass has Riz - May is always so beautiful. Warm enough to wear shorts, but not so hot that we long for air-conditioning. If it weren't for allergies, it would be absolutely perfect. NEW COURSE - The Master of Astral Projection and the Dr. of Christian Ethics are both underway. Both can be ordered through the church store. Master of Astral Projection: http://www.ulcseminary.org/store/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=210 Dr. of Christian Ethics: http://www.ulcseminary.org/store/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=211 CURRENT GROWTH - The last month for me has been about computers. I'm not sure if a constantly breaking computer counts as a growth period, but it has been a struggle for sure. I now have a reliable laptop from one of our ministers, Gene Hughes (http://hhspcservices.com), who has set me up! This should reduce the drama for awhile. I think part of my growth this month is about the concept of setting boundaries and knowing when the right time is to draw a line in the sand. This can be difficult for a lot of us. If you have a friend or loved one who is terrific in many ways, but not so good in others, the challenge is to determine which ones weight more importantly. Maybe someone is kind and loving, but not good with money and spends recklessly or doesn't bring much into the household. Or a friend who you've known forever -- Does your history with that person outweigh some truly inconsiderate and selfish behavior? Where do we draw the lines? At what point do we decide that the cons are more important than the pros? Tough decision. It changes with every situation. Even when you draw the line, it can be hard to let go. TESIMONIALS - I'd like to add more video to the website. I have a camera and I'm going to get started adding video sections with blurbs and such to talk about different things. What I would love is to have you all do the same thing, if you would. If you have access to a videocamera of any sort, videotape yourself talking briefly about weddings you've done, any of the books or products that you've used, classes you've taken, the church you started, etc. I'd love to get a montage of these and put them throughout the site. A short .mwv file would be great. Something I can play on windows. I'll edit them together into a few clips to post. Cool, huh? It would also be great to put a face/voice with so many of your names. MAILING PROGRAM - I have been moving my mailings to a new program to head off some of the problems we've been having. For those of you who got the kinds words sent multiple times, I do apologize. If you unsubscribed because of it and want to sign up again, you can at www.ulcseminary.org/kindwords.php. One of the new things I have going on with the mailings is that on the forms, you can sign up for everything at once. I'm still making adjustments, but when you sign up for one, you should see the options for adding yourself to all the mailings that interest you. Some people have already taken advantage of it. I think it'll streamline things. I've also been getting some wonderful assistance from my beau, Ron, who has been adding a ton of new sermons and Sunday School lessons to the cue. If you sign up for those, you'll be getting them weekly for a year, at least, without interruption. CANADA - Unfortunately, the drive to get Canada approved was abruptly halted when I found that I have to have the cooperation of the 'head of the denomination', which is Andre Hensley. So, I'm at his mercy right now. Sorry about that. I'll keep doing what I can though. The other thing I'm reading is that even if they accept all the paperwork, it'll still take 2 years for them to approve a new denomination. CONTEST - I'd like to thank all of you who took the time to vote for me in the book contest I'm in. Round one has ended and I do believe I'm heading off to round two. If you didn't get a chance to vote the first time around, please check in for round two and place your vote for me. http://www.NextTopAuthor.com/?aid=432 I'd greatly appreciate it. I believe I'll be posting the book outline and a sample chapter or two for this round. ROBES AND STOLES - I did an oops on the newsletter that just went out. I had re-done my newsletters and inadvertently left in a line about robes and stoles being added to the store. They aren't. Our distributor went out of business, but I do have a line on a new one just recently. I have an email out to them about terms and if it is favorable, I'll be putting robes and stoles back in the store. Sorry for the misunderstanding. http://twitter.com/ulcseminary http://www.myspace.com/ulcseminary http://www.facebook.com/ulc.seminary Thanks for everything! Rev. Amy Long Program Director Visit Our Website | ULC Seminary http://www.ulcseminary.org 4714 Careyback Ave. Elk Grove, CA 95758 916-690-1682 ******************************* The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive and affordable online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, a beginning course on  Wicca, as well as a beginning course on  Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is a free and lifetime ordination, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. We also make available many free wedding ceremonies for your use, as well as funeral ceremonies and other types of ceremonies.   The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program where you can earn the coveted title of Chaplain. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church materials to help you with your professionalism and confidence.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and an amazed by the frequent upgrades and new functions of the seminary.   Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Universal Life Church

Happy New Year!! HAPPY NEW YEAR! - 2010 is going to be a great year. Over this last year, I've heard a lot of people say that they had a rough year. Seems to be true for many people across the board, for a variety of reasons. With that in mind, I guess that 2010 would have to be better, at least by comparison. :) I know it has been difficult for a lot of you -- things have been difficult on this end as well. The good news though, is that we have the support of one another. New Years Goals - It's important for all of us to have goals, so we can have something to strive for, and the Seminary is no different. This year, I plan on publishing the Seminary Handbook for those who want a few ceremonies at their fingertips, along with a lot of the training material that we have available. We plan on getting out at least 3 new programs for the Seminary and flesh out the Chaplaincy program further. I'd also like to take a stab at getting us accepted in Canada. There are hoops that required me jumping through them and I may be asking for your help.   When I go through my days, I try to be aware of things I'm working on, personally and spiritually. My latest has been about accepting people as they are. I know this sounds trite, but since I got divorced two years ago, I have been spending my time thinking about what I want to do differently in my current relationship. (He's a wonderful man, btw.) One of the overwhelming problems my X had with me and still has with his children is that he has his image of how he wants people in his life to be, and then is angry when they don't live up to his picture. My thought was that it made no sense to be angry with someone for being themselves.   I have a friend who is much like me -- absent-minded about things like returning calls. At first, when my calls were not returned, I was sure it was personal. I was being a pest - a bother - and he didn't want to talk to me. As I got to know him, I realized that it wasn't personal. He was just absent-minded. So I decided to accept that about him. Now, I'm not offended when he doesn't call back and, since he also knows me now, he's not bothered when I keep calling until I reach him. My wonderful order gal, Monica, is a jewel. She is honest, hard-working and efficient. I know this about her. I know I can trust her implicitly. I also know that she lives a crazy life. I tease her by saying that her life could easily be a sitcom or perhaps a drama. Knowing this, I know that things come up for her and sometimes she falls behind. She beats herself up over it, like we all do when we aren't perfect, and is often surprised when I don't yell and scream about it. How can I? I know her. I know her strengths and I know what throws her off. When you know who/how a person is and accept that, how can you be angry with them for being who they are? And if you know who you are and you can accept it, there's really no reason to apologize for being who you are. Easier said than done sometimes. We all just need to keep doing our best to improve ourselves in whatever way we can. Every little bit counts. That's my growth period and my mini-sermon for the month. Thought I'd share.   KIND WORDS - I'm going to mention this one more time because I'm positively delighted with how well it's going. Creating and working with the Seminary has been a huge highlight of my life. I feel like I get to make a difference in people's lives and I get the privilege of hearing about/being part of the difference our ministers make in other people's lives. The Kind Words campaign has been another step along that path. More often than you can imagine, I have people write and tell me how it was just what they needed to hear or they share a story about something that happened during the time the email came in. I don't get a chance to respond to most of them, but know that they are very well-received and much appreciated by me. Tell your friends or, if you know someone who can use a lift, sign them up. It's free and easy.   I had a few people who were oddly offended by my mailing about being magical. One didn't believe in magic and another was offended because he thought I was going against the Bible. Magic can be seen in many ways. Magic doesn't necessarily mean sorcery (although for some it may). When I talk about magic, I mean creating something from nothing. Having a thought and having it happen. For some, that may mean putting their thoughts into a prayer and noticing when their prayer is answered. For others, it's putting out into the universe and seeing it manifest as the universe's way of giving back. My intention when sending the kind words is always for your highest good, so please take that into consideration.   It's available at www.ulcseminary.org/kindwords.php.   SALE ITEMS - There are still a lot of items on sale right now. Check the sale page. http://www.ulcseminary.org/store/index.php?cPath=40   I've noticed that there are several courses -- amazing courses -- like Master of Religious Philosophy and Mystical Christianity, that are somehow being overlooked. That one will be on sale, along with a couple of other really great courses, for another few weeks. Be sure to get them on sale while you can.   http://twitter.com/ulcseminary http://www.myspace.com/ulcseminary http://www.facebook.com/ulc.seminary     Thanks for everything!   Rev. Amy Long Program Director   Visit Our Website | ULC Seminary http://www.ulcseminary.org 4714 Careyback Ave. Elk Grove, CA 95758 916-690-1682