I try not to look too deep into things. It seems the more I did, the more clutter gets in the way. Instead, I’m advocating a “face value” approach. Why not take people for exactly what they say, mean or blurt out? If someone says, “Get out of my way,” I’ll get out of their way and that’s it. Why ponder their mood or any underlying motive? Why make excuses for them? This person wanted me to get out of their way and I did – end of interaction – even if a simple, “excuse me,” would have sufficed instead of a rude, “get out of my way.”

What do I lose by getting out of the way?

What do I lose by letting their comment change my mood?

 I once read that, “The past and the future are abstractions of the brain, so just concentrate on the present.” Everything seems much simpler when all you have to do is focus on what you’re doing.

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The majority of our church-goers, other than nondenominational new churches, are aging,” says Craig Miller, director of New Congregational Development for UMC. “We just had a study out showing that 60 percent of our membership is over the age of 60. It also applies to many other denominations. They have been the mainstay of many churches across the country.

The Generation X and Millennial Americans witnessed the inception of the home computer, video games and the internet, while the younger made them an extension of their bodies. They multitask, walk, talk, listen, type and text their way through life. A generation so inundated with technology is seeking liberation from their daily lives. Are Americans ages 18 to 45 years beginning to seek liberation over salvation?

            The three major religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, are centered on salvation. Devout followers seek salvation through worship and submission to God or Allah. Some hurdles younger generations have regarding salvation are the unclear notions of it. Professor Arland Hultgren recently stated, “Salvation depends totally on what one has done. And so the author of the Epistle of James wrote: “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” It’s this type of uncertainty, or vague clarification, that causes young Americans to ask the question – why worship? If people live a fruitful, noble, productive life is that not good enough in the eyes of God?

Another point of view is to seek salvation in other religions based upon liberation. Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism are all centered on liberation. Liberating you soul, or essence, is the ultimate goal. In Hinduism liberation is called moksha, in Buddhism its called enlightenment, and in Taoism it’s called “the way.” The way to liberating oneself is through meditation and reflecting within for answers, opposed to seeking forgiveness as with the biblical and Islamic religions.

Recently, theologians have investigated the “liberating” religions and attempted to link their liberating path to the soteriological, salvation, way of Christianity. Dr. Kristin Johnston Largen wrote:

I find it of no small importance that in all three religions there is an understanding of a positive connection between the deity and the believer, an efficacious relationship that has the ability to further the devotee along the soteriological path. While I certainly would not go so far as to say that it is the same deity at work in all three cases, it does raise the possibility for Christians that the Holy Spirit is in some form present and working in non-Christian religions, in ways that perhaps we cannot fully understand or appreciate, leading those faithful disciples to a salvific goal that remains a mystery to Christians.

It’s seemingly impossible, for most people to believe, that salvation based beliefs such as Christianity, and Hinduism, a liberating religion, are fundamentally the same religion; theologians are beginning to become aware, and acknowledge, there is more than one path for which we seek.

If every religion, including liberation based religions, could be linked to salvation, is there a theoretical possibility that liberation and salvation are the exact same pursuit? Atheists would deny any linkage in their beliefs, or lack thereof, to a deity. Some Atheists contemplate their existence with a quote made famous by the father of western philosophy, Rene Descartes, “I think, therefore I am.” Some new-age Atheists are seeking salvation and enlightenment through meditation. Steven Antinoff, author of Spiritual Atheism,  writes: “spiritual atheism begins with three realizations: that our experience of ourselves and our world leaves us ultimately dissatisfied, that our dissatisfaction is intolerable and so must be broken through, and that there is no God.”

If Atheists are meditating and seeking salvation, and theologians are looking to liberating religions for underlying connections to salvation based beliefs, than is everyone seeking salvation and liberation, just in a different way?

Antinoff goes on in his article on Atheism to comment, “The most common way of contending with the intrinsic disquiet of being an “I” is to evade it.” Americans are no longer evading themselves. Either through salvation or liberation, Americans ages 18 to 45 are seeking out ways to quiet their minds and find inner peace. What proved to be true in Descartes days over four hundred years ago is true in our modern 21^st century society. Whether an Atheist seeks to quiet their mind through meditation or a Muslim prays to Allah (God), we are all followers of consequentialism. Americans are seeking liberation and salvation, the end result is the same, it just the means that differs.

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Every major religion denounces the notion of human beings deriving from God. Most people were raised with the notion that we are created in God’s image, but that is as far as most are willing to believe. The concept of humans deriving from God is not blasphemous, just a different understanding of our improbable existence. Opening a door to the comprehension of deriving from God will lead to the conclusion that mankind in not in need of any spiritual guidance. Spiritual conveyance is not needed to connect from which we came. It would be like drawing a map home.

New Age philosophers have touched on possible techniques to reconnect with the source, or love, or the universe, however you conceptualize God in your life. Dr. Wayne Dyer, a prominent author and speaker in the field of New Age thinking, has written over thirty books regarding information on this theory. Dr. Dyers states, “We are all divine creatures because we are from our source and therefore will always be a part of it.

A major western belief is to seek out a guru, priest, rabbi, minister or some kind of spiritual guide to teach people how to live out our spiritual existence. This belief is indoctrinated into our minds at an early age. Parents will take along their children to their place of worship and begin the process of bringing into their religion. People grow believing all the chapters, suris, and sermons they read and hear. People find comfort in knowing. Religion gives them something to look forward to and plan out – it gives them a sense of comfort.

Some religions have been founded by men searching within themselves for spiritual guidance. Buddhism was started by Gautama Siddhartha. Gautama believed we could be a light to ourselves, on his deathbed he proclaimed to his followers, “You must be your own lamps, be your own refuges. Take refuge in nothing outside yourselves. Hold firm to the truth as a lamp and a refuge, and do not look for refuge to anything besides yourselves.” The Buddha died almost five hundred years before Jesus was born. Most westerners were never subjected to eastern philosophies or beliefs. The idea of other religions existing before Christianity is limited to Judaism for most people. Westerners can definitely learn more about spirituality by embracing eastern philosophies.

The next time you walk into a church, synagogue or masque look around for spirituality. You would be hard-pressed to find it. People won’t find spirituality in any of those places – only perspective. The perspective you’ll receive is from another human beings interpretation of something they read or someone they’re listening to as well. The only way to gain a fresh perspective is for you to look within. 

The path to enlightenment can only be walked alone. The Buddha was definitely on to something. I’m not a Buddhist or advocate anything the Buddha taught, but I can recognize the wisdom in his beliefs. Being a light to ourselves opens a world of imagination. Reflecting within and searching for guidance through meditation and contemplation ensures God will always be with us. Even if you do not believe in God or the universe or any other notion of a higher plane of existence you can surely appreciate the sole fact that you can rely on yourself for answers. Reflecting within can only lead to good things.

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I met with a friend, a professor, that is one of the most intelligent people I know, but unfortunately, he constantly worries about the future and complains about any and everything – a useless combination. I use to be one of those constant complainers. I would say things like, “the government is out to get us”, “we’ve been lucky so far with the swine flu, but it’s on its way, better get your flu shot” and “you wouldn’t believe the horrible weekend I had, it was one thing after another.” My friend’s internal dialogue is intertwined with fear, worry and doubt. The other night my friend, nonchalantly, asked me to have a drink with him. I told him I was busy, which I was but, even if I wasn’t busy, I would’ve refused the drink.

For one thing, I don’t drink alcohol, and for another, I stay away from people who manifest fear and doubt.

The Professor’s internal dialogue ensures his unhappiness. Until my peer changes his inner voice, he will continue to go through life unhappy. My friend’s intelligence doesn’t make certain his happiness. If you’re thinking why I don’t help him, then you’re missing my point. I can’t help him, he needs to help himself. The professor needs to be a light to him before he attains happiness. He needs to walk his own path, good or bad, as do we all. He obviously has lessons to learn, otherwise, the same things wouldn’t be happening to him over and over again.   

Constantly talking and thinking about fear and doubt will assuredly bring those things into your life. The Professor is a prime example of manifestation. He constantly focuses on the negative side of life and that’s what he usually gets. As I was walking away from our meeting I thought to myself, “Being intelligent has nothing to do with being happy.”       

Have a great day and God Bless.

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I’ve been meditating about ahimsa now for the past week. I’ve also been reading about Buddhism and the way Buddhists practice ahimsa. Eastern philosophies differ greatly from our western point of view, and so much gets lost in the translation that I must point out a major disparity. When people hear the phrase, “to cause no harm to any living animal or thing” or ahimsa, they often just think of physical harm – like swatting a spider or a mosquito. I’ll receive a reply from someone who I’m explaining ahimsa to and they’ll say, “Oh, so if a mosquito lands on your arm you’re not going to swat?” Although that is correct, the meaning goes much deeper.

Ahimsa also means to not cause emotional, spiritual or self-harm as well. The only way to fully relate this viewpoint to a westerner is by referencing violence. We must abstain from any violent act rendered upon another thing. In other words no hitting, yelling, pushing, grabbing, smacking, spanking or any other violent act afflicted upon another thing. This is probably difficult for most westerners to do giving all the violence in our lives. Imagine a people that abhor violence and wish to negate it in their society.

For example, in Theravada Buddhism, men often undergo a “temporary ordination” for an entire rainy season; so, for an entire monsoon season men will be ordained as monks. They undergo a monastic discipline, which means to live a simple and meditative life, and attain nirvana. This process is considered a compelling way to “add value” to yourself and your family. It is thought to actually influence the formation of young men’s characters, and it is occasionally pursued by entire groups, such as policemen, for whom it is looked upon as a badge of honor and benevolence.

Imagine an America where all young men undergo a monastic discipline, for nearly three months. Do you think our society would be different? Do you think these young men would grow up and create violent video games, television shows, cartoons or movies? Do you think we, as a society, would accept violence in our lives and in our children’s? I would say, probably not.

Having our children live a life of monasticism for three months maybe too much of a culture shock, but teaching and practicing ahimsa is very attainable.

Have a great day and God Bless.

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I recently had some people ask me why I choose to be a vegan. They pushed, am I a vegan because of religious beliefs? Am I a vegan for health reasons? Am I a vegan to make some kind of statement? Although all of these reasons have credible answers, I am a vegan simply to live an easier life. Being a single parent, an unmitigated allows freedom. I no longer worry about my diet, need more sleep or wish I had more energy. I’m free of worrying over illnesses, allergies, common ailments and most other daily anguishes regarding health and fitness. I’m relieved of all those monotonous diversions, focusing on what I deem important – spirituality.

A vegan lifestyle enables me to explore my spirituality without contrition.   

While exploring my spirituality I discovered the practice of ahimsa. To me, ahimsa means to refrain from causing any pain or harm to any living thing. Not eating animal products relieves me of that guilt. I live a kinder, gentler life; and in doing so it brings me closer to my source, or the universe, or God, or however it makes more sense to you. Veganism also empowers me to refrain from causing myself harm.

Over 60% of all male and female deaths in the United States are a direct result of heart disease or cancer. By eliminating animal proteins from your diet, you are preventing disease from ravaging your body. Although there has been little information distributed linking cancer, unlike heart disease, to a daily diet some studies have proven a vegan lifestyle can prevent cancer from ever occurring in the body. Because I’m a vegan, I obtain the majority of my protein from Soy. According to the Department of Pathology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Soy isoflavones have been identified as dietary components having an important role in reducing the incidence of breast and prostate cancers. The complete article is listed on pubmed.gov.

Maintaining a vegan lifestyle allows freedom from doing harm to me or any living thing; and veganism accords me the autonomy to explore my spirituality – guilt free.

Have a great day and God Bless.

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The title of this post was made famous by our 16^th President – Abraham Lincoln. The sentence was taken from his first inaugural address on March 4, 1861. This statement is easily the most quotable from the speech, more so than, “the mystic chords of memory” or “by the better angels of our nature” articulations. At first, I was taken aback by the quote, simple because Lincoln also wrote, “Good things come to those who wait, but only what’s left over from those who hustle.” He contradicts himself with opposing quotes. After some contemplation, and a little research, I found the “hustle” quote was written earlier and the “taking time” quote was written years later. The point I’m making is Lincoln was no different than any of us. We can change our personal philosophy at any time.

Lincoln changed his philosophy on life, so can anyone else.

People often get hung up on an idea or belief and never waver from it. Political commenter’s often refer to a “changing of the mind,” of any kind, as “flip-flopping.” Don’t let a ratings craving media protagonist alter your quest for enlightenment. If you decide to change your personal philosophy, like Lincoln, from constantly hustling all the time to realizing nothing can really be lost by taking your time, then do so. As the calendar passes, we become wiser, if we pay attention to our surroundings that is; so why not change your mind on issues, parenting, diet, exercise or spirituality? Altering your point of view shows maturing. Personal beliefs change over time.

People grow spiritually and become aware, or, if fortunate, awaken.

Don’t let life overcome you and, in turn, become a cynic. Become Lincoln-like, contemplate, meditate and realize nothing valuable can be lost by taking time, or keeping an open mind.

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If it’s real comfort food you crave than Paula Deen’s cheesiest chicken empanadas with chili con queso dip is just for you. Being a vegetarian, I really can’t comment on the taste but judging by my family and how long these empanadas were in plain sight I’m thinking they’re pretty good. I was suppose to make these for a party, but I couldn’t get everything together in time so when I opened the refrigerator to see what to through together for everyone later I thought – why not? Paula has wonderful recipes and they’re easy to put together in short amounts of time. 

Note: I passed on deep frying these empanadas for a healthier alternative; instead of frying, place them on a baking sheet and baking them at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Make sure to preheat the oven. I also added a cayenne pepper egg wash to give it a little kick – BAM! Add one egg, a teaspoon of water and a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a bowl and whisk the ingredients together. After placing the empanadas on the baking sheet brush them with the egg wash.

Ingredients

nocoupons

• 3 cups chopped, cooked chicken, about 4 to 5 chicken breasts
• 1 (8-ounce) package shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese blend
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 chopped red bell pepper
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
• Water

Directions

Preheat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl using a rubber spatula, combine the chicken, Colby and Monterey cheese, cream cheese, red pepper, jalapeno, cumin, salt, and pepper. Remove 1 pie crust from pie tin onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 15-inch circle. Cut out rounds, using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Re-roll dough as needed. Repeat procedure with remaining pie crusts, making 12 to 15 circles total. Arrange 1 round on a clean, flat surface. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges of crust with water. Place 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken mixture in the center of the round. Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining rounds and chicken mixture. Place empanadas in deep-fryer for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Top with con queso dip.

Note: Up to this point, the recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 1 month

nocoupons Chili Con Queso Dip

• 1 pound package Cheddar (recommended: Velveeta)
• 1 (16-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

In a medium sauce pot, slowly melt Cheddar over medium/low heat. When cheese is fully melted add tomatoes, chiles, and hot sauce, stirring with spoon until combined well.

Pour cheese dip into a small casserole dish and serve as a dip for the cheesy empanadas or pour on top for a real cheesy effect.

Bon Appétit! 

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People often ask me,

“How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“You know the kids, writing; finding time for relationships, family and schooling.”

“Yes, the important things that makes up a life. I meditate every morning.”

Meditating assists in calming the mind. Have you ever felt like your head is going to erupt with your “to-do” list? They can be very much overwhelming. After I wake every morning – at five – the first thing I do is meditate. My routine is simple and consistent. I thank God for everyone and everything in my life. I’m not only referencing the easy things; I thank him for everything. I thank him for the lessons I learned the prior day, for example, like when I was making a right at a traffic light and someone attempted a U-turn from the opposite direction and cut me off. I began to get angry, but stopped myself and forgave that person; then put the incident out of my mind.

A lesson in patience and awareness came without notice and we often brush it aside, as just another daily hiccup, in our seemingly more important lives.

Daily meditation requires very little time, but a substantial commitment. Everyday set aside ten minutes after you wake up and meditate on all the things in your life you are grateful for having and experiencing.  It’s something very simple and relaxing. Actually, what could be better than starting your day off being appreciative and happy? Try it on and see how it fit.

Have a great day and God Bless.

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Fall is upon us. The summer came very gently and left without notice. As the weather begins to change, leaves start to fall and Halloween costume outlets litter vacant store fronts for the next month; the amount of free time with the children is quickly nil. I’m spending the majority of time working, schooling, working out and preparing meals; couple my schedule with my oldest daughters schooling, add in the ex-wife having the kids every weekend and I feel like they are unreachably travelling ten feet in front of me down a water slide – and I’m struggling to catch up.

My kids went from being around all the time to non-existent in a week. How do we spend more time with our children given our hectic lives?

I’m beginning to include them in more of my daily activities. The kids assist with the laundry, cooking, other projects and I try to keep them close when they are home. Resisting the natural impulse to withdraw into my daily activities and send the kids off into another room is essential with keeping them close. I try not to let the children venture off into seclusion. They don’t operate the stove or clean out the lint screen, but I make them feel part of the process. Bringing the children into my daily activities has given us an added opportunity to bond, teach them responsibility and how to take care of themselves.  The time isn’t much, but every little bit counts and they seem to enjoy playing a part in the activity. Any time with Dad is quality time. Have a great day and God Bless.

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