Mailing List Service Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITY WAY December 2, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------ Your Endless Journey to More Abundant Life By Andrei Yashurin There are two ways to gain knowledge about the world we live in (and I mean both physical and spiritual worlds). First is that we can believe in the things that are told to us. Second is that we can try to find answers on our own. Let us call people who prefer the first way believers, and the second, investigators. No person is a pure believer or a pure investigator, because in our life we all combine those two approaches to gaining knowledge. Even the most skeptical of us dont question a number of things just because they have no time and no desire to prove them. And even the most convinced believers do have their own doubts over certain aspects of their life. It is up to us whether we choose to be believers or investigators. This decision is based on our priorities. For example, it is better for those who are looking for certainty to become believers and not to ask too many questions. People of such a kind are more interested in traditional, Fundamentalist religions. Basically, they are good, trustworthy and reliable people, good spouses and citizens, highly acclaimed by their neighbors, and it is not my intention to put them down. Are you looking for certainty above all else? My advise is this: find a church that you like the best (which depends on your personal preferences), and become its faithful member. Believe all things that you hear from a pulpit. Dont ask questions. Assume that your minister knows it all, anyway, he (she) spent so many years in seminary and in ministry. Give him (her) your money in exchange for a dose of certainty every Sunday. If you will ever hear some people who dont agree with your church doctrine, have a pity for them, because they dont see the True Light. Be blessed, and be happy, for millions of godly people around the world are doing just the same. It is a way that they choose, and there are no reasons to condemn it. Actually, their religion may be a good one! However, if you think that such a lifestyle limits you and does not agree with your deepest desires, you can choose another way, and to become an investigator. People from this category are more interested in their own personal development rather than certainty. They act like true scientists, who are always willing to challenge their current knowledge of reality in order to gain more accurate knowledge. They like questions, because every question gives them an opportunity to rise higher in their understanding. They boldly face difficulties, because they are sure that lifes problems make them stronger, wiser and more loving. If we are looking for continuous personal development, let us be prepared to live in an uncertainty of new questions and new challenges. And if an outside world seems to be slow in bringing us new challenges, let us challenge ourselves! Personally, I tend to be an investigator. When I hear a statement that Christians should believe, or behave in such and such way, my first silent question is, "Really? Are there any other options?" My intention is not to be skeptical (as a matter of fact, skepticism often reminds me a religion), but to be flexible in mind. I dont want to be settled with a number of cliches. I dont want others to steal my joy of discovery, and I dont try to steal it from others. I think that the Bible encourages, and not discourages seekers and investigators. "Seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7), said Jesus. However, what so many people fail to understand is that the process of seeking and finding is meant to be eternal. Our spiritual unfoldment is meant to be eternal. My opinion is that we cannot stop our search on "getting converted", finding "the true church" or "the true doctrine". God, the Reality of Being is infinitely higher than any church, any dogma or any person, even the most enlightened one. I have a lifelong love affair with the Reality of Being. ------------------------------------------------------ Following prayer requests were submitted to us this week: m. s. asked to support him in prayers for cleansing of his mind from unholy thoughts. L. asked us to pray for Linda, her friends' friend, who has a brain aneurism. M. S. asked us to pray for deliverance from verbal and emotional abuse. Please, join us in prayer: Dear God, We bless our friend m. s. We pray for the confidence that he is loved and forgiven, no matter how he may feel at the present time. We trust that You will grant him an awareness that he can direct his thoughts and feelings, by Your power, and bring his life into harmony with Your will for him. We know that there is nothing impossible for Your love and for your power. As we pray, we believe that your mighty energy is being released into Linda's body. By faith, we see her as complete and whole, and she gladly receives the gift of wholeness that is prepared for her. We affirm that M. S. is strong in the Lord and the power of His might. We affirm that he is confident, peaceful and bold in the face of the challenges he has to meet. The Spirit of God within him makes him a winner. The knowledge of God's truth makes him free. We thank You, God, that it is done to us according to our faith and our prayers. Amen ------------------------------------------------------ We invite you to share your prayer requests with us if you would like us to support you in your prayers. We will include your requests in this list (without mentioning your name and an address), or just pray privately if you want so. ------------------------------------------------------ Unity, or Unity School of Christianity, is a positive philosophy of life, based on teachings of Jesus Christ. E-mail: admin@unityway.net http://www.unityway.net Please feel free to share this E-zine with your friends and loved ones. We grow best by word of mouth and appreciate your sharing this newsletter with others. THANKS FOR READING! "God is more willing to give than you are to receive, and you demonstrate what you are willing to receive by what you willingly give." Brad Jensen All messages (c) 2001 by Andrei Yashurin The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New King James Version Bible, copyright, 1980, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. This E-zine is being sended through Felist.com list server only to those who subscribed to it, either at Felist.com or at our site. 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