Seminary Program

This is where we post the essays from many of our Universal Life Church Seminary students. When students finish a ULC course, they write a comprehensive essay about their experiences with the course, what they learned, didn't learn, were inspired by, etc. Here are their essays.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Spirit Quest

Spirit Quest
Spirit Quest
Spirit Quest
This Spirit Quest course has been extremely helpful. It has taken me quite a few weeks to get through all of the discourses. Each one that I received came at the right time. The last 2 years have been extremely difficult and emotional for me. Without learning how to use the Grounding Cord, Golden Sun, and Blowing Up Roses I can only imagine how terribly difficult these past years would have been.

December 2005 I lost my Maternal Grandmother. At the time of her passing my family and I were not on very good terms. I was hurt emotionally and wounded by some things my parents had said about my parenting and my children and other awful things that were said. I bought right into it and felt hurt and angry for a long time. I made it through her funeral by putting on a happy face and pretending everything was alright. I didn’t have the tools needed to really make it alright.

I started this discourse and began meditating and learning how to ground myself and clean my energy and recollect my energy. That was so great to be able to reclaim and detach from people whom I had left emotional energy cords attached.

Then in January 2006 my father was given 6 to 9 months to live. He had been battling cancer for a year and the chemotherapy hadn’t done what it was supposed to do. In fact the cancer was spreading again. I was able to work through my emotional garbage with my parents by using the tools in this discourse. I blew up a lot of roses, created healing energy and even practice my healing techniques on my father.

The greatest lesson I learned was to find a neutral zone. In staying in my neutral zone I was able to watch my family interact, deal with the things that needed to be taken care of, not get sucked into the family dysfunction, and I was able to watch his passing with acceptance and peace. My father passed away in November, 2005.

In June 2005 my Father-In-Law was diagnosed with an aggressive pancreatic cancer. The Doctor said that there was nothing that could be done because of the rare form he had. My Father-in-law was given weeks to months to live. My husband and I took turns taking care of him during the first part of the week and my husband’s siblings were to come and care for him on the later days in the week.

I want to let you know that I saw many miracles happening here. Each time my husband and I went off duty my father-in-law would be sent back into the hospital for care. The hospital would stabilize him and send him home just in time for our shift to start again. I mentioned this to my father and he said that it was because my energy was so healing. I believe he was right. I tried to hold the energy in his room and ground myself. I guess I just couldn’t hold the energy without being there. My father-in-law passed away in September 2005.

With both of our families I was able to sit back and watch as if I was in the audience. Without this discourse I don’t think I would have been able to see how wonderfully their passings were orchestrated. I was able to celebrate their lives and now I have a better understanding of spirit, souls, reincarnation and emotional and healing energy.

I will continue to use the information I learned in these discourses. I have grown leaps and bounds emotionally. I am not having any trouble with my family anymore. I don’t get lit up and when I do get whacked by them it doesn’t matter. I am able to see the emotional pain that they are in and I don’t have to be a part of it.

When I want to say hello or send a message I don’t need to pick the phone up anymore. I just send it out in bubbles. It is amazing how well this works. The first time I tried this technique I sent a hello out to everyone that I could think of. The next week was really busy answering the phone and replying to email messages. I think everyone I sent a bubble to responded. I have since paced myself.

Thank you so much for your teachings. I know I will be checking back to these discourses. Each time I read them I see and hear something I didn’t before.

Sincerely,

Rev. Dana Boughal


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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Christian Studies

Dr. of Christian Studies -- Four Gospels
I am writing my paper on the parable about the new cloth patch on an old cloak, and new wine in an old wine sack. Finding any meaning of the parable had been unfathomable to me, till this course. I feel that life experience and a new look at the gospels had opened a new door that I had never followed.

To me, the parable story of placing a new cloth patch on an old cloak, and the pouring of new wine into an old wine sack has to do with faith and reformation for convenience sake, verses true faith and reformation resulting in a new incarnation of ourselves in this life. Faith is not simply the act believing, it is the act of knowing through pure truth.

When we fully turn away from a self destructive life (spiritual reformation) yet continue to hold to our old personality, we will fail. When an alcoholic stops drinking and goes to twelve step meetings yet refuses to reform the personality that enabled their own behavior, the end up as a dry drunk. Not imbibing yet unchanged in truth. To truly undertake a dramatic change of self, we must change everything that was leading us down our life path and to our self inflicted undoing. Pouring new wine into and old wine sack is the same as attempting a spiritual change, while
staying the same person. This simply does not work. A fully involved spiritual and personal revolution is demanded, nothing less will take us to a new incarnation in this life. This applies to everyday life and not simply a one time instance of dramatic upheaval and change. This reformation is an ongoing process and does not occur in the blink of an eye.

We will go through several steps or stages of reformation through which we journey towards spiritual-centeredness, and being at harmony with ourselves. Each day of conscious change brings us closer and closer to becoming one with our creator. At times we will find ourselves in touch with our creator. Only then will we find ourselves experiencing the ecstasy of true inner peace and harmony, though it may be for a brief yet awe inspiring moment.


Rev. James Price

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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

A Course in Miracles

Dr. of Metaphysics -A Course in MiraclesThis course in metaphysics has opened up my mind to some very interesting never thought of before metaphysical power of my mind and spirit.

It has, I believe, taught me how to become in a state of miracle readiness.
This essay will state and confirm what I have learned and what I agree and disagree with.

I must state that this course has left me not disagreeing with any part of the fundamental principles taught through out the lessons. It has in fact left me wanting to delve even deeper into the metaphysical realm. I now desire to learn more about metaphysics, and I thank you for that.

Einstein's statement of 'We can't solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created it', is so simplistic but yet so true at any and all levels of thinking.

I liked how you addressed the mind as only a mind could readily think of itself, with it's own characteristics. Three different levels, split up. A higher mind (the spiritual mind), a middle mind (the unconscious mind) and a lower mind (the conscious mind) the ego being part of the lowest mind. Justifiably so. This is where we are aware of being most of the time. The unconscious mind is influenced by the conscious mind. The higher mind is the domain of the spirit which is connected to the will of God and is the realm of pure truth and knowledge.

When all three levels of the mind work in alignment with each other, there is a wonderful ease and flow to your life. There must be a never ending flow of information between all three levels of the mind. If there is not this harmonious flow of information then we are out of sink, we are cut off from the spiritual or higher power mind and in turn we experience unresolved problems in our lives. The higher mind unrealized.

This also renders us in in manifesting everyday miracles in our lives.
With a constant harmonious flow of information of all three levels of the mind we experience an inner peace and happiness in our lives. This is what God wants for us.

The conscious mind orients itself to present moment awareness. We use our conscious mind to make choices and also to create our problems. At first I thought this to be a strange concept, but with out consciousness what problems would we have? None.
These problems we create become directives for action for the unconscious mind to resolve.

The unconscious mind is responsible for automatic functions and habits we have of the mind and body, like walking, blinking, talking and all the things we do with out thinking about it.

It is also the warehouse of our memories, emotions and a place of our beliefs about our identity, about the world we live in and all that we believe is possible to be or to become.

The unconscious mind computes in pictures, not words, as words are but symbols we use to describe a thing. It gets directions from the conscious mind and guidance from the higher mind.

Of course you can see why it is important that all flow is unrestricted and constant.
The higher mind's capacity of information is limitless, infinite.

It is our connection to intelligence, information and energy that is of the formless that becomes the formed. This is God's place with in all of us. This the part of the mind that is informative of danger, that intuitive feeling, the knowing of when we are doing as we should be or not.

This part of the mind solves our problems. It is our spiritual guide.

Earlier I had stated that the ego was part of the lower part of the mind, the conscious mind, 'justifiably so', this was stated in such a way do to the facts of what I have learned about the ego, how it can be a very controlling part of our lives with out us realizing it, it is the driving force behind the unexplainable behaviors we sometimes have. The ego can be either over or under inflated, both have equally disappointing results. The ego views itself as separate from the rest of the world. With out an equal balance the ego is consumed with self absorption.

The less self absorbed (selfish) we are, the more aligned we are with our higher self of loving, caring, sharing, giving and compassion, thus the more empowered and happier we can become.

This is when a miraculous transformation can occur with in us.
We can begin to realize that we are all part of the whole. Part of one mind and spirit, the mind and spirit of God.

We are all connected, made up from the same energy that is the source of all, the spirit of God.

This is when we begin to see, think and speak more spiritually, thus we have entered in to a miraculous state of mind, then every day miracles can occur.
The question of should we be hostage to our ego or a host to God?
I choose the latter of the two.

Miracles begin to occur when we change the way we think about the world around us.
Miracles bear witness to love. Our true nature is indeed love and God is the purest form of love.

Love is :
Undestroyable , can not be taken, pure, innocent, unalterable, unchangeable, eternal, devoted, unseparated, etc.

Everything that is not created out of love is born out of the ego.

E = edging G = God O = out

Fear, illusion, lies, separation, guilt, etc.

Fear is a dividing factor in the mind that causes suffering.
It causes you to think and feel things that are lies, it wants you to accept illusion as truth.

Perfect love casts out fear. If fear is existent then there is not perfect love present.

God and love are one in the same. The cure for fear is always love.
Only the mind can create fear and that is only done when the mind is divided.
A house divided can not stand.

A mind divided has lost the harmonious flow and peace God has planned for us.
Fear is not to be overpowered, this would be giving it undo attention and power, instead you need to find ways to love and fear will disappear back to the nothingness it came from.

You need to turn your efforts to the servitude of helping others.

By doing this you are surrendering yourself to love.

Talk to God about your willingness of surrendering yourself to love, your willingness and desire to replace fear with love in the servitude of others.

Ask God to have the Holy Spirit guide you as to his will. Thank God in advance for this happening in your life. Then be patient with faith and wait for and be a witness to the change of fear to love.

Judgment, hatred and condemnation are all rooted in fear. We all have the power to project fear or to extend love into being. Be a willing person to declare your decision to let love reign over, in and through you.

The world we perceive to be as every day life happenings is so full of hustle, bustle, busyness, noise and constant brain activity, that there is not allowed a quite time to seek, hear and realize the will of God, this is the higher mind unrealized.

The practice of meditation quiets the mind to find and seek peace and the answers that you seek. Through meditation you can come to realize your connectedness as a part of the whole.

It is then you can begin to reconnect as peaceful thoughts open the gateway to the higher mind that contains the wisdom with in.

I believe that meditation is very much like prayer, it is a way to speak to God and receive answers.

When we are able to achieve this, we experience peace, wisdom and over all harmony in the mind, body and spirit. This becomes an outer reflection of an inner condition.
I experienced the relaxed constant flow of my breath to be a very pleasant state of relaxation as it helped me maintain a meditative state of mind. If you think about a stressful time in your life, you can recall that you probably inhaled and exhaled a long breath, I believe that this is the body's unconscious automatic relaxation response meant to help in the calming effect, thus brining us back into alignment. Thus defusing the stress you had experienced.

I was very pleased with the results of how to deal with the wandering of the mind during meditation, the naming of the different emotions and feeling that caused the mind to wander. The naming of the tired mind, the sleepy mind, angry mind, judging mind and ect…, this helped in bringing my focus back to my breathing thus aiding in a deeper state of relaxation.

With more practice I will come to realize the insight of the higher mind and God’s will. I am and I imagine will forever be in the process of a deeper state of awareness of the higher mind. The requirement of a cup full of discipline, a barrel full of love and an ocean of patience is a great analogy.

I had not until this course thought about my deep desires as being related to an energy force waiting to be released and born into manifestation. To think about everything that is and is to be began as a single thought is intriguing and yet so simple to understand. It makes sense because all matter began with a thought. A burning desire, to manifest that desire is determined by the amount of focus you place into the desire you have. There must be a persistent passionate focusing on that which you desire. The strength of that desire determines it’s effectiveness.
Be it to over come an addiction, to attain something, or this also can work adversely when you focus on the negative. If you dwell and focus on that which you do not want you actually bring that unwanted thing into existence. The ego will undermine your true desires with negative thoughts. In lesson six I found it very helpful to answer the questions about my desires in life. It helped me to pin point my negative and positive aspects of my present desires.

I found it to be a wonderful reminder in lesson #7 of how our lives are purpose driven, as we should always look at problems we face in life as a small part of a life long lesson for the over all life we are building. In all that we do there is a purpose, in knowing this, we should always give it our all to the moment and task at hand. This empowerment leads to yet another purpose to be fulfilled.

To serve the purpose of the lower mind (ego), or to serve the purpose of the higher mind (spirit) is a life changing decision to be made.

I have chosen to be in total servitude to the higher mind (spirit). I choose love, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, caring, putting others before myself, total servitude.

I agree in that which you try to resist makes that more persistent, thus giving it power that it doesn't have unless you give it. We must always view attacks by the ego through one's self or others, as a cry for love, compassion and understanding. As ministers, it is our higher purpose to answer this cry with the afore mentioned. We minister with these tools and it diffuses the ego's attack and casts out the ego's projection of fear and non acceptance.

Servitude is in alignment with love.

By removing any and all obstacles that prevent the Holy Spirit from shining through you, you can be in complete miracle readiness and complete true servitude for a higher purpose that is your calling in life.

The attacks from the ego must be disassociated from your thought process, this is a constant on going process that requires an attentive effort through out every second of your life.

In my opinion, this is a must to be an affective functioning, loving human being in society.

The lessons on addiction sure hit home with me, as I have been living the lie of nicotine addiction on and off for more years than I care to admit.

As I am sure we all have had some type of story to tell in this respect.

Dr. of Metaphysics - A Course in MiraclesI agree that being addicted to something in life is indeed giving away of our power to an out side source. By hating it, you invest in it a power that it doesn't have unless given. To dwell on it brings it more into being. You must come to terms with the guilt factor of this thing.

Forgiveness is the home of miracles, this miracle occurs when you forgive yourself for making the mistake of attacking yourself with the addiction. Addictions are projections, an attempt to defend yourself against the guilt you feel. Release of an addiction comes when you heal your mind and take back your projections. A miracle occurs when you look at the devastation of your addiction. You have to realize that it is an illusion, it is false. The miracle awakens you from the illusion that any thing out side of you can ever attack you or have any power or control over you unless you let it. The truth will set you free. This addiction looses it's attractiveness.

The truth can not dawn on a mind filled with illusions. Willingness to let go of the ego’s purpose and latch onto the higher purpose of the Holy Spirit will change the out come of your intentions.

Let go and let God.

By not focusing on the past or future, but by concentrating on the purest form of the present.

This is where truth, love, freedom and forgiveness exist.
This attention to the present undoes the ego's investment in the past and it's affect on the present which becomes the past. There is now no blue print for the future. The total attention to the present releases the future.

An undivided mind is at peace, a mind at peace is in miracle readiness.

A mind that is not in the present moment is divided, not at peace nor in miracle readiness.

That which we pay attention to grows. A plant ignored withers, dries up and dies.
Fear and judgment are not of the present moment, they are of the past and are projected into the future, with this thought in mind you miss the present thus being of a divided mind and then love is not present. Being totally focused on the present moment gives you communion with your higher mind where love, safety and guidance abide. Attention feeds and strengthens your intentions.

The gift of visualization is so awesome.

I've learned that which is not comes to be. The physical rises from that which is spiritual.

Visualization is an attribute of your true self as a child of God. The ego wants to hide this identity of your true self. We as children of God are to let our inner light shine out ward for all to see as it becomes inspirational for all who choose to be inspired.

Magnificence is but a thought away.

By yielding to the spiritual lessons that make you stronger you can become a person with a higher purpose in life more so than you were ever aware of.

I found it very enlightening to ponder the thought of the Holiest of places on earth is where there was an ancient hatred that had become a present love.

The present. It is a gift. This very present moment is a gift from God.

All need to search their hearts and minds for unforgiveness, and forgive all inequities.

The way we can begin to heal is to know that we alone are responsible for the way we feel.

No one can make us feel any certain way. It is a choice.

It is not the past that matters, it's the present that matters.

The love, forgiveness, kindness, and compassion of the present moment is what matters.

To forgive is Devine, it heals and undoes guilt, lets go of the past and looks at the present with out condemnation.

I enjoyed the visualizing of letting go of the anger, resentment and other feelings I've allowed.

To bless is to be blessed in deed.

I first affirmed the feelings I had allowed for certain people, then I visualized a brilliant bright white light pouring down on them. This became spiritual for me as I found myself praying for all the good things and thoughts to become a part of their lives. Then I began to see an awesome cleansing of their body, mind and spirit as I visualized the blood of Jesus pouring down upon them, cleansing them and making them as clean and as white as new fallen snow. This was a very loving and heart felt spiritual experience. I have nothing but love and compassion for these people. I love them as my sisters and brothers in Christ.

I had always known that forgiving a person for what ever they had done to you was very important or it would eat you alive inside, but this was an all together different level of forgiveness. I thank you for that.

The total release I felt of letting go in this manor was comforting, it goes beyond words.

Past transgressions are but lessons to strengthen us.

Judgment of one's self or others imprisons us. The ego causes judgment, loss of peace, rejection, fear and is an illusion because it is always based on the past.

The power of positive thoughts can help in every day tasks. To focus on the task in a positive way, seeing the desired end result, seeing the joy the completion brings, makes this task at hand doable. Verses negative talk and thoughts such as, I should do this or that, or I got to get that done.

Try stating that you want to do this or that and visualize it in a positive light. If you can't see it in this light, then forget about it for now and try it again another time. Do not judge or allow any of the ego's negative talk into your thoughts. The power of thought can either drive or render your actions.


Prayer is so powerful and the medium of miracles. God listens to our hearts and knows what is best for us. I agree that when I first realized my call to ministry there was an upheaval in my life.

It was war on the floor (prayer), I went through several different stages of emotions before I experienced a humbling of the Holy Spirit. I do have to admit I had basically fell to pieces before I fell to my knees. I thank God for the huge turn around in my life, for the higher purpose in life.

I used to pray for self centered purposes and now I pray for guidance to do the will of God.

There was a time I thought God had forgotten me, I had forgotten him.
I pray for God to remove all the barriers in my life to be able to serve as he would have me serve him. I thank you God for doing such a wonderful work in me. Use me as you will.

I have come to a place in my spirituality of being thankful for all I have and have not. I pray over and about almost every thing. My glass is always ½ full, not ½ empty. Of course I have my days as we all do, then there is more war on the floor. I try to remind my self that all is his will, even if I don't like or understand it. I know that this connectedness is as important to survival as the air we breath. You take it in and let it flow out.

Without it, we die spiritually.


In regards to attachment to results from speaking to God through prayer and or meditation, I believe results from prayer is a part of life that is not always seen by us. The results we think should come about may not be what is best for us and may not be the will of God. Sometimes we do not realize results have come about until a future realization happens.

God has his own time table, and it is not our will to be done, but his will be done.
I must state that at times a wonderful knowingness hits me when I least expect it, a knowingness of all the wonderful, miraculous happenings God has allowed me to be witness to, of course this is one of those overwhelming feelings of the love and warmth of the Holy spirit from God, this is a humbling time that always brings me to my knees, if I'm not already there, and to tears of joy. It is a loving peace that is too vast for words.


This brings me to the topic of total acceptance, acceptance of all life has to offer us frees us from expectations, projection and fear. When we learn to accept things as they are, we come to understand that what is, is as it should be. We can choose to accept the will of God or reject it.

We can choose to accept the will of God with gratitude and receive the blessings God offers us.

This is what I believe is the miraculous key of total acceptance.

The thoughts we allow ourselves to have play a toll on our body.

The ego's guilt and fear with in us causes sickness to manifest in the body. The forms taken by the sickness is a metaphorical representation for the type of judgment against one's self.

By recognizing the source of the problem puts us on the path of healing.
For instance, a heart problem can be a matter of guilt that is heart felt.
Stomach problems can be something that can't be stomached. Forgiveness of a past issue releases the body from the past and opens it to new possibilities. Health is inner peace and love. Forgiveness brings inner peace to the body.

The Holy Spirit can use sickness and death for higher purposes that we don't understand.

Sickness and death can bring about a communion with the spirit instead the ego. It can also be a lesson of forgiveness and love, sickness serving a higher purpose. When this happens we gain strength to rise above the sickness, and then it becomes a blessing.

I have to state that I do view the ego in very different way than before this course.
I now realize it to be hate, unholy, selfish, judgmental, guilt and the things that are not of love and God, the purest form of love.


My husband and I are members of a motorcycle ministry, we have been married for 23 years, and I know that since we have found a higher purpose in life, we have had a much better than before relationship. Our driving force is united for servitude. I thank God for my wonderful husband and the united higher purpose he has blessed us with.

In the past we as many have, been victims of the ego's attacks on our relationship.
We allowed certain unholy thoughts, acts and words enter into our union.
Our faith has been our strength. Thanks be to God.

God has blessed us with a Holy union. This maintained through the faith we share, God' grace and love. The questions asked about personal relationships really confirmed my view of our relationship, and I thank you for that.

To produce and share a feeling that equals love multiplies more love and we all know that love is of a higher Holy purpose.

In separation of illusion and truth, we come to realize true love and happiness.

I have to agree that any and all talents are God given gifts and he is to be praised for them.

It is all for his glory, not ours. He expects us to find joy in our gifts, but also expects praise and worship.

I am a people person, I enjoy handing out tracts, witnessing, evangelizing and making new friends in the process. This a God given gift and I give him all the glory.
I plant a seed, a thought and let God help it grow. Should this person be open for more than that, I'm all for ministering. This happens with out judgment, with compassion, an open heart, ears and mind. I do rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me in all that I say and do. I am but a channel for the will of God at work. I am in servitude.

I can relate to the false gods lesson in course #20 about being addicted to a substance that is actually feeding a lie. This addiction works to keep us connected to our fears and ends up actually reinforcing them, we use this addictive substance to escape our fear of withdraw, yet our behavior increases our fear of withdraw. It is a very vicious cycle. We have made a bad choice to give away our power to an outside source. To be controlled.

We come to hate this addiction, but feel powerless to stop. We are giving power to it by focusing on it. There is only one way to expose and undo this lie.

We must decide to no longer buy into this vicious cycle of lies.

The mind had chosen to become a slave to this addiction, there for it is a decision of the mind that can break the bondage of chains of this addiction and set you free. We must separate truth from illusion.

We must bring our weakness to God and ask for his help. He gives us his strength, his strength is our truth. When you are up against what seems to be an impossible task, what else is there to do but to surrender. When you surrender your addiction to the Holy Spirit, you experience a miraculous transformation in your state of mind. Your way of thinking of your addiction changes. We no longer condemn our selves, but begin to forgive our selves.

Forgiveness rids our mind of guilt and fear. With fear and guilt gone, we have now attached our addiction to love instead of the fear and guilt it was attached to. With out an unholy purpose it takes on a new meaning.

We feel free to choose to be controlled or to be in union with the Holy Spirit's control.

Let go and let God.

Trials are but lessons to be learned from. If you fail, try, try again.
Christ calls to you and says 'My brother, choose again'

When we surrender all to God, including our addictions, this is when a miracle comes about.

This is what closes the door on weakness and opens the door to salvation and freedom.

I have thoroughly enjoyed your prayer for addiction, it was very heart felt. I have said this prayer and will continue to. Thank you for sharing this with me.

I have learned a lot about how the mind affects the body and spirit's well being.
I also have learned that having unresolved issues from the past can and will affect the present and future of the well being of the mind, body and spirit.

Thank you for your valuable insight and guidance for miracle readiness.

God Bless,

According to God's will,
In complete servitude

With love,
Your sister in Christ,
Reverend
Jeanette Buschman



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

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers hand-fasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Spirit Quest

Spirit QuestI took the Spirit-Quest Master of Metaphysics Home Study Course. I greatly enjoyed it. Every week I looked forward to the new course email and the thought-provoking ideas it contained.

Over all, the course was very good. There were some things I learned that, although I have read many books on metaphysics and similar subjects, I had never seen presented in such an elegant and simple way.

There was, however, an idea or set of ideas, that I did not agree with. I will discuss this and then go forward into a few of the many things that I did agree with.

Summarized in Lesson 8, ‘Getting What You Want’, is the series of ideas I most disagreed with in the course. These ideas are similar to what I found in a book I read in high school, called ‘Think and Grow Rich’, by Napolean Hill. I was captivated by the idea that I could make things happen by my thoughts and actions.

It is true. As stated in the course and many other books and schools of thought, we can ‘make things happen’ with our thoughts and behavior. There are few times, however, when I have ever seen the drawbacks of this philosophy of life discussed.

It is quite simply the truth that we often don’t know what is good for us. What we often want is usually not what we need, and focusing narrowly only on our own wants and needs can lead to selfishness, narcissism and arrogance.

There was a period in my life when I concentrated on ‘making’ things happen (usually through visualization), and they often came about. But such shallow goals as we think we desire often fall short once achieved, like ripened fruit that rots in our hand once we have grasped it.

On the positive side were several things in the course that are absolutely life-changing. The first thing was something I had already spent years learning, and that was about ‘forgiveness’. Had I seen the subject matter discussed in Lesson Two earlier in my life, it may have saved me a lot of pain. I had often been told that it is ‘good to forgive’, but never why. I did not know that forgiveness is for the one who forgives, for the freedom that forgiveness brings. That is one of the single most important things, I believe, that any person can learn in life. It was well-presented in this course.

One of the other great ideas presented in the course, that really did change my life, was the idea of the ‘Grounding Cord’ presented in Lesson Three. I had also seen similar visualization techniques presented in other places, but I rejected them with a simple thought: ‘Am I really connecting to the center of the Earth…?’ I thought, ‘No, that’s a ridiculous idea’.

I tried the visualization, however, and I have to admit that it completely changed my meditation practices ever since.

For some reason, when I did the visualization, I felt more ‘grounded’. Now, how could that be, unless it was some kind of illusion or self-hypnosis? Yet, I could not argue with the fact that the technique worked and the effects lasted, in most cases, for the rest of the day.

This led me to a long thought process, through which I could interpret the experience. I think that (and note, this is only my own interpretation), that when I visualize the ‘center of the Earth’, I actually am making contact with the unconscious center of me. That idea makes so much sense and seems to tie in with many systems of philosophy and mythology. Although I would like to explore this idea at length, due to time and space constraints, I don’t think that would be practical here.

I did notice, however, that the experience of meditative depth occurred whether I visualized a cord or cable connecting me to the center of the Earth, a stone dropping to the deepest level of the ocean floor, or myself going down an infinitely deep spiral staircase. Please note again, this is only my interpretation, and my own private experience.

I also noticed, based on ideas I found in the metaphysics course, that if I visualized (realistically, with touch, sight, smell and sound) releasing and watching a helium balloon rise, I come in touch with, in a sense, my ‘higher’ self. After holding this image in my mind, I felt buoyant, happy, and free.

So I incorporated these two simple visualizations into my daily meditation routine. It is my way to connect with and acknowledge my higher and lower self. My way, if you will, to ‘integrate’ myself on all levels. As the first part of my meditation each day, I take deep breaths while dropping a cord or coming into contact with my ‘deeper’ self, and then I take a few more deep breaths and acknowledge and greet my ‘higher’ self. I do not use words, since I think these parts of myself are beyond words. The visualizations work perfectly, every time.

For that gift of insight and the many ideas and concepts presented in the metaphysics course, I give sincere thanks to Amy and ULC

Rev. Chuck Rackers

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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



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Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Defining Spiritualism

Universal Life Church - Spiritualism Course
This course was very informative, thought provoking and enlightening. It reminded me of past knowledge renewed and also new knowledge learned.

This essay will state and confirm what I have learned and agree and disagree with and also the thoughts it provoked.

I believe this is a very worthwhile and important course for ministry.

Scientific-minded people are left wanting more meaning in life. This lack of meaning in their life drives such people towards spiritual enlightenment.

Science it self has progressed to the point that it has it self proven that mysticism is at the heart of all things. Some scientists believe that we are but a collection of atoms. Science-minded people think that all things can be known and explained by man.

This would be very much God like, but to think that we are but a collection of atoms and no more than that. Where's the meaning to life if we are but atoms? The utter lack of meaning to life is known as nihilism.

Have we so deluded our selves to think that there is such a thing as a soul, a mind and a life without meaning? I think not !

Along that line of thinking, I would agree that this type of thinking in a person is definitely an open invitation to minister to those needing guidance and meaning in their life.

With out purpose and meaning, why live? I agree that existentialism is one of the 20th century philosophical frauds that embraced diverse doctrines.

I believe that we can help these people through knowledge and compassion.

Einstein helped with his theory of relativity, in viewing the universe in relative terms opposed to mechanical terms, this mechanical term way of thinking was every thing being machine like that started as a collection of matter that would one day come to nonexistence. This was Nietzche's philosophical view. His famous statement was that 'God is dead.'

Bah hum bug I say !!!

He thought that he had learned so much that God was unnecessary, he disregarded moral values, he believed that will and power ruled for a self serving purpose. Not Jesus like at all.

Altruism was not his belief, unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.

Then this led to further refinement up to our day. Existentialism is the big bang theory.

This theory is that the big bang created the universe. There was a creation of stars that die, planets form, elements combine forming life.


Man evolved conscious thought. Then the belief is that mysticism and God were created
(made up) because man could not face his own morality.

This was to appease the ego.

Descartes had reduced the universe to a mere giant machine, but at least he still realized consciousness as coming first in creation. His famous saying was 'I think therefore I am'.
This implied that the soul of the man came first and all other things followed.

I was not at all surprised to learn that atheism was influenced by Descartes after reading about his beliefs. He only recognized what the human mind can acknowledge exists

Werner Heisenberg discovered the true nature of matter and changed the world.
He discovered that people can not predict the form that matter will take when it comes into existence. This is known as the uncertainty principle.

God is forever creating the world we see through the consciousness that we think of as being our own. We are in fact a small part of the collective consciousness of God. We are all a part of the whole.

I also agree that in regards to the power of thought and how our minds interact with the energy of the universe to create the world we live in. It is like prayer, it works wonders.

I believe that this is why science is one of those wonderful wondrous miracles that manifest.

If you think about all those minds concentrating on the same out come, it makes sense that it will come to be. There with in their faith lies (scientific faith ) and in understanding the science minded faith, as being parallel to our faith, we begin to understand how to minister to them. Science gives different names to God. Ultimately they can come to see the similarities of their faith and a God based faith and the wholeness they can have through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

The idea of the power of thought was shared by good old Aristotle in his belief that there only had to be a potential of form for it to exist.

God creates the world through us. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is our savior.
It states in the Bible that no man comes to the Father but through him. ( John 14:6)

This is how we speak to God, through Jesus.

I agree that there is two kinds of people in this world, those seeking and those who have found the truth.

Socrates said 'the most important thing you can do is know thyself' His wisdom was based on not knowing anything absolutely. The realization of only being able to believe in and live in the moment at hand.

I believe that we are in very trying times, as has been prophesized to come to pass in the Bible. B= Basic I= Instructions B= Before L= leaving E= Earth
As you can see, I rely on my Bible based faith and the Holy Spirit to guide me through life.

I agree that we do place limits on ourselves as God is not bound by human limitations.

I also agree with your statement about greatness coming from an upheaval, pain and suffering. I believe that there must be a test for there to be a testimony. God will get our attention one way or another. This is not always something that is pleasant nor understandable by us.

This is not because he is angry at us or dislikes us, it's because he loves us and desires a close relationship with us. We at times may feel forsaken, but we are always forgiven and loved. One must be willing to accept the forgiveness to receive it, you must be able to forgive yourself and to leave it at the cross.

Arrogance, pride and strife only render and limit our closeness to God.
We are to be ambassadors of Christ. We are to be Jesus like, this is also God like in our thinking, talking and actions.

We as children of God are striving for the same purpose, no matter the name or title you place on it. It does not matter if it be Buddha, Allah or the energy force of the universe.

We are sure to make great strides and become less limited in life if we only walk, talk and speak out of compassion and love. W. W. J. D.
What would Jesus do.

I am the type of person to plant a seed, an idea and let God help it grow with in that person.

If this person is open to ministry and I feel that the door has been opened up for a work to begin, then I am in there with all I can offer that is of use to this brother or sister.

I will only debate another's thoughts and opinions to a certain point. If they are open to knowing what I have to share then as I stated before, I am all for it.
This of course is always done with compassion and love guided by the Holy Spirit.

I had never really thought about the white garb worn by the doctor's and scientists as ceremonial before, but if you think about it, it is a recognition type of thing.

I do know that all that is available to these people have been made available to them through the elements on this earth created by God. As far as them being great and magical with healing powers and superior minds, I have to state that the great physician is Jesus, he heals, he has and will continue to heal, as is stated in the Bible. Rather these doctors and scientists realize it or not, they have been blessed with their abilities to do good with the gifts provided to them by God. This would include but is not limited to their minds, not all of us are cut out to be and do what they are and do. Also as stated all the elements made available to them to do their work. We can not make herbs, nor can we make any of the minerals that come from the earth and etc. You get the idea.

I had not ever thought about the ego as controlling part of a person
but I definitely agree after reading about your thoughts and mulling it over in my mind, that the ego is a constant battle within that I now understand.

I have in just the past year, since my call to ministry come to realize that we are the body, a part of the grater whole. I also had not viewed evil as something that does not exist.

I can see how it is absorbed by good and therefore becomes non existent.

I was very enlightened by the platonic view of science minded and spiritually minded people, how they are holding onto only half of reality and not applying the other half. How the mind has created what is and is not at the same time into being by a mere thought. Wow !!!!

This was deep and food for thought to say the least. The thought of symbols being created by man for the things that language can not define.

I have learned in a different way in regards to the representation of the reconciliation of opposites.

These are all one:
Good & Evil, Life & Death, Physical & Non-Physical, Physics & Metaphysics,
God & Energy, Prayer & Meditation, ect….You can come up with many more if you try.

I was also enlightened by what I learned about Saint Augustine, how he merged the philosophy of Plato and Christian ethics. Platonic doctrine had a profound influence on Christianity that is still influential to this day. Christianity had no philosophy per say of it's own, Augustine gave it one through the incorporation of Platonic doctrine.

He outlined concepts such as heaven, the soul being a perfect form of ourselves and when we die we will go to Heaven and live in perfection and harmony for eternity.

Jesus did state that the Kingdom of heaven is within you, but I do have to state that I believe in scripture as it is written in the Bible. In the New Testament it is written in the book of John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. In the Old Testament Genesis 1:1 it does state that God created the heavens and the earth, also Revelation10:6 states “and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it and the earth and all it contains. I could go on and on in regards to this topic of heaven being written in the Bible, but I choose to merely state that I am not stating that you are wrong or that I am right, just quoting scripture. It all just depends on what you believe in. We all know that the Bible has been changed, how much is a question that I believe will remain unanswered.

I totally agree that there are some definite problems with organized religion that turns a lot of people away from churches. I myself am considered to be non-denominational and I attend a non-denominational church as a result of my past experiences in organized religion churches. This is as I have witnessed a huge cause of people loosing their faith.

I agree that Jesus would not give his blessing of the torture and burning of so called heretics.

Nor would he bless the Inquisition. Stereotyping all people that refer to them selves as Christians is not a practice of mine. That would be like me stereotyping bikers I am part of an organization called Bikers For Christ, it is a motorcycle ministry and I have experienced the stereotyping involved with this title.

I enjoyed the food for thought about how the unconscious mind is able to make you act with out conscious thought, even drawing on past conscious acts and experiences. Wow !!!

Neat stuff, the human mind is so awesome.

I totally agree in regards to social interaction and recognition being a very necessary part of the human well being. I believe that with out this interaction you become a very unhappy, discontented person. With the motorcycle ministry my husband and I have experienced a lot of people needing this social interaction. This an awesome experience, because not only do we minister to this person, but we also make a new friend. We have swapped a lot of phone numbers and made a lot of new friends. I consider these and all people to be my sisters and brothers in Christ. 


After all, we are all connected, we are all a part of the whole.

Schopenhauer was definitely on the right track in regards to us all being of one.
It's too bad that he didn't realize that this also included a oneness also in a spiritual way.

He then could have experienced the peace and joy found by having faith in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Until reading this I had not realized that Buddhism and Atheism shared the same belief that our existence ends into nothingness, back to the universal energy where it came from.

I found it intriguing that the eastern and western peoples came to the same belief of consciousness is an illusion that fools a person into suffering.

I agree with the power of manifesting what we allow our conscious mind to focus on.

I have found it is important to know that the great philosophers have proven that science can not define any laws with any concrete certainty, with time and the thought process changing, so does experimental out comes, so called proofs.

In lesson # 13 I thought it very thought provoking, but complex to ponder a thought of the universe being a projection of our moral selves and that we are beings existing in some plane other than what we believe to be the real world.

Schilling in my opinion was missing the rest of the thought of what we are part of. Nature, as you put it, could easily be called God. Is it not also part of the whole?

I take great joy in stating that we as humans do eventually mature to a total acceptance of a state of forgiveness and self realization. I imagine there are and have been and will continue to be those who sadly enough do not reach this maturity level. Hopefully those are put into our paths to minister to. Be it God's will.

As far as Hegel's philosophy of us being a combination of spirit and mind, being the ultimate form, being the makeup of existence,this is some what parallel in my opinion to the mind and thought process guided by the Holy Spirit that was sent to guide us. Some refer to this as a conscious. I agree with his idea of us all being connected, a part of the whole. Hopefully he is right in his thinking about there being a balance in conflict and strife some day.

I have learned that Marxism was the intellectual foundation of communism, most of the Marxism views were taken from Hegel. True Marxism is a materialist philosophy and completely atheist. Hegel believed in the spirit. Marxism denied the realities of human nature and painted a picture in his mind that is not possible because of human nature, but yet because of the harmonious picture he painted, it is imaginable.

I disagree with the existentialists mind set. I believe that there is another plane, level or what ever you want to call it, after the body dies there is more to come. This is just in my opinion a part of our existence. The soul, energy, spirit or what ever you'd like to call it goes back as part of the whole.

Darwin, I think is as far off the map as can be and any one accepting his beliefs are yes, probably very depressed and trying to figure out what their purpose, if any they have in the grand scheme of things in life.

It has to say the least been interesting to learn how modern society has been influenced by philosophical ideas from the past. I agree that everything influences every thing else, even time has had no barrier on human beliefs.
Things are forever changing in the realm of cause and affect, today is tomorrow’s history.

I had not until now, after reading this course pondered the idea of self analyzing myself for any unconscious or conscious driven self serving purpose when ministering to a person I think is in need. Hmmm. Food for thought.

I really felt that your sharing of your own personal experiences and the journey that led you to the call of ministry was very thoughtful of you and not unlike, I would think so many other people's calling that also includes lessons to be learned, heart ache and a humbling of mind and spirit.

As I have learned through my own personal journey that led to ministry, and it did include all of the afore mentioned, God will get your attention one way or another. If you choose to hear and answer the call is a personal choice. I can only imagine that it would be very unsettling to not answer that ever present, divine calling.
As it is written in the New Testament, Revelation 3:20, Here I stand at the door and knock.

If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.

As far as the trials that are endured, it is written in 1 Peter 1:6, In this you greatly rejoice, though for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. So as you can see trials sharpen your faith.
As you stated in the lesson, the gates will be opened with much to be endured, we will be tested, gleamed each time and made stronger.

I have been very enlightened by this course in defining spiritualism and believe it will serve me well along my never ending journey of enlightenment. I have definitely realized that I know that I know nothing for certain.

I strongly recommend this course to any one who wants to be an affective contributing human being in society, it is in my opinion a must read for ministry.

God Bless and thanks for sharing all you have.
Your sister in Christ,
Reverend
Jeanette Buschman
Ordained 12-28-2005


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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. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.



Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Paganism

Paganism Study Course
Paganism for a New Age

What has this course taught me? This has been difficult for me to answer, although the answer has been inside me my whole life. The difficulty for me being a monotheistic deist is conjuring up the pantheon of deities that regulate all. I felt that I would betray what I believed, or later as it turned out, what I was taught to believe. To accept that the Creator spoke to many peoples using many voices was a “eureka moment”. Even though I can see the divine in a single blade of grass and the patterns in spiders’ webs, the human arrogance that is in all of us calls out to me that God is mine and mine alone. This class has taught me that the Creator is All and that all we have to do is “be still and listen”.

The divine in All that has been and will be created is universal. Just as there is still residual energy in the edges of the universe that was from the beginning, so there is a shred of the divine left in all that was created, including people. Although I wonder if it is being wasted on us.

To wake up and be thankful for the rising sun, no matter who is being thanked, still gives reverence to the One. To utilize the different names of the pantheon, does not disrespect but shows the purity of acceptance. Accepting that the One is in all and that the divinity of creation still resonates in our bodies, is it wrong to say that we ourselves are divine?

To live, as many cultures do, believing that all is sacred removes unnecessary pressure from our lives. So much of our time is made up judging others and ourselves. To be able to revere all stops us from hypocritical, self-righteous scorn.

In short this class has taught me to “be still and listen”.


Thank you


Rev. James Cummings

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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, as well as an online seminary program and a chaplaincy program.


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